"The purpose of clinical psychology is understanding, preventing, and relieving psychologically-based distress or dysfunction and promoting subjective well-being and personal development."
It involves the diagnosis and treatment of mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders.
Abnormal Psychology: Study of abnormal behavior and mental disorders, including symptoms, causes, and treatments.
Assessment and Diagnosis: Techniques and tools used to evaluate and diagnose mental health disorders.
Behavioral Therapy: Treatment approach that focuses on modifying behavior through reinforcement, conditioning, and other techniques.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: Therapy that addresses the connection between thoughts, feelings, and behavior to change negative thought patterns and improve mental health.
Culture and Mental Health: Understanding of how cultural and societal factors impact mental health and treatment.
Developmental Psychology: Study of the psychological changes across the lifespan, including childhood, adolescence, and adulthood.
Diversity and Inclusion: Understanding of and sensitivity to issues of race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexuality, and other aspects of diversity in relation to mental health treatment.
Ethics and Professional Standards: Guidelines and principles that ensure ethical behavior and professionalism in clinical practice and research.
Neurobiology and Neuroscience: Study of the structure and function of the brain and nervous system in relation to mental health and behavior.
Personality Theory and Assessment: Examination of individual differences in personality and the tools used to measure and assess personality traits.
Psychopathology: Study of abnormal behavior and mental disorders, including their classification, diagnosis, and treatment.
Psychotherapy: Various techniques and approaches to mental health treatment, including talk therapy and other forms of therapy.
Research Methods and Statistics: Skills and techniques for conducting research studies in clinical psychology, including experimental design and statistical analysis.
Social Psychology: Study of the influence of social factors on behavior and mental processes, including social influence, attitudes, and interpersonal relationships.
"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."