Profile:
clinical psychologist
Functions:
Clinical psychologists are professionals with specific skills aimed at carrying out various functions in the work contexts in which they operate. They use cognitive and intervention tools for the prevention, counselling, diagnosis, psychological support, rehabilitation of dysfunctional or pathological psychic processes dependent on subjective, interpersonal, situational, and systemic variables.
Clinical psychologists intervene in the processes limiting or disturbing the intrapsychic, interpersonal or group adaptation ability, and generating problematic aspects of suffering, maladjustment, and deviance, through the promotion of understanding and reorganization of mental functioning with attention to individual and interpersonal levels and psychobiological, neuropsychological, and psychosomatic behavioural correlates. They also design, build and implement interventions aimed at promoting socio-psycho-biological health and well-being.
Clinical psychologists carry out, within healthcare facilities or Universities and research agencies, the scientific analysis of the affective, cognitive, relational and psycho-biological involved in the pathogenesis of mental and psychosomatic disorders, aiming at developing scientifically acknowledged and evidence-based diagnostic, rehabilitative and therapeutic protocols. One of the most typical application areas of clinical psychology is psychotherapy, in private and public contexts.
Skills:
- designing and constructing different clinical work settings, in relation to specific intervention contexts;
- conducting assessment and consultation activities with individuals, families, groups and institutions;
- carrying out a correct "analysis of the demand", elaborating the objectives of the intervention, transforming the "demand" into a shared alliance with the users, any clients, the members of the work team;
- making clinical diagnoses;
- conducting assessment and psychological-clinical support interviews;
- producing clinical reports suitable for communication with expert interlocutors (colleagues and other professionals) as well as with non-competent interlocutors on the relevant issues;
- designing and implementing psychological-clinical interventions aimed at individuals, families, groups, social and cultural intervention environments;
- performing neuropsychological assessment and diagnosis;
- programming rehabilitation interventions for cognitive function deficits;
- being able to use application tools, including methodological knowledge and skills, for health promotion, prevention, rehabilitation and psychological care interventions, consistent with scientifically validates guidelines and protocols (evidence-based clinical psychology);
- evaluating, through evidence-based methods, the quality, effectiveness, and appropriateness of the interventions.
Professional opportunities:
Graduates in Clinical Psychology, pursuant to art. 1 and 3 pf the Law n. 163 of 8 November, 2021, are qualified for the profession of psychologist and can operate in all the areas provided for by law L.18 February 1989, n.56, regulating the profession of Psychologist, (paragraph 1: “the profession of psychologist includes the use of cognitive tools and intervention for prevention, diagnosis, activities of abilitation,-rehabilitation and psychological support for the person, group, organisms social networks and to communities. It also includes the activities of experimentation, research, and teaching in this area”.
They may therefore:
- carry out the activity of clinical psychologist in the field of professional practice;
- carry out consulting activities in public and private bodies;
- exercise responsibility functions in organizations and services directed to the person, groups, communities, within:
- healthcare facilities and public, private and/or accredited hospital facilities;
- social and territorial services;
- educational and educational services and organizations;
- associations and cooperatives of the third sector, foundations and NGOs; services aimed at the person of local authorities;
- public and private centres for the prevention and promotion of health and well-being;
- rehabilitation and intervention centres for disability;
- Facilities and services for the elderly.
They may also take up the profession of Psychotherapist, after obtaining the post-graduate specialization required by MIUR.
