If you are interested in the field of psychology, determining the type of psychology will guide your path on the way to your dreams. These two terms are often used interchangeably both by professionals and lay person. When people struggle on their daily lives, they either go to a clinical psychologist or counseling psychologist for help.

What is Clinical Psychology?

According to the American Psychological Association, Clinical Psychology is a specialty that provides continuing and comprehensive mental and behavioral health care for individuals and families. They also provide consultation to agencies and communities and provide training, education and supervision regarding mental health and are often research based.

They provide services to all individuals, families and groups across the lifespan and ethnic, cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds. They specialize on the intellectual, emotional, psychological, social and behavioral maladjustment of a patient, disability and comfort and minor adjustment issues and severe psychopathology.

The procedures and technique used in Clinical psychology are as follows:

  • Assessment using diagnostic interviewing, behavioral assessment, administration and interpretation of psychological test measures
  • Intervention in primary, secondary and tertiary levels
  • Provide clinical services to individuals, families and groups
  • Consultation with other health and behavioral health professionals and organizations.
  • Engagement with specific research and critical review of science, knowledge and methods pertaining to clinical psychology.

What is Counseling Psychology?

Counseling Psychology is a general practice and health service provider which specializes on professional psychology (American Psychological Association, 2020). It focuses on the functionality of people personally and in their relationships. It addresses emotional, social, work, school and physical health concerns that the person may have that affects their focus in their daily lives. It usually involves typical life stresses and other severe issues that may cause a person to struggle as individua and as a part of their family, a group or the community.

They specialize on the health aspects and strength of the client as an individual, as a partner, as a part of the family, a group or community. The environmental and situational influences that contributed to the person’s experiences and concerns. Lastly, it involves issues in diversity, social justice and role in career and work.

The procedures and technique used in counseling psychology are as follows:

  • Psychotherapy, group and family counseling and one-on-one counseling sessions.
  • Crisis interventions and disaster and trauma management
  • Assessment techniques for possible diagnosis of psychological disorders.
  • Programs or workshop that promotes mental health awareness. This may be done in communities, school, workplaces. Identifying these issues beforehand are important to prevent future problems.
  • Program evaluation and treatment of clients.
  • Training, clinical supervision and test construction and validation.
  • Research methodologies for scientific investigations.

Difference between Clinical and Counseling Psychology

There are differences in the history of Clinical and Counseling Psychology. Counseling psychology grew out of “vocational psychology” division of the American Psychological Association. Its efficiency focuses on the scientific study factors that affects performance on jobs. While Clinical counseling, was established by the American Psychological association in 1892. It is a result of the outgrowth of the medical field. It has traditionally studied mental health disturbances previously.

In terms of population, Counseling psychology focus more on the healthy populations such as student, workers etc. While, Clinical psychology works more on children and on specialized populations or those people who has psychopathology.

They also differ in theoretical orientation.  Counseling psychology uses the client-centered or humanistic approach. They are also espousing feminist and use multicultural approaches. While in Clinical psychology, they use psychoanalytic and behavioral theories to treat patients. And also provide manualized treatments and cognitive-behavioral therapy.

If you would like to visit a clinical psychologist, you can usually find them in hospitals or inpatient care facilities. While counseling psychologist can readily be found on counseling centers, in schools and at work.