Clinical Psychology Overview Quiz

What is Clinical Psychology?

• Clinical psychology integrates science and practice
• It aims to alleviate suffering and promote health.
• This field involves research, teaching, and services.
• These services are relevant to the applications of principles, methods, and procedures.
• Understanding, predicting, and alleviating cognitive, emotional, biological, social and behavioral maladjustment is part of clinical psychology.
• This is applied to a wide range of clients.

Goals of Clinical Psychology

• Integrate science and practice
• Apply integrated knowledge to alleviate suffering and promote health.
• Meet the goals of clients from a wide range of backgrounds during different stages of their lives.

Requirements of Clinical Psychologists

• Doctoral degree (PhD or PsyD) from an accredited program: More PsyDs are awarded than PhDs.

• Clinical internship to accumulate clinical hours.

• Often includes a postdoctoral fellowship (clinical/research, based on career goals).

• Licensure (national EPPP, plus state tests).

• Good character to maintain ethical standards.

• Clinicians must know and follow the APA Ethics Code.

• Researchers must follow ethical guidelines regulated by the IRB (Institutional Review Board).

• Ongoing continuing education (formal & informal).

How Do Clinical Psychologists Spend Their Time?

• Assessment (52%): Collecting information about behavior, problems for abilities, functioning.
• This is used to select treatments, evaluate treatment progress, and give information in legal settings.
• Treatment (various orientations and modalities) - individual, family, group, or couple focused.
• Research (varies greatly): Lab-based, clinical-based, or basic vs. applied.
• Administration (19%): Managing resources and tasks.
• Consultation (4%): Seeking advice from colleagues.
• Supervision (5%): Guiding other clinicians and students.
• Teaching (12%): Training others in clinical psychology.
• Other (8%): Miscellaneous activities.

How Psychologists Spend Their Time(Different Components)

• Treatment: many different orientations and modalities; individual, family, group, and couples therapy.
• Evidence-based practice (EBP): integrating best psychological services, research, patient experience, culture, and preferences.
• Assessment: collecting info on behavior, problems, abilities, intellectual functioning. (Used to select treatments, assess progress & give legal information.)
• Research: distinguishes clinical psychologists from other practitioners; lab, clinic; basic vs. applied science.
• The image shows the types of research, including observational studies, basic science, public policy, clinical trials, comparative effectiveness, etc.
• Research is important for graduate school admission. Many clinical psychologists do not pursue research careers.

Where Psychologists Spend Their Time

• Private practice (45% primary, 47% secondary): Outpatient care.
• Hospitals (17% primary, 10% secondary): Inpatient, various specialties.
• Other human service settings (7% primary, 6% secondary): Other medical settings, nonprofits.
• Academia (19% primary, 21% secondary): Teaching and research roles.
• Business and government (8% primary, 6% secondary): Consulting roles, legal situations.
• Other (4% primary, 10% secondary): Various specialized roles.

How Are Psychologists Different From Other Mental Health Professionals?

• Counseling psychologists are more likely to treat less severe clients with humanistic orientations.
• School psychologists focus on students, education, and development.
• Psychiatrists frequently conduct psychological testing, have a medical degree, are more likely to prescribe medication, and have specialized training.
• Social Workers focus on connecting patients with social services for clients with various needs.
• Professional Counselors use psychotherapy to aid clients, focus on milder mental health struggles and emphasizing client social needs.
• Marriage and Family Therapists specialize in treating couples and families.

Summary

• Clinical psychology emphasizes the integration of science and practice.
• Clinical psychologists usually have PhDs or PsyDs and are licensed to practice.
• Clinical psychologists engage in various activities like clinical work, research, teaching, assessment, consulting, administration, and supervision.