Premium
A reorientation of clinical psychology? Look before you leap
Author(s) -
Thyer Bruce A.
Publication year - 1984
Publication title -
journal of clinical psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.124
H-Index - 119
eISSN - 1097-4679
pISSN - 0021-9762
DOI - 10.1002/1097-4679(198405)40:3<865::aid-jclp2270400341>3.0.co;2-d
Subject(s) - psychology , service (business) , professional psychology , natural (archaeology) , field (mathematics) , extension (predicate logic) , psychopathology , social psychology , school psychology , applied psychology , clinical psychology , burnout , economy , mathematics , archaeology , computer science , pure mathematics , economics , history , programming language
Abstract A recent proposal by Fox (1982) has suggested that the field of clinical psychology needs to undergo a reorientation away from psychopathology to the totality of human problems. This is viewed as a natural extension of the evolution of clinical psychology and is justified by the position that “Psychology is the only discipline that has both a comprehensive science of human behavior and an established professional arm” (Fox, 1982, p. 1052). Evidence is cited that suggests that many of the roles which Fox sees as appropriate for doctoral‐level clinical psychologists can and are being performed adequately by master's‐level professional social workers. The proposed reorientation of clinical psychology would be neither cost effective of educational resources nor feasible in terms of training adequate numbers of psychological service providers. This proposal by Fox further reflects a lack of awareness of the empirically based service tradition of many professional social workers (Thyer, 1981).