State of Maryland

A Psychologist I is the intermediate level of professional psychology staff work applying the science of psychology to the investigation, understanding, and modification of human behavior and adjustment and providing psychological services such as diagnostic assessments; individual and group counseling, and psychotherapy to persons considered emotionally disturbed, maladjusted, suffering from other psychological stress, or individuals with developmental disabilities. Employees in this classification do not supervise.

Employees in this classification receive moderate supervision from a Psychology Services Chief or other designated official through evaluation of program results, review of communications, consultations and group conferences. Employees may be required to work evenings or weekends. The work is performed in hospitals, State programs, community clinics, health centers, juvenile justice facilities or other residential facilities.

Positions in this classification are evaluated by using the classification job evaluation methodology. The use of this method involves comparing assigned duties and responsibilities of a position to the job criteria found in the Nature of Work and Examples of Work Sections of the class specification.

The Psychologist I and Psychologist II are differentiated on the basis of the degree of supervisory control exercised by the supervisor over these employees. The Psychologist I performs certain duties under close supervision and other duties under general supervision depending upon the specific duty performed while the Psychologist II performs the full range of duties and responsibilities under general supervision.

Provides a variety of diagnostic assessment services including the selection, administration, scoring and interpretation of a wide range of psychological tests to measure and evaluate intellectual functioning, personality structure, interest, aptitudes and related psychological factors;

Conducts individual, family, group and milieu psychotherapy programs in hospitals, clinics, community programs or residential facilities;

Employs a wide range of diagnostic and therapeutic techniques with patients or clients;

Undertakes individual and group therapeutic procedures of a psychological nature in a multidisciplinary setting;

Reviews preliminary interpretations of standard psychological examinations;

Interprets results of psychological examinations and staff decisions to various community groups, such as schools, courts or churches;

Prepares comprehensive diagnostic and prognostic opinions;

Provides continuing education to other health care professionals and health care technicians in the theories, methods, practices and techniques employed in a psychological services program;

Discusses and evaluates the status of patients or clients in interdisciplinary team meetings in order to formulate or modify patient or client treatment plans;

Consults with agency staff, community groups and other State agencies on programs designed to develop preventive and rehabilitative mental health services;

Participates in interviewing situations, environmental manipulations, socialization experiences and other psychological procedures to effect changes in behavior;

Renders psychological interpretations of variations in behavior of patients or clients;

Maintains therapy progress notes;

May direct a specialized hospital or clinic treatment program, determining the goals and selecting the treatment methods;

May design behavioral intervention programs for the developmentally disabled that focus on decreasing maladaptive, self-destructive and aggressive behavior;

May testify in pretrial and release hearings;

May evaluate individuals for involuntary certification under Maryland law;

May conduct research programs in an area of specialization and may provide research consultation to other hospital, clinic, program or residential facility personnel;

May mentor Psychologist Interns;

May work with community groups to develop supportive social resources;

May review and analyze psychological evaluations and determine sufficiency of record to interpret existence, severity, duration and potential for remediation of mental impairments as part of the adjudication process for Social Security Disability Insurance and Supplemental Security Income disability claims;

Performs other related duties.

Knowledge of the theories and principles of psychology, human growth and development;

Knowledge of the scientific method;

Knowledge of personality development and learning theory;

Knowledge of interviewing techniques;

Knowledge of personality, intelligence, interest and aptitude measurements;

Knowledge of the social sciences and the fundamentals of other mental health professions;

Knowledge of the use of psychological services in Statewide health, mental health and developmental disability programs;

Knowledge of data collection, interpretation and analyses required in psychological research studies;

Knowledge of the principles and methods of program administration;

Skill in performing clinical work such as psychological interviewing, diagnostic evaluation and psychotherapy;

Skill in designing experiments and applying statistical procedures;

Skill in administering, scoring and interpreting the most difficult and complex psychological tests;

Skill in preparing comprehensive, summarized and meaningful diagnostic and treatment reports and evaluations of persons examined or treated and making prognostic recommendations;

Skill in interpreting psychological information and making sound recommendations;

Ability to organize, direct and coordinate work pertaining to an important function of a Psychological Services Unit and to prepare plans for future services;

Ability to devise effective work methods and procedures;

Ability to provide continuing education to Psychologists, non-licensed psychology staff and other professionals and technicians in related fields;

Ability to communicate effectively with patients or clients, families of patients or clients and other members of the staff.

Education:   Determined by the Maryland State Board of Examiners of Psychologists under the licensing requirements for Psychologists.

Experience: Determined by the Maryland State Board of Examiners of Psychologists under the licensing requirements for Psychologists.

1. Candidates for this classification must be licensed as a Psychologist by the Maryland Board of Examiners of Psychologists prior to permanent appointment to a position.  Applicants who do not have a Maryland license may apply before receipt of the required license but the application will be designated in pending status by the Maryland Department of Health (MDH) Testing Unit.  When the license has been obtained, submit a copy of the license to MDH to remove the pending status from the application.

2. Employees in this classification may be assigned duties that require operation of a motor vehicle. Employees assigned such duties will be required to possess a motor vehicle operator’s license valid in the State of Maryland.

Class specifications are broad descriptions covering groups of positions used by various State departments and agencies. Position descriptions maintained by the using department or agency specifically address the essential job functions of each position.

This is a Professional Service classification in the State Personnel Management System.  All positions in this classification are Professional Service positions.  Some positions in Professional Service classifications may be designated as Special Appointment in accordance with the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 6-405, Annotated Code of Maryland.

This classification is assigned to Bargaining Unit F- Social and Human Service Professionals classes.  As provided by State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 3-102, special appointment, temporary, contractual, supervisory, managerial, and confidential employees are excluded from collective bargaining. Additionally, certain executive branch agencies are exempt from collective bargaining and all positions in those agencies are excluded from collective bargaining.