"The purpose of clinical psychology is understanding, preventing, and relieving psychologically-based distress or dysfunction and promoting subjective well-being and personal development."
Concerned with the diagnosis and treatment of psychological disorders.
History of Clinical Psychology: This includes the historical roots of clinical psychology and how it evolved as a field.
Ethics in Clinical Psychology: This involves the ethical guidelines and principles that guide the practice of clinical psychology.
Assessment and Diagnosis: This involves the various methods used to assess and diagnose mental health conditions, including psychological testing and assessments.
Treatment Methods and Techniques: This involves the various treatment methods and techniques used in clinical psychology, including cognitive-behavioral therapy, psychodynamic therapy, and family therapy.
Psychopathology: This involves the study of abnormal behavior and mental health conditions and their effects on individuals and society.
Neuroscience and Neurochemistry: This involves the study of the biological underpinnings of behavior and mental health, including brain functioning and chemical imbalances.
Culture and Diversity: This involves the impact of cultural and social factors on behavior and mental health, and the importance of cultural sensitivity in clinical practice.
Research Methods and Statistics: This involves the application of scientific methods and statistical analysis in clinical psychology research.
Personality Theory: This involves the study of different personality traits and how they affect behavior and mental health.
Developmental Psychology: This involves the study of human development over the lifespan, including how early experiences can affect mental health outcomes.
Social Psychology: This involves the study of how social interactions and group dynamics affect behavior and mental health.
Group Therapy: This involves the use of therapeutic groups to provide support and treatment for individuals with mental health conditions.
Behavioral Psychology: This involves the study of how behavior is learned and can be modified through conditioning and reinforcement.
Neuropsychology: This involves the study of the relationship between brain functioning and behavior, including the impact of brain injury and disease on mental health.
Psychopharmacology: This involves the study of the use of medication to treat mental health conditions, including the benefits and risks of different medications.
Trauma and PTSD: This involves the study of the impact of traumatic experiences on behavior and mental health, and the use of trauma-focused therapies for treatment.
Psychodynamic Theory: This involves the study of unconscious processes and how they can influence behavior and mental health, and the use of psychoanalytic therapy for treatment.
Mindfulness and Meditation: This involves the use of mindfulness and meditation techniques to promote mental health and well-being.
Positive Psychology: This involves the study of how to promote positive emotions and behaviors, and the use of positive psychology interventions for treatment.
Crisis Intervention: This involves the use of immediate interventions to support individuals experiencing mental health crises or emergencies.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): A type of psychotherapy that emphasizes the relationship between thoughts, feelings, and behavior. CBT techniques aim to modify negative thought patterns and beliefs to improve mental health.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): A type of cognitive-behavioral therapy that focuses on helping individuals change negative behavior patterns, develop mindfulness, and regulate emotions.
Family Systems Therapy: A type of psychotherapy that focuses on improving communication and relationships within families.
Neuropsychology: A branch of psychology that studies the relationship between the brain, behavior, and cognition.
Psychodynamic Therapy: A type of psychotherapy that focuses on exploring unconscious thoughts and feelings to improve mental health.
Humanistic Therapy: A type of psychotherapy that emphasizes self-discovery and personal growth.
Trauma-focused Therapy: A type of psychotherapy that focuses on treating individuals who have experienced trauma, including abuse, violence, and natural disasters.
Substance Abuse treatment: A type of psychotherapy that aims to help individuals overcome addiction by addressing the underlying emotional and psychological factors that contribute to substance abuse.
Geriatric Psychology: A branch of psychology that studies the mental health of elderly individuals.
Pediatric Psychology: A branch of psychology that studies the mental health of children and adolescents.
Sports Psychology: A branch of psychology that studies the psychological factors that affect sports performance and athletic achievement.
"Central to its practice are psychological assessment, clinical formulation, and psychotherapy."
"Clinical psychologists also engage in research, teaching, consultation, forensic testimony, and program development and administration."
"The field is generally considered to have begun in 1896 with the opening of the first psychological clinic at the University of Pennsylvania by Lightner Witmer."
"In the first half of the 20th century, clinical psychology was focused on psychological assessment, with little attention given to treatment."
"This changed after the 1940s when World War II resulted in the need for a large increase in the number of trained clinicians."
"The three main educational models that have developed in the US are the PhD Clinical Science model, the PhD science-practitioner model, and the PsyD practitioner-scholar model."
"Clinical psychologists generally train within four primary theoretical orientations—psychodynamic, humanistic, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), and systems or family therapy."
"Clinical psychologists are experts in psychological assessment and treat mental disorders primarily through psychotherapy, while psychiatrists are medical doctors who specialize in the treatment of mental disorders via various methods."
"Only six US states, Louisiana, New Mexico, Illinois, Iowa, Idaho, and Colorado... allow clinical psychologists with advanced specialty training to prescribe psychotropic medications."
"Clinical psychologists attend a graduate institution and have a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) or a Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) degree, usually following both an undergraduate and Masters degree in Psychology or a related discipline."
"Psychiatrists are legally authorized to prescribe psychotropic medications and conduct treatments like electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) or transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)."
"Clinical psychologists are trained in specialist psychological or psychometric assessment as standard."
"Clinical psychologists aim to promote subjective well-being and personal development."
"Clinical psychologists also engage in research and contribute to advancing knowledge in the field."
"World War II resulted in the need for a large increase in the number of trained clinicians."
"Psychological assessment, clinical formulation, and psychotherapy are central to the practice of clinical psychology."
"Clinical psychologists engage in consultation, forensic testimony, and contribute to the legal system."
"In many countries, clinical psychology is a regulated mental health profession."
"In the UK and the Republic of Ireland, the Clinical Psychology Doctorate falls between the PhD and PsyD models, while in much of mainland Europe, the training is at the masters level and predominantly psychotherapeutic."