Clinical PsychologyLearning Lab

Specialisations, consultation and teaching

Areas of specialisation

Clinical health psychology, child clinical and paediatric psychology, clinical neuropsychology, geropsychology and forensic psychology.

Source: Chapter 11 Intermediate about 35 minutes

What this module draws on:

  • Textbook concept Health, child, neuro-, gero- and forensic psychology and their problem areas (Ch. 11).
  • Historical context US legal standards discussed in the textbook.
  • Indian context · verify Notes on the Indian context.
  • Original elaboration Career-exploration activity.

Learning objectives

After this module you should be able to:

  1. Describe the focus, settings and typical problems of five specialisations.
  2. Explain brain–behaviour relationships in clinical neuropsychology.
  3. Identify forensic questions psychologists address and why legal standards are jurisdiction-specific.
  4. Match professional scenarios to specialisations.

Introduction

Many clinical psychologists develop expertise with particular populations or problems. The textbook describes five major specialisations and notes emerging blends such as paediatric neuropsychology.

Clinical health psychology Textbook concept

Health psychologists apply behavioural science to physical health: preventing illness, helping people cope with chronic conditions and changing health behaviours. Problems discussed in the textbook include smoking, obesity, alcohol use, stress, HIV/AIDS and chronic pain.

Child clinical and paediatric psychology Textbook concept

Child clinical psychologists work in schools, clinics, hospitals and private practice with problems including ADHD, learning disorders, conduct problems, abuse and neglect, anxiety, enuresis and eating disorders. Paediatric psychology blends child and health psychology, supporting children and families coping with medical illness and procedures.

Clinical neuropsychology Textbook concept

Neuropsychologists study and assess brain–behaviour relationships — how injury or disease affects cognition, emotion and behaviour. Common referrals include traumatic brain injury, stroke, epilepsy, dementia and neurodevelopmental conditions. Assessment informs diagnosis, rehabilitation, capacity questions and return to work or school.

Geropsychology Textbook concept

Geropsychologists address mental health in later life: dementia, depression, anxiety, bereavement, substance misuse and caregiver stress. Depression in older adults can mimic or coexist with cognitive decline, so careful differential assessment is essential.

Forensic psychology Historical context

Forensic psychologists apply psychology to legal questions: competence to stand trial, criminal responsibility, risk, child custody, civil commitment and expert testimony. The textbook discusses US standards such as the M'Naghten rule, the Durham rule and the Insanity Defense Reform Act. These are specific to their jurisdictions and historical periods.

Worked example: One referral, three specialists Original, fictional

A fictional 72-year-old woman becomes forgetful and withdrawn after a mild stroke. A neuropsychologist assesses cognitive changes; a geropsychologist considers post-stroke depression and family caregiving; a health psychologist supports blood-pressure management and rehabilitation adherence. In practice one psychologist may wear several of these hats.

Interactive activity

Career exploration: match the scenario

Match each fictional professional scenario to the specialisation it best represents.

Show the answer key
  • Helping a child with leukaemia cope with painful procedures → Paediatric psychology
  • Assessing memory after a road-traffic head injury → Clinical neuropsychology
  • Evaluating a defendant's understanding of court proceedings → Forensic psychology
  • Running a smoking-cessation programme → Clinical health psychology
  • Supporting a widower with grief and early memory decline → Geropsychology

Knowledge check

5 questions. Every option has an explanation. Your answers are not sent anywhere when JavaScript is available; without it, they are checked by the server and immediately discarded.

1 Which specialisation focuses on brain–behaviour relationships?

Multiple choice Introductory

Basis: Textbook concept, original question

2 Paediatric psychology is best described as a blend of:

Multiple choice Introductory

Basis: Textbook concept, original question

3 US insanity standards such as the M'Naghten rule can be applied directly in Indian courts.

True / false Intermediate

Basis: Indian context — verify

4 Why is careful assessment needed when an older adult presents with memory problems and low mood?

Multiple choice Intermediate

Basis: Textbook concept, original question

5 Deliberately exaggerating symptoms for external gain, such as compensation, is called:

Multiple choice Intermediate

Basis: Textbook concept, original question

Summary

  • Health psychology addresses behaviour and physical health.
  • Child and paediatric psychology serve children and families, including in medical settings.
  • Neuropsychology examines brain–behaviour relationships.
  • Geropsychology addresses later-life mental health and differential diagnosis.
  • Forensic psychology applies psychology to legal questions under jurisdiction-specific law.

Questions for reflection

  1. Which specialisation appeals to you, and what additional training would it require in your country?

Key terms

Further reading

  • Textbook Plante, T. G. (2005). Contemporary clinical psychology (2nd ed.). John Wiley & Sons.
  • Further reading Lezak, M. D., and colleagues. Neuropsychological assessment (latest edition). Oxford University Press.

Practise in the case lab: Rohan: a nine-year-old whose teacher says he 'never listens' · Mr. Farooq: forgetfulness and withdrawal after a bereavement · Imran: work stress, rising alcohol use and high blood pressure