Running head: THE CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST PROFESSIONAL ROLE
Week 1 Assignment
The Clinical Psychologist Professional Role
PSYC 4010-1
Salma Ibrahim
Walden University
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THE CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST PROFESSIONAL ROLE.
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Clinical Psychology
The professional role held by a clinical psychologist entails the involvement of clinical
knowledge incorporated with science and theory. My chosen professional role requires specific
schooling, knowledge, skills, and characteristics from applicants to qualify for the position
(Appleby, 2015). First, the professional practice requires proper engagement with a massive
range of activities. Also, some other clinical psychologists focus on individual topics and areas
of research that include mental illness and its adequate treatment. Some essential responsibilities
of the clinical psychologist include the provision of proper psychotherapy and appropriate
psychological assessments. Even though most clinical psychologists focus on the clinic, others
may concentrate on hospitals or medical school. The schooling and period associated with the
training and certification of the practice differ from country to country. However, in the U.S.,
four years’ study in psychology plus other post-bachelor’s practice contributes to the promotion
or enrollment for a clinical psychologist. More than 50% of graduate students in psychology
continue to receive Ph.D. training programs. The programs focus on the combination of
appropriate training formulated through proper research associated with the field. Various
schools in the region also provide accredited programs for master’s degree in the clinical
psychology field.
Tasks of The Clinical Psychologist
As a clinical psychologist, I possess a few responsibilities that I ought to ensure that I
cover in my profession. First, I must conduct therapy sessions associated with an appropriate
schedule and dates. Clinical psychology involves the engagement of mental and emotional
memories related to suffering patients. The delicacy of the issue presented, especially when
THE CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST PROFESSIONAL ROLE.
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dealing with human beings, requires me to ensure that my sessions maintain time and consider
the clients' requests and flexibilities.
A clinical psychologist exists in a communal environment where other professionals like
me and those working in other sectors collectively work on solving similar problems. My
responsibility is to ensure that I maximize the use of my environment to source any information
that I might require in my field (Zimbardo, 2004). If I encounter any problems in developing a
new program concerning one of my patients, I can ask for help from a more-experienced clinical
psychologist regarding the program and its contents. My therapy sessions should involve more of
listening to the patients' needs compared to providing prescriptions without understanding the
question. The vitality of my practice focuses on research and realizing effective intervention
associated with the investigation to form the best remedy for the patients. Without the collection
of the most appropriate data from the patients, I cannot manage to develop effective programs for
my patients.
Clinical therapy involves and includes various programs and treatment methods
concerning improved research and technological advancements. A clinical psychologist can now
keep up with the development of a patient even with the absence of either. The patient and the
psychologist can use video call apps to perform a session wherever and whenever around the
world. The recording of progress also remains an essential role that I ought to ensure that I
observe closely. Any form of growth and development in the patients' programs ought to stay
addressed and recorded.
Additional Schooling for Clinical Psychology
The master’s degree represents the minimum qualification for a clinical psychologist.
However, I have a few options that I can maximize upon to develop my schooling and education
THE CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST PROFESSIONAL ROLE.
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in my career. I can also acquire a Doctor of Psychology or a Ph. D. in Psychology as an
advancement in the field (U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics., 2015). Many
doctoral programs in clinical psychology take a period of five or six years to complete. The
period represents the section in the programs like internships lasting a year for practical
application of the practice. The residency training program follows the Ph. D. level. The part
generally involves practicality in the clinic that may last three years before completion.
Van der Heijden’s Predictor Factors
Van der Heijden (2002), describes three predictor factors associated with the growth of
an employee in any field. The factors include the level of participation invested in training and
development programs, social network, and the level of dedication placed by the employee to
grow career-wise. The implementation of the predictor factors mentions remains essential for me
too if I intend on consistently evolving at the same speed as the practice to offer my patients the
best care and treatment possible. Improved focus on the training regarding the involvement of
useful advancements in research and growth on personal input in the preparation can help to
promote the practice.
The field of clinical psychology remains versatile and widely connected. The use of
appropriate social networks with other clinical psychologists could not only assist in developing
proper programs but also advancing the practice through cooperative research (Van der Heijden,
2002). Training and development programs available for clinical psychologists exist in vast
amounts from applications on the improvement of the practice to others aiming at realizing
work-life balance. The use of such programs on a consistent basis can assist me not only develop
but also remain healthy in my practice. Also, even though all the initiative mentioned sound
THE CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST PROFESSIONAL ROLE.
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concrete, the implementation of the approach entirely depends on my efforts towards developing
my career.
THE CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST PROFESSIONAL ROLE.
Reference
Appleby, D. C. (2015) (PDF). An Online Career-exploration Resources for Psychology Majors.
Retrieved from http://apa.org/ed/precollege/psn/2015/09/psychology-majors.aspx. Used
with permission of Drew Appleby.
U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2015). Occupational outlook
handbook. Retrieved from http://www.bls.gov/ooh/
Van der Heijden, B. I. J. M. (2002). Individual career initiatives and their influence upon
professional expertise development throughout the career. International Journal of
Training and Development, 6(2), 54–79.
Zimbardo, P. G. (2004). Does psychology make a significant difference in our lives? American
Psychologist, 59(5), 339–351.
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Running head: THEORIES AND RESEARCH METHODS
Theories and Research Methods
Salma Ibrahim
Walden University
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THEORIES AND RESEARCH METHODS
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Introduction
The application of theories is an integral part of clinical psychology. Since clinical
psychologists are required to provide psychological assessments and psychotherapy, they have to
apply theories in their sessions. The theories are significant in the therapeutic process since they
provide a framework that allows the psychologists to understand and interpret their clients’
thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Once the professionals interpret their clients' situation, they are
then able to establish the diagnosis and treatment approach that best suits them. There are two
major theories used in the clinical psychology field, and they are the cognitive behavior theory
and psychodynamic theory.
The cognitive behavior theory
The cognitive theory of Aaron Temkin Beck has been of great assistance to the
psychologists. The clinical psychologists have been using this model to understand and offer
treatment for psychological disorders like depression. Beck, an American psychologist,
developed this model in 1967 since he believed that the negative thoughts and schema or beliefs
of an individual contributes to dysfunctional behavior (Pawlik & Rosenzweig, 2000). Based on
this theory, the negative thoughts usually interfere with the usual cognitive functioning thus
impairing the individual’s memory, perceptions, and their ability to solve problems. Therefore,
Beck believed that if such individuals are persuaded to have positive and constructive thoughts,
then, their psychological would distress decrease. According to Beck, the individuals usually
learn how to correct or modify their distorted beliefs about the world, themselves, and the people
around them. With this model, psychologists consider using the gentle Socratic questioning to
come up with treatment plans. Other than the psychological disorders, the professionals also use
this model to treat health problems like premenstrual syndrome and obesity. There have been
THEORIES AND RESEARCH METHODS
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advances in this theory whereby the primary objective of the changes was to address several
questions that arise during the treatment of psychological disorders. The new model is known as
the Generic Cognitive Model. The additional aspects to the original theory are adaptive and
maladaptive functioning, attentional focus, as well as an arrangement of schemas that are
relevant to self-evaluations, rules, expectancies, and memories.
The psychodynamic theory
The psychodynamic theory is also known as the psychoanalytical theory. Sigmund Freud
developed this theory in 1917 since he believed that the conscious and subconscious forces
usually influence an individual’s behavior. The objective of this theory is helping the patients to
revisit their forgotten hurts, frustrations and unfulfilled desires which contribute their
dysfunctional conducts. Freud, therefore, came up with several therapeutic techniques like free
association, dream analysis, and transference to unveil the psychological forces which influence
an individual’s personality (James & Gilliland, n.d.). He further classified an individual’s psyche
that is his/her personality, mind, feelings, and thoughts into three elements which are super-ego,
ego, and id. The super-ego represents the social conscience; the ego represents the conscious
thoughts, and the id represents the subconscious, inner desires (James & Gilliland, n.d.). Based
on this theory, emotions and behaviors are usually affected by unconscious motives. Therefore,
the past experiences are stored in the unconscious mind, and they influence one's behavior. For
instance, if a child has a traumatic upbringing, such an aspect may affect his/her behavior in
adulthood. Generally, as much as the psychodynamic theory is applied in clinical psychology,
changes are yet to be done. The professionals claim that there is a significant gap that fails to
address the principles that should guide clinical psychologists on how to deal with defense
mechanisms among the patients.
THEORIES AND RESEARCH METHODS
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A once-popular theory that is no longer accepted
Phrenology was a once-famous theory in the 19th century, and it was studied in the field
of neuroscience. However, psychologists did not approve it due to having an unrealistic
explanation of an individual's character. According to Franz Joseph Gall, the developer of this
theory, he argued that the bumps and contours in the head conveyed one's personality. In this
sense, if an individual had an intelligence trait or aggression trait, such aspects would be
localized in specific parts of the brain. Larger or smaller features implied the kind of personality
trait the individual would have. However, in the 20th century, the theory changed to being less
popular due to a lot of methodological criticism from the professionals. They argued that there
lacked proper scientific support to prove the facts about the bumps and personality trait since
Gall only used his friends and family in his study. Gall's approach was also questionable since he
relied on offensive stereotypes and this made the model biased, and many believed that it
promoted racism.
The primary research areas
The major research areas for clinical psychologists are psychological disorders and
mechanisms, generation of intervention and assessment tools. In these areas, the psychologists
need to understand the causes of the disorders and their symptoms. They also have to study the
best treatment options or interventions to apply when handling unique cases of their patients. The
clinical psychologists also have to identify the most applicable assessment instruments to use
that would help them get more information from their patient. They also have to research the
behavioral, cognitive, emotional and social processes since it is here that they can understand
issues that range from short-term to severe conditions.
THEORIES AND RESEARCH METHODS
The clinical psychologists primarily use the qualitative research method. The method
incorporates the use of observational assessments, focus groups, and interviews in a particular
study. The qualitative method guides the research by allowing the investigator to use questions
related to the research to understand the perceptions of the participants. Still, the psychologists
implement this method in case studies which helps them to concentrate on broad contexts when
studying their phenomena.
A research article that employs a commonly-used method in clinical psychology
The article, “Living from Day to Day – Qualitative Study on Borderline Personality
Disorder in Adolescence” is an example of a research study that uses interviews as a qualitative
research method (Spodenkiewicz, et al., 2013). The objective of the study based on the article
was to assess how identity and self-disturbance images are identifiable elements in borderline
personality disorder (BPD) among the adolescence. The researchers carried face-to-face
interviews of 50 adolescents with BPD as the experimental group, and 50 adolescents as the
control group. The method was applicable in the study since it helped the researchers to learn
about the emotional experiences, interpersonal relationships, and the self-image perceptions of
the participants. The interviews provided a natural setting thus preventing interference of the
phenomena under investigation. They concluded that the present experiences of the adolescents
with BPD impacts their well-being. For instance, adolescents with low self-image suffer from
distress, and they have a hard time trying to cope with others.
Conclusion
Overall, the overview of the applicable theories and research method in clinical
psychology highlights the relevance of a critical understanding of the psychological disorders
being evaluated. Still, it is evident that clinical psychologists have to develop therapeutic
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THEORIES AND RESEARCH METHODS
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relationships with their clients so that it can be easy for them to understand their issues and
identify ways to help them out. Generally, clinical psychologists are essential people in the
health care setting since they collaborate with other health professionals in offering quality
patient care. Today we are in an era where the patients have the rights to know about their health.
According to the American Psychologist Association (2010), clinical psychologists should give
their clients appropriate information about their condition and intervention options so that the
patients can make well-informed decisions.
THEORIES AND RESEARCH METHODS
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References
American Psychological Association. (2010). Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of
Conduct: Including 2010 Amendments. Retrieved
from http://www.apa.org/ethics/code/index.aspx
James, R. K., & Gilliland, B. E. (n.d.). Theories and strategies in counseling and psychotherapy
(Fifth Edition). Retrieved from
https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/fd89/84eee9a27b04264327edba65e69b6fd4f16a.pdf
Pawlik, K., & Rosenzweig., M. R. (2000). The International Handbook of Psychology. Retrieved
from
https://sksagepubcom.ezp.waldenulibrary.org/reference/hdbk_intlpsych?fromsearch=true
Spodenkiewicz, M., Speranza, M., Taïeb, O., Pham-Scottez, A., Corcos, M., & Révah-Levy, A.
(2013). Living from day to day - Qualitative study on borderline personality disorder in
adolescence. Journal of the Canadian Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
22(4), 282-9. Retrieved from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3825468/
Running head: CRITIQUING RESEARCH ARTICLES
Critiquing Research Articles
Institution Affiliation
Date
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CRITIQUING RESEARCH ARTICLES
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Introduction
In the clinical psychology profession, psychologists have to perform various research
studies to identify the causes of disorders and the presenting symptoms. Based on the study, the
psychologists integrate their critical thinking skills to suggest the best interventions in each of the
unique cases they encounter every other day (Bell, n.d.). The article on, “A clinical
psychologist’s perspective of mental disorders in patients of 70 years of age or more, who
underwent digestive tract cancer surgeries” is an example of a research study in clinical
psychology. The other article on, “The Efficacy of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: A Review of
Meta-analyses” is another example of a research study in the clinical psychology field. A critique
of the two research articles that are related to my clinical psychology profession will help in
validating the essence of performing studies in the clinical psychology field.
Critical Analysis of Article One
The first article on, “A clinical psychologist’s perspective of mental disorders in patients
of 70 years of age or more, who underwent digestive tract cancer surgeries” focuses on
psychological and behavioral disorders (Zielińska & Durlik, 2014). Elderly patients suffering
from malignancy diseases and undergo surgery as treatment for their health conditions mainly
suffer from mental and behavioral disorders. The primary purpose of the research in this article
was to study cases of depression, anxiety, and hallucinations among elderly patients who go
through digestive tract malignancy surgeries. A theoretical framework was included in the study.
However, the authors incorporated findings from the survey by Jonathan et al., which showed
that the high-risk surgeries like oncological surgeries decreased mortality in the older patients.
The variables in this study were the quality of life of the oncological patients and the high-risk
CRITIQUING RESEARCH ARTICLES
operations. Still, the authors came up with the hypothesis that the high-risk operations
contributed to the poor mental state of the elderly patients.
The methodologies used in the study were interviews and observations. The researchers
also gave the patients to fill in questionnaires such as the QLQ c-30 (EORTC) and STAI that is,
State/Trait Anxiety Inventory by Spielberger. The authors used an exploratory and observational
research design to investigate mental disorders among elderly patients who have experienced
surgery due to digestive tract malignancy. The procedures that the researchers used in the study
involved the implementation of routine programs in two major hospitals offering oncological
surgeries between the year 2010 and 2011 (Zielińska, & Durlik, 2014). Psychological
evaluations were also part of the research design which involved the use of questionnaires,
observation, and interviews.
The investigators also included a literature review related to the study to determine
whether their hypothesis was true or false. Still, in the research design, the investigators used
patients of the age of 70 years and more diagnosed with digestive tract cancer as the samples for
the study. The patients that had undergone pancreas, rectum, large intestine, stomach, or
gallbladder surgeries were the ones used in the study. The type of sampling used in this study is
convenience sampling. In this case, the researchers used participants that were easily accessible
which they achieved by utilizing two health organizations that were convenient to them. The
sample size of the study involved 69 patients who stayed in the hospital between 15 and 18 days.
Among the 69 patients, the men were 42% while as the women were 58 percent.
The data collection procedures in the study involved the classification of patients with
depression, anxiety disorders, and delirium. The researchers also compared the group without
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CRITIQUING RESEARCH ARTICLES
mental disorders and the group that had mental disorders. The operationalization of the variables
involved a breakdown of the time the patients with mental disorders spent in the hospital
compared to that did not have mental disorders. Another aspect was the analysis of how patients
with mental disorders cooperated with the medical staff compared to those that did not have the
disorders. The instruments used to gather the data were the psychological assessments such as
the QLQ-C30 EORTC which provided points of the health status of the patients and the QoL
index. Also, the observation was the other data gathering instrument where the researchers got a
percentage of the patients that cooperated with the medical professionals.
To analyze the data, the researchers used the descriptive statistics of the numerical
variables to analyze the raw data. They further interpreted the data in the form of percentages,
points from the questionnaire and average time that the patients stayed in the hospital. After
analyzing and interpreting the data, the authors concluded that mental disorders were a
considerable problem among the oncological patients that had undergone surgery for treatment.
The findings showed that 56 percent of these patients suffered from mental disorders, depression
as the most common problem (Zielińska & Durlik, 2014). Still, based on the results, surgery was
not the sole cause of this problem, but also long anxiety periods and painful assessments caused
anxiety disorders in 28% of the patients.
The strength of the research design is that the combination of the explorative and
observational approach provided a comprehensive evaluation of the problems that the patients
encountered. The study design's limitation is the possibility of information biases. in most cases,
researchers tend to generalize facts based on their medical experiences. Also, the data analysis
provided meaning information for the researchers. The disadvantage is that the data collected
could not be used in analyzing other medical conditions. Also, the authors’ conclusion was
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CRITIQUING RESEARCH ARTICLES
efficient since they suggested solutions for helping the elderly oncological patients. However, the
concluding solutions are only subject to help a specific group of patients which is limiting.
Additionally, based on the study presented, I do not think that there were any variables left out.
The reason is that the study aimed at identifying the risk factors of surgery among elderly
patients with digestive tract cancer. However, the researchers could have considered adding the
coded themes of the patients' experiences. This would provide more information about the
patients' personal experiences.
Critical Analysis of Article Two
The second article on, “The Efficacy of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: A Review of
Meta-analyses” focuses on the effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) in a couple
of psychological disorders (Hofmann, et al., 2014). The purpose of the researchers was to
perform a comprehensive study of all the meta-analyses or quantitative reviews that assess the
efficacy of CBT in mental disorders. The theoretical frame of reference in this study was based
on Beck’s model, the cognitive theory and therapy. The variables in this study were
psychological disorders such as anxiety disorders, depression, substance use disorders, bipolar,
personality disorders, anger, and criminal behaviors to mention a few. The researchers
hypothesized that CBT was an evidence-based approach that provided effective treatment for
psychological disorders. The method of the study involved quantitative reviews based on a study
selection of previous articles from databases like PubMed, Cochrane library, and PsychInfo.
Still, the researchers used randomized controlled trials to analyze the response rate of CBT in
psychological disorders. The research design used was the epidemiological meta-analysis study
design. In this case, the researchers wanted to answer the research problem of how the CBT was
useful as a treatment approach for psychological disorders. The authors also included the
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CRITIQUING RESEARCH ARTICLES
sampling method, criteria for assessing the eligibility of the study, a data analyses method and a
review of their findings.
The samples that were studied included 269 meta-analyses, and they were grouped into
various psychological disorders as previously mentioned to examine the efficacy of CBT.
Another classification of part of the samples contained the evaluation of CBT mental disorders in
among the elderly population and children. The type of sampling used in this study was a
purposeful random sampling of the 269 reviews considering that the researchers were only
focused on patients with psychological disorders. The researchers just used 106 of the metaanalyses due to the size of the researched studies. The researchers grouped the mental disorders
to collect data, and in the population grouping of each disorder, the information was described
qualitatively. Further, the authors operationalized the variables by using a less ambiguous
subsample of 11 studies to come up with a comprehensive report of the efficacy of CBT
(Hofmann, et al., 2014). The data gathering approach used to collect data was the quantitative
reviewing and population grouping of the different psychological disorders including treatment
groups of children and the elderly.
The technique used for analyzing the data was descriptive statistics of categorical
variables which included the analysis of the population group that had distinct psychological
disorders. The researchers further interpreted the data by analyzing the percentages of the
response rate after the application of CBT in the randomized controlled trials. From the response
rate data, the researchers confirmed that the efficacy of CBT rated between 2% and 82 percent.
Based on the analyzed data, the findings from the meta-analyses showed that the efficiency of
CBT varied in different psychological disorders. The researchers found that CBT was highly
efficient in treating substance dependence such as nicotine and cocaine, anxiety disorders,
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CRITIQUING RESEARCH ARTICLES
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bulimia, stress management, and insomnia. However, it was not sufficient for alcohol and opioid
treatment, and bipolar disorders. Based on the findings the researchers interpreted that there
needed to be more studies to test the efficacy of CBT in criminal behaviors, chronic pain, and
fatigue (Hofmann, et al., 2014). Generally, the findings showed that a significant percentage of
the response rate in the application of CBT proved the efficacy of the intervention.
Altogether, the strength of the research design in the meta-analyses study is that the
researchers used evidence-based studies to verify the effectiveness of CBT further. However, the
limitation of the meta-analytic approach is the uncertainty of the inherent bias of the previous
reviews, and still, this approach may have several methodological flaws. Also, looking at the
data analysis approach, it provides data that helps the researchers to make critical conclusions.
However, it does not provide adequate information about aspects like the grouping processes.
Also, the authors came up with a comprehensive judgment on the effectiveness of CBT.
However, they failed to provide detailed recommendations of how clinical psychologists would
improve in implementing CBT. Altogether, I think that the variables in this study were all
included considering that the samples were controlled. Still, the researchers could have further
explained the effectiveness of CBT in ethnic groups and even the low-income class by
conducting further studies on this case. Therefore, the study has much incomplete information,
and this creates room for further studies.
Conclusion
Generally, the two articles have provided significant information that clinical
psychologists should always use proven interventions when handling patients. Considering that
patients may have varying conditions, seeking additional resources to prove the effectiveness of
CRITIQUING RESEARCH ARTICLES
an approach is relevant. Another significant lesson is that when the professionals are conducting
research, they should always identify biases that might interfere with processes like the gathering
of data and interpretation.
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CRITIQUING RESEARCH ARTICLES
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Reference
Hofmann, S. G., Asnaani, A., Vonk, I. J., Sawyer, A. T., & Fang, A. (2012). The Efficacy of
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: A Review of Meta-analyses. Cognitive therapy and
research, 36(5), 427-440.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3584580/
Zielińska, D., & Durlik, M. (2014). A clinical psychologist's perspective of mental disorders in
patients of 70 years of age or more, who underwent digestive tract cancer
surgeries. Przeglad gastroenterologiczny, 9(2), 99-104.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4108752/
Bell, B. (n.d.). Critical thinking. Retrieved April 11, 2016
://www.psychologyandsociety.com/criticalthinking.html
Running head: CONTRIBUTIONS TO POSITIVE SOCIAL CHANGE
Contributions to Positive Social Change
Salma Ibrahim
Walden University
1
CONTRIBUTIONS TO POSITIVE SOCIAL CHANGE
Introduction
Every clinical psychologist must contribute to positive social change since it is here that
the professionals become role models to other people looking up to them. Promoting positive
social change is a significant process in this profession. The practitioners identify ways they can
come up with new ideas, strategies, and actions that may encourage development in society with
the aim of improving human and social conditions (Callahan, et al., 2012). An aspect in my field
that would promote social change would be integrating my knowledge in gene activity to help
patients with mental and behavioral issues that interrupt social peace.
Understanding Gene-Activity
Studying gene activity helps clinical psychologists to comprehend how genetics play a
significant role in influencing human behavior and how the character traits are transferred from
one generation to another. Therefore, this aspect plays a great role in the context of social
change. In this case, psychologists try to identify how elements like environmental factors
influence individuals’ differences and experiences as they develop from childhood to adulthood
(Champagne, & Mashoodh, 2009). Understanding gene-activity provides a biological perspective
of human problems like aggression which mostly is caused by awful childhood experiences as
well as unconscious urges.
To understand this notion better, during childhood development, a lot happens including
brain development and cognitive abilities where children learn how to solve problems and reason
well. Therefore, during brain development, processes like genotype-environment interactions
also identified as G x E takes place which increases the contact of neurons which undergo
remodeling and only the stable ones remain. Therefore, the structural changes that take place
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CONTRIBUTIONS TO POSITIVE SOCIAL CHANGE
have a great impact on the development of fully mature neural networks which usually support
cognitive, emotional, and social behavior.
In most cases, the behavioral outcomes are influenced by various changes in the
environment which causes the alterations in gene expression thus increasing the risk of
psychological disorders. The common psychological disorders characterized by aggression are
attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and conduct disorder, intermittent explosive disorder,
and oppositional defiant disorder to mention a few. Therefore, understanding the aggression
behavior in many patients would assist in getting the best solutions to improve their
psychological well-being.
The Reason for Choosing Gene-Activity as an Aspect of Promoting Social Change
I chose gene-activity as an aspect of promoting social change since aggressive acts are a
major issue in society. Aggressive individuals in most cases end up engaging in unethical
conducts like violence, rape, and robbery to mention a few. Therefore, my example would be an
aspect of social change in both career and personal endeavors considering that it would help me
to educate people about the essence of appropriate parental care. For instance, it would be
necessary for parents, caregivers, and teachers to know that childcare maltreatment may
contribute to cognitive and mental dysfunction in the child (Champagne, & Mashoodh, 2009).
Thus, providing educative programs would be an element of social change in my clinical
psychology career since it would allow me to enhance my scope of practice through experiential
learning.
Still, I would identify ways of incorporating theoretical reasoning in my advocacy
mission so that the participants would understand the dangers of child care maltreatment. Also,
such engagement would promote intellectual growth in my personal endeavors which I believe
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CONTRIBUTIONS TO POSITIVE SOCIAL CHANGE
would promote positive social change. In this sense, the insight about gene-activity would
increase my positive attitude when going about my daily activities since a negative attitude
would affect my relationship with clients.
Web Map of Social Activity
In a nearby neighborhood inhibited by low-income families, there are a lot of cases of the
inhabitants being perpetrators of robbery cases in high-end neighborhoods. However, the living
circumstances of the inhabitants force them to engage in such acts of crime. Also, most are
labeled as criminals since they are from minority groups thus this influence them to engage in
crime due to anger. Therefore, as a clinical psychologist, I will use a qualitative approach to
gather facts from them concerning their behaviors and to identify how these inhabitants would
get assistance. After gathering the facts, I will present the information to the local authorities and
organizations to advertise job openings, scholarships, and other supportive measures. It is
through the initiative that the funds will improve the lives of the unemployed since
unemployment has been the reason why the inhabitants engage in crime.
Therefore, my project presents the significance of (collaboration) due to my objective
concerning meeting with the local authorities and local organizations (civic engagement)
(Callahan, et al., 2012). The organizations would analyze ways of helping the minority
neighborhood. Identifying relevant people that would take this matter seriously demands
(reflection). Also, due to my (practice), I must incorporate a feature like (advocacy) for positive
attitudes in the group so that they can tone down their anger. Further, my passion for helping this
group is out of (human ethics). The reason is that I sympathize with the issues such as the
labeling that the inhabitants face which makes them feel unwanted in the society.
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CONTRIBUTIONS TO POSITIVE SOCIAL CHANGE
Further, if I want to succeed tremendously with my project, I would consider (systemic
thinking) where I would critically identify various approaches to solve the situation. It is through
the critical analysis that I will identify ways that would motivate well-wishers to contribute more
funds that would completely change the group’s hood. Also, applying my knowledge
(scholarship) in handling this real-life situation will help me analyze the root cause of the
inhabitants’ issues.
An Article that Supports my Position
The article, “Annual Research Review: Epigenetic mechanisms and environmental
shaping of the brain during sensitive periods of development” is a great example that
demonstrates the risks in early childhood development (Roth, & Sweatt, 2011). The article
supports my position by providing facts based on experimental studies conducted on rodents.
According to the researchers, early childhood mental development is affected by the
environmental aspects since they directly interact with the genes located in the brain. The article
further explains the gene-activity processes through epigenetics, a study that elaborates more on
heritable changes which occur as a result of gene expression modification. For instance, the
separation of a baby from its caregiver can lead to gene expression modification as well as DNA
methylation modification. In this case, the separation could contribute early life stress (ELS)
during the critical stages of the baby’s development.
When a child becomes an adult, high chance of behavioral issues arises due to deficits in
mood regulation and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) hyperactivity which leads to
depression and anxiety-related disorders. Therefore, if infants have abusive and neglectful
experiences in their early development, they become highly susceptible to mental dysfunctions.
This is where the biological perspective of the gene-activity helps psychologists understand the
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CONTRIBUTIONS TO POSITIVE SOCIAL CHANGE
elements that contribute to psychological disorders like borderline personality disorder and
schizophrenia among others as well as behavioral changes.
Conclusion
Generally, sometimes understanding human behavior or mental disorders requires clinical
psychologists to use systemic thinking to understand what causes them. Therefore, a major
lesson that the psychologists should advocate for based on the study, is that caregivers should
enhance their parental care in a child's early development. Otherwise, lack of parental care has
consequential effects whereby the changes that occur in DNA methylation affects cognitive and
mental functions. Hence, by considering the epigenetic strategy to comprehend geneenvironment interactions, the psychologists manage to use the best-recommended interventions
to help patients in their recovery journey.
6
CONTRIBUTIONS TO POSITIVE SOCIAL CHANGE
References
Callahan, D., Wilson, E., Birdsall, I., Estabrook-Fishinghawk, B., Carson, G., Ford, S., & Yob, I.
(2012). Expanding our understanding of social change: A report from the Definition Task
Force of the HLC Special Emphasis Project.
Champagne, F. A., & Mashoodh, R. (2009). Genes in context: Gene-environment interplay and
the origins of individual differences in behavior. Current Directions in Psychological
Science, 18(3), 127–131
Roth, T. L., & David Sweatt, J. (2011). Annual research review: epigenetic mechanisms and
environmental shaping of the brain during sensitive periods of development. Journal of
Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 52(4), 398-408.
7
Running head: THE CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST PROFESSIONAL ROLE
The Clinical Psychologist Professional Role
Salma Ibrahim
Walden University
1
THE CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST PROFESSIONAL ROLE.
2
Clinical Psychology
The professional role held by a clinical psychologist entails the involvement of clinical
knowledge incorporated with science and theory. My chosen professional role requires specific
schooling, knowledge, skills, and characteristics from applicants to qualify for the position
(Appleby, 2015). First, the professional practice requires proper engagement with a massive
range of activities. Also, some other clinical psychologists focus on individual topics and areas
of research that include mental illness and its adequate treatment. Some essential responsibilities
of the clinical psychologist include the provision of proper psychotherapy and appropriate
psychological assessments. Even though most clinical psychologists focus on the clinic, others
may concentrate on hospitals or medical school. The schooling and period associated with the
training and certification of the practice differ from country to country.(citation needed)
However, in the U.S., four years’ study in psychology plus other post-bachelor’s practice
contributes to the promotion or enrollment for a clinical psychologist. More than 50% of
graduate students in psychology continue to receive Ph.D. training programs. The programs
focus on the combination of appropriate training formulated through proper research associated
with the field. Various schools in the region also provide accredited programs for master’s
degree in the clinical psychology field. (citation needed)
Tasks of The Clinical Psychologist
As a clinical psychologist, I possess a few responsibilities that I ought to ensure that I
cover in my profession. First, I must conduct therapy sessions associated with an appropriate
schedule and dates. Clinical psychology involves the engagement of mental and emotional
memories related to suffering patients. The delicacy of the issue presented, especially when
THE CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST PROFESSIONAL ROLE.
3
dealing with human beings, requires me to ensure that my sessions maintain time and consider
the clients' requests and flexibilities.
A clinical psychologist exists in a communal environment where other professionals like
me and those working in other sectors collectively work on solving similar problems. My
responsibility is to ensure that I maximize the use of my environment to source any information
that I might require in my field (Zimbardo, 2004). If I encounter any problems in developing a
new program concerning one of my patients, I can ask for help from a more-experienced clinical
psychologist regarding the program and its contents. My therapy sessions should involve more of
listening to the patients' needs compared to providing prescriptions without understanding the
question. The vitality of my practice focuses on research and realizing effective intervention
associated with the investigation to form the best remedy for the patients. Without the collection
of the most appropriate data from the patients, I cannot manage to develop effective programs for
my patients.
Clinical therapy involves and includes various programs and treatment methods
concerning improved research and technological advancements. A clinical psychologist can now
keep up with the development of a patient even with the absence of either. The patient and the
psychologist can use video call apps to perform a session wherever and whenever around the
world. The recording of progress also remains an essential role that I ought to ensure that I
observe closely. Any form of growth and development in the patients' programs ought to stay
addressed and recorded.
Additional Schooling for Clinical Psychology
The master’s degree represents the minimum qualification for a clinical psychologist.
However, I have a few options that I can maximize upon to develop my schooling and education
THE CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST PROFESSIONAL ROLE.
4
in my career. I can also acquire a Doctor of Psychology or a Ph. D. in Psychology as an
advancement in the field (U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics., 2015). Many
doctoral programs in clinical psychology take a period of five or six years to complete. The
period represents the section in the programs like internships lasting a year for practical
application of the practice. The residency training program follows the Ph. D. level. The part
generally involves practicality in the clinic that may last three years before completion. (citation
needed)
Van der Heijden’s Predictor Factors
Van der Heijden (2002), describes three predictor factors associated with the growth of
an employee in any field. The factors include the level of participation invested in training and
development programs, social network, and the level of dedication placed by the employee to
grow career-wise. The implementation of the predictor factors mentions remains essential for me
too if I intend on consistently evolving at the same speed as the practice to offer my patients the
best care and treatment possible. Improved focus on the training regarding the involvement of
useful advancements in research and growth on personal input in the preparation can help to
promote the practice.
The field of clinical psychology remains versatile and widely connected. The use of
appropriate social networks with other clinical psychologists could not only assist in developing
proper programs but also advancing the practice through cooperative research (Van der Heijden,
2002). Training and development programs available for clinical psychologists exist in vast
amounts from applications on the improvement of the practice to others aiming at realizing
work-life balance. The use of such programs on a consistent basis can assist me not only develop
but also remain healthy in my practice. Also, even though all the initiative mentioned sound
THE CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST PROFESSIONAL ROLE.
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concrete, the implementation of the approach entirely depends on my efforts towards developing
my career.
THE CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST PROFESSIONAL ROLE.
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References
Appleby, D. C. (2015) (PDF). An online career-exploration resources for Psychology majors.
Retrieved from http://apa.org/ed/precollege/psn/2015/09/psychology-majors.aspx. Used
with permission of Drew Appleby.
U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2015). Occupational outlook
handbook. Retrieved from http://www.bls.gov/ooh/
Van der Heijden, B. I. J. M. (2002). Individual career initiatives and their influence upon
professional expertise development throughout the career. International Journal of
Training and Development, 6(2), 54–79.
Zimbardo, P. G. (2004). Does psychology make a significant difference in our lives? American
Psychologist, 59(5), 339–351.
Your paper was well organized and easy to follow. I appreciate
that! APA format needs review for citations and reference
section. I would recommend visiting the following site:
https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/apa_style/apa_sty
le_introduction.html
Using van der Heijden’s definition of professional expertise,
describe what would make you an “expert” in your
field. This area was not addressed resulting in points
deducted.
Also, be sure to discuss what specific characteristics are needed for
this career field.
THE CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST PROFESSIONAL ROLE.
7
.Characteristics are things such as being a good listener,
being empathetic, and remaining ethical. This will need
to be added to the week six paper.
For the week six paper you simply need to make the changes noted in previous
feedback and combine the week one, two, three, and four papers into one paper. Be
sure to add an Abstract for week six, review for APA format, make sure feedback from
previous weeks is integrated and you are all set. You do not need to rewrite an entirely
new paper for week six but rather combine the work you have already completed into
one paper.
As you make the changes based on the feedback previously given please highlight the
changes you make so they are not missed when I am grading in week six.
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