No other mental health profession requires as high a degree of education and training in mental health as psychology. Accredited doctoral programs in health services psychology, including practica and internships in clinics and hospitals, involve a median of seven years of training beyond an undergraduate degree. Licensure is required in all 50 states. An ethical code has been adopted as a part of all state licensing laws.
Psychologists provide a wide variety of valuable and effective interventions and testing services.
Psychotherapy offers individuals a treatment approach, which in many cases is equally, if not more, effective than drug therapies. Cognitive and interpersonal psychotherapies, for example, are effective treatments for depression. Alternatives to drug therapies are particularly valuable to elderly populations, who are often suffering from overmedication and numerous side effects of various drugs and drug interactions. Psychologists contribute to the care of patients suffering from chronic illnesses through a variety of interventions. Breast cancer patients who participate in group psychotherapy are known to survive longer than those who do not.