Characteristics of Clinical Psychologist

 

 Characteristics of clinical psychologist: A clinical psychologist should have these characteristics.

Good communicator : As a therapist, you must be a good listener who is capable of hearing what your clients say and identifying the underlying meaning or problem behind their words and their nonverbal cues, such as eye contact and body language. Curious : Clinical psychologists want to know what makes people tick. Each client is different, and the answer of how to help each individual is not always readily apparent. Often the initial assessment is the first opportunity to gauge the situation, so clinical psychologists must be able to ask insightful questions and follow the trail of information to come up with the best solution for that individual. Creative : Since each client present a new and different challenge, clinical psychologists need to be creatively minded. You are responsible for coming up with new solutions, techniques, and suggestions for bettering the quality of life of your clients. Confident : When it comes time to sit down and conduct a therapy session with a client, the clinical psychologist must have confidence and a strong capacity for self-reflection. Thick skinned :

 

Clinical psychologists work with a wide range of patients, from people with relationship problems to substance abusers to depressives to those with severe mental illnesses, such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Non judgmental : Clinical psychologists not only support their th eir clients unconditionally, they also don’t criticize weakness or incorrect action. Such value judgments weaken your clients’ trust and regard and render your advice and services less effective. It goes without saying, but no therapist should discriminate against a client with a different background or values—though for some people, that is easier said than done. You must be steadfast in your commitment to be non-judgmental toward your clients. Motivated : A clinical psychologist needs to possess extensive knowledge of the theoretical, clinical, and empirical bases of their field. Empathetic : As a therapist, you must be able to offer a caring, understanding, and empowering environment for your patients. You must be able to respect autonomy and personal responsibility while acting as a guiding and validating force for their health and well-being. You must be able to put yourself in their shoes.

Passionate about science : As a clinical psychologist, you will be expected to engage in and be accountable for your own research a fact that separates clinical psychologists from other therapists.

Traits of Active Clinical Psychologist:

 

Psychology is a field dedicated to studying the human mind and using that understanding to help individuals, couples and families strengthen their relationships, overcome challenges and enjoy a higher quality of life. Effective psychologists must have some degree of these common traits, which passionate students can cultivate over time. Active Listeners Communication is one of the most important skills a psychologist can possess. Aspiring psychologists should practice being active listeners by giving each conversation their full focus and taking the time to consider other people are saying in a conversation. Active listening also involves paying attention to nonverbal cues such as body language. This is particularly important for psychologists, as some patients are not comfortable revealing personal information. A sharp-eyed psychologist can determine when a patient is having trouble communicating openly. Empathetic Professionals When a psychologist meets a new patient, one of the first steps he or she will take is to establish a good rapport, or connection. A good connection is important because it encourages patients to trust the professional and to open up about their feelings. Empathetic psychologists tend to have an easier time establishing a strong rapport. In order to convey their genuine concern, psychologists use careful tone of voice and communicate clearly. At the same time, however, psychologists must also maintain a professional bearing at all times. Psychologists sometimes work with difficult patients who may have committed crimes or who conflict with their own worldview and values. It is important that psychologists mask their own adverse reactions when necessary. Ethical Individuals Many professions require strict ethical codes and standards of conduct, and psychology is no exception. Effective psychologists take the initiative to follow the standards set by the American Psychological Association and their own state licensing boards. They conduct themselves according to these strict standards in all of their professional tasks— tasks —from insurance billing and client counseling to case management. Patient Counselors Therapy is not a fast process. It takes time to help clients overcome major problems in their lives. Psychologists need to have plenty of patience. They must be able to maintain their focus while patients talk through their problems. Every patient makes progress at his or her own

 

pace. In some cases, it may take years to make progress, especially if a patient is dealing with significant trauma. Active Learners Effective psychologists would likely describe themselves as lifelong learners. The science of psychology is continually changing with new studies and insights. These professionals need to stay on top of the latest information in order to help their clients to the best of their ability. They may attend professional events such as seminars and lectures, network with their colleagues and read professional journals.

Ethics professionals of clinical psychologist: This section consists of General Principles. General Principles, as opposed to Ethical Standards, are aspirational in nature. Their intent is to guide and inspire psychologists toward the very highest ethical ideals of the profession. General Principles, in contrast to Ethical Standards, do not represent obligations and should not form the basis for imposing sanctions. Relying upon General Principles for either of these reasons distorts both their meaning and purpose.

Principle A:Beneficence and No maleficence Psychologists strive to benefit those with whom they work and take care to do no harm. In their professional actions, psychologists seek to safeguard the welfare and rights of those with whom they interact professionally and other affected persons, and the welfare of animal subjects of research. When conflicts occur among psychologists' obligations or concerns, they attempt to resolve these conflicts in a responsible fashion that avoids or minimizes harm. Because psychologists' scientific and professional judgments and actions may affect the lives of others, they are alert to and guard against personal, financial, social, organizational, or political factors

 

that might lead to misuse of their influence. Psychologists strive to be aware of the possible effect

of their own physical and mental health on their ability to help those with whom they work.

 

Principle B: Fidelity and Responsibility Responsibility   Psychologists establish relationships of trust with those with whom they work. They are aware of their professional and scientific responsibilities to society and to the specific communities in which they work. Psychologists uphold professional standards of conduct, clarify their professional roles and obligations, accept appropriate responsibility for their  behavior, and seek to manage conflicts of interest that could lead to exploitation or harm. Psychologists Psychol ogists consult with, refer to, or cooperate with other professionals and institutions to the extent needed to serve the best interests of those with whom they work. They are concerned about the ethical compliance of their colleagues' scientific and professional conduct. Psychologists strive to contribute a portion of their professional time for little or no compensation or personal advantage. Principle C: Integrity  Integrity  Psychologists seek to promote accuracy, honesty, and truthfulness in the science, teaching, and practice of psychology. In these activities psychologists do not steal, cheat or engage in fraud, f raud, subterfuge, or intentional misrepresentation of fact. Psychologists strive to keep their promises and to avoid unwise or unclear commitments. In situations in which deception may be ethically  justifiable to maximize benefits and and minimize harm, psycholog psychologists ists have a serious obligation obligation to consider the need for, the possible consequences of, and their responsibility to correct any resulting mistrust or other harmful effects that arise from the use of such techniques.  Principle D: Justice  Justice  Psychologists recognize that fairness and justice entitle all persons to access to and benefit from the contributions of psychology and to equal quality in the processes, procedures, and services being conducted by psychologists. Psychologists exercise reasonable judgment and take precautions to ensure that their potential biases, the boundaries of their competence, and the limitations of their expertise do not lead to or condone unjust practices. Principle E: Respect for People's Rights and Dignity  Dignity  Psychologists respect the dignity and worth of all people, and the rights of individuals to privacy, confidentiality, and self-determination. Psychologists are aware that special safeguards may be necessary to protect the rights and welfare of persons or communities whose vulnerabilities impair autonomous decision making. Psychologists are aware of and respect cultural, individual, and role differences, including those based on age, gender, gender identity, race, ethnicity, culture, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, disability, language, and socioeconomic status, and consider these factors when working with members of such groups. Psychologists try to eliminate the effect on their work of biases based on those factors, and they do not knowingly participate participate in or condone activities of others based upon such prejudices.