Introduction to Clinical Psychology

Your neighbor tells you that his eleven-year-old daughter has been having behavior and academic problems in school. “Her teacher recommended taking her to the pediatrician to get a prescription for Ritalin,” he said.

In a well-thought-out paper integrating information from the learning resources and module readings, make an argument for why your neighbor should first have his daughter evaluated by a clinical psychologist. Discuss the types of assessment tools the psychologist might use in his or her evaluation and how these tools would help in guiding diagnosis and treatment. Make sure to use appropriate sources of information that ground your argument in well-established, empirically sound science and practice. Properly cite and reference resources, applying APA Style.

This paper should be written as a coherent essay, in approximately 700-1000 words, and formatted in APA Style. You are encouraged to include insights in your recommendations as you address the key issues outlined above.

Prepare the Thoughtful Response Paper according to the following guidelines:

• Structure your paper utilizing APA style (7th Edition); this includes title page, headings, in-text citations, reference page, and general paper format (1-inch margins, double-spaced, appropriately sized sans serif or serif fonts – e.g., 12 Times Roman). An abstract is not required.
• Apply sound writing mechanics: write with clarity, paying attention to spelling, grammar, and syntax.
• Submit to your Assignment Folder as a single document in either Microsoft Word, PDF, or RTF format.

Point allocations are as follows. See accompanying assignment rubric for full details.

American Psychological Association. (2017). Ethical principles of psychologists and code of conduct (2002, amended effective June 1, 2010, and January 1, 2017). http://www.apa.org/ethics/code/index.html

Biswas-Diener, R. (2020). Intelligence. In R. Biswas-Diener & E. Diener (Eds), Noba textbook series: Psychology. Champaign, IL: DEF publishers. Retrieved from http://noba.to/ncb2h79v

Davis, H., Peterson, S. & Smith, G. (2017). Assessment. In A. Wenzel (Ed.), The sage encyclopedia of abnormal and clinical psychology (Vol. 1, pp. 310-313). SAGE Publications, Inc. doi: 10.4135/9781483365817.n117

Hubley, A. (2003). Achievement testing. In R. Fernández-Ballesteros (Ed.), Encyclopedia of psychological assessment (Vol. 1, pp. 6-9). SAGE Publications Ltd doi: 10.4135/9780857025753.n2

Korotitsch, W. & Nelson-Gray, R. (2003). Behavioural assessment techniques. In R. Fernández-Ballesteros (Ed.), Encyclopedia of psychological assessment (Vol. 1, pp. 135-134). SAGE Publications Ltd doi: 10.4135/9780857025753.n28

Psychological Testing Overview (2019, March 26). UMGC.

Watson, D. (2020). Personality assessment. In R. Biswas-Diener & E. Diener (Eds), NOBA textbook series: Psychology. Champaign, IL: DEF publishers. Retrieved from http://noba.to/eac2pyv7

ANSWER PREVIEW

Clinical psychology is the area of specialization in psychology that aims to assist with the well-being of people and families’ behavioral and mental health (Biswas-Diener, 2020). Clinical psychology also provides consultation to communities and agencies through education, training and supervision, and research-based practices. Through professional psychological assessments, diagnosis, and the subsequent treatment of individuals experiencing mental health issues and distress, a psychologist is trained to isolate the subject and rectify the problems. Therefore, if someone, for instance, a child, is suffering from mental or behavioral issues, they should be referred to a clinical psychologist, not a pediatrician, since the situation needs to be assessed and diagnosed before it is treated.

(1027words)