Unit 1: Introduction To Clinical Psychology

UNIT 1
INTRODUCTION TO CLINICAL
PSYCHOLOGY
NATURE OF CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY
• What is Clinical Psychology?
 A subfield of psychology
 Therapy
 Assessment
 Mental health issues
• What is NOT clinical psychology?
 Mad people?
 Certification?
 Talk therapy?
 Testing and more testing?
 Superior field of psychology?
DEFINITIONS
• The American Psychological Association - ‘‘The field of
Clinical Psychology integrates science, theory, and
practice to understand, predict, and alleviate
maladjustment, disability, and discomfort as well as to
promote human adaptation, adjustment, and personal
development. Clinical Psychology focuses on the
intellectual, emotional, biological, psychological, social,
and behavioral aspects of human functioning across the
life span, in varying cultures, and at all socioeconomic
levels” (Society of Clinical Psychology, 2002)
• Canadian Psychological Association - ‘‘Clinical
psychology is a broad field of practice and
research within the discipline of psychology,
which applies psychological principles to the
assessment, prevention, amelioration, and
rehabilitation of psychological distress,
disability, dysfunctional behaviour, and health-
risk behaviour, and to the enhancement of
psychological and physical well-being.’’
• British Psychological Association - ‘‘Clinical
psychology aims to reduce psychological
distress and to enhance and promote
psychological well-being by the systematic
application of knowledge derived from
psychological theory and data.’’
CHARACTERISTICS OF CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY
• Emphasis on science
 Determinism – all events have causes that are
potentially knowable
 Empiricism – events that are observable and
measurable. (hypothetical constructs are tested
by examining relationships among observable
events.
 CP employs and values scientific methods –
RESEARCH.
• Emphasis on Maladjustment
 Abnormal behaviour, disability, discomfort and
emotional suffering.
 We seek to understand what problems our
clients face and apply that understanding to
help them gain relief.
 One great distinction from other subfields of
psychology.
• Emphasis on the Individual
 Psychology – Nomothetic level.
 Clinical psychology – Idiographic level.
 Intuitive, people oriented, flexible,
approachable and being analytical , scientific
and rooted in psychology as a science.
• Emphasis on Helping
 Ours is a helping profession.
 “Empathy”.
 Not just study, assess, diagnose, label –
ultimate goal is to help – in technical –
Therapy.
SCOPE OF CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY
• RESEARCH
• TEACHING
• PSYCHOTHERAPY
• ASSESSMENT
• CONSULTATION
• ADMINISTRATION
ASSESSMENT
• One of the most frequently engaged acitivites.
• Diagnose, understand , describe, guide,
facilitate selection, select appropriate
treatment, aid legal decisions, research etc.,
• Tests, interviews , observations, Batteries,
multiple strategies.
TREATMENT
• Psychotherapy, behaviour modification, psychological
counseling,
• Individual, couple, group
• Alleviation , prevention, enhancing behavioural skills
• Outpatient, in patient,
• can be monologous to a dramatic breakdown.
• Goals – specific or complete reconstruction of clients
personality,
• Maybe conducted free of charge or relative to client’s
income.
RESEARCH
• Theory and practice – case study evidence
• Now – experimental evidence
• Efficacy vs effectiveness
• Evidence based practice
• Effectiveness of treatments, alternate
treatments, new diagnostic modules, revision,
prevalence, incidence, new disorders? Etc.,
TEACHING
• Traditional classroom based – graduate and
undergraduate.
• Additionally - Clinical supervision .
• More discussion – Training models.
CONSULTATION
• Expert advice – organisations, schools,
medical, law
• Case – oriented consultation
• Program or Administration – oriented
consultation.
• Locus of responsibilty
• Functions – education, advice, direct service,
crisis resolution.
ADMINISTRATION
• Most often – least preferred activity.
• Alloting services, designating heads, supervision
• In-patient –out patient management
• Ward allotment – sharing? Specific – contingent
upon income sectors
• Handle different emotional states, organising
skills, people interaction, crisis management,
preparedness, logistics, resource management
ROLE
• Ability to perform research and collect data to
enhance the understanding of clinical psychology
• Consulting with a variety of other behavioral and
health professionals and organizations about
violence, suicide, and severe mental distress
• Possessing extensive knowledge of mental illness
and how to diagnose and treat it
• Understanding the broad expanse of mental
health issues and how they may occur at any age
ABCP Basic Competencies
• An awareness of ethical and legal principles and employs them effectively
• Building effective relationships with others, including clients, fellow practitioners, and
the public
• Continual practice of self-evaluation and always striving to improve treatment methods
• Fair, respectful, a clear communicator, and able to handle potentially difficult situations
with understanding and diplomacy
• Keeping up with the latest research and identifying how it can improve clinical practice
• A professional attitude, values, and behaviors that are apparent in interactions with
others
• Sensitivity to individual and cultural diversity and understanding how these factors
affect who we are and how we think
• Skill in collaborating with others from different disciplines and
organizations, employing respect, appreciation, and communication
• An understanding of different scientific disciplines that relate to psychology and how
they may impact treatment
DISTINGUISHING FROM OTHER MENTAL
HEALTH ALLIED PROFESSIONALS
PSYCHIATRY
• Most commonly asked question

• Medication prescription – essentially different. But
not universal.
• Some countries – New Mexico, Illinois, and ongoing
movement in several parts of the world – also
Europe.
• Medical vs Humanities/ social science.
• “when they are through, they take an oath, when we are through we get into an argument” ;)
• The dominant Biological model vs the eclectic

model.
COUNSELING
• Most similar to clinical psychology.
• Distinction – training and practice.
• Counselling psychologists – problems of adjustment in
healthy individuals, more minor forms of
maladjustment.
• Less emphasis on testing (usually more of vocational/
interest/ aptitude and personality)
• Emphasise outreach programs, prevention and short
term counseling.
• However, changing trends – distinction fading.
SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGY
• Settings different
• Academic needs of school children.
• Testing – intelligence, academic achievement,
behaviour functioning.
• Diagnosis – LD, MR, ADHD
• Creating programmes, learning environments,
foster and train classsroom management skills
• May provide brief therapy.
SOCIAL WORK
• Roots in social service.
• Poor and disenfranchised segments of the
populations.
• Usually – social history taking, resource
mobilisation, provide support services.
• Training – MSW.
OTHER RELATED PROFESSIONS
• Marriage and Family counseling.
• Child guidance.
• Some states – license requirement – two years
of supervised experience / 3000 hours of
internship.
• Some states – more rigid roles
• Different in practice – across states and in
India.

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UNIT 1

• Most commonly asked question

• The dominant Biological model vs the eclectic

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