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