This information is for reference only. These classifications are no longer valid and were replaced 7/1/2020.
- Associate Psychologist II
- What will I be doing?
- Do I qualify?
- Can I be successful?
- Benefits
- How do I apply?
This is professional psychological work involving client assessment and therapeutic applications in the field of psychological services.
An employee in this class performs a variety of professional tasks involving client diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, placement, admission or discharge planning functions. Work includes: administration and interpretation of psychological examinations; individual and group therapy sessions; participation in the development and implementation of treatment/habilitation plans; and may involve supervision of less experienced staff in well delineated areas. Work may be distinguished from that of an Associate Psychologist I primarily by the degree of independence afforded the employee, by the level of professional skill and competence achieved, and by the variety of complex duties which may be assigned. Under the general supervision of a professional superior, the employee is expected to work with considerable independence within his/her area of competence.
Interviews clients, administers and scores standardized psychological examinations in gathering information to be used in the diagnosis of mental abnormalities; interprets tests and psychological interview results.
Employs psychotherapeutic methods and counseling techniques in the treatment of clients.
Prepares recommendations concerning parole, conditional release or discharge of clients.
Discusses condition and prognosis of clients with parents or guardians.
Participates in psychological service functions involving diagnosis, prognosis, treatment and admission-discharge planning.
Develops, implements and modifies programs for clients regarding socially acceptable behavior, such as self-help, perceptual, sensorimotor, communications, self-direction, emotional stability and effective usage of time.
Serves as a member of a program evaluation review committee for client programs.
Confers with parents or guardians in explaining the client program and habitation/treatment goals; meets with outside agencies/educational facilities to develop programs and treatment goals for clients.
Develops and implement programs for parent therapy groups, autistic children, workshops for school screening and other types of programs.
Assists in crisis intervention for purposes of immediate management of severely agitated, disruptive, self-destructive and/or aggressive clients.
Prepares progress notes, psychological summaries and other reports as required.
Participates in interdisciplinary treatment team meetings to develop treatment plans, discuss client progress and possible changes in treatment strategy.
Supervises technical assistants and/or practicum students engaged in psychology functions.
Designs behavior modification programs for the individual clients and monitors the implementation process; works with other staff members in implementing these programs; answers questions from direct care staff concerning problem areas.
Conducts in-service education programs for direct care staff; provides instruction in the area of behavior modification principles and practices.
Performs other related work as assigned.
(The following minimum qualifications will determine merit system eligibility. Allowable experience and education substitutions are provided in italics below the corresponding minimum qualification statement. These minimum qualifications may also be used to evaluate applicants for Missouri Uniform Classification and Pay System positions not requiring selection from merit registers.)
Possession of a Master's degree from an accredited university with major specialization in clinical psychology, counseling psychology, school or educational psychology, or closely related areas; and two years of post-master's level professional psychology experience involving assessment and therapeutic applications. (Successful completion of 36 graduate hours in an approved doctoral-level psychology program with major specialization in one of the above educational areas may substitute for the Master's degree requirement. Additional graduate work in the specified areas may substitute on a year-for-year basis for the required experience.)
Academic programs must contain coursework in the following areas on the graduate level to qualify: Assessment (Psychological Tests and Measurements), Psychotherapy, Psychopathology or Developmental Disorders, and Research Methodology/Statistics.
Please note that documentation that supports your eligibility (i.e. transcripts, employment records, etc.) may be required at any time during the application and hiring process. If you do not possess the minimum qualifications, please consider one of many other employment opportunities with the State of Missouri.
Do you possess the key skills which are considered essential for successful employment in this classification?
Considerable knowledge of the biological bases of behavior, such as sensation and perception.
Considerable knowledge of the cognitive-affective bases of behavior, such as learning, thinking, motivation and emotion.
Considerable knowledge of the social bases of behavior, such as the psychology of interpersonal relationships, group processes, and organizational and systems theory.
Working knowledge of psychodiagnostic and psychotherapeutic theories and techniques, such as behavior modification, individual or group therapy.
Working knowledge of individual differences, such as personality theory, human development, and abnormal psychology.
Working knowledge of the scientific methods and procedures of understanding, predicting and influencing human behavior, such as statistics, experimental design and psychometrics.
Ability to administer and interpret complex psychological examinations.
Ability to employ psychotherapeutic methods and counseling techniques in an effective manner.
Ability to assist in conducting individual and group interventions.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with professional and other staff, clients and their families.
Ability to prepare psychological summaries and other reports as required.
The following link will provide you with general information about State of Missouri employee benefits.
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