TOPIC 7 Community Clinical Psychology. Community Psychology An approach to mental health that...
Transcript of TOPIC 7 Community Clinical Psychology. Community Psychology An approach to mental health that...
TOPIC 7
Community Clinical Psychology
Community Psychology
An approach to mental health that emphasizes the role of the environmental forces in creating and alleviating problems.
Major aspects
Cultural relativityDiversityEcology ( the fit between persons and the environment)
Principles of Community Psychology
Problems develop due to an interaction over time bet the individual, social setting, and systems.
Problems can be defined at any levels, but particular emphasis is placed on analysis at the level of the organization and the community or neighborhood.
Cont’d
Community psychology is typically not practiced in clinics, but rather out in the field or in the social context of interest.
Rather than providing services only for those who seek help, community psychologists proactively assess the needs and risks of the community.
Cont’dAn emphasis is placed on prevention of problems rather than treatment of existing problems.
Attempts are made to share psychology with others via consultation; actual interventions are often carried out through self-help programs or through trained nonpsychologist/nonprofessionals.
Perspectives in Community Psychology
CPs do not concerned exclusively with inadequate environments or persons, but direct their attentions to the fit bet environments and persons.
Cont’d
CPs emphasize the creation of alternatives through identifying and developing the resources and strengths of people and communities.
CPs believe that differences among people and communities are desirable; promotes diversity.
Key Concepts
Ecological Levels of Analysis – individuals, microsystems, organizations, localities, macrosystems
Change in one part of the system will affect other parts of the system.
Concept of Prevention
Primary prevention – programs to reduce job discrimination, enhance school curricula, improve housing, teach parenting skills, etc.
Secondary prevention – i.e. early detection and treatment of individuals with potentially damaging drinking problems
Cont’d
Tertiary prevention – reduce the duration and the negative effects of mental disorders after their occurrence
Empowerment
Prevention of feelings of powerlessness
Diversity
CultureRaceEthnicityGenderSexual orientationAbility/disabilityAgeSocio-economic status/social classReligion & Spirituality
Social Intervention Concepts
Blaming the victimFree the gov’t & cultural institutions from blame
Gives legitimacy to intervene at the person level
Methods of Intervention & change
ConsultationCommunity alternatives to hospitalization
Intervention in early childehood – i.e. Head Start
Self-help – AAParaprofessionals
Training of CPs
Relevant background in the ff disciplines nursing, sociology, social work, public health, epidemiology, medicine, or clinical/community psychology
Training in the designs of interventions and empirical evaluations of interventions
Cont’d
Practicum or internship in prevention
Bachelors degree in relevant field (psychology)