Introduction to Clinical Psychology

1. Introduction to Clinical Psychology Carolyn R. Fallahi, Ph. D.

2. What is a Clinical Psychologist? • Research • Teaching • Services • Across the Lifespan • Varying cultures • Various SES levels

3. Activities Engaged in by a Clinical Psychologist • Therapy/Intervention • Diagnosis/Assessment • Clinical Supervision • Teaching • Research • Consultation • Administration

4. Related Health Professions • Psychiatry • Counseling Psychology • Psychiatric Social Workers • School Psychologists • Rehabilitation Psychologists • Health Psychologists • Psychiatric Nurses

5. Issues in both Counseling & Clinical Ph. D. programs • APA accreditation • Licensure • Psychologist – protected term • Psychological testing • Issues with Psychologists providing medication

6. What is involved with a degree in Clinical Psychology? • Statistics • Psychotherapy • Social psychology • Research • Psychometrics (test construction) • Assessment (adult or child)

7. What is involved with a degree in Clinical Psychology? • Clinical Practicum • Ethical & Professional Issues • Psychopathology • Neuroscience • Family & Group Process • Cognitive Psychology

8. What is involved with a degree in Clinical Psychology? • Experimental Psychopathology • Developmental • History & systems of psychology • Violence in the family • Internship • Research • The qualifying examination

9. Other Issues • APA approved internship programs • Psy. D. vs. Ph. D. • Ph. D. Model or Boulder model of training.

10. Models of training • 1949 landmark conference in Boulder, Colorado = Boulder model or the scientist-practitioner model. • Evidence based medicine. • More applied model. • Metzoff (1984): If we train purely applied psychologists, they will be obliged to accept on faith what is handed down to them without being able to evaluate it.

11. The Psy. D. degree • U. of Illinois (1968). • Fear: that Psy. D’s won’t find employment.

12. Professional Schools • No affiliations with universities. • Autonomous with their own financial & organizational framework. • 1987 – 45 professional schools. • ½ doctorates in clinical psychology awarded by professional schools. • Major handicap…. Many are not APA accredited.

13. Professional Regulation • Who is well trained & who is not? • This is an attempt to protect public interest. • Certification – guarantees that people cannot call themselves “psychologists” unless certified by a state board of examiners.

14. Licensing • Specifies nature of the title (psychologist) & training required for licensure. • Usually defines what specific professional activities may be offered to the public for a fee. • Usual requirements: • Education: doctoral degree from an APA-accredited Counseling or Clinical program • Experience: 1-2 years of supervised postdoctoral clinical experienced required. • Examinations: must pass the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology & whatever state examinations.

15. Licensing • Requirements continued: • Administrative Requirements • Specialties

16. American Board of Professional Psychology • ABPP • 1947 established. • Certification of professional competence in the fields of behavioral psychology, clinical psychology, clinical health psychology, clinical neuropsychology, counseling psychology, family psychology, forensic psychology, group psychology, psychoanalysis, rehabilitation psychology & school psychology. • Oral exam, observations, clinical records, 5 years post doctoral experience.

17. National Register • Self-certification. • Licensed / certified in state. Private Practice • Managed health care.

18. APA recommended changes • Health care delivery systems • Sensitivity to ethical issues • Multidisciplinary environments • Managed-care-relevant clinical skills • Expertise in applied research • Management & business skills • technology

19. Prescription Privileges • APA endorsed • Background • Benefits or Pros • Cons

20. Multicultural Issues • Pluralistic Society • APA (2003) guidelines. • Sue (1998) We must demonstrate cultural competence: a knowledge and appreciation of other cultural groups and the skills to be effective with members of these groups.

21. Sue (1998) • Scientific mindedness • Dynamic sizing • Culture-specific expertise • Issues of gender

22. Ethical Standards • APA (1951). • Most recent version 2002. • 5 general principles: • Beneficence & non-maleficience • Fidelity & responsibility • Integrity • Justice • Respect for people’s rights & dignity

23. Competence • Represent their training accurately. • Actively present themselves correctly. • Sensitive to treatment or assessment issues that could be influenced by a patient’s gender, ethnic or racial background, age, sexual orientation, religion, disability, or SES. • Safeguard patients against personal issues that could affect performance.

24. Privacy & Confidentiality • The role of confidentiality in the client-psychologist relationship. • Not all information is deemed “privileged”. • 1976 Tarasoff case. • Jaffe v. Redmond (1996).

25. Human Relations • Dual relationships. • Sexual harassment & sexual intimacies • Client welfare.

26. Other issues involving psychologists. • Radio Call-in shows, TV talk shows, Internet groups…ethical? • Principle 2.64-1 • 2002 APA ruling.