Chapter 1: What is Contemporary Clinical Psychology? Flashcards
Clinical Psychology
Focuses on the assessment, treatment, and understanding of psychological and behavioral problems and dsorders. Clinical Psychology focuses its efforts on the ways in which the human psyche interacts with physical, emotional, and social aspects of health and dysfunction
APA Definition of Clinical Psychology
Clinical Psychology attempts to use the principles of psychology to better understand, predict, and alleviate intellectual, emotional, biological, psychological, social, and behavioral aspects of human functioning
Rodnick’s Definition of Clinical Psychology
The aspect of psychological science and practice concerned with the analysis, treatment, and prevention of human psychological disabilities and with the enhancing of personal adjustment and effectiveness
Contemporary Clinical Psychology
Uses integrative approaches to understand and address problems in human behavior
Biopsychosocial Perspective
An example of the integrative approach; Interplay of relevant biological, psychological, and social factors in human behavior; emphasizes the interaction of biological, psychological, and social influences on behavior and psychological functioning
Biopsychosocial Approach
Systematic perspective that changes in one area of functioning will likely impact functioning in other areas; highlights the mutual interdependence of each system on each of the other systems
Road to being a Clinical Psychologist
College Graduate School Clinical Internship Postdoctoral fellowship Licensure Employment
Types of Doctorate Degrees
Phd (Doctor of Philosophy)
PsyD (Doctor of Psychology
EPPP
Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology, needed beofre obtaining a license
Diplomate
Advanced level of certification; optional post-licensing certification that reflects advanced competency in a subspecialty area of professional practice
Activities of Clinical Psychologists
Research Assessment Treatment Teaching Consultation Administration
Research
At the foundation of all clinical psychology activities; provides the basis and direction for all professional activities
Research Progress
Help to determine which assessment or treatment approach might be most effective for a particular clinical problem such as depression, anxiety, eating disorders, or substance abuse problems
Assessment
Includes cognitive, personality, behavioral, neuropsychological, and observational measures; requires the psychologist to utilize an arsenal of tools in determining subtle and often hidden problems and syndromes in the context of biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors
Treatment
Various treatment approaches and theoretical models are utilized to treat psychological and behavioral problems
Eclectic Strategy
Integrating a variety of perspectives and clinical approaches in their treatment
Major Theoretical Schools of Thought in Psychology
Psychodynamic
Cognitive Behavioral
Humanistic/Existential
Family Systems
Empirically Supported Treatments
Hinge on the notion that psychological treatment approaches should always be based on solid empirical research data and supported by proessional organizations such as the APA; Manualized treatments and have been developed for a variety of clinical problems
Teaching
Psychologists can be found in schools teaching students from different levels
Consultation
Might involve an informal discussion, a brief report, or a more ongoing and formal consultation arrangement; might also involve helping a physician to better manage patient noncompliance with unpleasant medical procedures; Might include asessment, teaching, research, and brief psychotherapy activities
Administration
Psychologists might take on administrative positions; manage budgets, lead multidisciplinary professional and support staff, make hiring and firing decisions, and develop policies and procedures for clinical or research operations
Private or Group Practices
May provide clinical services in their own solo practice or in conjunction with other mental health or health care practitioners in a multidisciplinary setting
Colleges and Universities
Psychologists generally teach psychology courses, supervise the clinical and/or research work of psychology students, and conduct both independent and collaborative research; provide services to students
Hospitals
Conduct psychological testing; provide individual, family or group psychotherapy; act as consultant to other mental health or medical professionals on psychiatric or general medical hospital units; and may serve in administrative roles, such as unit chief, on a psychiatric wards
CAPP V. Rank
This decision allowed psychologists to have full admitting, discharge, and treatment privileges at appropriate California hospitals
Medical Schools
Clinical Psychologists serve on the faculties of many medical schools acting as clinical faculty,
Clinical Faculty
Generally involves several hours per week pro bono time contributed to training medical center trainees
Outpatient Clinics
Psychologists provide a range of clinical services to other professionals and organizations; provide parent education classes; conduct research, direct clinical service
Business & Industry
Consultation services to management, assessment and brief psychotherapy to employees and conduct research on various psychosocial issues important to company functioning and performance
Military
Hold an officer rank as captain; provide direct clinical services or conduct research while others act as administrators in military hospitals and clinics
Other locations
Police Departments, prisons, juvenile hall and detention centers, rehabilitation centers for disabled children and/or adults, substance abuse and/or mental illness halfway houses, battered women’s shelters, schools, and many other work enironments
Subspecialties
Child Clinical Psychology Clinical Health Psychology Clinical Neuropsychology Forensic Psychology Geropsychology
Child Clinical Psychology
Specialize in working with children and families; child and family focus in clinical training; have in-depth training in general psychologists, in-depth training in developmental psychology and child assessment and treatment; Pediatric psychologists work with children and families in hospital settings where the child has a significant mental disorder, pain management strategies to a child while helping the family cope more effectively with and locate community resources
Clinical Health Psychology
The aggregate of the specific educational, scientific, and professional contributions of the discipline of psychology to the promotion and maintenance of health, the prevention and treatment of illness, the identification of etiologic and related dysfunction, and to the analysis and improvement of the health care system and health policy formation (Matrarazzo); specialize in health-related problems and interventions; utilized specialized techniques such as biofeedback, hypnosis, relaxation training, and self-management strategies in addition to general psychotherapy in the course of the overall treatment process
Clinical Neuropsychology
Focuses on brain-behavior relationships; defined as how brain functioning impacts behavior and behavioral problems; Assess brain and behavioral functioning and offer strategies for patients suffering from brain impairment due to problems such as dementia, head injuries, tumors, autism, stroke, AIDS, Alzheimer’s disease, epilepsy, and other problems that result in cognitive and neurological dysfuction
Forensic Psychology
Defined as the application of psychology to legal issues; Use principles of human behavior in the judicial and legal systems; trained as clinical or counseling psychologists with a specialty in forensic work
Geropsychology
Provides a range of range of psychological services to elderly members of society;
Organizations
Americal Psychological Association (APA)
American Psychological Society (APS)
American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP)
Other Organizations
American Psychological Association (APA)
Members regard themselves as academically and scientifically focused felt that the APA no longer adequately represented their interest;
American Psychological Society (APS)
Academically and scientifically focused members
American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP)
Agency that certifies psychologists in several specialty areas; ABPP Diploma considered an advanced level of accomplishment beyond a state license to practice as a psychologist
Counseling Psychologists (PhD)
Similar to clinical psychologists in actual practice; differences in philosophy, training emphases, and curriculum between clinical and counseling graduate programs
Major in Psychology as undergraduates and attent a four-year graduate training program, complete a one-year clinical internship, and complete postdoctoral training prior to obtaining their license as a psychologist
School Psychologists (MA or PhD)
Typically work in elementary, secondary, or special education schools providing cognitive testing, brief counseling, and consultation to school teachers, administrators, parents, and students; provide tutoring help; provide guidance to children and families concerning psychological concerns
Psychiatry (MD)
Physicians who earn a medical degree (MD) and complete residency training in psychology; Focus on medication management and other medical approaches to psychiatric disorders; Use medical training to diagnose and treat a wide spectrum of mental illnesses; can prescribe medication, treat physical illnesses, and may utilize other biological interventions;
Social Work (MSW)
Receive training in psychotherapy and psychiatric diagnoses during their year or years of supervised clinical experience; shorter length of grauate training; training tends to highlight social factors such as poverty, crime, racism, and oppression that influence individual, group, and organizational behavior as well as emphasizing advocacy for the rights of others
Psychiatric Nursing (RN)
Have specialty training in psychiatric illnesses and treatment; provide psychotherapy to individuals, families, and groups as well as assisting in medical management of psychotropic medications
Marriage and Family Therapists (MFT)
Treat adults in individual therapy
Contemporary Clinical Psychology
The assessment, treatment, and study of human behavior in the context of biological, pschological, and social factors; integration and awareness of individual differences such as culture, ethnicity, and gender are part and parcel of the state of this art and science
Goals and Activities of Clinical Psychology
To use the principles of psychology and our understanding of human behavior to promote health, happiness, and quality of life
