APA Dictionary of Psychology

a specialty within health, clinical, and counseling psychology that involves providing psychologically oriented preventive and treatment services under the auspices of medical professionals in such settings as clinics, hospitals, and private practices, either on site or on a consultation basis. A physician, for example, might engage a primary care psychologist to further evaluate a patient with hypertension whose presenting symptoms also include anxiety and to offer both counseling to address the anxiety and behavioral interventions (e.g., relaxation training) to help the patient manage stress.