9781422271278

control and reject two therapists in the first session, but the third therapist uses techniques of self-disclosure and mirroring Will’s language to gain the youth’s trust. The therapist describes beatings by his own alcoholic father to get Will to open up about his childhood abuse. By talking about his relationship with his deceased wife, the therapist conveys the importance of emotional risk-taking and intimacy in a healthy relationship. As a result, Will learns to show vulnerability to his girlfriend and overcome his childhood traumas. What Is Clinical Psychology? Clinical psychology is a science that combines theories, scientific techniques, and research-based knowledge. It aims to discover what causes anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, psychosis, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, anorexia and bulimia, autism, and all of the other mental and emotional problems people suffer from. It assesses and treats mental illness and behavioral disorders and promotes well-being and personal growth. Clinical psychology studies people through observation and experimentation to help themmake beneficial changes in life. Lightner Witner founded the first psychological clinic in 1896 to diagnose and treat children with learning and behavioral problems. He introduced the term clinical psychology in a 1907 paper and defined it as “the study of individuals, by observation or experimentation, with the intention of promoting change.” Beginnings G. Stanley Hall was a man of many “firsts.” He was the first American to earn a PhD in psychology (at Harvard University). In 1883, he built the first psychology lab in the United States at Johns Hopkins University. He established the American Journal of Psychology in 1887, and in 1892 he was elected the first president of the American Psychological Association (APA). Hall was most

12

Clinical Psychology

Made with FlippingBook - Online magazine maker