Child psychologists are experts in what makes kids tick. Their job involves diagnosing and treating a wide range of psychological disorders.
The majority of child psychologists are clinical. That means they work with patients/clients rather than doing research. You’ll find clinical child psychologists in clinics, hospitals, rehabilitation centers, schools and private practice. The right terminology for child psychologists who treat children would be “child psychotherapists.”Â
Child psychologists work exclusively with children and adolescents to diagnose and help resolve issues causing emotional or behavioral problems. Some psychologists restrict the word “child” to the ages before adolescence, while others include teenagers. Some specialize in behavior during infancy, childhood or adolescence, while others specialize in the changes that take place during maturity.
Their education is the same as general psychologists, with additional emphasis on child development and behaviors. Child psychologists may choose to work in a variety of settings.