Archival Description of Clinical Psychology

Clinical Psychology is a general practice and health service provider specialty in professional psychology. Clinical psychologists assess, diagnose, predict, prevent, and treat psychopathology, mental disorders and other individual or group problems to improve behavior adjustment, adaptation, personal effectiveness and satisfaction. What distinguishes Clinical Psychology as a general practice specialty is the breadth of problems addressed and of populations served. Clinical Psychology, in research, education, training and practice, focuses on individual differences, abnormal behavior, and mental disorders and their prevention, and lifestyle enhancement.

Preparation for entry into the specialty begins at the doctoral level and serves as a basis for advanced postdoctoral training in Clinical Psychology or in one or another of the advanced specialties that build on its knowledge and application bases. The substantive areas of basic psychology in which clinical psychologists must have both theoretical and scientific knowledge include the biological, social and cognitive/affective bases of behavior and individual differences. In addition, Clinical Psychology has a special focus on the areas of personality and its development and course, and psychopathology and its prevention and remediation. This emphasis includes the full span of psychopathological disorders and conditions, etiologies, environments, degrees of severity, developmental levels, and the appropriate assessments, interventions, and treatments that are associated with these conditions. Understanding of ethical principles, of diversity and of cultural context are integral components of the knowledge base of all aspects of Clinical Psychology.

Psychological assessment requires knowledge of the developmental and sociocultural normative expectations for the individual(s) assessed. The assessment of attitudinal, cognitive psychophysiological, affective, and/or behavioral functions of individuals and groups is used to identify and measure unique characteristics which may require modification or amelioration to facilitate performance and social competence. Knowledge includes that of theoretical and applied principles of measurement and assessment, administration and scoring, and interpretation of results across diverse populations.

The knowledge base of intervention requires mastery of theories of psychotherapy and psychotherapeutic methods and awareness of current literature on effectiveness and emerging interventions. In addition, Clinical Psychology is built on knowledge of principles of behavioral change, clinical decision-making, and the professional and ethical concerns surrounding clinical practice. Clinical Psychology practitioners have a knowledge base relevant to the populations served, such as cultural awareness, and patterns of normal and deviant development across the life span.

Consultation utilizes knowledge of consultation models in clinical psychology; the theoretical and empirical bases of assessment, diagnosis and intervention; and knowledge of the roles and functions of other professionals with whom clinical psychologists interact, such as physicians, attorneys, and educators.

Supervision requires knowledge of the theoretical, clinical and empirical bases set forth in the rich and extensive literature on clinical supervision as a professional activity.

Research and inquiry in Clinical Psychology utilizes knowledge of methodology, including experimental, correlational and epidemiological methods; knowledge of experimental designs including single-subject, case study, group, quasi-experimental designs; qualitative and quantitative designs; and knowledge of statistics including parametric, nonparametric, and multivariate approaches. Additional expertise that informs research and inquiry is expected in personality, psychopathology, program evaluation, process and outcome research, psychometric principles, validity and reliability of clinical techniques and procedures, sensitivity and specificity of techniques and procedures and ethics of research.

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