How To Write a Clinical Psychologist Cover Letter

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Updated March 26, 2025

When you're applying for open clinical psychology jobs, prospective employers may ask you to submit a cover letter. A clinical psychologist cover letter can give you an opportunity to explain some of your key qualifications listed on your resume in greater detail. Before you start composing your cover letter, it can be useful to know what skills or experiences hiring managers might look for when reviewing application materials from clinical psychologists.In this article, we discuss what a clinical psychologist is, explain how to write a cover letter for this profession and provide a template and example clinical psychologist cover letter to help you craft your own.

What is a clinical psychologist?

A clinical psychologist is a healthcare professional who can diagnose and treat patients with symptoms or conditions related to their mental health. Clinical psychologists use methods such as talk therapy and counseling to help their patients understand, solve or mitigate their mental or emotional health challenges. Since clinical psychology is a broad field, many clinical psychologists pursue a specialization, such as in the brain's functions or in working with children.Related: How To Become a Clinical Psychologis

What does a clinical psychologist do?

Clinical psychologists perform a range of job duties, including:

Analyzing a patient's mental or emotional health through psychological evaluations
Discussing a patient's medical and personal history
Ordering diagnostic tests, such as MRIs, to help gain a better understanding of a patient's mental health issues
Diagnosing a patient based on their conversations and evaluations
Developing personalized treatment plans
Providing treatment to patients with conditions such as borderline, anxiety or depression
Helping patients understand their habits or coping mechanisms and develop healthier mindsets or behaviors
Referring patients to external resources, such as other healthcare professionals
Providing counseling services

How to write a clinical psychologist cover letter

Here are 11 steps that can help you create a clinical psychologist cover letter:

1. Review the job posting

Carefully read the job posting and note the requirements or desired qualifications for the role. Paying attention to the skills, experiences and credentials mentioned in the job posting can help you personalize your clinical psychologist cover letter in a way that aligns with what the hiring managers are looking for in a candidate. Since clinical psychologists can have a range of specializations and work environments, each job that you apply for might have different qualifications.For example, jobs for child psychologists might emphasize skills like patience and knowledge of adolescent development. By contrast, an employer of a neuropsychologist may prefer that candidates have experience working with patients who have conditions like Parkinson's or Alzheimer's.Related: 10 Career Paths in Clinical Psychology

2. Make an outline

Before you write your cover letter, create an outline. Outlining your clinical psychologist cover letter can help you make sure that you incorporate your key accomplishments and most relevant skills or experiences.This outline may also assist you in writing a cover letter that's an appropriate length. Most cover letters for clinical psychologist positions at mental health facilities are typically no longer than one page. By contrast, a clinical psychologist applying to roles at an academic institution might compose a cover letter between two to five pages so they can include information about their research background, teaching style and current projects.Related: 37 Clinical Psychologist Interview Questions (Plus Answers)

3.Set up your formatting

Set up your word processing software to format your cover letter using professional conventions. Most cover letters use a professional business letter format, meaning they have features such as:

Single-spacing between lines
One-inch margins around all sides
A professional font like Garamond or Times New Roman
Text justified to the left
No indented paragraphs

4. Place your contact details

Put your contact information inside a header at the top of your page. This includes your full name, phone number, email address, city, state abbreviation and zip code. If you have a certification or degree that's part of your title, add that right after your full name. Below these details, add the date.Related: A Day in the Life of a Psychologist: Job Duties and Skills

5. Specify a recipient

Craft your salutation, meaning formal greeting, to a specific person. Typically, the recipient of the cover letter is the professional who made the job posting. If you aren't sure who made the job posting, address the letter to either the head of the department you're applying to or an administrative leader at the organization. Make sure to use the recipient's correct title, such as "Dr." or "Mrs."Related: 16 Specializations in Psychology and Tips for Choosing One

6. Craft your introductory paragraph

Write a first paragraph that specifies which position you're applying to and provides a brief introduction of who you are. Explain in approximately to two to three sentences what unique characteristics of the job or organization interest you most. The introductory paragraph gives prospective employers an opportunity to learn more about why you're excited about their opportunity and can help them, in turn, feel excited about moving you further through the application process.Related: 30 Online Masters in Clinical Psychology Programs

7. Highlight key qualifications

Use the subsequent body paragraph to showcase your best or most relevant clinical psychology abilities and experiences. Try to incorporate at least one or two specific examples that demonstrate the skills or experiences you're highlighting. This can help prospective employers visualize what type of employee you might be at their organization.For example, if you want to spotlight your organizational skills, you might describe how you managed a clinical psychology research project or team. As another example, if you're hoping to emphasize your experience with cognitive-behavioral psychology techniques, you could provide more in-depth details about how you've used one of those methods in your clinical practice.Related: 7 Critical Skills for a Career in Clinical Psychology

8. Incorporate keywords

Incorporate clinical Psychology keywords, meaning specific words and phrases related to your profession or industry, throughout your cover letter. Using clinical psychology keywords can help make sure that your cover letter successfully passes through any Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) software that some hiring managers use to help them screen applications. Adding keywords can also demonstrate that you've read and understood the required or desired qualifications for the open clinical psychologist positions. Strategies for finding keywords might include:

Searching for words within the job posting about their ideal candidate's skills, credentials, specialization or experiences
Conducting research about the organization, such as their company culture or mission
Attending clinical psychology industry conventions, workshops or lectures
Joining a professional psychology association
Talking to other professionals in your industry
Reading the latest journal articles or news related to clinical psychology

9. Consider your tone

Be mindful of your tone as you write your clinical psychologist cover letter. Strive to sound both positive and professional. It's also important to make sure that you only disclose information that you're allowed to share about patients or other organizations.Related: Tone and Style in Writing: Tips and Why It Matters in the Workplace

10. Compose your concluding paragraph

Conclude your cover letter by thanking the prospective employer for considering you for their open clinical psychologist position. Reiterate your enthusiasm for their opportunity. If you're including other documents within your application, such as your resume or a sample paper, mention that in your concluding paragraph.Related: Psychology Certifications: Definition, Types and Tips To Earn One

11. Edit and proofread

Before you submit your application, edit your cover letter to ensure that you've showcased your key accomplishments and skills while maintaining a friendly tone. Check that each of your sentences is as concise as possible. It's also important to look for and fix small errors, such as grammatical issues or typos.Related: School Psychology vs. Clinical Psychology: What's the Difference?

Template for a clinical psychologist cover letter

Following is a template for a clinical psychologist cover letter that you can use to help you compose your own:[First name] [Last name], [Degree or certification if applicable][Phone number] I [Email address] I [City], [State] [Zip code][Date][Company name]Dear [Hiring manager's first name] [Hiring manager's last name][Express excitement for the position, including the role title and the organization name]. [Introduce yourself by explaining why you're applying for the job, how the role aligns with your career goals and what specifically draws you to the company].[Explain your relevant experience and qualifications without repeating what's in your resume]. [Highlight one or two relevant achievements with facts and data when possible.] [Explain why you'd be a good fit for the organization]. [Optional - address employment gap or career transition].[Express gratitude]. [Summarize key qualifications]. [Restate interest in role]. [Call to action + availability and preferred contact method].[Complimentary close],[Signature]Related: FAQ: What Degree Does a Clinical Psychologist Need?

Example of a clinical psychologist cover letter

Here's an example of a clinical psychologist cover letter you can use as a model for yours:Brooke Holmes, Doctor of Psychology555-555-5555 I brooke.holmes@email.com I Seattle, WA 98138March 22nd, 2022Sunset ClinicDear Dr. Brandon Sage,I'm delighted to have the opportunity to apply for a Clinical Psychologist position at Sunset Clinic. As an active clinical psychologist who's passionate about understanding both the brain's inner workings and each patient's unique circumstances, I admire your clinic's dedication to fusing innovative scientific research with compassionate therapy-based treatments.In my current role at Cherry Blossom Hospital, I use a range of cognitive-behavioral therapy techniques to diagnose and treat patients with an array of emotional, mental and behavioral disorders. During my three years here, I have helped over 90 patients learn how to mitigate and manage their symptoms or challenges by fostering a deeper understanding of their own cognitive state and developing healthier coping techniques.I have also assisted Dr. Edmund Polluck in conducting several unique studies about the pathology and treatment of patients with conditions related to addiction. In these pioneering studies, we've managed to help over 200 patients improve their symptoms of addiction in a statistically significant way. My clinical studies and practical therapy experiences have prepared me to take on more advanced research and counseling responsibilities at Sunset Clinic.Thank you for considering me for your open Clinical Psychologist role. I believe that my compassion, training in cognitive-behavioral therapy and experience conducting neurological studies could make me a great fit for this position. My resume, along with a research paper that I co-authored with Dr. Polluck, are attached to this email. I look forward to discussing in greater detail the responsibilities that a Clinical Psychologist at your clinic may perform. Please feel free to reach out to me with questions about my experiences or to request further information.Sincerely,Brooke Holmes

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