REFLECTIONS ON PSYCHOLOGY AND THERAPEUTIC PROCESS

Throughout the course of my career, many potential patients seem confused about what differentiates clinical psychologists from psychiatrists. In brief, here are some of the important distinctions.

Look-up the term “psychology” in a textbook and usually you will find “the study of behavior and mental processes.” But what kind of study, and what aspects of human life does a psychologist examine? Scientific method. Psychologists embrace an investigatory attitude that champions a disciplined approach understanding behavior – of nonhumans as well as human beings.

Years ago, when I was a full-time college professor and even as Director of Training for a graduate program in Clinical Psychology, students approached me with the question: “Isn’t psychology just common sense?” Most often, I would smile, shake my head “no”, and bring up the following ideas. Common sense refers to sets of ideas that are often broad, deceptively unspecific, and when held up to scientific scrutiny, they do not accurately predict outcomes.

Many years ago, a prominent psychologist asserted that “there is nothing so practical as a good theory.” I could not agree more! I honor my patients by basing moment-to-moment engagements with them as best I can on well-articulated, established, and peer reviewed theories that emerge from psychological scientists and applied clinicians who have gathered and analyzed quantitative and qualitative data. My integrationist perspective should not be considered as merely eclectic, in effect throwing up against the wall any intervention that seems like it would work because somewhere I read that a therapist reported success with it! Rather, because human behavior is so incredibly complex, and subject to so many unseen effects of socialization, I want to have at my disposal multiple viewpoints that can help patients more efficiently and effectively re-write the inner narratives of their lives, to use the discipline of scientific thinking and applied research to help them learn more about themselves, their relational world, and their perceived place in that world to live in a wiser and more intentional manner.