Chapter 2: Contemporary Clinical Psychology
Chapter 2 – Contemporary Clinical Psychology
Chapter Overview
Clinical psychology is one of the most popular professions in psychology, and the one for which most people are familiar with when you mention psychology. The public typically assumes clinical psychologists provide only one-on-one therapy with patients and clients; however, we know that clinical psychologists provide a wide array of services such as assessment, consultation, research, teaching, supervision, and administrative duties. As the field is diverse, so are the theoretical orientations of clinical psychologists as well as the training programs. This chapter provides students with an overview of the state-of-the-field in clinical psychology. It offers the opportunity for students to broaden their scope and consider new directions for their academic as well as career pursuits. The three profiles of actual clinical psychologists give students a real-world taste of clinical psychology in an honest, unbiased fashion.
Chapter Contents
· Introduction
· Activities of Clinical Psychologists
§ Assessment and Diagnosis
§ Intervention
§ Prevention
§ Consultation
§ Research
§ Teaching and Supervision
§ Administration
· Employment Settings
· The Two Pillars of Clinical Psychology: Science and Ethics
· Training in Clinical Psychology
§ Models of Training in Clinical Psychology
§ Accreditation of Clinical Psychology Programs
· Licensure in Clinical Psychology
· Summary and Conclusions
Learning Objectives
1. What are the major professional activities of clinical psychologists?
2. What is the major diagnostic system in the United States?
3. What are the various forms of interventions?
4. Describe the various theoretical orientations of clinical psychologists.
5. Discuss the difference between primary, secondary, and tertiary interventions.
6. Describe the role of a consultation psychologist.
7. Discuss the role of teaching and supervision.
8. What is the difference between clinical versus research supervision?
9. How do ethics play a role in every aspect of a psychologist’s career?
10. Discuss the issues of stress in a psychologist’s life.
11. What are the various models of training in clinical psychology?
12. Why is accreditation of a clinical psychology program important?
13. How does a clinical psychologist obtain licensure?
14. Is board certification a requirement?
Up for Discussion
1. What attracts people to the mental health professions?
2. What are the issues with a student taking psychology courses as a substitute for actual mental health treatment?
3. Currently, only Louisiana, New Mexico, and the territory of Guam allow psychologists to write prescriptions for psychotropic medications. Should other states follow suit or should medical doctors (e.g. psychiatrists) be the only ones writing prescriptions? Discuss the benefits and risks.
4. Why is cognitive-behavioral treatment a popular theoretical orientation?
5. Why is integrative/eclectic a second-popular theoretical orientation?
6. Why do some clinical psychologists prefer engage in other activities rather than only treat patients? Why is that important?
7. Clinical supervision is necessary for graduate students in training, but should there be a requirement for seasoned psychologists as well? Why or why not?
8. What are the ethical violations of dating patients, business partnerships with patients, disclosing confidential information to others, and treating friends and family?
9. Why is the emotional health just as, if not more important, than the physical health of the clinical psychologist?
10. Consider a recently divorced male clinical psychologist and a new female client recently widowed. What are the ethical issues, what are the professional issues? Is the clinical psychologist clinically healthy? What would be the best option?
11. What are the advantages and disadvantages to the various models of training?
12. Can anyone call himself or herself a psychologist?
Out-of-Class Activities
1. Have students select a professional activity that they would like to pursue as a clinical psychologist and ask them to explain why they find it interesting. This should be a written assignment although the length is at the instructor’s discretion.
2. Ask students to look up prescribing privileges for psychologists on the internet and document what they find in order to present an argument for or against prescriptive authority. The class can be divided into teams for or against prescriptive authority. The instructor will serve as the moderator. Additionally, the instructor may want to add another team to play the role of a state licensing board for added discussion. This team would have to research the respective state licensing board ahead of time.
3. Ask students to research the prescriptive privileges for psychologists in New Mexico and Louisiana and discuss the qualifications for obtaining a license to prescribe. Students should focus on training, background, and clinical supervision. This can be a written exercise or discussed in class. In class, you can encourage discussion as to whether the requirements are too stringent, too weak, or adequate.
4. Ask students to think about why they are considering a career in the mental health field and to complete a chart detailing the pros and cons of working with patients. Students should consider stress, malpractice, educational requirements, their own personal issues, and work-life balance. Students should be honest with themselves and consider what parts of clinical psychology are truly attractive and what parts are not. The purpose is not to discourage students from the field, but to give them a realistic view of what their career path may be.
5. Have students visit the American Psychological Association website on the Ethical Principles of Psychologists and the Code of Conduct. Have them choose a section, explain how one could violate a code, and discuss the consequences of such a violation. Have them consider why this particular section is there.
Web Links
Ethics and other research topics are discussed at the APA website.
http://www.apa.org/ethics/code/index.aspx
The American Board of Professional Psychology provides information on a variety of post-doctoral specialty designations.
http://www.abpp.org
The website of the American Psychological Association includes information related to the science and practice of psychology and provides information on accreditation as well as listing accredited programs. Provides links to licensing organizations in the United States.
www.apa.org
Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards is the association of Canadian and U.S. licensing boards in psychology.
http://www.asppb.org
Australian Psychological Society provides information on licensure in Australia, including an assessment of psychology qualifications for candidates from overseas who wish to be registered as a psychologist in Australia.
http://www.psychology.org.au/
British Psychological Society includes an excellent publication So you want to be a psychologist that is packed with information about training and careers in psychology in the United Kingdom.
http://www.bps.org.uk
Canadian Psychological Association provides information on accreditation as well as listing accredited programs. Provides links to licensing organizations in Canada.
http://www.cpa.ca
New Zealand Psychological Society provides links to the regulatory body, the New Zealand Psychologists Board
http://www.psychology.org.nz
This is the home page of the American Psychiatric Association, the publishers of the DSM-5. You will find links to the various sections, journals, and online resources about education, practice, and self-help resources. Most psychiatrists belong to this organization.
http://www.psych.org/
Video Suggestions
Final Analysis (DVD, color, 124 min.) 124 min. Dr. Issac Barr is a well-known psychiatrist who is treating a woman for numerous issues. His patient’s sister seduces him, and he becomes entangled into a trap. There are numerous ethical violations to discuss. 1992 Warner Brothers.
Ordinary People (DVD, color, 124 min.) This is a classic movie on how depression affects the family, but it also illustrates the work of therapists and the complexity of treatment. 1981 Paramount.
Mr. Jones (DVD, color, 114 min.) Mr. Jones is a man suffering from bipolar disorder, a disease that affords him periods of intense emotional pleasure and expansiveness but which also results in periods of suicidal depression. Libbie, a doctor at a psychiatric hospital, takes an interest in his condition, and in him. This is an excellent example of when boundaries are crossed with patients. 1993 Tristar Pictures.
Suggested Readings
Barnett, J. E., & Johnson, W. B. (2008). Ethics desk reference for psychologists.
Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
Hersen, M., & Gross, A. M. (Eds.). (2007). Handbook of clinical psychology.
Volume 1, Adults. New York: John Wiley and Sons, Publishers.
Hersen, M., & Gross, A. M. (Eds.). (2007). Handbook of clinical psychology.
Volume 2, Children and adolescents. New York: John Wiley and Sons,
Publishers.
Klitzman, R., (2008). When Doctors Become Patients. 2008. Klitzman, R.,
Oxford University Press.
American Psychological Association. (2007). Getting In: A Step By Step Plan for
Gaining Admission to Graduate School in Psychology. American
Psychological Association
Sternberg, R.J. (2007). Career Paths in Psychology: Where Your Degree Can
Take You. American Psychological Association.
Lowman, R.L., (2006). The Ethical Practice of Psychology in Organizations.
American Psychological Association.
Mayne, T.J., Norcross, J.C., & Sayette, M.A., (2006). Insider’s Guide to Graduate
Programs in Clinical and Counseling Psychology – 2006-2007 Edition.
Guilford Press.
VandenBos, G.R., (2007). APA dictionary of Psychology. American
Psychological Association.
Brewer, N. & Williams, K.D. (2005). Psychology and Law: An Empirical
Perspective. The Guilford Press.
Geller, J.D., Norcorss, J.C., & Orlinsky, D.E. (2005). The Psychotherapist’s Own
Psychotherapy: Patient and Clinician Perspectives. Oxford University
Press.
Hanson, S.L., Kerkhoff, T.R., & Bush, S.S. (2005). Health Care Ethics for
Psychologists: A Casebook. American Psychological Association.
Bentley, K.J. (2003). Psychiatric Medication Issues for Social Workers,
Counselors, and Psychologists. The Haworth Social Work Practice Press.
Prinstein, M. J. & Patterson, M. D. (2003). The Portable Mentor: Expert Guide to
a Successful Career in Psychology. Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers.
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