Introduction to Clinical PsychologyDiscussion Section #1

The PowerPoint slides were developed by Mus Khairy (PhD), Stanford University at California. Educational ,Social Psychologists at German University at Cairo (GUC)

unless otherwise noted on specific slides.

Clinical Psychology is….

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Clinical Psychology….

…is not limited to therapy and assessment

Focus of this course: Review of assessment Review of therapies Review of additional roles in clinical

psychology

American Psychological Association (APA) 1. Society for General Psychology

2. Society for the Teaching of Psychology3. Experimental Psychology4. There is no Division 4 [more info]5. Evaluation, Measurement, and Statistics6. Behavioral Neuroscience and Comparative Psychology

7. Developmental Psychology8. Society for Personality and Social Psychology9. Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues (SPSSI)

10. Society for the Psychology of Aesthetics, Creativity and the Arts

11. There is no Division 11 [more info]12. Society of Clinical Psychology13. Society of Consulting Psychology14. Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology

15. Educational Psychology16. School Psychology17. Society of Counseling Psychology18. Psychologists in Public Service19. Society for Military Psychology20. Adult Development and Aging21. Applied Experimental and Engineering Psychology22. Rehabilitation Psychology23. Society for Consumer Psychology24. Society for Theoretical and Philosophical Psychology

25. Behavior Analysis26. Society for the History of Psychology27. Society for Community Research and Action: Division of Community Psychology

28. Psychopharmacology and Substance Abuse29. Psychotherapy30. Society of Psychological Hypnosis

31. State, Provincial, and Territorial Psychological Association Affairs

32. Humanistic Psychology33. Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities

34. Population and Environmental Psychology35. Society for the Psychology of Women36. Psychology of Religion37. Child, Youth, and Family Services38. Health Psychology39. Psychoanalysis40. Clinical Neuropsychology41. American Psychology-Law Society42. Psychologists in Independent Practice43. Family Psychology44. Society for the Psychological Study of Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Issues

45. Society for the Psychological Study of Ethnic Minority Issues

46. Media Psychology47. Exercise and Sport Psychology48. Society for the Study of Peace, Conflict, and Violence: Peace Psychology Division49. Group Psychology and Group Psychotherapy50. Addictions51. Society for the Psychological Study of Men and Masculinity52. International Psychology53. Society of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology54. Society of Pediatric Psychology 55. American Society for the Advancement of Pharmacotherapy

Division 12: Society of Clinical PsychologyDefinition of clinical psychology offered by

Division 12:

The field of Clinical Psychology integrates science, theory, and practice to understand, predict, and alleviate maladjustment, and personal development.

Clinical Psychology focuses on the intellectual, emotional, biological, psychological, social, and behavioral aspects of human functioning across the lifespan, in varying cultures, and at all economic levels.

What is Clinical Psychology? General Characteristics Activities and Work Settings of

Clinical Psychologists Distinguishing Clinical Psychology

from Related Professions

Clinical Psychology: General CharacteristicsEmphasizes: Science Maladjustment Individual

Emphasis on Science

Clinical psychology, as a subdiscipline within the science psychology, adheres to two important assumptions of science:

Determinism-events have determinable causes

Empiricism-events must be observable and measurable

Emphasis on Maladjustment The concern is with the scientific

understanding of abnormal behavior and emotional suffering

Emphasis on the IndividualClinical psychology uses research

information gathered in groups of people to guide their work with individiuals

Emphasis on Helping

Clinical psychologists help people in psychological distress

Historically, helping was not the first emphasis of clinical psychology. Any guesses about the first emphasis of clinical psychology?

Activities and Work Settings Of Clinical Psychologists Research Teaching Psychotherapy Assessment Consultation Administration

Distinguishing Clinical Psychology from Related ProfessionsTraining of a Clinical Psychologist Undergraduate (typical): focus on

psychology 4 (or more) years of graduate course work Masters’ thesis or equivalent Practicum training Qualifying exam Dissertation Internship (typically one year) State Licensing exam

Distinguishing Clinical Psychology from Related ProfessionsPsychiatry Undergraduate: focus on biology or

chemistry Medical school (one year) Internship (one year) Residency, specialty in psychiatry (three years) Board exams

Distinguishing Clinical Psychology from Related ProfessionsLast step in training

in Clinical Psychology

Defend the dissertation

Last step in training in becoming a physician

Take the Hippocratic oath

Clinical Psychology vs. PsychiatryClinical

Psychologists… Learn to think as

researchers To evaluate

findings To defend their

views by citing data

Psychiatrists…. Learn facts and

use this knowledge to understand and treat patients

Overlap of Clinical Psychology and PsychiatryBoth… Diagnose Treat using therapy (although

training in psychotherapy is more heavily emphasized for clinical psychologists)

Distinguishing Clinical Psychology from Related ProfessionsCounseling Psychology Most similar to clinical psychology Training about the same Counseling psychologists tend to deal with

problems of adjustment in healthy individuals

Historically counseling psychologists worked within university counseling centers

In last few decades, they have expanded their work setting to include private practice

The valid distinction between the two fields is fading

Distinguishing Clinical Psychology from Related ProfessionsSchool Psychology Typically have a masters level of

training Typically work in school settings Significant emphasis on

testing/assessment Consultation with schools to improve

learning environments

Distinguishing Clinical Psychology from Related ProfessionsSocial Work M.S.W. (2 years of post B.A. training)

emphasizing clinical work Typically focus on working with the poor

and disenfranchised segments of the population

Work in settings dealing with many aspects of a patient’s life and care such as social security, housing, food stamps, Medicare, arrangements for nursing homes, and foster care placement

Emphasis on therapy, but not diagnostic training or emphasis on research

Summary: What is Clinical Psychology

The field of Clinical Psychology integrates science, theory, and practice to understand, predict, and alleviate maladjustment, and personal development.