The types Clinical psychologists, who constitute the largest specialty of psychology, generally work in independent or group practice, or in hospitals assisting mentally or emotionally disturbed individuals. Clinical psychologists provide group therapy, such as bereavement counseling, marriage and child counseling, and drug or alcohol counseling. They may collaborate with physicians and other specialists in developing and implementing treatment and intervention programs. As part of their involvement, psychologists work to make these programs less alienating and complex to their patients. Other specialties within psychology include cognitive psychology, health psychology, and neuropsychology, among others.
Cognitive psychologists deal with memory, thinking, and perception.
Health psychologists promote wellness by providing health counseling programs that help people quit smoking, lose weight, and battle chemical dependency. Another major group are the developmental psychologists, who study the patterns and causes of behavioral change as people progress from infancy to adulthood. Some developmental psychologists specialize in behavior during infancy, childhood, and adolescence, while other study changes that take place during maturity or old age. The study of developmental disabilities and how they affect people is a relatively new area within developmental psychology. Psychologists aren't simply confined to the study of the disturbed or other special cases.