Professional Psychology Case Study

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Professional Psychology Specializations Clinical psychology is a field comprised of research-based practice, designed to continually help individuals and families with mental and behavioral health concerns (American Psychological Association, n.d.). The development within the field has called for separation amongst clinical focus. Professional psychologist may specialize in various focuses, such as school psychology, clinical psychology, and counseling psychology. School psychology is said to have started when Lightner Witmer began studying and evaluating psychological cases in a laboratory (Benjamin, 2005, p. 4). More specifically, Witmer conceptualized school psychology when he treated a 14 year-old boy with spelling complications…show more content…
4-6). School psychologists typically determine referrals for special education, conduct academic assessments, and connect families to community resources (American Psychological Association, n.d.). School psychologist often counsel, construct classroom programs, and “design or evaluate standardized and non-standardized measures” (American Psychological Association, n.d). School psychologists are typically seen in grade school to high school, universities, residential clinics, juvenile programs, etc. (American Psychological Association, n.d.). These settings are similar to clinical psychologist and counseling psychologist. However, counseling psychologist and clinical psychologist may also work in hospitals, mental health clinics, and private practices (Roger, Stone, n.d.). These two specializations have become very intertwined, and even hard to distinguish when practice is discussed. Nonetheless, the differences are found in the history of development and the terms used to describe each field (Roger, Stone,…show more content…
In 1910 Helen Kent and Aaron Rosanoff published the first 100-word association personality assessment to measure normal and abnormal characteristics known as the “Kent-Rosanoff Association Test (Benjamin, 2000, p. 14). Shortly after, the Woodworth’s Personal Data Sheet was developed and used in clinical psychology (Benjamin, 2000, p.14). More personality assessments emerged from this movement and help clinical psychologist to define their contributions to the field (Benjamin, 2002, p. 14). These efforts were seen in a large capacity in the 1920’s and 30’s, as social issues began to arise (Benjamin, 2000, p. 12). Clinical psychologist typically carried out intellectual and personality assessments at child guidance clinics (Benjamin, 2000, p. 12). This time period is significant, as it promoted major growth within the field (Benjamin, 2000, p.

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