Introduction

The career of a clinical psychologist is founded on the fundamental acceptance that human beings should be treated as distinctive individuals that have the same social value. For one to be useful in the profession, they are required to treat colleagues and clients with respect and dignity and work with them towards the attainment of common objectives. Clinical psychologists do not use medications to treat mental illnesses; instead, they use approaches such as psychoanalytic therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy (Plante, 2013). It is imperative for clinical psychologists to understand the requirements of the profession to improve their effectiveness in the profession.

Ethical Values

Four primary ethical values guide the profession. To start with, respect for the role, cultural and individual, and cultural differences are emphasized. Secondly, competence is a fundamental moral value that is required in the profession. Clinical psychologists should keep up with the developing standards in the practice to improve their effectiveness in the profession. Thirdly, they should demonstrate a high level of integrity in their interaction with patients, colleagues, and communities (Plante, 2013). Finally, they should show a high level of responsibility to the field of psychology, the general public and clients.

Competencies that are Important in Clinical Psychology

Different competencies are essential in improving the role of a clinical psychologist while teaching, practicing and conducting research. These competencies entail establishing effective relationship with others including the public, fellow practitioners and clients. It involves being a clear, respectful and fair communicator to deal with difficult situations with diplomacy and understanding (Cautin & Lilienfeld, 2015). Further, sensitivity to cultural and individual differences play a crucial role in the profession and the consideration of how these affect the way others think and act. Awareness of the legal and ethical principles is essential to the profession as it guides conduct (Norcross & Sayette, 2016).

Additionally, it helps clinical psychologists to avoid ethical and legal issues that might arise in their role. The profession requires one to keep up with the latest developments in research to identify how one can facilitate their clinical practice. This can be achieved by advancing one’s knowledge by keeping up with the latest studies in the field and pursuing short courses that improve their understanding and competence in the field.

Professionals should have additional competencies that are important in improving their role in clinical psychology. It follows that clinical psychologists should have a comprehensive understanding of the knowledge that is covered in the scientific disciplines that are associated with the field. They should also have professional behaviors, values, and attitudes that are critical while interacting with others (Norcross & Sayette, 2016). One has to apply the skills that are necessary for collaborating with individuals from diverse fields including communication, appreciation, and respect.

Aims of the Profession

Clinical psychologists should live up to the core purpose of the profession. The primary goal is to promote and enhance psychological well-being and minimize distress through the use of systematic knowledge that is gained from data and theories (Marston & Maple, 2016). They should understand that asides from being psychological therapists, they are scientist-practitioners. Their background training should be based on psychology as a science and used to solve diverse human problems. The capacity to undertake and design professional practice with systems, organizations, groups, and individuals is advanced to a doctoral stage and has become increasingly inclined towards evidence-based practice. Additionally, the comprehensive evaluation of research and competence has become increasingly important for social and health care commissioners in years to come.

While research is not perceived to be an activity that is linked to the clinical workplace, different activities are not linked to data which means that critical gaps are present in the knowledge collection (Marston & Maple, 2016). One of the principal ways in which clinical psychologists shape social and health care is in the creation and testing of new activities and interventions that are based on psychological theory. Therefore, practice is based on theory and research which means their integration is critical to the role of clinical psychologists.

The aims of the practice should guide effective clinical psychologists. They should work towards helping caregivers and service users to have the necessary skills and abilities to cope with their daily lives and emotional needs to optimize their physical and psychological well-being (Marston & Maple, 2016). They should also support individuals to make better choices to facilitate their autonomy and independence. Clinical psychologists should teach individuals to develop a sense of self-worth, self-respect, and self-understanding in a move to enjoy personal and social relationships and share commonly valued environmental and social facilities.

Clinical psychologists should acknowledge that they work in culturally diverse communities. They should acknowledge the community, racial and cultural influences within society, groups and individuals (Marston & Maple, 2016). Further, they should support colleagues in the profession to establish psychological-based approaches of thinking.  The profession requires the application of psychological knowledge to improve their professional practice to support the clients. Finally, they should employ psychological data and information to improve decision-making at the societal, organization and clinical levels.

Achieving the Clinical Psychology Aims

The core competencies are achieved through the use of various skills. To start with, they are attained through transferable skills that entail the system use of diverse theoretical frameworks and knowledge that is based on novel situations. Secondly, they are achieved through the assessment of psychological behavior and processes that are obtained in practice and theory of applied and academic psychology (Marston & Maple, 2016). This varies from other activities including diagnosis and entails assessing individual stability and change. Assessment procedures entail securing an effective working alliance with carers and service users, the identification and statement of clinically relevant questions, the use, and development of psychometric tests and the application of systemic measurement and observation of behavior in various contexts.

The third skill that is required is a psychological intervention that involves the integration and summation of knowledge that is gained from the assessment process that may cover systemic, biological and psychological procedures and factors. The formulation is dependent on psychological research and theory to offer a system for describing clients’ needs and problems and their development. Clinical psychologists should draw on differing models to support decision-making and meet clients’ needs (Marston & Maple, 2016). The fourth skill is the psychological intervention that is linked to the formulation. It may entail the application of a psychological model to facilitate the establishment of a solution to specific problems or improve the quality of relationships. The development of a working relationship between carers, family and service users are valuable to the skill. Other forms of psychological intervention may entail the coaching or training of others and the provision of psychological knowledge through consultation and supervision. Clinical psychologists will evaluate and monitor continuing interventions and design them to ensure that they are compatible with the users’ needs.

Evaluation has been identified to be an integral skill in a clinical psychologist’s work. All interventions and activities should be examined in the course of their implementation and afterward to review the security of change and stability (Marston & Maple, 2016). The ability to use, modify and devise clinical outcomes and to handle difficult and complex data are major competencies in clinical psychology. Research has also been identified to be an essential competence in the profession as it results in a better understanding of research methods including qualitative and quantitative inquiry strategies. It ensures that research is conducted in line with the stipulated ethical standards.

Professional and personal skills of clinical psychologists are imperative to the role played by clinical psychologists (Marston & Maple, 2016). It covers the ability to work effectively with clients from diverse backgrounds as earlier stated and the ability to understand cultural and social factors. To serve effectively in the role, professionals should maintain a given level of accountability and autonomy. It follows that clinical supervision is used to improve and reflect upon the clinical practice and adhere to the limits that dictate on professional and personal boundaries.

Conclusion

Clinical psychologists should acknowledge the unique role that they play in handling mental health issues. Their position should, therefore, be based on the ethical and legal standards that guide the profession as well as the core competencies. They should play a crucial part in understanding the psychological needs of communities are met effectively while fostering collaboration with the stakeholders. It is crucial for the role to keep up with the developing changes in the profession to improve the services being offered to clients and their families.

References

Cautin, R. L., & Lilienfeld, S. O. (Eds.). (2015). The Encyclopedia of Clinical Psychology, 5         Volume Set. John Wiley & Sons.

Marston, D. C., & Maple, T. L. (2016). Comparative Psychology for Clinical Psychologists and    Therapists: What Animal Behavior Can Tell Us about Human Psychology. London:   Jessica Kingsley Publishers.

Norcross, J. C., & Sayette, M. A. (2016). Insider’s Guide to Graduate Programs in Clinical and    Counseling Psychology: 2016/2017 Edition. Guilford Publications.

Plante, T. G. (2013). Contemporary clinical psychology. Hoboken, N.J: Wiley.

 
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