clinical psychology exam #1 (history, definition, and models of training)

when did clinical psychology as a field begin to take shape?

-didn’t exist until the late 1800s/early 1900s
-doctorate would be for teaching

what is considered the beginning role of clinical psychologists?

the assessment role

william tuke (1732-1822)

a british quaker and social reformer, founded the york retreat, emphasizing humane treatment and moral therapy for mental health.

philippe pinel (1745-1826)

worked to move mentally ill out of dungeons in paris, convinced contemporaries that the mentally ill were not possessed by devils, patient case history, ongoing treatment notes, and illness classification, treatise of insanity → empathy for the mentally ill

eli todd (1762-1832)

brought pinel’s words to the U.S., opened the retreat (humane dignified treatment, hartford connecticut), emphasized strengths

dorthea dix (1802-1887)

advocate for mental health reform and improved conditions for the mentally ill in the 19th century. instrumental in establishing asylums and lobbying for government support.

lightner witmer (1867-1956)

father of clinical psychology who studied under wilhem wundt. he founded the first psychologist clinic and the journal of the same name, where he defined clinical psychology. he believed that psychological science could fix cognitive and behavioral problems. not influenced by freud or psychotherapy.

mental test

coined by james mckeen in 1890

testing assessment 1917 - WWI

personnel selection tests for military occupations, intelligence testing to identify those unfit for service, and personality assessment to identify individuals with shell shock (PTSD).

when was the APA established?

1891

when was the journal of abnormal psych established?

1906 - now called journal of psychopathology and clinical science

when was the american association of psychologists founded?

1917

what did leta hollingworth campaign for?

certification of applied psychologists (”doctor of psychology”) in 1918

when did the clinical section of the APA transition?

1919

who conducted treatment before the 1940s?

physicians - psychologists then saw themselves better scientifically trained than physicians and that science would improve diagnosis and categorization of mental illness → remodeling of the APA in 1942 to merge scientists and practitioners

what was the emergency committee on psychology?

government anticipated need for mental health professions during and after WWII

veterans administration and USPHS requested that the APA formalize training in clinical psych

1946

stakeholders (directors of training) met in boulder, CO and defined training for the field, which continues to dominate

1949

does psychotherapy work? & APA’s first edition of ethical code

1950s

diversification of the field and deinstitutionalization

1960s-1970s

greater respect, hospital admitting privileges, and medical payment privileges

1980s

continuous growth in size and scope of field, and choices of training models

1990s-present

lightner witmer’s definition

discipline with similarities to a variety of other fields, specifically medicine, education, and sociology

modern definition

branch of psychology that studies, assesses, and treats people with psychological problems or disorders

apa definition

integrates science, theory, and practice to understand, predict, and alleviate maladjustment, disability, and discomfort as well as to promote human adaptation, adjustment, and personal development. clinical psychology focuses on the intellectual, emotional, biological, psychological, social, and behavioral aspects of human functioning across the lifespan, in varying cultures, and at all socioeconomic levels

clinical psychology involves _________ and __________

rigorous study and applied practice

what does formalized training involve?

• 3ish years full-time coursework

• master’s thesis

• 2-3 years of additional scholarly activities

  • research

  • supervised clinical work

  • teaching

• doctoral dissertation

• 1 year full-time pre-doctoral internship

scientist-practitioner model (boulder)

a model that emphasizes the integration of scientific research and clinical practice in the field of psychology.

practitioner-scholar model (vail)

a model in psychology that emphasizes the integration of practical experience and scholarly research. it involves less training in research and more training in development of applied clinical skills. psyd degree.

what are the advantages of the vail model?

• advantages: shorter time to degree, accept and enroll larger percentage of applicants, more coursework directly related to practice

what are the disadvantages of the vail model?

• disadvantages: trainees have lower rates of success in obtaining APA internships, get lower scores on the national licensing exam (EPPP), offer less funding to students, including tuition waivers, and graduate assistantships

clinical-scientist model

a model that stresses the scientific side of clinical psychology. strong emphasis on scientific method & evidence-based clinical methods.

what are the advantages of the clinical-scientist model?

more access to funding and tuition waivers, prepared for research-based careers in variety of settings

what are the disadvantages of the clinical-scientist model?

often longer time to degree, may feel less prepared for practice, feel pressure to reduce clinical hours

what’s the eppp?

standardized test used to assess the knowledge and competency of individuals seeking licensure as psychologists. there are differing standards to each state.

what do clinical psychologists do?

• psychotherapy

• diagnosis/assessment

• research

• teaching

• supervision

• consultation

where do clinical psychologists work?

• university psychology departments

• research institutes

• hospitals

• nursing homes

• telehealth practice

applying for graduate school routes

routes you might take

1. take time off

   1. post-baccalaureate program “postbac” (13:03 - 20:33)

   2. (un)paid research tech

2. terminal masters in psychology

3. apply for PsyD/PhD program

   1. if you go the PsyD route make sure this program is housed in a not-for-profit university and review their “stats” closely!

acceptance rates of APA-accredited clinical psychology PhD programs - 7-16%

the process of applying

1. information gathering

2. sign up for the GRE/key courses

3. seek quality letter writers

4. narrow down programs

5. write a personal statement

what are the necessary stages for independent licensure as a clinical psychologist in order from first to last?

completion of graduate coursework, predoctoral internship, postdoctoral internship, then licensure exam

what is a benefit to gaining a post-baccalaureate position prior to graduate school?

it provides an in-depth experience that will help you solidify your clinical/research interests

compared to PhD programs, PsyD programs_________

are most often housed in “professional schools” rather than departments of psychology in universities