What is Clinical Psychology

Introduction to Clinical Psychology

Lecture 1

Dr. Reem Ibrahim AhmedDr. Reem Ibrahim Ahmed

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Clinical Psychology….Clinical Psychology….

Definition of clinical psychology According to the APA Division of Clinical Psych (Division 12):

The field of Clinical Psychology integrates science, theory, and practice to understand, predict, and alleviate maladjustment, and personal development.

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Clinical Psychology focuses on the intellectual, emotional, biological, psychological, social, and behavioral aspects of human functioning across the lifespan, in varying cultures, and at all economic levels.

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What is Clinical Psychology?

What does all that mean? What does all that mean? In essence, we:• Work to understand why people have

psychological distress• Work to prevent emotional

disturbance/distress• Work to relieve emotional

disturbance/distress• Promote psychological well-being*• Promote personal development and

growth*

What do you need to become a What do you need to become a clinical psychologists?clinical psychologists?

Most important aspect: Personal Attributes• Clinical Attitude/Approach -- use of

knowledge from research on human behavior and mental processes, along with individual assessment, in efforts to alleviate personal/emotional distress

• Deep interest and compassion for people• Integrity, emotional stability, and honesty• Sound judgment

Training of a Clinical Psychologist• Undergraduate (typical): focus on

psychology• 4 (or more) years of graduate course work• Masters’ thesis or equivalent• Practicum training• Qualifying exam• Dissertation• Internship (typically one year)• State Licensing exam

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Activities and Work Settings Of Activities and Work Settings Of Clinical PsychologistsClinical Psychologists

• Research• Teaching• Psychotherapy• Assessment • Consultation• Administration

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What exactly does a clinical What exactly does a clinical psychologist do?psychologist do?

• Assessment—• collect information about people to in

essence diagnose problematic behavior, • describe a person’s personality

characteristics, • enhance personal well-being, determine

possible career options, • select employment candidates,

• provide legal decisions (criminal responsibility, commitment to an institution, family reunification, fitness to return to society, etc.),

• determine readiness and effectiveness of treatment

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Treatment – • offer various interventions to resolve

emotional distress and psychological problems (psychotherapy); most commonly used therapeutic approaches are cognitive-behavioral, psychodynamic, and humanistic.

• Goals of treatment vary from person to person and are determined by clients and their therapists.

• Treatment can be performed on an in-patient basis (psychiatric hospital) or out-patient basis (community mental health center, offices, etc.)

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• ResearchResearch -- conduct research to determine effectiveness of assessment and treatment procedures; understand etiology of psychological disorders in children and adults.

• Teaching -- provide educational activities at universities, colleges, etc.. Provide supervision for student practicum sites.

• Consultation -- provide advice to organizations, health care providers, school systems, and governmental agencies

Activities and Work Settings of Clinical Psychologists

Distinguishing Clinical Psychology from Related Professions

General Characteristics

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Clinical Psychology: General Characteristics

Emphasizes:ScienceMaladjustmentIndividual

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Emphasis on Science

Clinical psychology, as a subdiscipline within the science psychology, adheres to two important assumptions of science:

• Determinism-events have determinable causes

• Empiricism-events must be observable and measurable

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Emphasis on Maladjustment

• The concern is with the scientific understanding of abnormal behavior and emotional suffering

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Emphasis on the Individual

Clinical psychology uses research information gathered in groups of people to guide their work with individuals

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Emphasis on Helping

• Clinical psychologists help people in psychological distress

• Historically, helping was not the first emphasis of clinical psychology.

• Any guesses about the first emphasis of clinical psychology?

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Psychiatry• Undergraduate: focus on biology or chemistry• Medical school (one year)• Internship (one year)• Residency, specialty in psychiatry• (three years)• Board exams

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Overlap of Clinical Psychology and Psychiatry

Both…• Diagnose• Treat using therapy (although training in

psychotherapy is more heavily emphasized for clinical psychologists)

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Clinical Psychology vs. PsychiatryClinical Psychology vs. Psychiatry

Clinical Psychologists

• Learn to think as researchers

• To evaluate findings

• To defend their views by citing data

Psychiatrists….• Learn facts and

use this knowledge to understand and treat patients

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Distinguishing Clinical Psychology from Distinguishing Clinical Psychology from Related ProfessionsRelated Professions

Last step in training in Clinical Psychology : Defend the dissertation

Last step in training in becoming a physician: Take the Hippocratic oath

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Distinguishing Clinical Psychology from Distinguishing Clinical Psychology from Related ProfessionsRelated Professions

Counseling Psychology• Most similar to clinical psychology• Training about the same• Counseling psychologists tend to deal

with problems of adjustment in healthy individuals

• Historically counseling psychologists worked within university counseling centers

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• In last few decades, they have expanded their work setting to include private practice

• The valid distinction between the two fields is fading

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School Psychology• Typically have a masters level of training• Typically work in school settings• Significant emphasis on

testing/assessment• Consultation with schools to improve

learning environments

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Social Work• 2 years of post B.A. training emphasizing

clinical work• Typically focus on working with the poor and

disenfranchised segments of the population• Work in settings dealing with many aspects of

a patient’s life and care such as social security, housing, food stamps, Medicare, arrangements for nursing homes, and foster care placement

• Emphasis on therapy, but not diagnostic training or emphasis on research

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Employment Settings for Clinical PsychologyEmployment Settings for Clinical Psychology• Psychiatric Hospitals 4%• General Hospitals 3%• Outpatient Clinics 4%• Community Mental Health Clinics 2%• Medical School 8%• Private Practice 39%• University, Psychology 18%• University, Other 4%• VA Medical Center 3%• Other 15%

Summary: What is Clinical Psychology

• The field of Clinical Psychology integrates science, theory, and practice to understand, predict, and alleviate maladjustment, and personal development.

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