Overview

Clinical Psychology is the applied side of the field. It deals with diagnosing and treating mental illness. It’s what most people think of when they hear “psychologist.”

Core Idea

The core idea is alleviation of suffering. Using science to help people live better lives.

Formal Definition

The integration of science, theory, and clinical knowledge for the purpose of understanding, preventing, and relieving psychologically-based distress or dysfunction.

  • DSM-5: The “Bible” of diagnosis (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders).

Intuition

  • Diagnosis: Is it sadness or Major Depressive Disorder? Is it worry or Generalized Anxiety Disorder?
  • Treatment: Talk therapy (Psychotherapy) vs. Pills (Psychiatry - though psychologists usually don’t prescribe).

Examples

  • CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy): Changing negative thought patterns (“I’m a failure”) to change behavior. The gold standard for depression/anxiety.
  • Schizophrenia: A severe disorder involving hallucinations and delusions.
  • PTSD: Trauma rewiring the brain to be hyper-vigilant.

Common Misconceptions

  • Misconception: Psychologists = Psychiatrists.
    • Correction: Psychiatrists are MDs (doctors) who prescribe meds. Psychologists have PhDs and do therapy/testing.
  • Misconception: Mental illness is rare.
    • Correction: 1 in 5 adults experience it each year. It is very common.

Applications

  • Hospitals: Treating severe cases.
  • Private Practice: One-on-one therapy.
  • Forensics: Assessing competency to stand trial.

Criticism and Limitations

  • Medicalization: Are we turning normal human emotions (grief, shyness) into “disorders” to sell pills?
  • Reliability: Diagnoses can be subjective. Two doctors might give different diagnoses.

Further Reading

  • The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat by Oliver Sacks
  • The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk