Who is a clinical psychologist?

• A. A medical doctor who prescribes medication
• B. A mental health professional with highly specialized training in the diagnosis and psychological treatment of mental, behavioral and emotional illness, including obsessive-compulsive disorder
• C. A social worker
• D. A nurse

Answer: (D)

Clinical psychology centers on diagnosing and treating mental, behavioral, and emotional disorders through psychological methods. A clinical psychologist is a mental health professional with advanced doctoral training who assesses people, identifies mental health conditions, and delivers evidence-based psychological therapies—such as cognitive-behavioral therapy or exposure-based treatments for conditions like OCD. They also use standardized tests to inform diagnoses and tailor treatment plans. Typically, they do not prescribe medications; that responsibility lies with psychiatrists or other medical doctors. By contrast, nurses provide medical and nursing care, and social workers offer psychosocial support and resources. So the best description is a mental health professional with specialized training in diagnosing and psychologically treating mental, behavioral, and emotional illness, including OCD.