Clinical psychology is an area within the field of psychology. What makes clinical psychology special is that it is a practical discipline closely related to the work of professional clinical psychologists. The four main roles of the clinical psychologist are performing psychological assessment, conducting psychological interviews, providing psychological support in the community, and undertaking research in relation to the above.
There is a wide range of different psychological problems, including truancy and developmental disorders, schizophrenia and depression, dementia, worries and conflicts relating to people’s physical health or family, and the after-effects of natural disasters, accidents, etc. The severity of such problems varies from person to person.
In clinical psychology, while endeavoring to implement the methods of psychotherapy as widely as possible, individual interviews are tailored to the needs of the persons concerned, with the client and the therapist being positioned on an equal footing. While it is important to try to resolve clients’ problems and worries, it is also important, in the case of medical issues that cannot be cured, and problems and conflicts that cannot be resolved, to provide support to help the individual in question cope with the problem as well as possible. The key goal is to move beyond a relationship of “curer” and “cured,” and for the therapist to make a concerted effort to build a connection with the client and provide support that will help the client to live a better, more self-directed life. Taking psychological theory as the foundation, the therapist works together with the client to examine the meaning of the problems that the client is experiencing, and provides considerate support. Ideally, the therapist should be achieving growth through this process as well as the client; seeing how the client makes process by bravely facing up to their problems is in itself a source of valuable support for the therapist.
At the same time, psychological problems often have side-effects. There is therefore a need for education, training, and facilities that provide a sense of security and safety, and this is where graduate school can play a very important role. The Accredited Psychologist Act came into effect in Japan on September 15, 2017, and the Graduate School of Clinical Psychology at Kagoshima University aims to ensure that students are qualified to take the Accredited Psychologist Certification Examination, while focusing on clinical psychologist cultivation.*1 The Graduate School of Clinical Psychology has drawn up a curriculum that is designed to cultivate the theoretical knowledge and practical abilities that serve as the foundation for providing psychological support across a wide range of areas, and for anyone interested in becoming a clinical psychologist, our Graduate School is the ideal choice.
*1: Persons wishing to take the Certification Examination will need to have taken the required subjects as part of their undergraduate degree.
