What is Clinical Psychology?
Clinical Psychology combines science with hypothesis and clinical observation to relieve psychologically distressed or dysfunctional individuals. Lately, Clinical Psychology has become one of the growing professions and a preferred study option. The study of Clinical Psychology opens up a myriad of opportunities in areas like teaching, consultation, research, forensic testimony, administration and program development.
Certificate of Clinical Psychology:
There are a number of certificate courses offered in Clinical Psychology. Some of these certificate programs are required as a pre-requisite to get a license. The requirements may vary from region to region depending upon the regulations of that particular area. The certificate of Clinical Psychology is available for graduate level, post graduate and post doctorate level. These courses are useful to get expertise as well as a certification in Clinical Psychology.
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See how far Clinical Psychology has come!
- “An integration of the science, theory and clinical knowledge for the purpose of understanding, preventing, and relieving psychologically-based distress or dysfunction”
- “To promote subjective and behavioral well-being and personal development” - American Psychological Association (APA)
How it all started…
- Early advances in psychology
- Development of clinical psychology
- Advent of psychological organizations
- Treatment
- Clinical psychology today
Early Advances in Psychology
- Methods to assess and treat mental distress have existed since the pre-nineteenth century
- Psychological research can officially be dated back to 1879 when Wilhelm Wundt opened the first psychological laboratory
Development of Clinical Psychology
- Application of psychological principals became popular around the end of the 1800s
- Lightner Witmer (1867–1956), the head of the psychology department at the University of Pennsylvania, became the first person to treat a child with learning problems
- 1896 – Witmer opened the first psychological clinic for children with learning disabilities in Pennsylvania
- 1907 - Witmer founded “the Psychological Clinic”, the first journal of this field
- He also coined the term “Clinical Psychology” in this journal
- By the first World War, the field had made great advancements and clinical psychologists were used to screen potential army recruits
Advent of psychological organizations
- 1917 - J. E. Wallace Wallin founded the American Association of Clinical Psychology
- 1945 - The Society of Clinical Psychology was founded
Treatment
- When World War II broke out, clinical psychologist were again brought in to assess the new recruits
- Clinical psychologists helped the returning soldiers affected by ‘shell shock’ later known as ‘posttraumatic stress disorder’
- By 1950, clinical psychology was the highest awarded PhD in the field of psychology
Clinical Psychology since then…
- By 1968, the University of Illinois had started the first practice-oriented degree in psychology
- Psychology Today – Applied in criminal justice, sports, business management, etc. and growing each day
What are my options?
If you are planning to change your area of study to Clinical Psychology then you can pick a certificate course for getting equivalence. This course can serve as the basis of your graduate degree with a concentration in Clinical Psychology. You can also apply for graduate level certificates and post-doctorate level certificates in a particular field.
Which areas do Clinical Psychology Certificate Covers?
A Certificate of Clinical Psychology can give the candidates a deeper insight into areas such as:
Adolescent Therapy
Social behavior
Relationship counseling
Human sexuality
Treating substance abuse
Group therapy
Psychological recovery
Organization and Business
Human development
Clinical techniques and methodology
You can choose from the best options available while keeping in mind your particular needs for the Certificate of Clinical Psychology.
How Long Does It Take to Complete a Certificate in Clinical Psychology?
Many schools in the United States, such as the Indiana University, the Columbia University and the Penn State Harrisburg, are offering a certificate program in clinical psychology, which can be completed within one year. This is a treatment oriented program that is indented to train mental health counselors to work in a variety of environments, including universities, colleges, research institutions, hospitals, prisons and schools.
What Are the Requirements to Complete a Certificate in Clinical Psychology?
Students enrolled in the certificate program have to complete approximately 12-24 credit hours. They have to study courses like Foundations of Clinical Psychology, Clinical Health Psychology, Forensic Psychology, Cognitive Neuroscience, Sociology of Mental Illness, Behavior Modification and Neuropsychological Assessment. Most schools require a grade of C- or higher in all the courses in order to graduate from the certificate program.
How Much Can I Make after Completing a Certificate in Clinical Psychology?
Specialty certifications can help clinical psychologists improve their skills and career prospects. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the annual median pay of Psychologists was $79,010 in 2018. The number of jobs in this field in 2018 was 181,700. Also, the employment in this field is expected to grow by 14%, which is much faster than the average for all other professions.
Frequently Asked Question(s)
Q:Can you name a few schools offering the Clinical Psychology certificate?
A:The certificate in Clinical Psychology is offered at various online as well as on-campus schools. These include: The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, Walden University, Capella University, University of Hawai‘i at Manoa, American InterContinental University Online, A.T. Still University of Health Sciences, Argosy University
Q:How long does a certificate in clinical psychology take?
A:The duration for a certificate in clinical psychology depends on the nature of a course. It can take a few months and even a year to be completed. The course generally focuses on understanding mental health concepts and the techniques that can be applied to work, for improvement for those that face mental or psychological challenges.
Q:How many months does it take to complete a certificate course in clinical psychology?
A:The duration of a certificate course in clinical psychology will vary from school to school. At some institutes, the duration of certificate programs may be less than 8 months, while others may offer a 12 month duration. Therefor it is important that you pick a school and find out what the exact duration of a certificate program is.
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