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Have you ever wondered what the differences are between counseling psychologists, clinical psychologists, and psychologists? What makes a clinical psychologist a clinical psychologist? What makes them different from other professions?
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Sign up for freeIn the clinical psychological steps, what comes first -- communication or formulation?
What is the correct order of the elements of clinical psychological diagnoses?
Which statement is true?
Around when was clinical psychology born?
What is clinical psychology's focus?
What is counseling psychology's focus?
What is general psychology's focus?
Decreased activity of the neurotransmitter serotonin is correlated with major depressive disorder. This is an example of how __________ may be correlated with a psychological disorder.
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are an example of what type of biological treatment?
__________ (emotional over-reactivity) may form due to a conditioned emotional response
This type of cognitive distortion involves black and white thinking that often leads to unrealistic expectations of oneself and others.
In the clinical psychological steps, what comes first -- communication or formulation?
What is the correct order of the elements of clinical psychological diagnoses?
Which statement is true?
Around when was clinical psychology born?
What is clinical psychology's focus?
What is counseling psychology's focus?
What is general psychology's focus?
Decreased activity of the neurotransmitter serotonin is correlated with major depressive disorder. This is an example of how __________ may be correlated with a psychological disorder.
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are an example of what type of biological treatment?
__________ (emotional over-reactivity) may form due to a conditioned emotional response
This type of cognitive distortion involves black and white thinking that often leads to unrealistic expectations of oneself and others.
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Team Clinical Psychology Teachers
Clinical psychology uses both research and psychology theories to understand and help individuals with treatment and evaluations. It is a blend between psychological theories and research. Because the education and requirements necessary to become a clinical psychologist are more demanding than other subcategories, a clinical psychologist can work in different settings. Examples of these different settings include helping those with learning disabilities, children and adolescents, and even in forensics.
So what does a clinical psychologist do? Or rather, what is a clinical psychologist expected to do? There are five key elements.
In the beginning, an assessment of the patient or client is most important to understand problems or issues that are to be addressed. Psychological testing is also possible at this point to gather more information to move forward in the process.
clinical psychologist at work, pixabay.com
Importantly, both psychological theory and research findings are used to understand the problems the patient is facing, to "formulate" a plan of action.
This factor seems obvious in all psychological professions, but clinical psychology especially needs strong communication to convey both psychological theories and clinical points of research.
At this point, a clinical psychologist must consider the most beneficial forms of intervention to best help the client.
Quantitative and qualitative information can be used to evaluate interventions and their success. "Quantitative measures assign a number or numbers to the desired outcome. Quantitative information may also be obtained from more formal psychological measures and tests." (Davey et al., 2015.)
An example could be questionnaires that "measure potential targets for psychological interventions, including depression, anxiety, anger, quality of life, well-being, etc." (Davey et al., 2015.)
There are also specific populations and work settings that clinical psychologists can work with due to their education and program training. Examples of these populations and work settings include children, adults, older adults, hospitals, primary care, and family services.
In summary, these elements (both in psychological theory and in research) are an integral part of clinical psychology. Clinical psychologists can use important tests and surveys to better understand a person's afflictions. The research that is performed by clinical psychologists helps to provide information for services for whole populations. This in turn helps with evaluating and treating individual cases with evidence-based information. Now, let's consider how is this any different from other forms of the discipline, including counseling psychology.
It can be confusing when comparing both clinical and counseling psychology. What are the key differences if they overlap as much as they do?
Clinical psychology's central point or focus is psychopathology (the study of mental disorders). Most often, the problems that are being presented to a clinical psychologist are considered to be more severe. For example, the person may be experiencing symptoms that pertain to schizophrenia. In contrast, counseling psychology focuses on helping a person identify their problems in life and interpersonal relationships.
A person is having issues with the stresses of their work schedule as well as being a new parent. This person may consult a counseling psychologist to help them identify issues and to work through them.
A counselor at work untangling a person's mind, pixabay.com
General psychology has a larger scope of study than a more specific subcategory such as clinical psychology. General psychology is simply the understanding of psychological functions and the study of behaviors. Clinical psychologists have a more specific field to train for; it includes understanding research as well as counseling subjects to implement assessments, and interventions necessary to help a patient.
Clinical psychology is an important subcategory of psychology designed to help patients with their afflictions. It has done so since its birth in the mid to late-1800s. Clinical psychologists are dedicated to research, assessments, the formulation to apply for psychological help, interventions, and evaluations. Psychopathology has made understanding severe ailments in individuals easier to research and understand, in turn making it easier to help those who are in need. Because clinical psychology can encompass so many psychological elements, its importance in the world is crucial.
There is a growing need for clinical psychologists in America and other areas of the world. There has been a change in the idea that psychological help carries a stigma. People are becoming more open to the idea of using psychologists to better help them understand themselves, and process life events (such as the COVID-19 pandemic). Because psychology is constantly updating in the face of new scientific information, clinical psychologists have to constantly upgrade their education and training as well. A clinical psychologist's constant need to upgrade their knowledge is also one of the many reasons that they have significant importance in the psychology arena.
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What is the difference between clinical and counseling psychology?
Clinical psychology's central point or focus is psychopathology (the study of mental disorders). Counseling psychology has more focus on behaviors and emotional issues that may arise in daily life or at work that a person may need help identifying.
What is clinical psychology?
Clinical psychology uses both research and psychology theories to understand and help individuals with treatment and evaluations.
What is the difference between psychology and clinical psychology?
General psychology has a larger scope of study than a more specific subcategory such as clinical psychology. General psychology is simply the understanding of psychological functions and the study of behaviors. Clinical psychologists have a more specific field to train for, that includes understanding research as well as counseling subjects to implement assessments and interventions necessary to help a patient.
Why is clinical psychology important to society?
Clinical psychologists are dedicated to research, assessments, interventions, and evaluations.
How does clinical psychology benefit society?
Psychopathology has made understanding severe ailments in individuals easier to research and understand, making it easier in turn to help those who are in need.
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