Foundations of Professional Psychology: The End of Theoretical Orientations and the Emergence of the Biopsychosocial Approach

by Timothy P Melchert

Overview

Recent advances in the scientific understanding of the human mind and brain along with the emphases on evidence-based practice and competency-based education are creating increasing pressures to update some of the traditional approaches to structuring and organizing education and practice in the field. There have also been many calls in recent years for a unified approach to conceptualizing professional practice in psychology. This book examines whether there exists a unified conceptual framework for the field that is firmly based on current scientific understanding regarding human development and functioning, that applies across all the clinical populations and practice areas within the field, and that would also help integrate professional psychology more fully into health care and the sciences generally.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780123850799
Publisher:	Elsevier Science
Publication date:	07/14/2011
Series:	Elsevier Insights
Pages:	262
Product dimensions:	6.20(w) x 9.10(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

Timothy Melchert’s research focuses on the theoretical and scientific frameworks used to guide education and practice in behavioural healthcare. He utilizes a science-based biopsychosocial framework to resolve much of the theoretical confusion and professional conflicts that have long plagued the field of professional psychology. He is the author of Foundations of Professional Psychology, First Edition (Academic Press) and Biopsychosocial Practice: A Science-Based Framework for Behavioral Health Care (APA Press).

Table of Contents

1. The Need for a Unified Conceptual Framework in Professional Psychology2. Professional Psychology as a Health Care Profession3. The Public We Serve: Their Mental Health Needs and Sociocultural and Medical Circumstances4. Resolving Conceptual and Theoretical Confusion in Professional Psychology5. The Biopsychosocial Approach: General Systems, Nonlinear Dynamical Systems, and Complexity Theory6. Ethical Foundations of Professional Practice7. A Unified Theoretical Framework8. Assessment9. Treatment Planning10. Treatment11. Outcomes Assessment12. Prevention and Public Health Perspective on Mental Health13. Implications for Professional Psychology Education and Practice

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

Integrates and applies well-established scientific, clinical, and ethical approaches to professional psychology education and practice

Editorial Reviews

"Melchert's book is a valuable resource for graduate students and their faculty to understand how professional psychology is transforming into a health profession, while maintaining its unique psychological identity. I highly recommend it." —Dr. James Bray, Past President American Psychological Association, Editor, Primary Care Psychology and Handbook of Family Psychology

From the Publisher