APS 401: CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY
SEMESTER 1 2020/2021
Definition
Clinical psychology is a branch of psychology that focuses on assessing, diagnosing and treating
mental, emotional, and behavioural disorders.
https://study.com/academy/lesson/what-is-clinical-psychology-lesson-quiz.html
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY AND OTHER BRANCHES
OF PSYCHOLOGY
There are many branches of psychology, some related to clinical psychology.
https://www.childpsych.co.za/difference-clinical-counselling-educational-psychology/
HEALTH PSYCHOLOGY AND CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY
The primary task of a health psychologist is: providing services in specialty areas (i.e. pain
management, women’s health – reproductively, pregnancy, and gynecological services, smoking
cessation programs, and oncology). There are also several sub-fields within this branch of
psychology, which include: community psychology, public health psychology, clinical health
psychology, and occupational psychology.
Some health psychologists work in government and social service agencies, developing, organ
zing, and implementing community health programs, and public policies.
The primary function of a health psychologist is to help clients better manage their stress,
anger, psychological disorders, medical conditions, and mental illnesses by teaching them
effective stress management, relaxation, and biofeedback strategies.
Clinical psychology, on the other hand, involves the study of psychological disorders and mental
illnesses. Clinical psychologists provide counselling and treatment services to clients
suffering from psychological disorders and mental health issues.
The main difference, thus, between health psychology and clinical psychology is that health
psychology focuses on the health of clients and patients, while clinical psychology focuses
on psychological disorders and mental illnesses (i.e., abnormal behaviors, and psychiatric
illnesses). Health psychologists also focus on improving the health of people, through diet,
,exercise, stress management techniques, etc., while clinical psychologists focus on helping
clients/ patients effectively manage their mental and psychological conditions.
Clinical psychologists tend to collaborate with psychiatrists, while health psychologists tend to
collaborate with nutritionists and dietitians.
Clinical psychology, on the other hand, focuses on the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of
abnormal behaviors, psychological disorders, and psychiatric illnesses. The primary concern of a
health psychologist is the body, while the main concern of a clinical psychologist is the mind.
The main objective of clinical psychologists is to reduce mental health symptoms, while the
main objective of health psychologists is to teach clients effective coping strategies that improve
their health.
Clinical psychologists tend more to lean towards traditional treatments modalities, while health
psychologists tend to lean more natural treatment options. Clinical psychologists typically use
one or more of the following psychological approaches: cognitive-behavioral, psychodynamic,
and/or humanistic. Clinical psychologists may treat individuals, couples, families, and groups,
depending on the circumstances.
SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY AND CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY
A social psychologist is concerned about ways in which we are all the same, while a clinical
psychologist is concerned about ways in which we are all different. Social psychologists are not
concerned with individuals, but study general human nature in response to social cues.
While Clinical psychologists help individuals cope with and overcome personal problems, social
psychologists deal with an average human psyche and ask themselves how such a psyche makes
everyone individual in a group act towards each other or their environment.
Neither could live without the other because Clinical Psychologists are naturally interested in
how others influence their clients' recovery or stability, while Social Psychologists still have to
account for the influence on others on their recovery.
SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGY AND CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY
School psychologists are primarily concerned with the academic, social, and emotional well-
being of children and adolescents within a school environment.
,They focus mainly on assessment of students to determine their eligibility for special education
services in schools, and on consultation with teachers and other school professionals to design
and carry out interventions on behalf of students.
They offer individual and group therapy with children and their families, designing prevention
programs (e.g. for reducing dropout), evaluating school programs, and working with teachers and
administrators to help maximize teaching efficacy, both in the classroom and systemically.
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY AND CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY
Occupational therapy is the use of productive or creative activity in the treatment or
rehabilitation of physically, cognitively, or emotionally disabled people in order to maximize
their skills and abilities.
Occupational therapy practitioners are skilled professionals whose education includes the study
of human growth and development with specific emphasis on the physical, emotional,
psychological, sociocultural, cognitive and environmental components of illness and injury.
They commonly work alongside clinical psychologists in settings such as inpatient and
outpatient mental health, pain management clinics, eating disorder clinics, and child
development services.
OT's use support groups, individual counseling sessions, and activity-based approaches to
address psychiatric symptoms and maximize functioning in life activities.
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST, PSYCHIATRISTS,
COUNSELLORS, AND SOCIAL WORKERS
A mental health provider is a professional who has received training and credentials to provide
services to improve mental health and prevent mental disorders. Although there are a variety of
mental health providers, the four main types are social workers, counsellors, clinical
psychologists, and psychiatrists. There is considerable overlap among the 4 types of mental
health professions with respect to training, types of problems handled, and treatment approaches
utilized.
All four kinds of mental health professions are competent to recognize and treat the most
common mental problems e.g. mild depression.
, But there are some circumstances in which one profession may be more advantageous than
others.
https://www.nzccp.co.nz/for-the-public/how/how-does-clinical-psychology-differ-from-other-
professions/
Psychiatrists
A psychiatrist is a mental health professional who has been trained first as a medical practitioner
but has then gone on to receive specialized training in treating mental disorders, including the
more serious ones such as schizophrenia and severe depression. They are trained and licensed to
use biomedical approaches such as medications. Psychiatrists being physicians can arrange
hospital admissions ( e.g. to a psychiatric ward) and carry out physical examinations and various
other types of procedures such a electroencephalographs (EEGs) and brain imaging procedure
scans(e.g. computer assisted tomography (CAT)). It should be noted that the use of these
procedures, in the vast majority of cases, is not necessary. Because of their long training and
medical status, the fees of psychiatrists are generally higher than the other mental health
professions.
Clinical Psychologists
Clinical psychologists study psychology with the aim of understanding, assessing, diagnosis,
treating and preventing mental problems and disorders. The usual educational path in Asia is a
bachelor degree with emphasis on courses related to mental health followed by a master level
degree program specializing in clinical psychology which usually is two years in duration. The
master level education and a suitable period of internship is the usual standard for licensing
(registration) for clinical psychologists in Asia. Clinical psychologists, particularly those with
doctorate level education are able to carry out research studies e.g. of the effectiveness of various
mental health treatments.
Counsellors
Counsellors generally receive training similar to clinical psychologists but with emphasis on
helping people cope with more normal life problems eg For example, counsellors may help
SEMESTER 1 2020/2021
Definition
Clinical psychology is a branch of psychology that focuses on assessing, diagnosing and treating
mental, emotional, and behavioural disorders.
https://study.com/academy/lesson/what-is-clinical-psychology-lesson-quiz.html
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY AND OTHER BRANCHES
OF PSYCHOLOGY
There are many branches of psychology, some related to clinical psychology.
https://www.childpsych.co.za/difference-clinical-counselling-educational-psychology/
HEALTH PSYCHOLOGY AND CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY
The primary task of a health psychologist is: providing services in specialty areas (i.e. pain
management, women’s health – reproductively, pregnancy, and gynecological services, smoking
cessation programs, and oncology). There are also several sub-fields within this branch of
psychology, which include: community psychology, public health psychology, clinical health
psychology, and occupational psychology.
Some health psychologists work in government and social service agencies, developing, organ
zing, and implementing community health programs, and public policies.
The primary function of a health psychologist is to help clients better manage their stress,
anger, psychological disorders, medical conditions, and mental illnesses by teaching them
effective stress management, relaxation, and biofeedback strategies.
Clinical psychology, on the other hand, involves the study of psychological disorders and mental
illnesses. Clinical psychologists provide counselling and treatment services to clients
suffering from psychological disorders and mental health issues.
The main difference, thus, between health psychology and clinical psychology is that health
psychology focuses on the health of clients and patients, while clinical psychology focuses
on psychological disorders and mental illnesses (i.e., abnormal behaviors, and psychiatric
illnesses). Health psychologists also focus on improving the health of people, through diet,
,exercise, stress management techniques, etc., while clinical psychologists focus on helping
clients/ patients effectively manage their mental and psychological conditions.
Clinical psychologists tend to collaborate with psychiatrists, while health psychologists tend to
collaborate with nutritionists and dietitians.
Clinical psychology, on the other hand, focuses on the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of
abnormal behaviors, psychological disorders, and psychiatric illnesses. The primary concern of a
health psychologist is the body, while the main concern of a clinical psychologist is the mind.
The main objective of clinical psychologists is to reduce mental health symptoms, while the
main objective of health psychologists is to teach clients effective coping strategies that improve
their health.
Clinical psychologists tend more to lean towards traditional treatments modalities, while health
psychologists tend to lean more natural treatment options. Clinical psychologists typically use
one or more of the following psychological approaches: cognitive-behavioral, psychodynamic,
and/or humanistic. Clinical psychologists may treat individuals, couples, families, and groups,
depending on the circumstances.
SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY AND CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY
A social psychologist is concerned about ways in which we are all the same, while a clinical
psychologist is concerned about ways in which we are all different. Social psychologists are not
concerned with individuals, but study general human nature in response to social cues.
While Clinical psychologists help individuals cope with and overcome personal problems, social
psychologists deal with an average human psyche and ask themselves how such a psyche makes
everyone individual in a group act towards each other or their environment.
Neither could live without the other because Clinical Psychologists are naturally interested in
how others influence their clients' recovery or stability, while Social Psychologists still have to
account for the influence on others on their recovery.
SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGY AND CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY
School psychologists are primarily concerned with the academic, social, and emotional well-
being of children and adolescents within a school environment.
,They focus mainly on assessment of students to determine their eligibility for special education
services in schools, and on consultation with teachers and other school professionals to design
and carry out interventions on behalf of students.
They offer individual and group therapy with children and their families, designing prevention
programs (e.g. for reducing dropout), evaluating school programs, and working with teachers and
administrators to help maximize teaching efficacy, both in the classroom and systemically.
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY AND CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY
Occupational therapy is the use of productive or creative activity in the treatment or
rehabilitation of physically, cognitively, or emotionally disabled people in order to maximize
their skills and abilities.
Occupational therapy practitioners are skilled professionals whose education includes the study
of human growth and development with specific emphasis on the physical, emotional,
psychological, sociocultural, cognitive and environmental components of illness and injury.
They commonly work alongside clinical psychologists in settings such as inpatient and
outpatient mental health, pain management clinics, eating disorder clinics, and child
development services.
OT's use support groups, individual counseling sessions, and activity-based approaches to
address psychiatric symptoms and maximize functioning in life activities.
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST, PSYCHIATRISTS,
COUNSELLORS, AND SOCIAL WORKERS
A mental health provider is a professional who has received training and credentials to provide
services to improve mental health and prevent mental disorders. Although there are a variety of
mental health providers, the four main types are social workers, counsellors, clinical
psychologists, and psychiatrists. There is considerable overlap among the 4 types of mental
health professions with respect to training, types of problems handled, and treatment approaches
utilized.
All four kinds of mental health professions are competent to recognize and treat the most
common mental problems e.g. mild depression.
, But there are some circumstances in which one profession may be more advantageous than
others.
https://www.nzccp.co.nz/for-the-public/how/how-does-clinical-psychology-differ-from-other-
professions/
Psychiatrists
A psychiatrist is a mental health professional who has been trained first as a medical practitioner
but has then gone on to receive specialized training in treating mental disorders, including the
more serious ones such as schizophrenia and severe depression. They are trained and licensed to
use biomedical approaches such as medications. Psychiatrists being physicians can arrange
hospital admissions ( e.g. to a psychiatric ward) and carry out physical examinations and various
other types of procedures such a electroencephalographs (EEGs) and brain imaging procedure
scans(e.g. computer assisted tomography (CAT)). It should be noted that the use of these
procedures, in the vast majority of cases, is not necessary. Because of their long training and
medical status, the fees of psychiatrists are generally higher than the other mental health
professions.
Clinical Psychologists
Clinical psychologists study psychology with the aim of understanding, assessing, diagnosis,
treating and preventing mental problems and disorders. The usual educational path in Asia is a
bachelor degree with emphasis on courses related to mental health followed by a master level
degree program specializing in clinical psychology which usually is two years in duration. The
master level education and a suitable period of internship is the usual standard for licensing
(registration) for clinical psychologists in Asia. Clinical psychologists, particularly those with
doctorate level education are able to carry out research studies e.g. of the effectiveness of various
mental health treatments.
Counsellors
Counsellors generally receive training similar to clinical psychologists but with emphasis on
helping people cope with more normal life problems eg For example, counsellors may help
