Clinical Psychology
Clinical Psychology
Gabriela Alvarez
Clinical Psychology Clinical psychology is one of the most prominent specialty areas in psychology today. Clinical psychology focuses and strives to understand, assess and treat psychological and behavioral problems and disorders (Plante, 2010). According to Bedi (2012), “Clinical psychology is a broad approach to human problems . . . with regard to numerous populations.” Furthermore, analyzing the methods in which the human psyche interacts with emotional, physical and social facets of health dysfunction is a priority in clinical psychology. Clinical psychology utilizes assessment and treatment approaches supported by social factors and research and statistics to offer optimal care and modern methods to patients (Plante, 2010). History of Clinical Psychology
Clinical psychology’s vast history highlights the early influences from early Greek philosophers to Sigmund Freud, to today’s modern area of psychology. Early influences that contributed to psychology were based in philosophy and science. However, the main driving force was the overwhelming desire to understand the mind- body connection and abnormal behavior that lead to this ever evolving field (Plante, 2010)
Greek philosophers were crucial in the development of multi-approaches to illness and were responsible for highlighting the biopsychosocial perspective. Although the Greeks supported the idea that the gods controlled health and illness, they saw beyond this and explored biological, psychological, and social influences on illness. The Greeks were pioneers in that they realized the existence of a mind-body connection. They felt healing could occur in an environment similar to that of today’s resort environment; ill patients would bathe, pray, eat special foods, and have their dreams analyzed (Plante, 2010). One of the most famous Greeks “Hippocrates” theorized that disease was the result of an imbalance of four bodily fluids (humors), rather than
Gabriela Alvarez
Clinical Psychology Clinical psychology is one of the most prominent specialty areas in psychology today. Clinical psychology focuses and strives to understand, assess and treat psychological and behavioral problems and disorders (Plante, 2010). According to Bedi (2012), “Clinical psychology is a broad approach to human problems . . . with regard to numerous populations.” Furthermore, analyzing the methods in which the human psyche interacts with emotional, physical and social facets of health dysfunction is a priority in clinical psychology. Clinical psychology utilizes assessment and treatment approaches supported by social factors and research and statistics to offer optimal care and modern methods to patients (Plante, 2010). History of Clinical Psychology
Clinical psychology’s vast history highlights the early influences from early Greek philosophers to Sigmund Freud, to today’s modern area of psychology. Early influences that contributed to psychology were based in philosophy and science. However, the main driving force was the overwhelming desire to understand the mind- body connection and abnormal behavior that lead to this ever evolving field (Plante, 2010)
Greek philosophers were crucial in the development of multi-approaches to illness and were responsible for highlighting the biopsychosocial perspective. Although the Greeks supported the idea that the gods controlled health and illness, they saw beyond this and explored biological, psychological, and social influences on illness. The Greeks were pioneers in that they realized the existence of a mind-body connection. They felt healing could occur in an environment similar to that of today’s resort environment; ill patients would bathe, pray, eat special foods, and have their dreams analyzed (Plante, 2010). One of the most famous Greeks “Hippocrates” theorized that disease was the result of an imbalance of four bodily fluids (humors), rather than
References: Bedi, R. P., Klubben, L. M., & Barker, G. T. (2012). Counseling vs. Clinical: A Comparison of Psychology Doctoral Programs in Canada. Canadian Psychology, 53(3), 228-253. doi:10.1037/a0028558 Plante, Thomas. G. (2010). What is Contemporary Clinical Psychology? (3rd ed.). Retrieved from https://ecampus.phoenix.edu/content/eBookLibrary2/content/eReader.aspx. Ryder, A. G., Ban, L. M., & Chentsova-Dutton, Y. E. (2011). Towards a Cultural-Clinical Psychology. Social & Personality Psychology Compass, 5(12), 960-975. doi:10.1111/j.1751-9004.2011.00404.x