Clinical psychologist

Clinical psychologist

A Clinical psychologist (/klɪnɪkəl saɪˈkɒlədʒɪst/) is a professional who specializes in diagnosing and treating mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders.

Etymology

The term "clinical" is derived from the Greek word "klinikos", which means "bedside". This refers to the observation and treatment of patients. "Psychologist" comes from the Greek "psyche" meaning "soul" or "mind", and "logos" meaning "study". Thus, a clinical psychologist is one who studies the mind and mental health in a patient-care setting.

Role and Responsibilities

A clinical psychologist typically conducts psychological assessments and provides psychotherapy. They may specialize in certain areas such as child mental health, adult mental health, learning disabilities, emotional disturbances, substance abuse, geriatrics, and health psychology.

Clinical psychologists often work in hospitals, mental health clinics, and private practice. They are trained in a variety of treatment techniques but may specialize in treating certain disorders or working with certain populations. For example, a clinical psychologist might specialize in anxiety disorders, depression, eating disorders, or chronic pain.

Related Terms

• Psychotherapy: A general term for treating mental health problems by talking with a psychologist, psychiatrist or other mental health provider.
• Psychiatry: The branch of medicine focused on the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of mental, emotional and behavioral disorders.
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): A type of psychotherapeutic treatment that helps patients understand the thoughts and feelings that influence behaviors.
• Psychopathology: The study of mental illness or mental distress and the manifestation of behaviors that may be indicative of mental illness or psychological impairment.

External links

• Medical encyclopedia article on Clinical psychologist
• Wikipedia's article - Clinical psychologist

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