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Elements of Clinical Psychology Paper

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Elements of Clinical Psychology Paper
Leah Syberg
PSY/480
October 5, 2015
Tara Thompson

Introduction
There are different approaches and disciplines in psychology (Plante, 2010). The different approaches have different understandings of how people develop cognitively, and how personality (including behavior) is formed. For example, some people can be treated sufficiently with pharmacology (medication), while others can benefit from a psychoanalytical approach to thinking and behavior (uncovering unconscious thoughts and feelings). In this way, each perspective and form of treatment has its own benefits.
Clinical psychology, on the other hand, can use all perspectives and approaches (Plante, 2010). This is true because clinical psychology is an art- using all researches, methods, and approaches to define the problems a person can have. In addition to defining the problem, clinical psychology can offer different forms of treatment. For example, one person’s depression can be best treated with medication, and another person can benefit from cognitive-behavioral therapy. Also, people with multiple problems can benefit from the treatment of a clinical psychologist. This is true because the clinical psychologist can offer different forms of treatments for the many problems one person can face. This paper will discuss the field of clinical psychology, the history, research methods, and the differences in different fields of psychology.
Clinical Psychology
Clinical psychology is a science (Plante, 2010). This is true because it uses scientific methods to uncover and validate information. This information includes what kind of behavior and personality people have, and what causes a person to develop (emotions, thinking, and behavior).
Clinical psychologists can practice in his or her field in a variety of ways (Irving B. Weiner, n.d.). Some

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