What is Clinical Psychology?

The number of people working in the field of clinical psychology has expanded significantly in recent years, in part thanks to the introduction of the Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) programme.

The fifth edition of this very popular text has been extensively re-written and updated by two well respected and well known editors who are closely connected with recent developments in the profession of clinical psychology.
It includes sixteen chapters that cover all the major domains of clinical practice, from work in primary care or with children and families, to clinical psychology as it is practiced with those with severe and enduring mental health problems, and those with eating disorders, to the work of clinical psychologists in forensic settings or in leadership positions. It also includes recent innovations in service provision such the Improving Access to Psychological Therapies programme (IAPT).

The book opens with an overview of professional practice and a clear introduction to the major competencies and theories used by practitioners, followed by a series of chapters that are authored by practising clinical psychologists who all have extensive experience in their specialist areas. These chapters effectively and vividly describe the application of the reflective scientist practitioner model of working. The book concludes with a wide-ranging consideration of likely future developments and challenges. The text also addresses key issues including ethics, diversity and team working. A key feature is the provision of a living sense of what the job entails, while an appendix provides guidance on training routes.

This volume clearly demonstrates that clinical psychology is a highly effective profession, which applies understandings and findings from the discipline of psychology to clinical contexts in order to ameliorate people's distress and to support their wellbeing.

Susan Llewelyn, Professor of Clinical Psychology, University of Oxford, UK,David J. Murphy, Joint Course Director, Oxford Doctoral Course in Clinical Psychology,, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK

Professor Susan Llewelyn is Professor of Clinical Psychology at Oxford University, and Senior Research Fellow, Harris Manchester College, Oxford, as well as Consultant Clinical Psychologist with Oxford Health NHS FT. For the past 15 years she has been Course Director of the Oxford Doctoral Course in Clinical Psychology. She trained as a clinical psychologist at Sheffield and Leeds University and has worked in both the NHS and University sectors in Nottingham, Sheffield, Dorset, Southampton, Edinburgh and Oxford. She has a particular interest in the psychological therapies, and her clinical work has included therapeutic work with survivors of abuse. Professor Llewelyn has also developed expertise in professional issues, leadership and teamwork, and has written, edited or co-authored fifteen books and over one hundred academic and professional papers


David Murphy is the Joint Course Director of the University of Oxford Clinical Psychology Doctoral Training Programme. He trained as a clinical psychologist at the Institute of Psychiatry in London and worked for over 20 years as a full-time clinical psychologist in acute hospital settings within the National Health Service before taking up his current position. He has worked with a range of client groups within the fields of neuropsychology and clinical health psychology. For 10 years, he managed a large psychology service across acute hospital and community rehabilitation settings in North West London. He is an Honorary Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Medicine at Imperial College London where he has been the lead for psychology teaching for several years. David has held a number of positions with the British Psychological Society including the Chair of the Board of Examiners in Clinical Psychology and Chief Examiner for the Qualification in Clinical Neuropsychology.