What is Clinical Psychology?

Psychology is a broad discipline that seeks to comprehend and explain thoughts, feelings, emotions, and behavior. Psychologists seek to develop theories about the feelings and beliefs that shape a person's behavior. They do this by using various methods such as observation, evaluation, and experimentation.
Clinical psychology is a field within the discipline of psychology that focuses on both practice and research. It is the bridge that connects psychological principles to their application in diagnosing and treating mental health issues such as dysfunctional behavior, psychological distress. Its aim is to enhance every individual's mental and physical well-being.
Clinical psychology consists both of scientific research and clinical service. Scientific research focuses on studying the general principles of human life while clinical service is for the study and care of their clients.

Clinical psychologists offer a wide range of services, and this include diagnosis; assessment and measurement; treatment; consultation: policy planning; teaching and supervision; program evaluation; research; and, administration.
In the treatment of individual clients, clinical psychology uses a wide range of approaches. Strategies usually vary depending on their specialty area, but in general they consist of interviews, diagnostic tests, and psychotherapy. Clinical psychologists create behavior modification programs and teach patients how to execute their particular program.

There are times when clinical psychologists turn to other mental health professionals to determine the best treatment, especially when it involves medication. In the United States, there are only two states, New Mexico and Louisiana where clinical psychologists are allowed to give prescriptions to patients. In the rest of the states, however, only medical doctors and psychiatrist may prescribe medication to patients.

Clinical psychologists work with a wide range of people, from individuals to couples and from families to groups and organizations. They work in various settings, such as hospitals and clinics, private practice, community service agencies, schools,  universities and colleges, the military, industry, prisons and correctional facilities, and private and government research.