Clinical Child Psychology
Formal Specialty Definition:
Clinical Child Psychology is a specialty of professional psychology, which brings together the basic tenets of clinical psychology with a thorough background in child, adolescent and family development and developmental psychopathology. Clinical child and adolescent psychologists conduct scientific research and provide psychological services to infants, toddlers, children, and adolescents. The research and practices of Clinical Child Psychology are focused on understanding, preventing, diagnosing, and treating psychological, cognitive, emotional, developmental, behavioral, and family problems of children. Of particular importance to clinical child and adolescent psychologists is a scientific understanding of the basic psychological needs of children and adolescents and how the family and other social contexts influence socio-emotional adjustment, cognitive development, behavioral adaptation, and health status of children and adolescents. There is an essential emphasis on a strong empirical research base recognizing the need for the documentation and further development of evidence-based assessments and treatments in clinical child and adolescent psychology.
Levels of Specialty Training:
Specialty training in Clinical Child Psychology is offered at the doctoral and postdoctoral level.
Specialty Board Certification:
Board Certification in Clinical Child Psychology is available through the American Board of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, which is a Specialty Board of the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP).
Sources of Specialty Recognition:
- APA/CRSPPP recognition
- ABPP recognition
Synarchy Membership:
- Society of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology of the American Psychological Association
- The American Board of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology
- American Academy of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology
Specialty Related Web Links:
Education and Training Guidelines:
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