Chapter 2 Flashcards
1
Q
Assessment
A
- Large percentage of clinical psychologists engage in assessment, which they devote over a quarter of their professional time to
- May target various areas and populations, like individuals, families, couples, etc.
- Can be used to address many types of questions (disorders, interpersonal dynamics, intellectual disabilities, etc.)
- A multi-method approach is used to integrate diverse data, like standardized tests, collected data from observations and interviews, etc.
2
Q
What would it be like to spend almost a day a week doing psychological assessments?
A
- Reports get written afterwards, which tend to be very long and mentally tasking as they address the client’s history, factors, symptoms, recommendations and any added notes that psych may have written down themselves
- Managing behaviours
- Running tests
3
Q
Intervention
A
- Psychologists spend ongoing time with the client
- Most common professional activity, with the highest percentage of clinical psychologists and professional time devoted to this practice
- Many clients attend only a few sessions, as not all therapists will be a good fit
4
Q
What would it be like to spend over 40% of your work week helping people with their problems&?
A
- Separating professional from personal and adjusting mindset for yourself and the client
- Active listening and empathy
- Developing boundaries for how much you can take on and which individuals you can or cannot work with
- Saving time for debriefing with colleagues or seeing your own therapist and for self-care and grounding/deescalating habits
5
Q
Research
A
- Almost half engage or are involved in research
- For many conducting research is only a small part of workday or workweek, maybe going to lab once every 2 weeks
6
Q
Can clinical psychology be a science-based profession, if clinical psychologists spend so little time conducting research?
A
Yes (although there is a current dilemma on the lack of research done for certain populations that may need it, leading to gaps in EPB
7
Q
Clinical Supervision
A
- Almost half engage in supervision
- Model of supervision reflects model of supervisor, meaning it mirrors their theoretical orientation (if oriented towards CBA, will emphasize CBT), and it is therefore important to find a good match
- Very little research on what makes a good supervisor
8
Q
Administration
A
Almost half of psychologists spend some of their time in admin, by managing clinics, overseeing staff, programs, processes, etc.
9
Q
Are there ways that a clinical psychologist can apply clinical skills in administration?
A
- Supporting individuals (other psychologists, students, etc.)
- Problem-solving (assessing skills and applying to organizational areas)
- Leading teams
10
Q
Where do clinical psychologists work?
A
- Hospitals (support patients with medical pr psychiatric issues)
- Community clinics
- Residential clinics (longterm care individuals)
- Child protection agencies (safeguard children and families)
- Prisons (rehab support and MH of inmates)
- Family practice
- Private MH practice (specialized services (assessment/therapy)
- Universities (engage in teaching, research, opportunities for future psychs)
11
Q
Pro arguments for Clinical psychologists having prescriptive authority
A
- Brain-behaviour links
- Psychologists could be as competent as other health-care providers
- Offer comprehensive services
- Especially helpful in remote or underserved areas which have limited support, by filling the gaps
12
Q
Con arguments for Clinical psychologists having prescriptive authority
A
- May lead to greater prescribing as it is quicker in short-term
- Psychologists should focus only on psychological interventions
- Extend training or drop something else, as it would add another element to their busy schedule
13
Q
If psychologists do not prescribe medication, what should they know about it?
A
- Classes of drugs for different problems (basic understanding of these for different disorders)
- Efficacy of drugs and of drugs in combo with psychological treatment (research based cost vs benefit to provide clients with an educated decision)
- Side-effects (researched common side effects, recognize when they interfere with psychotherapy, can collaborate with diagnosing practitioners to help clients best as possible)
14
Q
Canadian Code of Ethics for Psychologists
A
- Sets out principles that guide all activities
- Requires psychologists to base their practice on scientific evidence (EBP)
- Evidence may not address the specific issue you are working with
- Can help tailor work to meet needs of clients by providing specific recommendations to align with social, cultural and personal factors and by actively involving clients in process
15
Q
Staying healthy
A
- This is important for clinical psychologists as they are not immune and are very exposed to suffering and stressors which can cause burnouts and emotional fatigue
- Also because they have an ethical responsibility to ensure their own issues do not interfere and serve as a credible model of coping
- To stay healthy, they maintain a balance, prioritizing exercise, eating, health and sleep, as well as saving time for debriefing, decompressing, stress management and self-care outside of work and work load
