| Clinical psychology is aimed at understanding | | | | research could be effectively applied in a |
| and studying human and animal behavior. | | | | clinical setting. |
| Clinical psychologists evaluate mental health | | | | |
| problems and conduct and use scientific | | | | The field of clinical psychology generally |
| research to understand them. They also | | | | identifies three major perspectives of |
| develop, provide, and assess psychological | | | | practice. They are psychodynamic, cognitive |
| care and interventions (psychotherapy). In | | | | behavioral, and humanistic. However, there |
| America, clinical psychologists are normally | | | | does exist a growing debate regarding the |
| required to hold a Ph.D. or a Psy.D. and | | | | inclusion of the transpersonal perspective as |
| often have postgraduate work experience. | | | | well. |
| | | | |
| American psychologist Lightner Witmer | | | | The psychodynamic standpoint developed out of |
| (1867-1956) used the term clinical psychology | | | | the psychoanalysis of Sigmund Freud. |
| for the first time in a paper in 1907. He | | | | Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) formed |
| particularly defined it as the study of | | | | from the two branches of cognitive psychology |
| individuals, by examination or | | | | and behaviorism. Humanistic psychology came |
| experimentation, with the objective of | | | | into being in the 1950s. This was largely a |
| promoting change. The American Psychological | | | | reaction to both behaviorism and |
| Association provides a more contemporary | | | | psychoanalysis, mainly due to the |
| definition of the term and defines it as the | | | | person-centered therapy of Carl Rogers. As |
| field that combines science, theory, and | | | | such, it is often referred to as Rogerian |
| practice to comprehend and alleviate | | | | Therapy. It is often argued that humanistic |
| maladjustment and disability as well as to | | | | psychology is more of an outlook than a set |
| promote human adaptation, adjustment, and | | | | of techniques. |
| personal development. | | | | |
| | | | Clinical psychology pays attention to the |
| Clinical psychology developed as a result of | | | | intellectual, emotional, genetic, |
| a need for supplementary clinicians to treat | | | | psychological, and social characteristics of |
| mental health problems. It also developed | | | | human functioning across the life span at all |
| partly as psychological science advanced to | | | | socioeconomic levels. |
| the stage where the fruits of psychological | | | | |