Clinical Psychology

Examine Clinical Psychology

The History of Clinical Psychology Clinical Psychology is the part of the psychology field that focuses on treatment and evaluation of mental illness, psychiatric issues and abnormal behaviors. The treatment that developed in clinical psychology assists persons with their development as an individual and well-being (The History, 2013). Clinical psychology started at the University of Pennsylvania in 1896 when a clinic was opened. Clinical psychology has been in use in various universities from 1850 to 1900. Lightner Witmer is credited with using applied psychology to aid a boy who had trouble with spelling (The History, 2013). Following Witmer’s success The University of Pennsylvania was known for helping individuals with learning disabilities and he also published a journal 10 years later named the Psychological clinic. The term clinical psychology was developed in 1917 when the America Association of Clinical Psychology was created. Although the organization only last for two years until the clinical branch was founded by G. Stanley Hall through the American Psychological Association (The History, 2013). The American Psychological Association was the first organization to allow certifications in clinical psychology. 1930 is when the American Association of Applied Psychology was created by various psychological organizations after WWII while the APA was being reorganized (The History, 2013). Clinical Psychologists are responsible for developing two test for WWII known as the Army Beta and Army Alpha. The clinical psychologists where used during World War II in order to assist those who suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder, known as shell shock back then, during the war. Having clinical psychologist available to assist the soldiers as soon as possible helped soldiers recover sooner. There were also psychologists from the National Council of Women Psychologists that came together to help communities that were also dealing with stress from the war (The History, 2013). The US helped change the world’s view on clinical psychology, and soon the British followed in the United States footsteps.
Evolution of Clinical Psychology Today clinical psychology has turn in to a professional and strong academic field. Since 1970 the number of people practicing clinical psychology has tripled (Plante, 2011). The more advance technology, medicine, and science continues to grow the more the field of clinical psychology will continue to advance. The more research and studies that continue to be conducted the more knowledgeable individuals in the clinical psychology field will learn and know about take care of the patients. The relationship between the patient and psychologist is an important one and will help the evolution continue. When clinical psychology first began the focus was only on learning disabilities (Plante, 2011). Since its start the field of clinical psychology has spread to sports, criminal justice, health and gerontology. Clinical psychologists ability to understand the difference in cultures, manage care, and psychotropic medication have all assisted in the advancing of the field.
Research and Statistics The purpose of the research in the field of clinical psychology is to gain understanding concerning human behavior and to use the information that has been learned to help better the lives of those involved, person, family, and group. The scientific method is used when doing research with clinical psychology. The scientific method is basically observing the information being tested, creating a hypothesis from what has been observed, testing the hypothesis, and finally revising the hypothesis as needed to match the results of the research (Plante, 2011). The Diagnostic and Statistical manual, DSM-IV-TR, is used during the research process. The purpose of the DSM-IV-TR is to make sure the researchers have the same information, criteria, when describing the populations that are being studied (Plante, 2011). The diagnosis found in the DSM-IV-TR breaks down the way individuals think, behave, and feel based on certain clinical syndromes. Statistics is important when it comes to clinical psychology because it allows the researchers to decide whether the information that was collected in the research is valid on a larger scale (Plante, 2011).
Clinical Psychology vs. Other Mental Health Professions Clinical Psychology basically deals with the various mental disorders that individuals deal with such as forms of depression and schizophrenia. Psychiatrists are medical doctors who have had specific training in helping them understand mental disorders that come from malfunctions biologically (Roach, 2011). A psychiatrist is also allowed to prescribe medication to correct or control the disorders. A clinical psychologists is not a medical doctor and is not allowed to administer medication. A clinical psychologist has went to school and received a psychology degree but not a medical one (Roach, 2011). A school psychologist is not focused on human behavior. Their focus as a school psychologists is to focus on the normal behaviors that an individual has. They work with individuals who have everyday concerns and problems. The first school psychologists were guidance counselors in both grade schools and colleges. There are some aspects of school psychology has ran into clinical psychology. School psychologist are now working in clinics, schools, hospitals, and community centers to deal with everything from martial problems to self-esteem issues (Roach, 2011). Social Workers are responsible for assisting individuals with developing a plan to better themselves. They are also responsible for finding services to help the individuals along the way such as food stamps, healthcare. There are also clinical social workers, LCSWs, who assists individuals by providing support groups to aide individuals in their needs (Greenwood, 2013).

References
Greenwood, Beth. (2013). Social Work Vs. Clinical Psychology. Retrieved from http://work.chron.com/social-work-vs-clinical-psychology-6672.html on December 16, 2013.
Plante, T. G. (2011). Contemporary clinical psychology (3rd ed.). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons.
Roach, Carl. (2011). The Difference between Clinical Psychologists, Psychiatrists, and Counselors. Retrieved from http://voices.yahoo.com/the-difference-between-clinical-psychologists-psychiatrists-5234413.html on December 16, 2013.
The History of Clinical Psychology. (2013). Retrieved from http://www.clinicalpsychology.net/resources/the-history-of-clinical-psychology/ on December 16, 2013.

References: Greenwood, Beth. (2013). Social Work Vs. Clinical Psychology. Retrieved from http://work.chron.com/social-work-vs-clinical-psychology-6672.html on December 16, 2013. Plante, T. G. (2011). Contemporary clinical psychology (3rd ed.). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons. Roach, Carl. (2011). The Difference between Clinical Psychologists, Psychiatrists, and Counselors. Retrieved from http://voices.yahoo.com/the-difference-between-clinical-psychologists-psychiatrists-5234413.html on December 16, 2013. The History of Clinical Psychology. (2013). Retrieved from http://www.clinicalpsychology.net/resources/the-history-of-clinical-psychology/ on December 16, 2013.