L1 What are clinical and counseling psychology?

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1.1 Define clinical psychology

American Psychological Association (APA): Clinical Psychology integrates science, theory, and practice to understand, predict, ad alleviate maladjustment, disability, and discomfort as well as to promote human adaptation, adjustment, and personal development.

Focus on many aspects of human functioning: intellectual, emotional, biological, psychological, social, behavioral, etc.

Does so across the life span, in varying cultures, and at all socioeconomic levels

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Simplified: clinical psychology - understanding and improving the psychological aspects of the human experience.

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1.2 What do clinical psychologists do? (Data in the US)

- Psychotherapy 36%

Collaborative treatment process involving a psychologist and client(s)

A variety of formats: individual (popular), couples, family, group

A variety of settings: inpatient hospitals and clinics, outpatient offices, community health centers.

A variety of formats: psychodynamic, humanistic, existential, cognitive, behavioral, mindfulness & acceptance based.

- Research 16%

Expanding knowledge and understanding of the field

Basic research

Development/validation of assessMents and interventions

Program evaluation

Comparison of different treatments

Review, evaluation, critique and synthesis of existing research

- Diagnosis/AssessMent 14%

Measuring behavior, abilities, and other characteristics often for purposes of making a diagnosis or a treatment recommendation

Specific types of assessMent include: screening, diagnostic assessMent, intelligence / achievement testing, neuropsychological testing, personality assessMent, behavioral assessMent

AssessMent information gathered through: Interviews, observations, standardized tests, self-report measures, (psycho)physiological measurement devices

Clinical and counseling psychologists are usually the providers who offer standardized psychological assessMents.

- Teaching 11%

Teaching occurs in high school / undergraduate / graduate / community

- Clinical Supervision 6%

Guidance provided by a qualified and experienced person (supervisor) to another individual (trainee); required while students learn therapeutic techniques (graduate students)

Goals of supervision:

Enhancing the professional competence and science-informed practice of the supervisee

Monitoring the quality of services provided

Protecting the public

Supervision of trainee occurs in practicum, internship, and postdoctoral settings - conducted individually or sMall groups (often both are including in the training experience)

- Consultation 6%

Applying specialized knowledge of clinical psychology to individuals, groups, or organizations

- Administration 11%

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Time split by professional setting

Private practise - more therapy/assessMent, little teaching/research

Medical center - most therapy/assessMent, more research

Research university - fairly between teaching and research

LAC - most time teaching

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Where do clinical psychologists work?

Most - private practice (40%)

University (20%)

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1.3 What is counseling psychology?

APA: counseling psychology addresses the emotional, social, work, school, and physical health concerns people may have at different stages in their lives, focusing on typical life stresses and more severe issues people may struggle with as individuals and as a part of families, groups, and organizations.

Very similar to clinical psychology

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1.4 Similarities and Differences

Similarities

Greater variability within clinical or counseling programs than between two categories: core training is nearly identical; same internship sites; same licensure process.

Both psychologists work as: licensed clinicians/therapists; researchers; teachers/academics; supervision & consultation

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Differences: Counseling psychologists are:

MORE likely than clinical psychologists to:

Provide career counseling and vocational testing

Focus on developmental issues/transitions and lifespan development

Work in university counseling centers

Work in community mental health centers

LESS likely than clinical psychologists to:

Work with clients with severe mental health problems

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1.5 Related mental health professions (in the US)

- Psychiatrists:

- Medical degree (MD)

Residency specializing in psychiatry

Licensed as physicians

Prescription rights

- Medical model of mental illness

Emphasis on the biological aspects of problems

Mental disorders as physiological abnormalities of the brain

Medication considered first-line of treatment

Less likely to provide psychotherapy

- School psychologists

- Master’s degree or doctorate - vary across states

- Work in school and facilities with students

- Enhance intellectual, emotional, social, and developmental lives of students

Psychological testing (intellectual, cognitive, achievement)

Program development

Consultation with parents/teachers (adults)

Some counseling

- Social workers

- Master’s degree

Usually (but doctorates in social work are possible)

Training emphasis on supervised field work

Minimal training in: research methods, psychological testing, or physiological psychology

- Historically, more focus on interaction between individual and society

Role of factors such as racisM, oppression, poverty, abuse in the development of problems

- More likely to assist connecting clients with housing, employment, and other agencies

- increasingly similarity to clinical psychologists over time (doing therapy)

- Professional counselors

- Master’s degree

Different than programs attended by counseling psychologists

Minimal training in research methods or psychological testing

- Often work in community agencies and private practice

- Exact term used varies across states

Licensed professional counselors (LPC)

Licensed mental health counselors (LMHC)

Mental health counselor

- Marriage & Family Therapists

- Master’s degree

Minimal training in research methods or psychological testing

Training focused on working with couples and families (sometimes individuals with related problems)

- Commonly work in private practice, clinics, and other agencies

- Other providers of care

Life coaches

Motivational speakers

Self-help authors

- Be aware

No approved licensing standards

Quality varies across individuals

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1.6 Myths about Psychologists & Therapy

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Psychoanalysis is the dominant form of therapy

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Interpersonal Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, and Psychodynamic Approaches are all common (among others)

Therapy is about feeling good and reducing stress.

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Therapy is only beneficial for people with a limited number of specific mental health problems. Common problems include:

Depression, anxiety, and substance abuse

Coping with major life transitions

Grief/Loss

Parenting concerns

Managing work-life balance

Family problems

Coping with medical illness

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Effective therapy always takes years. Many effective treatments can be completed in a few months.

Only doctoral-level psychologists can do therapy. Treatment providers have a range of backgrounds:

Doctoral Level: Psychologists & Psychiatrists

Master’s Level: Social workers, Marriage and family therapists, Advanced practice psychiatric nurses

Bachelor’s Level: Limited substance abuse counseling

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Therapy is JUST talking about your problems.

Psychotherapy is a very active process:

“Psychotherapy is an interactive, collaborative process based on dialogue and the patient's active engagement in joint problem-solving. Psychologists often give homework assignments so that [clients] can practice new skills between sessions and reading assignments so that [clients] can learn more about a particular topic. Together clients and psychologists identify problems, set goals and monitor progress.”

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Therapy is not needed because we have medications available for mental health problems. But some important points to consider:

Medicines?are not available for every mental health problem

Some people cannot take medicines?(e.g., side effects)

Therapy can be more effective than medication for certain problems (particularly in long-term results)

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APA Reference Style - APA website for details