Chapter 2 - Contemporary Clinical Psychology Flashcards
Assessment
An activity conducted by most clinical psychologists
- evaluating the psychological functioning of an individual or relationship (i.e., couple, parent-child, family)
- Multi-method, integrative approach by collecting data from multiple sources (interviews, IQ testing, self-reporting, etc.) and compiling it together into a case conceptualization
Intervention
An activity engaged in the most by clinical psychologists (i.e., providing psychotherapy)
- effective treatment is often time-limited (~50 mins 1x a week for an extended period of time), client needs to put in the work outside of therapy setting to see change
- Clients often only attend a few sessions and then stop; usually because they believe that nothing is changing when really they need to put in the work, or they are not connecting with their provider
- Psychotherapy: evidence-based treatments used to treat a clinically significant issue (DSM diagnosis); want to create objective goals, not “curing” the problem
Where do clinical psychologists work?
- Hospitals: to help patients cope with pain/ the circumstances of their condition
- Community clinics: provide free services funded by government
- Residential clinics
- Child protection agencies: assessing children, contracts and agreements
- Prisons: conducting risk assessments of the incarcerated, providing rehabilitation services
- Family practice: working in same clinic as other health care professionals (like GPs), integrated primary care
- Private mental health practice: group practice (shared space with other psychologists), or solo practice
- Universities: faculty members that can conduct research and/or teach
Pros of Psychologists gaining Prescriptive Authority
- Provides a stronger understanding of brain-behaviour links
- Psychologist can offer comprehensive/”all-in-one” services (i.e., patients don’t have to see a psychologist and a psychiatrist/GP in order to get the treatment they need)
- May benefit remote/rural/underserved areas (i.e., one mental health professional can provide all the services they need rather than going out of town)
Cons of Psychologists gaining Prescriptive Authority
- Psychologists may resort to prescribing medications rather than therapy as it is quicker (over-prescribing)
- Requires additional training that clinical psychology does not provide; clinical training is specialized in providing evidence-based assessment and psychological treatments, pharmacological training would come at the expense of this training
- Psychologists should be working in a collaborative fashion with other health care professionals, not trying to duplicate their services
What should psychologists know about medication, even if they do not prescribe it?
- Understand which classes of drugs can treat different diagnoses; including their side-effects, compatibility with other drugs, risk profiles, and differences between drugs within the same class (e.g., Zoloft vs Prozac)
- Efficacy of drugs and their use in combination with psychological treatment (which are often just as/more effective than medication, learning coping skills more permeant than drugs)
- How a drug is started/stopped (e.g., what time of day should drug be taken, how it influences biorhythms)
Why is it important for clinical psychologists to stay healthy and how can they do it?
Why?
Psychologists are often exposed to the suffering of their patents on top of other stressors their career may provide. They have an ethical responsibility to ensure that their own issues do not interfere with their ability to provide good and safe treatment for their clients (harm reduction)
How?
It is important for psychologists to consider the nature of problems they are dealing with (e.g., may specialize in treating trauma). In order to say mentally well, psychologists develop a skill set on how to cope and build strong support systems. These skills include balancing their workload, prioritizing their own health, consulting other psychologists, and time management (i.e., allowing time between sessions to take notes and prepare for next client, holding boundaries)
Models of Training in Clinical Psychology
- Scientist Practitioner (Ph.D.) AKA: the “Boulder Model”
- Clinical Scientist (Ph.D.)
- Practitioner Scholar (Psy.D.)
Scientist Practitioner/Boulder Model
A training model that that emphasizes a balance of research (scienctist) and the provision of psychological services (practitioner)
- Most common PhD program in clinical psychology
- Strong supporter of evidence-based practice
Clinical Scientist Model
A training model that focusses most strongly on the development of (clinical) research skills
- PhD program
- primary goal to train students to contribute to the knowledge base of psychology
- less emphasis on clinical practice
Practitioner Scholar Model
A training model that emphasizes clinical skills and the consumption of research
- Psy.D program, not common in Canada
- Clinical psychologists as a “research consumer”, where research informs practice but do not require the skills to conduct their own research
Accreditation
A process designed by the CPA to ensure that clinical psychology programs maintain the standards that meet the professions expectations for the education of clinical psychologists.
- Easier to become a registered psychologist if attending CPA accredited program
- Accreditation of programs are for a limited term, must get re-registered (CPA comes to evaluate)
- Programs pay an annual fee to remain accredited
Licensure of psychologists
After their internship, to get licensed aspiring psychologists are to:
- Complete their degree program
- Receive supervised practice from a registered psychologist
- Take the Jurisprudence Exam (testing knowledge of laws)
- Take the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EEEP)
- Take an oral exam (verbally assess psychological knowledge)
Licensure ensures that psychologist’s meet the academic and clinical training requirements, so that they are providing ethical and competent services to the public (licensure protects the public!)
FUKC
