What is "clinical work"?

[futureapppsy2]

Okay, so I recently got in a disagreement with someone about what "clinical work" is. I always defined it broadly as any sort of assessment, intervention (therapy, behavioral intervention, etc), or clinical consultation regardless of the setting (school, VA, CMHC, hospital, etc).

They said, however, that clinical work is only defined as therapy (that occurs outside of schools) and does not include behavioral intervention, consultation, or assessment and if I thought otherwise, I knew nothing about the field.

Now I'm wondering if my use of the term is completely off-base, and no bothered to correct me. So, how is "clinical work" defined in the field? 😕

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[erg923]

Ask he/she if they know what the word "clinical" means, and then wait for their response.

Clinical-1.)Having to do with the examination and treatment of patients. 2.) Involving or based on direct observation of the patient: Why they think behavioral observations and testing wouldn't meet this definition is beyond me.

 

[Neuropsych2be]

Okay, so I recently got in a disagreement with someone about what "clinical work" is. I always defined it broadly as any sort of assessment, intervention (therapy, behavioral intervention, etc), or clinical consultation regardless of the setting (school, VA, CMHC, hospital, etc).

They said, however, that clinical work is only defined as therapy (that occurs outside of schools) and does not include behavioral intervention, consultation, or assessment and if I thought otherwise, I knew nothing about the field.

Now I'm wondering if my use of the term is completely off-base, and no bothered to correct me. So, how is "clinical work" defined in the field? 😕

The person who says clinical work is only "therapy" is about as wrong as wrong can be. Just remember the greatest discovery of psychology is that IQ falls along the bell shaped curve. That means there are lots of people out there who are are not especially bright or right about many things 😱

 

[ILGirl]

They said, however, that clinical work is only defined as therapy (that occurs outside of schools)

That is just so incredibly ignorant. Even if we were to define clinical work as just being "therapy", why would this individual exclude schools? Granted there are some school sytems in which therapy is not provided, but plenty of schools out there do provide therapy on an individual and group basis.

 

[futureapppsy2]

Thank you all for confirming that I haven't been using the term incorrectly! As to why this person thought this, I have no idea, but they were awfully insistent that I was wrong!

 

[Shatani]

Okay, so I recently got in a disagreement with someone about what "clinical work" is. I always defined it broadly as any sort of assessment, intervention (therapy, behavioral intervention, etc), or clinical consultation regardless of the setting (school, VA, CMHC, hospital, etc).

They said, however, that clinical work is only defined as therapy (that occurs outside of schools) and does not include behavioral intervention, consultation, or assessment and if I thought otherwise, I knew nothing about the field.

Now I'm wondering if my use of the term is completely off-base, and no bothered to correct me. So, how is "clinical work" defined in the field? 😕

um...thats utterly ridiculous.

 

[Lifon16]

Can people post what they did for clinical experience in anticipation of applying to grad school? I am a bit unsure as to what constitutes clincal experience as well as what opportunities are out there. Thanks!

 

[erg923]

anything where you are working in a helping role with people who have emotional problems/trauma or persisting mental ilness.

 

[bmorepsych]

Working/Volunteering at... (some examples)

psychiatric inpatient unit
Suicide/Crises Hotline
Conducting structured/semi structured interviews can be marketed as clinical experience if I'm not mistaken
ABA therapy (with Autistic children for example)

There's much more for sure.

Depending on how much time is on your hands, and assuming you have a bunch of great research experience (which is much more important for you to get if you haven't, unless you're applying for programs other than PhD) then I would say do the hotline if you will only have minimal time on your hands. If you have more time, contact people who deal with the type of patients you're interested in, aka look up researchers/clinicians who work in hospitals who deal with your topic of interest. Even if they don't have anything viable for you, they might be able to point you in the right direction.

Those are my ideas!

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

MOD NOTE: I merged these two threads, as they are asking the same thing. -t4c