Are you interested in becoming a therapist but unsure where to focus your efforts? Chances are, with a little research, you’ll be able to find the concentration area that best suits your skills, interests, and lifestyle preferences.
One of the reasons why the field of psychology draws in such a diverse array of practitioners is that it features many different areas of focus, allowing for career paths with a huge variety of job descriptions.
Your specialization as a therapist or counselor can determine not only the types of cases you focus on but also the places you work, the populations you work with, and the day-to-day responsibilities of your job. By refining your professional development to zero in on what most speaks to you, you’ll be investing in a career that will fulfill you for years to come.
Questions to Consider as You Choose Your Concentration
Some people decide to become psychologists with an exact idea of the causes they most wish to address in their work. However, many others know broadly that they would like to become psychologists but aren’t sure what exactly they want their careers to look like.
It’s important to decide your psychology specialization at the outset of the application process, as most psychology degree programs will ask you to apply directly for your chosen concentration pathway.
With so many interesting pathways through the psychology profession, it can be overwhelming to choose the area where you will thrive, but this wealth of opportunities means you have numerous options at your disposal.
For those who don’t yet know how they’d like to focus their psychology careers, here are a few questions that can help you determine which branch of the field is right for you.
- Do I wish to pursue a counseling role or a research role? This can dictate the type of degree you pursue. Those who pursue counseling roles typically (though not exclusively) obtain Master of Arts (M.A.) in Psychology degrees, while Master of Science (M.S.) degrees are typically more geared toward those with a research emphasis.
- Where do I want to work? Psychologists can work in a huge range of organizations, from mental health clinics to schools to court systems and more. This will be no small factor in your day-to-day life as a working psychologist, so it’s worth giving serious thought to the type of environment where you would thrive.
- Is there a particular community I want to work with? Though not everyone has an answer to this question, some people enter the psychology field knowing they want to work with people from a certain demographic, whether that is based on age, region, circumstance (such as those in the criminal justice system), or another factor.
- Does the work I wish to do require a particular license? Most psychology jobs, in particular those that involve direct counseling, require some form of California state licensure in order to legally provide services to individuals, families, and groups. These include Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist (LMFT), Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC), and Licensed Educational Psychologist (LEP). Many Master of Psychology programs are specifically designed to qualify students for a particular type of licensure, so be sure you know which one you need so that you can choose the appropriate track for your goals.
Thinking through the answers to these questions may help clarify which concentration pathway is appropriate for your goals and interests as a psychologist. It’s worth keeping them in mind as you read about the different specialization areas you have to choose from in your Master of Psychology program.
Innovations in the field of psychology across specializations
Your studies in a psychology degree program will vary greatly depending on the type of work you intend to pursue. However, the field of psychology overall has undergone many exciting developments that practitioners across specializations are likely to incorporate into their work, meaning you can expect them to figure into your Master of Psychology education. Below are a few of the most groundbreaking innovations that incoming psychology students can expect to play a role in their careers.
Telehealth
Virtual technology has rapidly transformed the psychology field in a wide variety of ways. In terms of clinical care, it has meant the arrival of telehealth models that significantly increase access to mental health services for people in need, making it a tremendous blessing for people who need psychological support but are unable to commute to receive counseling. Those interested in careers providing direct therapy to clients are more than likely to incorporate telehealth delivery models into your practice.
Data-driven research
Technology has also played an important role in psychology from a research perspective, allowing those seeking numbers-based information to process vast amounts of data far more quickly and effectively than ever before. This can go a long way in supporting a range of psychological studies, from demographic surveys to inquiries into the effects of pharmaceuticals and more. If you are a research psychologist, you are likely to incorporate these new methodologies into your work, while clinical and counseling psychologists are likely to benefit from the findings of these technology-enhanced reports.
Holistic care
Increasingly, psychologists of all types are recognizing the importance of taking a holistic approach to mental health care, acknowledging that it is inextricably tied with other factors such as physical well-being and lifestyle choices. This understanding has influenced how many psychologists approach their work, being sure to get a fuller picture of their patients’ lives so that they can provide more comprehensive support to those in need.
An Overview of the Main Psychology Concentration Areas
Below are the most prominent psychology concentration areas at California master’s degree programs. Give these your full consideration before you apply to your Master of Psychology degree program to be sure you’re pursuing the right skills and expertise for the career you want.
If you take an interest in mental health disorders and atypical behaviors, abnormal psychology may be the specialization area for you. This branch of the psychology field explores conditions such as depression, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, and personality disorders, helping those who are struggling find mental health diagnoses and in turn, treatment plans that can help them overcome their greatest difficulties. Counselors who specialize in this field tend to pursue Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) certification.
Those who are interested in the research side of abnormal psychology will work on investigating root causes of mental health disorders, exploring how factors like genetics, trauma, and environment influence mental illness. Many studies also evaluate prominent forms of care to see how effectively they help patients manage their conditions in both the short-term and the long-term. This is a rapidly evolving field thanks to the arrival of data-driven research as well as the many innovations in care for those living with mental health disorders.
Are you interested in working with young people who are struggling with emotional, behavioral, or psychological issues? You can specialize in child psychology to focus your career on the unique needs of children and adolescents. Drawing heavily from the field of developmental psychology, you will be able to provide support to young people who are struggling as well as their families. Many child psychologists are employed as school counselors, monitoring students and coordinating with parents and teachers alike to ensure that children in need receive holistic support.
On the research side, child psychologists explore the origins of emotional and psychological issues in young people. They also are heavily involved in evaluating the treatment methodologies for children with mental health issues, providing critical insights to ensure that all young people receive support that is safe, conscientious, and supportive to their long-term development.
Those who know they wish to become therapists or counselors can streamline their professional path by pursuing counseling psychology, which is among the most popular concentration areas in the field. Though there are other specialized pathways that can prepare you for such a role, this is the broad category that provides training to provide these services. In a counseling psychology program, you will learn best practices for working with patients, oftentimes in both individual and group settings, as well as exploring key debates and conversations within the world of counseling. Counseling psychologists can draw from a range of approaches and treatment modalities, finding the one that most speaks to them to develop a targeted strategy for working with patients. This will prepare you to take on the delicate responsibilities of a therapist with confidence and expertise.
In many cases, counseling psychology programs are designed specifically to prepare students for a particular license type (chiefly LMFT or LPCC, and in some cases, both). These licenses relate to the types of clients you see and the primary issues that you help patients treat. If you have settled on counseling psychology as your intended academic pathway, your next consideration will be your license type.
For those who wish to work in the field of psychology in an applied setting, one can find an excellent pathway in the world of forensic psychology. These professionals work within the legal and criminal justice systems and can be employed in a range of settings, from correctional facilities to the court system to law enforcement agencies and more. They can act as advocates and supportive services for those in the criminal justice system, and they can also contribute their expertise to legal cases and correctional programs to determine appropriate legal decision-making as it affects those with mental health issues.
In many cases, those in the field of forensic psychology are ultimately expected to hold PhD-level psychology degrees in order to hold the status of a true expert. Your Master of Psychology degree will therefore be an indispensable step toward this standing, providing no small amount of orientation into this critical field.
An especially science-driven branch of the psychology field, neuropsychology is an excellent choice with those who are adept at quantitative analysis and interested in joining one of the field’s most forward-looking branches. Breaking down the building blocks of cognitive function – such as linguistic processing, memory, attention, and executive functioning – neuropsychologists are at the vanguard of understanding how the brain works. This is particularly useful in informing treatment options for those with brain injuries or disorders, who can benefit greatly from these hard-science-focused psychology focus areas.
Neuropsychologists can work in a range of settings, including (but not limited to) hospitals, research organizations, and rehabilitation clinics. In each of these environments they typically work alongside other professionals with parallel specializations (such as neurosurgeons) to help develop targeted, in-depth treatment plans for those with neurological issues.
Are you interested in helping athletes achieve the absolute most they can in their sport? If so, you can find excellent opportunities in the quickly-growing field of sports psychology, which professional athletes of all types make use of to enhance their performance, cope with injuries and other setbacks, and integrate their rigorous athletic training into the rest of their lives. Many successful athletes attribute their success in no small part to the support of their psychologists, which has in turn boosted this subfield to greater prominence.
Sports psychologists are employed by professional teams, colleges and universities, high schools, private individuals, and even in some cases the military. If you have a love of sports and a desire to help athletes reach their peaks, this career path will be sure to be exciting and rewarding for you, with new opportunities continuing to proliferate with time.
Your Concentration Pathway Can Determine Your Income as a Psychologist
Because they work in a range of settings, psychologists’ salaries can vary depending on their concentration area.
In the categories of both annual mean wage and rate of employment for psychologists, the state of California ranks in the top two nationwide.
This finding comes from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which is the authoritative source of salary data in the U.S. Though it does not provide isolated data sets for every branch of the psychology field, its 2023 report for California psychologist salaries can provide a rough estimate for those looking to plot careers in the field. It breaks down the psychology field into four primary areas, with the following mean annual salaries:
As you can see, these are stellar salaries, all of them reaching six figures – and these are just the averages. Those with advanced skills and a strong work ethic can find themselves earning even more as California-based psychologists. Can you ask for better motivation to pursue your psychology degree today?
FAQs
Does every psychology concentration area require a Master of Psychology degree?
Yes; without a Master of Psychology degree, you will not be able to get any type of California psychology license. After all, psychologists take on extremely delicate responsibilities, helping patients deal with concerns that can be very serious. Because of this, it is imperative to have extensive training to ensure that patients receive quality care that meets clinical standards of safety.
Do I need a bachelor’s degree related to psychology in order to pursue a Master of Psychology degree?
No. Many who pursue psychology master’s degrees hold bachelor’s degrees in other subjects. In some cases, these additional areas of knowledge can inform your pathway as a psychologist: for example, those who have studied neurochemistry will be especially well-equipped to pursue advanced degrees in neuropsychology.
Will my chosen degree program affect which license type I can obtain?
Oftentimes, yes. Many psychology programs are specifically oriented around obtaining a particular license, preparing students for specific licensing exams upon completion of their degree. For this reason, it’s important to figure out exactly which type of license you want in advance of applying to your Master of Psychology program.
Are there other psychology concentration areas offered at California psychology degree programs?
Yes. The concentration areas listed above reflect the most commonly found at California universities, but there are many additional psychology subfields. When looking at our Best Master’s in Psychology Programs and Most Affordable Psychology Programs guides, you are urged to take a look at the specific concentration pathways offered at each school to see what calls out to you.
2024 US Bureau of Labor Statistics salary and employment figures reflect state data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed February 2025.