...Examination of Clinical Psychology Mileva Repasky August 25, 2014 PSY 480 John Colyar Examination of Clinical Psychology Psychology itself involves many theories, outcomes, and studies involving behaviors. Clinical psychology involves licensed individuals who use their knowledge and expertise of human behavior to address and treat issues or concerns in an individual’s life. Our text describes clinical psychology as “the aspect of psychological science and practice concerned with the analysis, treatment, and prevention of human psychological disabilities” (Plante, 2010, p.7). Clinical psychology is used to treat mental health problems using the scientific method. Clinical psychology has a very diverse history and continues to evolve through research and continually advancing statistics in this field. As this branch of psychology continues to evolve there are many similarities and differences that are shared with many other health professions. History and Evolution of Clinical Psychology Though the aspects of psychology have been present throughout our history, the actual field of psychology and clinical psychology was not recognized as a science until the late 1800’s. Psychology became a distinct discipline in 1892 when the American Psychological Association was formed; clinical psychology was named a specialty four years later. In 1896 the first psychological clinic was open in Pennsylvania by Lightner Witmer who became the first psychologist who treated an individual...
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...Examination of Clinical Psychology Steven Billingsley University of Phoenix PSY 480 Cindy Fouhy 02/01/14 Examination of Clinical Psychology Clinical psychology is an area of psychology which seeks to find and understand the various behavioral problems humans possess, and the possible psychological problems and disorders. “According to the APA, clinical psychology attempts to use the principles of psychology to better understand, predict, and alleviate intellectual, emotional, biological, psychological, social, and behavioral aspects of human functioning (APA, 2009a)”(Plante, 2011, pg. 5). For one to gain a better understanding of clinical psychology, the history and evolving nature of clinical psychology must be discussed, the role of research and statistics must be explained, and the differences between clinical psychology and other mental health professions must be discussed. The items listed will be addressed and examined throughout this paper. History of Clinical Psychology In the later part of the 1800’s, psychology was being discovered in several laboratories in different universities. The field of psychology was insisting and leaning more on pure science as the main practice, but a former student of Wilhelm Wundt, named Lightner Witmer, made an impact and changed that view on psychology (Pickren, 2009). Lightner Whitmer in charge of the psychology department in the University of Pennsylvania. Whitmer began to work with a boy who had problems with spelling...
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...Examination of Clinical Psychology Lisa Brown PSY/480 April 6, 2015 William Philadelphia Examination of Clinical Psychology This paper will be providing an examination of clinical psychology. This examination will include discussing the history and evolving nature of clinical psychology, the role of research and statistics in clinical psychology, and the differences between clinical psychology and other mental health professions such as social work, psychiatry, and school psychology. History of Clinical Psychology The field of psychology was born in 1892 with the American Psychological Association being founded. Clinical psychology was born four years later, in 1896 with the first psychological clinic being opened at the University of Pennsylvania. Lightner Witmer opened this clinic and provided the ability to apply psychological philosophy to human illness (Reisman, 1991). Many of Witmer’s colleagues did not like the idea of using the science of psychology on real clinical problems. Even though Witmer’s thoughts and ideas were not well received at that time, he was still able to open the clinic and provide programs for children struggling with school-related issues (Plante, 2011). The development of tests to help explore the mental abilities in children grew with the Binet-Simon intelligence scale that was created for testing children in 1904. The scale was renamed Stanford-Binet in 1916 when a psychologist at Stanford University revised the scale...
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...Running head: EXAMINATION OF CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY Examination of Clinical Psychology University of Phoenix PST/480 Karen Wilson Nov 14, 2011 Examination of Clinical Psychology Clinical psychology is a very important as well as popular part of the field of psychology that is used very often. To begin, a definition of clinical psychology will be included. According to APA (2009) “Clinical psychology attempts to use the principles of psychology to better understand, predict, and alleviate ‘intellectual, emotional, biological, psychological, social, and behavioral aspects of human functioning’” (Plante, 2011, p. 5). The following paper will first describe the history and evolving nature of clinical psychology. Second, the role of research and statistics in clinical psychology will be addressed. Finally, the differences between clinical psychology and other mental health professions will be examined. Clinical psychology provides an insight into the human psyche and how we as individuals can deal with different aspects of the world around us. The first item to be discussed is the history and evolving nature of clinical psychology. History of Clinical Psychology Clinical psychology has been around unofficially for hundreds of years. People have always had mental or emotional problems in the past, but there was never a name to go with the problem. Psychology has been around since 2500 B.C. but during that time period people used magic, herbs, reasoning...
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...Examination of Clinical Psychology Clinical psychology has an important history in psychology. The history begins with early Greek Philosophers, Sigmund Freud, and continues in modern psychology. Clinical psychology is deprived from philosophy, science, and many other realms. The scientific aspect of clinical psychology continues to alter and evolve leaving clinical psychology evolving as well. There are clear distinctions between clinical psychology and other disciplines, but they all have the same goal of helping individuals. History of Clinical Psychology There are many aspects and events that lead to the progression of clinical psychology. In earlier times the Greeks realized that the mind and body both influence relationships on individuals dealing with illnesses. Plato, Hippocrates, and Aristotle grew upon this theory. They believed that an individuals body was incontrol by his or her soul, and that illness were caused from problems within the soul (Plante, 2011). The middle ages focused that physical and mental issues meant that the individuals had issues of the soul. The Renaissance period brought upon the scientific approach, that scientific experimentation and observation were evident rather than what was thought to be from spiritual thoughts (Plante, 2011). Sigmund Freud had an increase understanding of the mind and body connection. Freud believed that the unconscious mind had an influence on the individual’s wellbeing (Parsons, 1958). Freud’s theories and his...
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...Clinical psychology is an expansive branch that combines general practice with health services. In clinical psychology, the main focus is on diagnosing, assessing, evaluating, and treating behavioral, emotional, and mental disorders. This field became more widely recognized toward the end of the nineteenth century (American Board of Professional Psychology, n.d.). Research and statistics help the field to grow and helps psychologists and those in the mental health field to understand more about disorders and behaviors. This field also shares some similarities, as well as differences, with other mental health professions. The history of clinical psychology is a rich one, and the field continues to grow. Clinical Psychology History Before psychology was a science, it was a practice. It is believed that the practice of psychology has always existed. However, the science of psychology emerged from philosophy. The many ideas and thoughts of philosophers laid the foundation of psychology (Benjamin, 2005). The field of psychology began as a mixture of philosophy, medicine, and theology. In the late 1800’s, The Elements of Psychophysics was published by Theodor Fechner, and Principles of Physiological Psychology was published by Wilhelm Wundt. These two publications allowed the explanation that physics and physiology could be used to answer questions on a psychological level. Wundt opened the first laboratory for psychology in Germany. When he opened his laboratory, psychology as...
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...The field of clinical psychology focuses on diagnosing mental disorders and determining the proper method for properly treating the particular illness. Clinical psychologists access their patients by interviewing and observing them as well as administering psychological tests. They further utilize applicable research findings in order to ultimately make a proper diagnose and develop the proper treatment plan. Clinical psychology also aides psychologists “to better understand, predict, and alleviate the intellectual, emotional, biological, psychological, social, and behavioral aspects of human functioning” (APA, 2010). The clinical field of psychology helps many individuals to cope with difficulties in their life that affect them in significant ways such as a life changing experience like a divorce or loss of a loved one. According to Plante, (2011), “clinical psychologists are consulted for situations such as divorce, death, learning disorders, etc. Studies in the clinical psychology field are aimed at enhancing personal adjustment and effectiveness" (p. 1). History and Evolution of Clinical Psychology The world and how we, as humans, know and understand it today, was not always what was believed by individuals in history. Before psychology and all of its branches and sub-categories were established, many individuals had their own way in answering questions about illness and mental stability. For example, the Greeks began using holistic approaches in 470 B.C, which focused on...
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...What is clinical psychology? Clinical psychology is the “discipline that uses what is known about the principles of human behavior to help people with their numerous troubles and concerns they experience during the course of life in their relationships, emotions, and physical selves” (Plante, 2011). The paper will discuss the history and evolving nature of clinical psychology and how psychology is still changing overtime. Next, the paper will discuss the roles that research and statistics play into clinical psychology. Lastly, the paper will include the differences between clinical psychology and other types of health professions, such as clinical psychology versus social work, clinical psychology versus psychiatry, and clinically psychology versus school psychology. History and Evolving Nature of Clinical Psychology Clinical psychology has changed over the last 25 years. For starters the DSM-III was published as well as the APA standards were revised. The American Psychological Society was founded, as well as the APA published the findings from the Presidential Task force for evidence-practice. Two of the main evolved approaches would be the Cognitive-Behavioral Approach as well as the Humanistic Approach. The Cognitive-Behavioral Approach was popular in the 1970s and they were used for depression as well as “treatment focusing on changing thinking, feeling, and expectations became as important as the goal of changing overt behavior” (Plante, 2011). The Humanistic...
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...Examination of Clinical Psychology Robin Slagel PSY/480 May 18, 2015 Janice Williams Examination of Clinical Psychology Within the many diverse disciplines and sub-disciplines of psychology it may be that within clinical psychology the whole of the search for the study of why human beings think and behave as they do from time immemorial can be seen. For all of the early searches and understandings regarding science, philosophy, and medicine have been intertwined with what is currently understood about clinical psychology and all that may be discovered in the future will also have connection to those earlier gestations. Therefore to have a fuller comprehension of clinical psychology it is important to have an understanding of its history and how the science has evolved, emerged, and matured through time. As important would be the ability to lend a sense of credence and validity to the study of the human mind and resultant behaviors through clinical psychology by learning something about the role of studious research and concrete statistical evidence. Last there must be a substantive discussion and understanding of how clinical psychology differs from other explorations and disciplines into the thoughts, beliefs, and behaviors of the human mind and brain. Clinical Psychology Overview It may be said that clinical psychology is just one specific form of psychology wherein the clinician uses the tenets and precepts of the psychological...
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...Examination of Clinical Psychology Jessica Brockman PSY/480 October 3, 2011 Stacie Flynn Examination of Clinical Psychology The word clinical comes from the Greek word klinike, which means “medical practice at the sickbed” (Maddux, 2008, p. 56), the word psychology comes from the word psyche, which means “soul or mind” (Maddux, 2008, p. 56). Clinical Psychology is “the assessment, treatment, and understanding of psychological and behavioral problems and disorders” (Plante, 2011, p. 5). Clinical psychology has a rich history compiled with information derived from philosophy, biology, and science. In this paper the history and the evolving nature of clinical psychology will be described as well as an explanation of the role research and statistics has on clinical psychology, and a comparison of clinical psychology to other mental health profession. The History of Clinical Psychology Greek history presented a background of early Greek thinkers, who acknowledged an interconnection between the mind and body as well as the influence the interconnection has on illnesses. One of the first contributors to psychology came from Hippocrates, who believed disease, temperament, and personality originated from an imbalance within four humors that he called black bile, yellow bile, phlegm, and blood within an individual’s environment (Plante, 2011). Hippocrates also suggested that abnormal behavior, physical, and emotional illnesses were influenced by biological, psychological,...
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...Clinical Psychology Paper The great evangelist D.T. Niles once said, “Christianity is just one beggar telling another beggar where to find bread” (Niles, 2010). At its most basic level, clinical psychology is the enterprise of one educated, licensed person using their knowledge of human behavior to address, assuage, or otherwise moderate the troubles and concerns of another person’s life—whether they be relational, affective, or physiological. Strictly speaking, clinical psychology is, “the assessment, treatment, and understanding of psychological and behavioral problems and disorders” (Plante, 2005, p. 7). Clinical psychology is a scientific endeavor, utilizing the instrument of the scientific method to inform the practice, procedures, and treatments used to address human problems. There is an interplay that exists between treatment outcome research and psychotherapy in clinical psychology—the science informs the art and the art informs the science (Plante, 2005). The point of this paper is to catalogue and compare the history and evolving nature of clinical psychology as well as to consider the specific case of counseling within the framework of clinical psychology. History Hippocrates—the original author of the Hippocratic Oath—formed the first complete, if naïve, physiological explanation of disease and dysfunction (Plante, 2005). He proposed that imbalances in the mixture and quantity of four fluids: black bile, yellow bile, phlegm, and blood, caused several emotions...
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...Examination of Clinical Psychology Paper Psy 480 Dr. Gurinder Bolina Examination of Clinical Psychology Paper Clinical Psychology has been a major part of our history from the Greek philosophers to Sigmund Freud to our modern day psychologist and philosophers; our knowledge about psychology and how information has been drawn from others has been evolving. During Clinical Psychology, psychologists find new clinical interventions by gathering information and philosophical aspects through data. In this paper, there will be not the history of this psychology but the differences between the medical health professions and clinical psychology. According to James, J. and James, M. (1991), “Although, various distinctions exist between clinical psychologists and other psychological disciplines, all endure to promote a better quality of life from and for the human spirit.” The History of Clinical Psychology The Greeks developed the first ideas of psychology. Three philosophers named Aristotle, Hippocrates, and Plato believed that a person’s individual body reacts from the individual’s soul being in charge and that if a person becomes ill ;especially, physically ill means that the person was suffering something within their soul that is resulting in them being this way. According to Plante, T. G. (2011), “The way the Greeks were able to understand how disease transported was not controlled by the gods but, because of social, biological, and psychological effects exchanged between...
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...Examination of Clinical Psychology Savannah Slayton PSY480 February 23, 2015 Professor Lori Hale Clinical Psychology General psychology is like many disciplines, consisting of an array of subgroups. Within psychology there are psychologist who counsel within school psychologist, social psychologist, and developmental psychologist. A clinical psychologist is described as an individual who performs group or individual therapy, conducts survey to determine psychiatric symptoms, assesses personality, and measures intelligence. When clinical psychologist are not conducting therapy or assessing clients many psychologist are researching mental health disorders. Clinical psychologist are often employed by universities to research and develop and test prevention or treatment of mental health disorders. Other clinical psychologist are instructors or professors who teach psychology to undergraduate and graduate students (Witmer, 1996). Clinical Psychology History The field of psychology developed during the late 1800s and early 1900s. The development of psychology allowed the foundation of clinical psychology to form. Increased interest in the study of the human mind helped psychology develop. Sir Francis Galton became of the first individuals to research and study mental ability. After only a few years Wilhelm Wundt established the first psychology laboratory in Germany. In the United States, William James developed the first psychology laboratory. As laboratories began to establish...
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...Elements of Clinical Psychology Paper Leah Syberg PSY/480 October 5, 2015 Tara Thompson Introduction There are different approaches and disciplines in psychology (Plante, 2010). The different approaches have different understandings of how people develop cognitively, and how personality (including behavior) is formed. For example, some people can be treated sufficiently with pharmacology (medication), while others can benefit from a psychoanalytical approach to thinking and behavior (uncovering unconscious thoughts and feelings). In this way, each perspective and form of treatment has its own benefits. Clinical psychology, on the other hand, can use all perspectives and approaches (Plante, 2010). This is true because clinical psychology is an art- using all researches, methods, and approaches to define the problems a person can have. In addition to defining the problem, clinical psychology can offer different forms of treatment. For example, one person’s depression can be best treated with medication, and another person can benefit from cognitive-behavioral therapy. Also, people with multiple problems can benefit from the treatment of a clinical psychologist. This is true because the clinical psychologist can offer different forms of treatments for the many problems one person can face. This paper will discuss the field of clinical psychology, the history, research methods, and the differences in different fields of psychology. Clinical Psychology Clinical...
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...Examination of Clinical Psychology Justin Yates Elements of Clinical Psychology August 19, 2014 Dawn Smith Examination of Clinical Psychology Out of all the intriguing fields of psychology to study and examine, clinical psychology is perhaps one of the most interesting to elucidate. With its roots stemming back to the philosophy of the one and only Sigmund Freud, clinical psychology has progress to a modern psychology saturate with elements of research from philosophy, science, and other useful means of examinations. Scientific advances are continuing to make strides toward transforming clinical psychology into clinical interventions that help and treat human needs and different challenges. Although clinical psychology differs in many ways from the other fields of psychology, it does hold one key attribute that all the others hold and that is promoting the quality of life for all humans. In this paper a brief history of clinical psychology will be provided. This paper will also illuminate the evolution of nature of clinical psychology. This paper will also examine the role that research and statistics play in clinical psychology. Lastly, this paper will discuss how clinical psychology differs from all the other disciplines on psychology. When examining clinical psychology it is imperative to understand what exactly clinical psychology is. Clinical psychology is a mixture of science, clinical knowledge, and or theories working together to help understand psychologically...
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