Foundations

of Clinical
Psychology

MS. SUSAN B. SABADO, PhD. (Cand), CSCLP, RP

Part time-Faculty, FEU
Clinical Psychologist-NCMH
Vignette:
Leslie is a 19 y/o African-American femalewho was
admitted to the University Hospital because she was
running up and down the hall naked saying Jesus is
coming. When confronted by the RAs, she
screamed, yelled and continuede to behave
erratically and inappropriately. Her behavior was so
alarming that the RAs had to call 911 to have her
hospitalized and treated for mental problem.

What do you think is wrong with Leslie and what can

be done to treat and prevent future episodes such as
this?
Introduction
Clinical Psychology involves
research, teaching and services
relevant to the application of
principles, methods and procedures
for understanding, predicting, and
alleviating intellectual, emotional,
biological, psychological, social
and behavioral maladjustment,
disability and discomfort, applied to
wide range of client population.
 According to Resnick
Skill Areas of Clinical
Psychologist Expertise of
Clinical
Assessment and
Psychologist
diagnosis
Psychopathology
Intervention or
Personality
treatment
Integration
of
Consultation
science, theory
Research
and practice
Application of ethical
and professional
principles
 ClinicalPsychologist work with
A range of individuals (infants to
elderly)
A large range of settings

PhDdegree in Clinical Psychology

the most versatile
Related Mental Health
Professionals
Psychiatrist
Counseling Psychologists
Clinical Social Workers
School Psychologists
Health Psychologists
Rehabilitation Psychologists
Psychiatric Nurses
Others: Occupational therapists, recreational
therapists, art therapists, etc.
Psychiatrists
A physician completes their medical degree
and general medical internship, psychiatric
training during their 4-year residency
Have pushed for a superior role in the mental
health professional hierarchy
Regard psychopathology as a having discrete
(often biologically based) causes that can be
best remedied with medical treatment
May prescribe medication, treat physical ailments
and give physical examinations.
Their medical training makes them better able to
recognize medical problems that may contribute
to the patients psychological distress
Clinical Psychologists
View psychopathology as a consequence of
interactions between individuals biological/
psychological/ social predispositions and their
experiences within the environment

Prescriptionprivileges the right to prescribe

psychotrophic medications that affect mental activity,
mood or behavior

There are clinical psychologists who have fought for

this prescription privilege.
What is your
opinion?
Should
ClinicaPsychologists be
given the privelege to
prescribe medications to
their clients?
Clinical Psychologists
The specialization required to
earn the right to prescribe, will
occur at the postdoctoral level
Programs will be lengthened by
at least 1 year to provide
training
Why clinical psychologists should
prescribe?
1. Shortage of psychiatrists

2. Other non-physician professional

already have prescription privileges
3. Convenience of clients
4. Professional autonomy
5. Professional identification
6. Evolution of profession
7. Revenue for profession
Why clinical psychologists should
not prescribe?
1. Training issues
2. Threat to psychotherapy
3. Identity confusion
4. The potential influence of
the pharmaceutical
industry.
Counseling Psychologists
Work with normal or moderately
maladjusted individuals
Their principal method of
assessment: interview, but they also
do testing (ability, personality,
interest, aptitude assessment)
Have a wide range of theoretical
orientations
Handle clients across the lifespan
Most frequent employment settings:
educational setting
Counseling Psychologists
Services rendered:
Preventive treatment
Consultation
Development of outreach
programs
Vocational counseling
Short-term counseling/therapy
Clinical Social Workers
Assist individuals, groups or communities to
restore or enhance their capacity for social
functioning, while creating societal conditions
favorable to their goals.
Requires knowledge of human development
and behavior, of social, economic and
cultural institutions, and of the interaction of
all these factors.
Familial and social determinants of
psychopathology
Training is rather brief and work responsibilities
generally not as great as those of psychiatrists
and clinical psychologists
 Fieldwork most likely visit the
home, the workplace or the street
Role tends to be active; less
concerned with the abstract and
theoretical generalizations
Employed in hospitals, social service
agencies or mental health clinics
School Psychologists
Work with students, educators,
parents and school administrators to
promote the intellectual, social and
emotional growth of school-age
children and adolescents.
Work:
Conduct psychological and
educational assessment
Develop learning programs and
evaluate their effectiveness
Consultation with teachers, parents
and school officials
Health Psychologists
Through research or practice, they
contribute to the promotion and
maintenance of good health
Design, execute and study
programs to help people stay fit
An emerging field; comes from a
vairety of backgrounds
Employed in medical centers; may
serve as consultants to business and
industry
Rehabilitation Psychologists
Work with people who are
physically or cognitively disabled
that are due to birth defects, later
illness or injury.
Help individuals adjust to their
disabilities and the physical,
psychological, social and
environmental barriers that often
accompany them.
Psychiatric Nurses
Spend many hours in close contact
with the patients
In a position to provide information
about patients hospital adjustment
Play a crucial role in fostering an
appropriate therapeutic environment
Work in close collaboration with the
psychiatrists and clinical psychologists
Implement therapeutic
recommendations
Others
Occupational therapists
Recreational therapists
Art therapists
Volunteers with short training
(the most visible personnel in
crisis centers)
Activities of Clinical Psychologists

Therapy/ Intervention
Diagnosis/ Assessment
Teaching
Research
Consultation
Administration
 Therapy/ Intervention
Where most of their time is devoted
Activity which they most frequently engage
in
Use various therapies
Sizeable portion of therapists are women
A search for insight into the origin of ones
problem or the purposes served by ones
undesirable behavior (insight-oriented)
Therapies that involve specific skills more
useful in reducing clients problems (ex.
CBT)
Goal of therapy
sweeping (major
changes in behavior) or
help only for a single
type of symptom
Diagnosis/Assessment
All practicing clinicians engage in it
in one form or another
A way of gathering information so
that an important question can be
answered or a problem can be
solved
Has long been a critical part of the
role of clinical psychologists
The chief element in the clinicians
professional identity
Teaching
Clinical psychologists in clinical
settings may also teach in
colleges or universities, teach
informal classes , do orientation
work with other mental health
personnel or go out into the
community and lead
workshops for police officers,
volunteers, ministers, probation
officers, etc.
Clinical Supervision
Another form of teaching
Less formal, non-classroom
type
One-to-one or small group
teaching
Ex. Supervising interns, students
Research
Allclinicians were trained to be
scientists and practitioners
(scientist-practitioner model)

Clinical
work is enhanced by a
knowledge of scientific methods
and research is improved by
exposure to clinical practice.
Consultation
Goal is to increase the effectiveness of
those to whom ones efforts are
directed by imparting to them some
degree of expertise

Itcan take innumerable forms in many

different settings

Remedial or preventive
Administration
Those who are skillfull in human
relations
Have grown a bit weary of
therapy or assessment and want
change
Route to power and wealth
Job is to keep their organization
running smoothly and efficiently.
Clinical Psychology Training Programs
Program PhD Clinical Psychology
predominantly still follows the scientist-
practitioner model
Coursework basic courses, electives,
advanced courses that provide strong
scientific foundations
Practicum work learning by doing to
build/ acquire specific clinical skills; most
psychology departments with clinical
training programs also operate a
psychological clinic
Research active participation in
research projects participation in a
research team of a faculty member,
require the completion of a thesis
(MA) or dissertation (PhD)
Qualifying examination
comprehensive examination
Internship consolidates the scientist-
practitioner role