An Overview of Child & Adolescent Clinical

PsychologySociety for Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology,

Division 53 of the American Psychological Association

Prepared byEric Youngstrom, Ph.D.Mary Fristad, Ph.D.Jennifer Youngstrom, Ph.D.Anne Marie Albano, Ph.D.

What types of activities do child clinical psychologists do?

Practitioners (assessment and intervention)ResearchersSupervisors and teachersProgram development (prevention and treatment) and program evaluationConsultants (in schools, organizations, governmental agencies)Advocacy

In what settings do child clinical psychologists work?

HospitalsUniversitiesMental health centersPrivate practiceJuvenile justice system

Veterans AdministrationCounseling centersManaged careSchoolsGovernment agenciesMilitary

Child Clinical Psychologists Combine Knowledge of:

Normal child developmentFamily processesChild and adolescent psychopathologyResearch design and methodology (special attention to longitudinal studies)Outcome researchEthical issues with confidentiality/informed consent with minors

Brief Hx of Child Clinical Psychology1896– Lightner Witner asked to treat a poor speller

he presented clinical psychology at APA convention in same year

1909 – Child Guidance Movement began with emphasis on FreudEarly 1916 Binet-Simon Scale brought to US and focus on testing children beganAfter WWI – emphasis on adults, especially testing/classifying adults for intellectual ability and emotional stabilityAfter WWII – psychologists providing more therapy

Brief Hx of Child Clinical (continued)

1946 – formal clinical psychology programs began and in 1947 Committee on Training at APA recommended content, training standards, and monitoring1962 – Clinical Child became Section 1 of Division 12 (mostly psychodynamic)Mid 1960’s to mid 1980’s Section 1 focused on need for licensure/independent practice and evidence based practice Most of 20th century – study of child psychopathology ignored or treated as downward extension of adults

Brief Hx of Child Clinical (continued)

1980 --DSM-III – first to acknowledge diagnostic criteria for childrenGranted Division status – Division 53 – in 1999. Name changed from Division of Clinical Child Psychology to Society for Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology in 2001. Current focus on evidence based assessment and intervention since inceptionDSM-IV – more than 2 dozen disorders specific to childhoodNow: Journals dedicated solely to child issues

Issues within Clinical Child PsychologyReferral patterns – often the client isn’t the one seeking treatment (referred by parents, schools)Assessment and Treatment– often we have access to parents/teachers (helpful!); IQ and age considerations limit youth self-report and cognitive restructuringRapidly changing developmental considerationsConfidentiality

Resources for Child Clinical Psychology

www.clinicalchildpsychology.org

www.effectivechildtherapy.com

The American Board of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychologywww.clinicalchildpsychology.com

The American Board of Professional Psychology

Credentialing Continuum

Accredited Doctoral Program

Accredited Internship

Accredited Post-

doctoral Residency

Licensed by State or Province

Identified as Health Service Provider

Board Certification