Clinical Psychology Paper Essay Example
Clinical Psychology Paper
Kelly R. Deslauriers
PSY 480- Elements of Clinical Psychology
University of Phoenix
March 28, 2011
Jennifer Hope, MS, LPC, CCADC
Clinical Psychology Paper At its most primary level, clinical psychology consists of an educated and licensed person using their knowledge of human behavior and techniques to influence human behavior to attend to, ease, or otherwise moderate the troubles and concerns of another person’s life be them relational, emotional, or psychological. In other words, clinical psychology, “focuses on the assessment, treatment, and understanding of psychological and behavioral problems and disorders” (Plante, 2005, p.7). This paper will compare the history and evolving practice of clinical psychology and touch on the use of counseling within the realm of clinical psychology.
History
No discussion on the history of psychology would be complete without looking at the theories of Hippocrates. Although misguided, Hippocrates had great interest in what caused emotional and psychological maladjustment and developed a theory involving the quantity and quality of “four fluids”: namely, black bile, yellow bile, phlegm, and blood. He theorized that an imbalance in any or all of these fluids was responsible for psychological disorders. Plato was one of the first theorists who differentiated between the body and the soul and theorized that mental illness was caused from a disorder in the “logistikon” which he defined as the “part of the soul that operates the head, controlling reason” (Plante, 2005, p.37). Galen developed a holistic theory that blended both Hippocrates and Plato’s theories resulting in a uniquely holistic theory. This is when leeches and bloodletting were brought into fashion as a treatment for mental illness. The Middle Ages featured the work of Thomas Aquinas, Paracelsus, and Weyer who guided the practice of psychology towards more physical explanations such as behavior, bodily functions, or
Kelly R. Deslauriers
PSY 480- Elements of Clinical Psychology
University of Phoenix
March 28, 2011
Jennifer Hope, MS, LPC, CCADC
Clinical Psychology Paper At its most primary level, clinical psychology consists of an educated and licensed person using their knowledge of human behavior and techniques to influence human behavior to attend to, ease, or otherwise moderate the troubles and concerns of another person’s life be them relational, emotional, or psychological. In other words, clinical psychology, “focuses on the assessment, treatment, and understanding of psychological and behavioral problems and disorders” (Plante, 2005, p.7). This paper will compare the history and evolving practice of clinical psychology and touch on the use of counseling within the realm of clinical psychology.
History
No discussion on the history of psychology would be complete without looking at the theories of Hippocrates. Although misguided, Hippocrates had great interest in what caused emotional and psychological maladjustment and developed a theory involving the quantity and quality of “four fluids”: namely, black bile, yellow bile, phlegm, and blood. He theorized that an imbalance in any or all of these fluids was responsible for psychological disorders. Plato was one of the first theorists who differentiated between the body and the soul and theorized that mental illness was caused from a disorder in the “logistikon” which he defined as the “part of the soul that operates the head, controlling reason” (Plante, 2005, p.37). Galen developed a holistic theory that blended both Hippocrates and Plato’s theories resulting in a uniquely holistic theory. This is when leeches and bloodletting were brought into fashion as a treatment for mental illness. The Middle Ages featured the work of Thomas Aquinas, Paracelsus, and Weyer who guided the practice of psychology towards more physical explanations such as behavior, bodily functions, or