Chapter 1- Clinical Psychology: Definition and Training

Division of Clinical Psychology

“The field of Clinical Psychology involves research, teaching and services relevant to the applications of principles, methods, and procedures for understanding, predicting, and alleviating intellectual, emotional, biological, psychological, social and behavioral maladjustment, disability and discomfort, applied to a wide range of client populations” (APA Division 12, 2023

Definition for this course

–Clinical psychology involves rigorous study and applied practice directed toward understanding and improving the psychological facts of the human experience, including but not limited to issues or problems of behavior, emotions, or intellect

•Doctoral degree in clinical psychology required (PsyD or PhD)

-4 years of coursework
•Master's thesis and doctoral dissertation
•Practicum training (supervised clinical work)
-1 year of predoctoral internship
•Many paths to become a clinical psychologist.

Balancing Practice and Science:

The Scientist-Practitioner (Boulder) Model

•1949 conference in Boulder, Colorado

•Balanced, two-pronged approach to clinical psychology training.

–Coursework and independent work reflect dual emphasis

Leaning Toward Practice: The Practitioner-Scholar (Vail) Model

•Emphasis on _________ practice.

•Emphasis on _________ practice. ( The Practitioner-Scholar (Vail) Model)

•1973 conference in Vail, Colorado

•PsyD (coursework/practice > research)

•Half of doctoral degrees are PsyD.

PsyD programs accept more students

•The Boulder model of training is also known as the ______ model of training.

a)Practitioner-scholar
b)Clinical-scientist
c)Clinical psychologist
d)Scientist-practitioner

d)Scientist-practitioner

The ________ typically consists of a full year of supervised clinical experience in an applied setting and takes place before the doctoral degree is awarded.

a)Postdoctoral internship
b)Predoctoral internship
c)First year of graduate school in a PsyD program
d)First year of graduate school in a PhD program

b)Predoctoral internship

•The scientist-practitioner model of training is characterized by a(n) ______.

a)Emphasis on practice and research
b)Emphasis on research over practice
c)Emphasis on practice over research
d)Emphasis on psychopharmacology

a)Emphasis on practice and research