Introduction to Clinical Psychology - Hardcover

Bernstein, Douglas A.; Milich, Richard; Kramer, Geoffrey P.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 013098082X ISBN 13: 9780130980823

Publisher: Pearson College Div, 2002

Synopsis

Designed to provide a thorough survey of the field that is equally accessible to readers with a general interest as well as to those with professional aspirations, this book presents a scholarly portrayal of the history, content, professional functions, and the future of clinical psychology. Chapter topics cover various approaches to clinical psychology; assessment; interviewing, observation, and testing; clinical interventions; clinical child psychology; health psychology; clinical neuropsychology; forensic psychology; and professional issues. For anyone with an interest in clinical psychology?especially future clinical psychologists.

About this title

From the Back Cover

The sixth edition of Introduction to Clinical Psychology has been re-designed to provide a thorough survey of the, field that is equally accessible to students with a general interest as well as to those with professional aspirations. The book presents a scholarly portrayal of the history, content, professional functions, and the future of clinical psychology, with updates on clinical intervention, assessment, and psychotherapy and numerous new references.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

In the five previous editions of this book, we tried to accomplish three goals. First, we wanted a book that, while appropriate for graduate students, was written especially with sophisticated undergraduates in mind. Many undergraduate psychology majors express an interest in clinical psychology without having a clear understanding of what the field involves and requires. An even larger number of nonmajors also wish to know more about clinical psychology. We felt that both groups of undergraduates would benefit from a thorough survey of the field which does not go into all the details typically found in "graduate study only" texts.

Second, we wanted to present a scholarly portrayal of the history of clinical psychology, its scope, functions, and future that reviewed a full range of theoretical perspectives. For this reason, we have not allowed our preference for cognitive-behavioral theories to limit our presentation. Instead, we present psychodynamic, phenomenological/experiential, interpersonal, and biological perspectives as well, and we have sought to do so in as neutral a manner as possible. We do champion the empirical research tradition of clinical psychology throughout the book because we believe it is a necessary and useful perspective for all clinicians to follow, regardless of their theoretical orientation.

Third, we wanted our book to be interesting and enjoyable to read. Because we like being clinical psychologists and because we enjoy teaching courses in the field, we tried to create a book that communicates our enthusiasm for its content.

Our goals for this sixth edition remain the same. However, in addition to the comprehensive updating of the content of all chapters, we have introduced some new material and reorganized our coverage of existing material somewhat. For example, we have expanded the coverage of clinical interventions to four chapters by adding a new chapter on alternative modes of intervention: group therapy, couples therapy, family therapy, psychosocial rehabilitation, prevention, community psychology, and self-help. We have also combined the presentation of interviewing and observation into one chapter to reflect the complementary nature of these activities. In our updating of the major theoretical orientations and psychotherapeutic approaches, we have added new information on the movement toward theoretical integration and eclecticism. Sociocultural diversity affects psychological assessment, psychotherapy, and clinical research, so we have included new information on this topic throughout the book. Since our last edition, numerous changes have occurred in the health care delivery system, both in the United States and in other countries. Accordingly, we have addressed how managed care has continued to influence research and practice in clinical psychology since our last edition. Rapid changes have also occurred in psychotherapy research, so we have expanded our presentation of empirically supported treatments and of research on nonspecific treatment factors (i.e., therapist, client, and therapeutic relationship variables). Finally, we have expanded our discussions of the growing employment arenas for clinical psychologists in the fields of neuropsychology, health psychology, clinical child psychology, and forensic psychology.

Edition details

• Publisher: Pearson College Div
• Publication date: 2002
• ISBN 10: 013098082X
• ISBN 13: 9780130980823
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Edition number: 6
• Number of pages: 656
• Editor: Nietzel Michael T.