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Clinical psychology specialty integrates the science of psychology with treating complex human problems. In addition to directing treating people for mental health concerns, the field of clinical psychology also supports communities, conducts research, and offers training to promote mental health for people of all ages and backgrounds.

This article discusses what clinical psychologists do, the history of the discipline, and the different approaches used today in treating mental health conditions.

What Is Clinical Psychology?

Clinical psychology is thebranch of psychologyconcerned with assessing and treating mental illness, abnormal behavior, and psychiatric problems. This psychology specialty area provides comprehensive care and treatment for complex mental health problems. In addition to treating individuals, clinical psychology also focuses on couples, families, and groups.

History of Clinical Psychology

American psychologist Lightner Witmer opened the first psychological clinic in 1896 with a specific focus on helping children who had learning disabilities. It was also Witmer who first introduced the term “clinical psychology” in a 1907 paper.

By 1914, 26 other clinics devoted to clinical psychology had been established in the United States. Today, clinical psychology is one of the most popularsubfieldsand the single largest employment area within psychology.

Evolution During the World Wars

Clinical psychology became more established during the period of World War I as practitioners demonstrated the usefulness of psychological assessments. In 1917, the American Association of Clinical Psychology was established, although it was replaced just two years later with the establishment of theAmerican Psychological Association(APA).

During World War II, clinical psychologists were called upon to help treat what was then known as shell shock, now referred to aspost-traumatic stress disorder(PTSD).

The demand for professionals to treat the many returning veterans in need of care contributed to the growth of clinical psychology during this period.

Changes in Focus

While the early focus in clinical psychology had mainly been on science and research, graduate programs began adding additional emphasis onpsychotherapy. In clinical psychology PhD programs, this approach is today referred to as the scientist-practitioner or Boulder Model.

Later, the Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) degree option emerged, which emphasized professional practice more than research. This practice-oriented doctorate degree in clinical psychology is known as the practitioner-scholar or Vail model.

The field has continued to grow tremendously, and the demand for clinical psychologists today remains strong. One survey found that the percentage of women and minorities in clinical psychology programs has grown over the last two decades. Today, around two-thirds of clinical psychology trainees are women and one-quarter are ethnic minorities.

Treatment Approaches in Clinical Psychology

Clinical psychologists who work as psychotherapists often utilize different treatment approaches when working with clients. While some clinicians focus on a very specific treatment outlook, many use what is referred to as an eclectic approach. This involves drawing on different theoretical methods to develop the best treatment plan for each individual client.

Some of the major theoretical perspectives within clinical psychology include:

Psychodynamic Approach

This perspective grew from Sigmund Freud’s work; he believed that the unconscious mind plays a vital role in our behavior. Psychologists who utilizepsychoanalytic therapymay use techniques such as free association to investigate a client’s underlying unconscious motivations.

Modern psychodynamic therapy utilizes talk therapy to help people gain insight, solve problems, and improve relationships. Research has found that this approach to treatment can be as effective as other therapy approaches.

Cognitive Behavioral Approaches

This approach to clinical psychology developed from the behavioral and cognitive schools of thought. Clinical psychologists using this perspective will look at how a client’s feelings, behaviors, and thoughts interact.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy(CBT) often focuses on changing thoughts and behaviors contributing to psychological distress.Specific types of therapy that are rooted in CBT include:

Humanistic Approaches

This approach to clinical psychology grew from the work of humanist thinkers such as Abraham Maslow andCarl Rogers. This perspective looks at the client more holistically and is focused on such things asself-actualization.

Some types ofhumanistic therapythat a clinical psychologist might practice includeclient-centered therapy, existential therapy, Gestalt therapy, narrative therapy, or logotherapy.

How to Become a Clinical Psychologist

In the United States, clinical psychologists usually have a doctorate in psychology and receive training in clinical settings. The educational requirements to work in clinical psychology are quite rigorous, and most clinical psychologists spend between four to six years in graduate school afterearning a bachelor’s degree.

Generally speaking, PhD programs are centered on research, while PsyD programs are practice-oriented. Students may also find graduate programs that offer a terminal master’s degree in clinical psychology.

Careers In Clinical Psychology

Clinical psychologistswork in a variety of settings (hospitals, clinics, private practice, universities, schools, etc.) and in many capacities. All of them require these professionals to draw on their expertise in special ways and for different purposes.

Some clinical psychologists may focus on one of these or provide several of these services. For example, someone may work directly with clients who are admitted to a hospital for psychological disorders, while also running a private therapeutic office that offers short-term and long-term outpatient services to those who need help coping with psychological distress.

Summary

Clinical psychology is one of the most popular areas in psychology, but it’s important to evaluate your interests before deciding if this area might be right for you. If you enjoy working with people and are able to handle stress and conflict well, clinical psychology may be an excellent choice.

The field of clinical psychology will continue to grow and evolve thanks to the changing needs of the population, as well as shifts in approaches to healthcare policy. If you’re still unsure whether clinical psychology is right for you,taking a psychology career self-test​may help.

Overview of Developmental Psychology

13 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Roccella M, Vetri L.Adventures of clinical psychology.J Clin Med. 2021;10(21):4848. doi:10.3390/jcm10214848Benjamin LT Jr.A history of clinical psychology as a profession in America (and a glimpse at its future).Annu Rev Clin Psychol. 2005;1:1-30. doi:10.1146/annurev.clinpsy.1.102803.143758Witmer L.Clinical psychology.Am Psychol.1996;51(3):248-251. doi:10.1037/0003-066X.51.3.248Gee DG, DeYoung KA, McLaughlin KA, et al.Training the next generation of clinical psychological scientists: A data-driven call to action.Annu Rev Clin Psychol. 2022;18:43-70. doi:10.1146/annurev-clinpsy-081219-092500American Psychological Association.Doctoral degrees in psychology: How are they different, or not so different?Foley KP, McNeil CB.Scholar-Practitioner Model. In: Cautin RL, Lilienfeld SO, eds.The Encyclopedia of Clinical Psychology. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons; 2015. doi:10.1002/9781118625392.wbecp532Norcross JC, Sayette MA, Pomerantz AM.Doctoral training in clinical psychology across 23 years: Continuity and change.J Clin Psychol. 2018;74(3):385-397. doi:10.1002/jclp.22517Shedler J.The efficacy of psychodynamic psychotherapy.Am Psychol.2010;65(2):98-109. doi:10.1037/a0018378Steinert C, Munder T, Rabung S, Hoyer J, Leichsenring F.Psychodynamic therapy: as efficacious as other empirically supported treatments? A meta-analysis testing equivalence of outcomes.Am J Psychiatry. 2017;174(10):943-953. doi: 10.1176/appi.ajp.2017.17010057Fenn K, Byrne M.The key principles of cognitive behavioural therapy.InnovAiT: Educ Inspir Gen Prac. 2013;6(9):579-585. doi:10.1177/1755738012471029Block M.Humanistic Therapy. In: Goldstein S, Naglieri JA., eds.Encyclopedia of Child Behavior and Development. Boston, MA: Springer; 2011. doi:10.1007/978-0-387-79061-9_1403U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.Occupational Outlook Handbook: Psychologists.National Health Service.Clinical psychologist.Additional ReadingCarr A.Clinical Psychology: An Introduction. London: Routledge; 2012.Trull TJ, Prinstein M.Clinical Psychology.Belmont, CA: Wadsworth; 2013.

13 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Roccella M, Vetri L.Adventures of clinical psychology.J Clin Med. 2021;10(21):4848. doi:10.3390/jcm10214848Benjamin LT Jr.A history of clinical psychology as a profession in America (and a glimpse at its future).Annu Rev Clin Psychol. 2005;1:1-30. doi:10.1146/annurev.clinpsy.1.102803.143758Witmer L.Clinical psychology.Am Psychol.1996;51(3):248-251. doi:10.1037/0003-066X.51.3.248Gee DG, DeYoung KA, McLaughlin KA, et al.Training the next generation of clinical psychological scientists: A data-driven call to action.Annu Rev Clin Psychol. 2022;18:43-70. doi:10.1146/annurev-clinpsy-081219-092500American Psychological Association.Doctoral degrees in psychology: How are they different, or not so different?Foley KP, McNeil CB.Scholar-Practitioner Model. In: Cautin RL, Lilienfeld SO, eds.The Encyclopedia of Clinical Psychology. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons; 2015. doi:10.1002/9781118625392.wbecp532Norcross JC, Sayette MA, Pomerantz AM.Doctoral training in clinical psychology across 23 years: Continuity and change.J Clin Psychol. 2018;74(3):385-397. doi:10.1002/jclp.22517Shedler J.The efficacy of psychodynamic psychotherapy.Am Psychol.2010;65(2):98-109. doi:10.1037/a0018378Steinert C, Munder T, Rabung S, Hoyer J, Leichsenring F.Psychodynamic therapy: as efficacious as other empirically supported treatments? A meta-analysis testing equivalence of outcomes.Am J Psychiatry. 2017;174(10):943-953. doi: 10.1176/appi.ajp.2017.17010057Fenn K, Byrne M.The key principles of cognitive behavioural therapy.InnovAiT: Educ Inspir Gen Prac. 2013;6(9):579-585. doi:10.1177/1755738012471029Block M.Humanistic Therapy. In: Goldstein S, Naglieri JA., eds.Encyclopedia of Child Behavior and Development. Boston, MA: Springer; 2011. doi:10.1007/978-0-387-79061-9_1403U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.Occupational Outlook Handbook: Psychologists.National Health Service.Clinical psychologist.Additional ReadingCarr A.Clinical Psychology: An Introduction. London: Routledge; 2012.Trull TJ, Prinstein M.Clinical Psychology.Belmont, CA: Wadsworth; 2013.

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Roccella M, Vetri L.Adventures of clinical psychology.J Clin Med. 2021;10(21):4848. doi:10.3390/jcm10214848Benjamin LT Jr.A history of clinical psychology as a profession in America (and a glimpse at its future).Annu Rev Clin Psychol. 2005;1:1-30. doi:10.1146/annurev.clinpsy.1.102803.143758Witmer L.Clinical psychology.Am Psychol.1996;51(3):248-251. doi:10.1037/0003-066X.51.3.248Gee DG, DeYoung KA, McLaughlin KA, et al.Training the next generation of clinical psychological scientists: A data-driven call to action.Annu Rev Clin Psychol. 2022;18:43-70. doi:10.1146/annurev-clinpsy-081219-092500American Psychological Association.Doctoral degrees in psychology: How are they different, or not so different?Foley KP, McNeil CB.Scholar-Practitioner Model. In: Cautin RL, Lilienfeld SO, eds.The Encyclopedia of Clinical Psychology. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons; 2015. doi:10.1002/9781118625392.wbecp532Norcross JC, Sayette MA, Pomerantz AM.Doctoral training in clinical psychology across 23 years: Continuity and change.J Clin Psychol. 2018;74(3):385-397. doi:10.1002/jclp.22517Shedler J.The efficacy of psychodynamic psychotherapy.Am Psychol.2010;65(2):98-109. doi:10.1037/a0018378Steinert C, Munder T, Rabung S, Hoyer J, Leichsenring F.Psychodynamic therapy: as efficacious as other empirically supported treatments? A meta-analysis testing equivalence of outcomes.Am J Psychiatry. 2017;174(10):943-953. doi: 10.1176/appi.ajp.2017.17010057Fenn K, Byrne M.The key principles of cognitive behavioural therapy.InnovAiT: Educ Inspir Gen Prac. 2013;6(9):579-585. doi:10.1177/1755738012471029Block M.Humanistic Therapy. In: Goldstein S, Naglieri JA., eds.Encyclopedia of Child Behavior and Development. Boston, MA: Springer; 2011. doi:10.1007/978-0-387-79061-9_1403U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.Occupational Outlook Handbook: Psychologists.National Health Service.Clinical psychologist.

Roccella M, Vetri L.Adventures of clinical psychology.J Clin Med. 2021;10(21):4848. doi:10.3390/jcm10214848

Benjamin LT Jr.A history of clinical psychology as a profession in America (and a glimpse at its future).Annu Rev Clin Psychol. 2005;1:1-30. doi:10.1146/annurev.clinpsy.1.102803.143758

Witmer L.Clinical psychology.Am Psychol.1996;51(3):248-251. doi:10.1037/0003-066X.51.3.248

Gee DG, DeYoung KA, McLaughlin KA, et al.Training the next generation of clinical psychological scientists: A data-driven call to action.Annu Rev Clin Psychol. 2022;18:43-70. doi:10.1146/annurev-clinpsy-081219-092500

American Psychological Association.Doctoral degrees in psychology: How are they different, or not so different?

Foley KP, McNeil CB.Scholar-Practitioner Model. In: Cautin RL, Lilienfeld SO, eds.The Encyclopedia of Clinical Psychology. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons; 2015. doi:10.1002/9781118625392.wbecp532

Norcross JC, Sayette MA, Pomerantz AM.Doctoral training in clinical psychology across 23 years: Continuity and change.J Clin Psychol. 2018;74(3):385-397. doi:10.1002/jclp.22517

Shedler J.The efficacy of psychodynamic psychotherapy.Am Psychol.2010;65(2):98-109. doi:10.1037/a0018378

Steinert C, Munder T, Rabung S, Hoyer J, Leichsenring F.Psychodynamic therapy: as efficacious as other empirically supported treatments? A meta-analysis testing equivalence of outcomes.Am J Psychiatry. 2017;174(10):943-953. doi: 10.1176/appi.ajp.2017.17010057

Fenn K, Byrne M.The key principles of cognitive behavioural therapy.InnovAiT: Educ Inspir Gen Prac. 2013;6(9):579-585. doi:10.1177/1755738012471029

Block M.Humanistic Therapy. In: Goldstein S, Naglieri JA., eds.Encyclopedia of Child Behavior and Development. Boston, MA: Springer; 2011. doi:10.1007/978-0-387-79061-9_1403

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.Occupational Outlook Handbook: Psychologists.

National Health Service.Clinical psychologist.

Carr A.Clinical Psychology: An Introduction. London: Routledge; 2012.Trull TJ, Prinstein M.Clinical Psychology.Belmont, CA: Wadsworth; 2013.

Carr A.Clinical Psychology: An Introduction. London: Routledge; 2012.

Trull TJ, Prinstein M.Clinical Psychology.Belmont, CA: Wadsworth; 2013.

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