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Science & Research · Updated Aug 2026

Clinical and Counseling Psychologists

Assess, diagnose, and treat mental and emotional disorders of individuals through observation, interview, and psychological tests. Help individuals with distress or maladjustment understand their problems through their knowledge of case history, interviews with patients, and theory. Provide individual or group counseling services to assist individuals in achieving more effective personal, social, educational, and vocational development and adjustment. May design behavior modification programs and consult with medical personnel regarding the best treatment for patients.

JVS 2.0.0-phase4b
AI Exposure
64/100
High

How much of this occupation’s work can be materially affected by current AI systems.

Replacement Risk
57/100
Moderate

How likely exposure is to translate into reduced human demand.

Includes provisional estimates for AI adoption pressure and labour-market resilience. How this is measured

Evidence quality
Confidence82/100
Task coverage86%

Confidence reflects task coverage, mapping and capability-evidence quality, and how much of the score rests on provisional inputs.

Task-level evidence

What is driving the score?

Occupation scores are built from the task mix—not a single prediction about a job title.

JVS 2.0.0-phase4b
TaskImportanceAI impactExposure
Document patient information including session notes, progress notes, recommendations, and treatment plans.High
68
Use a variety of treatment methods, such as psychotherapy, hypnosis, behavior modification, stress reduction therapy, psychodrama, or play therapy.High
71
Conduct assessments of patients' risk for harm to self or others.High
64
Counsel individuals, groups, or families to help them understand problems, deal with crisis situations, define goals, and develop realistic action plans.High
65
Interact with clients to assist them in gaining insight, defining goals, and planning action to achieve effective personal, social, educational, or vocational development and adjustment.High
62
Identify psychological, emotional, or behavioral issues and diagnose disorders, using information obtained from interviews, tests, records, or reference materials.High
66
Evaluate the effectiveness of counseling or treatments and the accuracy and completeness of diagnoses, modifying plans or diagnoses as necessary.High
65
Collect information about individuals or clients, using interviews, case histories, observational techniques, and other assessment methods.High
59
Develop and implement individual treatment plans, specifying type, frequency, intensity, and duration of therapy.High
69
Develop therapeutic and treatment plans based on clients' interests, abilities, or needs.High
64
Obtain and study medical, psychological, social, and family histories by interviewing individuals, couples, or families and by reviewing records.High
67
Consult reference material, such as textbooks, manuals, or journals, to identify symptoms, make diagnoses, or develop approaches to treatment.High
69
Select, administer, score, and interpret psychological tests to obtain information on individuals' intelligence, achievements, interests, or personalities.High
71
Direct, coordinate, and evaluate activities of staff and interns engaged in patient assessment and treatment.Medium
64
Consult with or provide consultation to other doctors, therapists, or clinicians regarding patient care.Medium
58
Supervise and train interns, clinicians in training, and other counselors.Medium
61
Refer clients to other specialists, institutions, or support services as necessary.Medium
55
Consult with other professionals, agencies, or universities to discuss therapies, treatments, counseling resources or techniques, and to share occupational information.Medium
54
Provide consulting services, including educational programs, outreach programs, or prevention talks to schools, social service agencies, businesses, or the general public.Medium
71
Develop, direct, and participate in training programs for staff and students.Medium
60
Provide occupational, educational, or other information to individuals so that they can make educational or vocational plans.Medium
69
Plan and develop accredited psychological service programs in psychiatric centers or hospitals, in collaboration with psychiatrists and other professional staff.Medium
65
Provide psychological or administrative services and advice to private firms or community agencies regarding mental health programs or individual cases.Medium
71
Conduct research to develop or improve diagnostic or therapeutic counseling techniques.Medium
66
Observe individuals at play, in group interactions, or in other contexts to detect indications of cognitive, intellectual, or developmental disabilities.Medium
31
Most exposed

Where AI can do more

Routine, digitized, and highly repeatable tasks face the greatest pressure.

  1. Use a variety of treatment methods, such as psychotherapy, hypnosis, behavior modification, stress reduction therapy, psychodrama, or play therapy.71
  2. Select, administer, score, and interpret psychological tests to obtain information on individuals' intelligence, achievements, interests, or personalities.71
  3. Provide consulting services, including educational programs, outreach programs, or prevention talks to schools, social service agencies, businesses, or the general public.71
  4. Provide psychological or administrative services and advice to private firms or community agencies regarding mental health programs or individual cases.71
Hardest to automate

Where people still matter

These tasks score lowest on automation feasibility—physical presence, judgement, accountability and real-world variability all resist end-to-end automation.

  1. Observe individuals at play, in group interactions, or in other contexts to detect indications of cognitive, intellectual, or developmental disabilities.01
  2. Use a variety of treatment methods, such as psychotherapy, hypnosis, behavior modification, stress reduction therapy, psychodrama, or play therapy.02
  3. Counsel individuals, groups, or families to help them understand problems, deal with crisis situations, define goals, and develop realistic action plans.03
  4. Interact with clients to assist them in gaining insight, defining goals, and planning action to achieve effective personal, social, educational, or vocational development and adjustment.04
  5. Identify psychological, emotional, or behavioral issues and diagnose disorders, using information obtained from interviews, tests, records, or reference materials.05
Where else this work leads

Related occupations

Occupations O*NET links to this one. Relatedness reflects shared work, not a claim that these roles are safer.

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Beyond AI capability

Adoption and labour-market outlook

Structural factors are kept separate from raw capability so you can see what actually resists automation. Adoption pressure and labour-market resilience are still provisional models—25% of this occupation’s replacement-risk weight rests on them.

Human dependency50
Physical dependency22
Adoption pressure46
Labour-market resilience61
Methodology & sources

O*NET 30.3 occupational data interpreted through the JobsVsAI capability, automation and structural-constraint models.

Confidence82/100
CalculatedAug 21, 2026
Read methodology →