Archival Description of Clinical Child Psychology
by APA Practice Organization
Clinical Child Psychology is a specialty of professional psychology which integrates basic tenets of clinical psychology, developmental psychopathology, and principles of child and family development. Clinical child psychologist conduct scientific research and provide psychological services to infants, toddlers, children, and adolescents. The research and services in Clinical Child Psychology are focused on understanding, preventing, diagnosing and treating psychological, cognitive, emotional, developmental, behavioral, and family problems of children. Of particular importance to clinical child psychologists is an understanding of the basic psychological needs of children and the social contexts which influence child development and adjustment.
Advanced Scientific and Theoretical Knowledge Germane to the Specialty
The preparation of clinical child psychologists is characterized by:
knowledge of normal developmental processes as a prerequisite for distinguishing between normal and abnormal behavior and development, and for understanding developmental factors as they relate to assessment and intervention;
normal family processes as they relate to children’s development, including the impact of family dynamics, normal family functioning, and child rearing practices on normal child development and on the development of children’s problems;
child and adolescent psychopathology including epidemiology of children’s problems, assessment and classification of problems across the age span, etiological models of child and adolescent psychopathology, research finding related to etiology, treatment options and treatment efficacy related to specific problems at different ages and knowledge of family and other problems requiring treatment;
the integration of developmental psychology with clinical child psychology reflected in developmental psychopathology;
knowledge of the methods of assessment of development, intellect, cognition, personality, mood and affect, and achievement;
theories and research evidence for treatments of childhood mental disorders, adjustment reactions of childhood, family problems, and adaptation to stressful conditions or to chronic illness;
special ethical and legal issues in research and practice with children;
an appropriate appreciation for and understanding of principles of diversity and cultural context as they relate to professional behavior and clinical practice.
Preparation for the specialty of Clinical Child Psychology occurs at the doctoral and postdoctoral level.
Parameters to Define Professional Practice in Clinical Child Psychology
The specialty of Clinical Child Psychology has evolved from a core foundation of knowledge in basic psychology and Clinical Psychology, an emphasis on developmental process, and the dynamic interplay of research and practice. A primary defining feature of Clinical Child Psychology is the emphasis on understanding children from the perspective of both normal development and of psychopathology. Clinical Child Psychology deals not only with psychopathology as reflected in diagnosable disorders and their treatment but also with individual differences in adaptation and prevention of problem behaviors in children at risk.
Populations:
Clinical Child Psychology involves research and services for infants, children, adolescents and their families displaying a wide range of psychological, behavioral, developmental, health-related, academic and family difficulties. Practice occurs in a variety of settings including private practice, mental health clinics, schools, hospitals and other medical settings, community agencies and advocacy organizations.
Problems:
Clinical child psychologists engage in research and provide clinical services for infants, children and adolescents displaying a range of problems including, but not limited to:
physical and/or psychosocial challenges resulting from pre-term birth,serious physical illness, prenatal substance abuse/addiction;
severe dev elopmental problems such as pervasive developmental disorders, autism, retardation;
mental and emotional disorders such as schizophrenia, attention deficit/hyper-activity disorder, conduct disorder, anxiety, depression;
social problems such as delinquency, substance abuse/dependency, inappropriate sexual conduct;
coping difficulties associated with stressors such as parental divorce, remarriage, step parenting, natural disaster or trauma;
developmental milestone concerns and difficult temperament characteristics related to such problems as toilet training, tantrums, feeding and sleeping difficulties;
cognitive deficits or dysfunction in communication or academic performance;
psychological aspects of physical illnesses;
Procedures and Techniques:
Among the assessment, intervention, and consultation procedures and techniques utilized by clinical child psychologists are:
interviews, observations, age-normed psychological tests, personality and family assessment measures;
behavioral and cognitive-behavioral approaches, play therapy, individual psychotherapy, family therapy and counseling;
parent education and training;
collaboration with pediatricians to monitor effectiveness of psychoactive medication, deal with medication compliance, or help with issues such as pain management;
prevention programs aimed at prevention of problems and disorders such as social deviance and delinquency;
health promotion programs and prevention of abuse and other problems of childhood;
multimethod and comprehensive interventions that target children and families across contexts;
interdisciplinary consultation.
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