What is the definition of clinical psychology?
Clinical psychology is a unique branch of psychology that deals in accessing the reasons behind the behavioural disorder, mental stress, and psychiatric issues in human beings. It also analyzes the most effective way to treat these problems using talk therapy and thereby promote personal development.
Different approaches to clinical psychology
A Clinical psychologist uses various scientific theories and principals to relieve a patient from psychological disorder. There are specially four vital approaches to Clinical psychology.
- Humanistic Approach
The theories of humanistic approach suggest that every person has specific mechanisms that will help him to get rid of the various psychological problems and thereby build a distinctive identity. The role of a clinical psychologist is to make the patient aware about his mechanisms and thereby get rid of psychological disorders.
- Psychodynamic Approach
It is also one of the unique approaches that state unconscious mind also plays a vital role in changing the behaviour of a person. This approach mainly focuses on the effect of the development of a person during his childhood that is ultimately the reason behind his present psychological condition. Some of the types of treatment that are suggested by this approach are transference, resistance, etc.
- Family Approach
This is also an important approach of clinical psychology that indicates relationship in the family can help a great deal in making a person psychologically healthy. The ultimate focus of this approach is to determine how the psychological disorder of a person has affected the whole family. A clinical psychologist conducts a therapy session with each of the persons in the family and thereby determines the effective treatment to improve the communication skill of the patient.
- Cognitive Behavioural Approach
This is also a major approach of clinical psychology that analyzes how a specific person feels, interprets and thereby acts accordingly. A clinical psychologist determines the relationship between these three vital aspects and thereby analyzes the reasons behind psychological distress in a person.
What is the work of a clinical psychologist?
Clinical psychologists are the largest group of speciality practitioners who deal in promoting the mental health of a person by giving him the opportunity to share his feelings and concerns in the best possible way. Clinical psychologists also deal with some of the most critical psychiatric issues such as depression and schizophrenia. Besides providing treatment, they also maintain a record of the diagnosis, patient assessment in order to track the improvement.
