The scientific study of the mind and behaviour is called psychology. The branch of psychology which deals with the assessment and treatment of mental illness and behavioural problems is clinical psychology. A psychological specialty that has researched and applied for work in several broad domains: counselling process and outcome; supervision and training; career development and counselling; and prevention and health is counselling psychology
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What is Clinical Psychology?
Clinical psychology is a regulated mental health profession. It’s an aspect of psychological science and practice concerned with the analysis, treatment, and prevention of human psychological disabilities with the enhancement of personal adjustment and effectiveness.
- Late in the 19th century, Sigmund Freud was developing psychoanalysis when the first scientific application of clinical psychology began.
- Used to develop standardized tests for mental illness.
- Clinical psychology takes additional standardized assessment measures with personality tests.
- Diagnostic interviewing, behavioral assessment interpretation of psychological test measures, and administration are all procedures.
- Broadly inclusive of severe psychopathology(scientific exploration of abnormal mental states)
- Provide psychotherapy and apply 4 primary theoretical organizations- CBT(cognitive behavioural therapy), family therapy, humanistic, and psychodynamic.
What is Counselling Psychology?
Counselling Psychology is a generalist health service specialty in professional psychology.
It focuses on providing therapeutic treatments to clients who experience many symptoms of mental illness paying special attention to social, vocational, emotional, educational, and health-related concerns.
- ‘Counselling’ was coined by Carl Rogers who lacking medical qualifications couldn’t call his work psychotherapy, started as a result of World War II
- Helps people improve their well being
- Focus on mental health issues and challenges faced by individuals across their lifespan.
- They work with groups and communities to assist them in addressing or preventing problems, as well as to improve their social abilities
- Assessment techniques for the diagnosis of psychological disorders and programs and workshops for well being
- Clinical supervision, test construction, and validation.
Difference between clinical and counseling psychology
Before trying to understand the differences between clinical and counselling psychology, let’s try to know their bigger picture. Both clinical and counselling psychology fall under the umbrella of practising psychologists. In the field of mental health sciences, a clinical psychologist and a counselling psychologist perform many of the same responsibilities. For instance, both kinds of psychologists engage in research, offer psychotherapy, and are skilled counsellors. They work in comparable environments such as community health clinics, hospitals, private practices, universities, and college counselling centres. There are, however, some differences in both the professions. While clinical psychology focuses majorly on diagnosing and treating severe mental health conditions, counselling psychology makes use of various theoretical perspectives to analyse and treat everyday life problems, which might not necessarily be diagnosable. In addition to receiving more in-depth clinical training with serious psychopathology and mental disorder studies, such as bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, extreme mental illness, and major depressive disorders, among others, clinical psychologists work with a wide range of psychopathology and clinical diagnoses. On the other hand, the field of counselling psychology is specialised in assisting people in overcoming daily obstacles by recognizing their strengths and enhancing their coping mechanisms.By assisting clients in developing their interpersonal, professional, and stress management abilities, they help them enhance their general functioning and well-being. A counselling psychologist may also assist clients in developing their educational and professional goals.Although the theoretical frameworks used by the two schools frequently overlap, they may place distinct emphasis on the theoretical underpinnings of their respective fields. Counselling psychologists, for instance, could approach their practice with a more multicultural or client-centred methodology. Whereas, clinical psychologists may adopt a more behavioural, medicinal, or psychoanalytic viewpoint.
While both these professions require at least a master’s degree to practise, clinical psychologists may require additional training and coursework to be able to diagnose and treat patients with severe mental health conditions. Clinical psychologists may require 2-3 years of additional training after their master’s while counselling psychologists may be able to start practising right after their master’s and diploma. Furthermore, developmental psychology, psychological evaluation, and psychopathology may be the main areas of study in a clinical psychology degree program, whereas Human lifespan development, personality, and occupational psychology may receive additional attention in a counselling psychology curriculum.
In conclusion, both clinical and counselling psychologists deserve an equal amount of respect in the field of psychology. The distinguished factors between both have never aimed to make it into a competition, but rather, both these professions complement each other. It is preferred if all practising psychologists work together to enhance a client’s well being as well as for research purposes.
Difference between clinical and counseling psychology
Choosing a career between clinical and counselling psychology can be confusing for many aspiring psychologists and students because of the overlapping nature of both professions. Even if they work in similar settings, there are a lot of differences in the work involved for each. Let’s further try to understand which field will suit you the best
- 1. Consider your interest in population
It's crucial to think about the type of counselling you're most interested in and the demographic you want to serve, as clinical and counselling psychologists offer distinct services to various populations. The population served by clinical psychologists may have different needs from the population served by counselling psychologists. Patients who go to clinical psychology may need to be diagnosed, prescribed medications and may even need more medical care. On the other hand, clients who come to counselling psychologists can benefit more from talk therapies, guidance and support. A psychologist needs to be aware of their own mental capacity to handle clients of different natures. - 2. Think about your ideal workplace
Although counselling and clinical psychologists may operate in comparable settings, specialisation in one or the other may open doors to opportunities in other contexts. You could prefer a job in clinical psychology if you would like to work in an inpatient or hospital environment, for example, as clinical psychologists are more likely to work in these settings.
Prior to selecting the program, consider your interests and working patterns. A job as a clinical psychologist in a hospital may be more appealing to you if you like working in a fast-paced environment. Or, you could prefer a job as a counselling psychologist if you're interested in working in a private environment or a college campus. - 3. Explore your area of interest in work
While research can be practised in both professions, clinical psychology is more research based than counselling psychology. In clinical psychology, you might have to specialise in any clinical disorder, while in counselling, you could specialise in any of the talking therapies or areas of counselling like group counselling or grief counselling. Counselling psychology is rather flexible in terms of deciding the kind of population you want to work with. If you are comfortable with groups, you could consider becoming a counselling psychologist to pursue group counselling, relationship or family therapy. On the other hand, clinical psychologists usually work with one individual. While clinical psychologists interact less with their clients than counselling psychologists do, it does involve a lot of paperwork involving tests and case history taking. If you are comfortable with tangible social skills like paraphrasing,empathy and validation, counselling might be the field for you.
Ultimately, talk to individuals working in both fields, and see as to what field will bring out the best in you as a person. No field is better than the other. Both clinical and counselling psychology are equally qualified fields which require different sets of skills and mental capacities. Hence, consider practising in a field that appeals to your personality and attitude towards life.
Difference between Clinical and Counselling Psychology
Research Area
Clinical Psychologists favour psychopathological conditions, on the other hand, counseling psychologists prefer vocational assessment and minority psychology. But it was observed that even the differences in the two areas overlap; hence, the difference is the frequency with which the two parts study and use the training.
Nature of Training
Clinical Psychologists receive a wealth of training in theoretical orientations. They also receive serious clinical training with psychopathology, including bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and major depressive disorders.
In contrast, counselling psychologists tend to ascribe to humanistic and person-centered theoretical orientations. They train to see people with relationship issues, substance abuse, career counselling, and difficulty in adapting to life changes.
Which one to choose/ career path
What are you more inclined to do?
1. Are you interested in studying psychopathology and working with patients with serious psychological and mental health disorders?
Then clinical.
2. Are you interested in providing emotional and vocational support for a healthier population base with psychological counselling?
Then counselling.
A counselling psychologist is often employed within a university, delivering counselling services. Whereas a clinical psychologist more often works in hospitals.
Nature of treatment
Both greatly overlap but what we do see is that counselling psychologists are more inclined to a humanistic approach, dealing directly with behaviour problems in the community.
Clinical psychologists on the other hand deal with more serious illnesses which may require hospitalisation.
As one practice deals with healthier individuals than the other both have different treatments and different standardised tests as well.
Where can I find a professional Counselling Psychologist?
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