Constance Siaflas | Definition of Clinical Psychology

 

Definition of Clinical Psychology

Clinical psychology uses both research and psychological theories to understand and assist individuals with treatments and assessments. It is a mixture of psychological theory and research. 

Constance Siaflas says Since the education and requirements needed to become a clinical psychologist are more demanding than other subcategories, a clinical psychologist can work in a variety of settings. Examples of these different attitudes include support for people with learning disabilities, children and young people, and even forensic science.

Assessment

In the beginning, an assessment of the patient or client is very important to understand the issues or issues that are being addressed. Psychological tests are also possible at this stage to gather more information to move forward in the process.

Formulation

It is important to note that psychological theory and research are used to understand the issues faced by the patient in order to "formulate" a plan of action.

Communication

This factor seems evident in all psychological professions, but clinical psychology in particular needs strong communication to convey both psychological theories and clinical research points.

Importance of Clinical Psychology

Constance Siaflas said Clinical psychologists are involved in the research, assessment, and formulation of requests for psychological help, interventions, and evaluations. Psychopathology has made it easier to explore and understand the understanding of severe suffering in people, which, in turn, makes it easier to help those in need. 

Because clinical psychology can encompass so many psychological elements, its importance in the world is vital.

There is a growing need for clinical psychologists in America and other parts of the world. The notion that consulting carries a stigma has changed. People are increasingly open to the idea of using psychologists to help them better understand themselves and deal with life events.

Evaluation

Both quantitative and qualitative information can be used to assess interventions and their success. "Quantitative measurements associate one or more numbers with the desired outcome. Quantitative information can also be gleaned from more formal psychological measurements and tests.

An example might be questionnaires that “measure potential targets for psychological interventions, including depression, anxiety, anger, quality of life, well-being, etc.

There are also specific populations and work environments that clinical psychologists are able to work with because of their education and training programs. Examples of these populations and workplaces include children, adults, seniors, hospitals, primary care, and family services.

In summary, these elements (in both psychological theory and research) are an integral part of clinical psychology. Clinical psychologists can use important tests and surveys to better understand a person's ailments. Research conducted by clinical psychologists helps provide information for services to entire populations. 

This in turn helps to assess and process individual cases with factual information. Now let's see how this differs from other forms of the discipline, including counseling psychology.

Clinical Psychology vs Counseling Psychology

It can be confusing to compare clinical psychology and counseling psychology. If they overlap so much, what are the main differences?

The focus or object of clinical psychology is psychopathology (the study of mental disorders). Most often, the problems presented to a clinical psychologist are considered more serious. For example, the person may have symptoms related to schizophrenia. In contrast, counseling psychology aims to help a person identify their problems in life and in interpersonal relationships.

General Psychology vs. Clinical Psychology

According to Constance Siaflas, General psychology has a broader field of study than a more specific subcategory like clinical psychology. General psychology is simply the understanding of psychological functioning and the study of behavior. 

Clinical psychologists have a more specific area in which to train; This includes understanding the research as well as advising subjects on how to implement the assessments and interventions needed to help a patient.

Definition of Behavioral Therapy

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is primarily used to treat depression, anxiety, panic disorder, excessive anger, social anxiety, substance use disorder, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Behavioral therapy is also commonly used to treat children and adolescents because they are more malleable than adults.

Not all psychotherapies are the same. While some psychotherapies focus on treating the mind to change a person's behavior, behavior therapy believes that the behavior itself needs to be treated. Behavioral therapy assumes that behavior that can be learned can also be unlearned.