clinical psychology: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Academic, Professional
Quick answer
What does “clinical psychology” mean?
The branch of psychology concerned with the assessment and treatment of mental illness, abnormal behaviour, and psychiatric disorders.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The branch of psychology concerned with the assessment and treatment of mental illness, abnormal behaviour, and psychiatric disorders.
A practitioner-oriented field applying psychological research and theories to diagnose, understand, and treat psychological distress and dysfunction, often involving direct patient care in hospitals, clinics, or private practice.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Term is identical and identically used. Training pathways differ (e.g., Doctorate in Clinical Psychology vs. PhD/PsyD). The NHS is a major employer in the UK.
Connotations
Strongly associated with healthcare systems (NHS in UK, hospitals/VA in US) and regulated professional practice.
Frequency
Equally common in professional and academic contexts in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “clinical psychology” in a Sentence
specialise in clinical psychologywork in clinical psychologya degree in clinical psychologythe practice of clinical psychologyVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “clinical psychology” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He decided to train in clinical psychology after his degree.
American English
- She plans to go into clinical psychology after grad school.
adjective
British English
- The clinical psychology department is located in the medical faculty building.
American English
- She is a clinical psychology major completing her practicum.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in contexts like employee assistance programmes or corporate wellbeing services.
Academic
Primary context. Refers to a university department, degree programme, or research field.
Everyday
Used when discussing someone's profession or field of study (e.g., 'She's training in clinical psychology.').
Technical
Precise term for the professional discipline, its theories, assessments (e.g., DSM/ICD), and interventions (CBT, psychotherapy).
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “clinical psychology”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “clinical psychology”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “clinical psychology”
- Confusing with 'psychiatry' (medical doctors).
- Using 'clinical' as a vague intensifier (e.g., 'clinical precision' unrelated).
- Misspelling as 'clinincal psychology'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Psychiatrists are medical doctors (MD/DO) who can prescribe medication. Clinical psychologists typically hold a doctorate (PhD/PsyD) and focus on psychological assessment and therapy.
In most Western countries (UK, US, Canada, Australia), a doctoral degree (PhD or PsyD) is the standard requirement for independent practice and the title 'Clinical Psychologist'.
No. Core activities also include psychological assessment, diagnosis, research, teaching, and consultation. Therapy is a major, but not sole, component.
Hospitals, mental health clinics, private practice, universities, rehabilitation centres, and sometimes in corporate or organisational settings.
The branch of psychology concerned with the assessment and treatment of mental illness, abnormal behaviour, and psychiatric disorders.
Clinical psychology is usually formal, academic, professional in register.
Clinical psychology: in British English it is pronounced /ˌklɪn.ɪ.kəl saɪˈkɒl.ə.dʒi/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌklɪn.ɪ.kəl saɪˈkɑː.lə.dʒi/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a CLINIC where you see a PSYCHOLOGIST = Clinical Psychology.
Conceptual Metaphor
PSYCHOLOGY AS MEDICINE (diagnosis, treatment, pathology, clinician).
Practice
Quiz
Which activity is MOST characteristic of a professional in clinical psychology?