What is Clinical Psychology?

An Introduction

APA Division of Clinical Psychology

“ The field of Clinical Psychology involves research, teaching, and services relevant to the applications of principles, methods, and processes for understanding, predicting, and alleviating intellectual, emotional, biological, psychological, social and behavioral maladjustments, disability, and discomfort, applied to a wide range of client populations”

A Subfield of Psychology

Like all psychologists, clinical psychologists are Interested in the science of human behavior Interested in the science of mental processes Interested in applying research to solving human problems or improving human

welfare Unlike other psychologists

Interested primarily in human behavior and mental processes Interested primarily in the science and application of psychology to solving

mental health problems that humans Develop Inherit Learn Design

Based on Research

Like all psychologists, clinical psychologists conduct research on behavior and mental processes

Like all psychologists, clinical psychologists are concerned with applying research to improving human welfare

Like some other psychologists, mainly study people may study animals when research or ethical

considerations rule out humans

Involved in Assessment/Measurement

Like personality and industrial/organizational psychologists, clinical psychologists are involved in Assessing and measuring

Abilities Characteristics

Gathering data Analyzing Interpreting Supporting observations

Frequently using assessments to understand one person

Efforts to Help People Who are Psychologically Distressed

Like many other helping professionals Psychiatrists Social workers Family physicians Counselors Nurses Educators Clergy

So what distinguishes clinical psychology?

Not the activities they engage inCombining

Knowledge gained from research on human behavior and mental processes

Efforts at individual assessment To understand and help a particular person

Key distinctions

Use of science and theory to guide specific interventions for people experiencing problems or disorders

How general psychological principles shape Lives Problems Treatments

Treatment based on research and assessment

An example

A man comes to a mental hospital claiming that space aliens have stolen his thoughts. Through what lens will he be perceived by Experimental Psychologist Psychiatrist Clinical psychologist

Activities of licensed psychologists

Amount of time spent in different activities depends on work setting Assessment (5% - 23%) Treatment (18%-61%) Research (1%-15%) Teaching (5%-40%) Consultation (5%-7%) Administration (4%-20%)