Clinical Psychology Therapy

Many people seek out clinical psychology therapy from a trained professional when experiencing such things as intense emotional or mood imbalances, depression, abnormal behaviors or tendencies and a wide range of other issues. Treatments can be obtained from a community mental health center, hospital or even from an independent, practicing psychologist.

History

• Several important figures and groups of people have influenced the practice of clinical and professional psychology. Led by Sigmund Freud in the early 1900s, the psychoanalysis approach to treating individuals developed and evolved. Psychoanalysis relies on a person's subconscious and dreams to explore underlying motives and desires and is used to treat mental illnesses. Early psychologists and followers of the psychoanalytic movement include Alfred Adler, Karen Horney and Carl Jung. Humanistic psychology--which focuses on the positive view of human beings--developed around the 1950s and 1960s, lead by Abraham Maslow, Carl Rogers and Rollo May. Carl Rogers founded person-centered psychotherapy. The humanistic psychology movement grew and provided the basis for various psychology treatments used today.

Purpose

• A clinical psychology treatment's overarching goal is to enhance the qualify of life of an individual. Various treatment approaches can be used to relieve symptoms of and prevent depressive and anxiety disorders, relationship difficulties, fears and phobias, personality and developmental disorders, and severe mental illnesses and other disorders that affect the brain. Once the symptoms of a disorder or problem are recognized, clinical psychologists help clients and patients cope, understand and effectively deal with problems head-on instead of allowing them to languish.

Types

• The primary method of treating clients in clinical psychology settings, psychotherapy uses verbal communication between the client and helper to resolve problems and treat disorders. Several types of psychotherapy exist, such as cognitive therapy, which involves helping the client recognize and change harmful thought patterns. Behavior therapy focuses on changing negative, self-destructive behaviors into positive ones. Exposure therapy uses a desensitization process to help individuals cope with fears. Many psychologists use a combination of treatment approaches to help a client resolve and cope with his issues.

Time Frame

• The length of time an individual undergoes clinical psychology treatment depends on several factors, including the severity of the problem or disorder, the regularity of treatment appointments, the client's willingness to participate in treatment and the environment in which she lives. Generally, mild problems can be successfully treated and resolved within three to six months. Some people may require a year or more of treatment. Longer still, severe mental disorders may benefit from long-term psychotherapy treatments.

Treatment Providers

• The professional who administers psychotherapy to clients is called a clinical psychologist. These professionals train in psychology graduate schools--where spending five to six years is not uncommon--and earn a doctorate degree in the field. The clinical psychologist may specialize in a specific type of treatment or treatment for a specific population, such as child psychology, marriage counseling or clinical neuropsychology. Clinical psychologists must meet state licensing requirements in order to practice, and these include passing an exam and having their work with clients supervised for one to two years.