Guide To Health Psychology Courses

Health Psychology Courses - Window To The Newest Branch Of Psychology

Different people have different attitudes towards their own health and ailments which affect them. At times these attitudes could prove dangerous in their overall upkeep of health. In health psychology courses, students are taught to understand and rectify these attitudes and subsequent behaviors. Health psychology is a relatively new branch of applied psychology, and the primary aim of a health psychologist is to help people change their attitudes and behaviors towards health – thereby ensuring a healthy mind and body for the individual. It is believed that people’s attitudes towards health and sickness depend on various factors including genetics, adopted lifestyles, preconceived notions about health, cultural backgrounds, familial issues and many more.

Today, health psychologists work in conjunction with many members of the medical and paramedical fraternity, like physicians, dentists, pharmacists, nurses, etc. Health psychologists also promote preventive healthcare and encourage people to take steps to lead a healthy life. They could be working in pain clinics, cancer rehabilitation units, gynecological centers, anti-smoking programs, etc. Like any other branch of the profession such as child psychology, a health psychologist too might decide to do clinical practice; he or she may also pursue an academic profession or research.

One of the biggest advantages which healthcare professionals draw from the services of a health psychologist is in the area of mental re-assurances which he gives to the patients – for example, explaining to patients about the cost-effectiveness of a therapy regimen, etc. They also provide substantial contribution in the fields of research and analytical studies, effective communication between doctor and patient and group exercises. Health psychologists are in the forefront of many path-breaking research programs, especially in areas like diabetes, heart diseases, HIV and cancer.

Health psychologists usually have a doctoral or a PsyD degree in psychology. The American Board of Professional Psychology also issues certificates which enable them to have a private clinical practice.

To prepare as a health psychologist, training is needed at all the levels of the course till the doctoral degree. A special training is needed again, after obtaining the doctoral degree, during internship.

Pre-doctoral internships is usually for one year before you can obtain a doctoral qualification. Then there are post-doctoral fellowships which are offered by many universities and health clinics. Since the programs are varied in terms of form and content, it is wise to check with each school or university before enrolling.
Here are some of the leading names of institutes where you could earn a degree in health psychology:

Online or distance learning programs:

• Chicago School of Professional Psychology
• Walden University - School of Psychology

On-campus:

• Arizona
  Northern Arizona University - Department of Psychology - Flagstaff
• Arkansas
  University of Arkansas at Little Rock - Department of Psychology - Little Rock
• California
  University of California - Irvine - Department of Psychology and Social Behavior –
  Irvine
  University of Southern California - Department of Psychology - Los Angeles
• Florida
  University of Miami - Department of Psychology - Coral Gables
• Illinois
  Bradley University - Department of Psychology - Peoria
• Iowa
  The University of Iowa - Department of Psychology - Iowa City
• Missouri
  University of Missouri - Kansas City - Department of Psychology - Kansas City
• New Mexico
  University of New Mexico - Department of Psychology - Albuquerque
• New York
  State University of New York at Stony Brook - Department of Psychology - Stony Brook

There are innumerable undergraduate and graduate health psychology courses available in America, both online an on-campus. The programs could prepare a student for research or for clinic practice.

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