Medical psychology is what modern clinical psychology was called at one time. It includes psychology together with psychiatry, it studies different mental states and how they behave in a state of illness. This area includes research, diagnosing people's behavior and prescribing the correct treatment for people who need help stabilizing their psycho-emotional state.
Psychotherapy involves individual sessions, in which either one person or a group of people can participate, family consultations and assistance with family problems. This type of activity helps people very well in overcoming difficulties that arise at the psychological level associated with loss of ability to work due to physical health.
To enter the university in the specialty 05.37.01 clinical psychology, it is required to pass the Russian language, biology and a choice of a foreign language or mathematics.
Passing scores for the Unified State Examination range from 31 to 71, including. The specialty clinical psychology has code 37.05.01. Level of education: specialist.
Forms of training are full-time, part-time and part-time, there is also a specialty in clinical psychology by correspondence. There is also a remote form for clinical psychologists throughout the Russian Federation.
Training in the clinical psychology specialty includes studying the following subjects:
- Psychology;
- Clinical psychology;
- Neuropsychology;
- Developmental and Adolescent Psychology;
- Special psychology and correctional and developmental education;
- Pathopsychology;
- Psychology of extreme situations and conditions;
- Psychodiagnostics;
- Personality disorders, etc.
The focus of training is on the corrective development of psychological state.
Students are taught to stabilize conditions of both adults and children. Help children and adults who are at risk for psychological conditions or illness. They are taught to independently develop a treatment plan and rehabilitation program for patients.
Practice can take place in such places as medical and social examination, children's sports institutions, in psychoneurological dispensaries, they often practice in organizations that provide anonymous psychological help (helpline) and many other places that require psychological help.
Teacher psychologists and doctors (medics) can take retraining and advanced training courses in the specialty of clinical psychology, which will include 1500 hours or more.
Specialty: clinical psychology - universities
Where can I get a specialty in clinical psychology?
Training is carried out in medical institutes. Almost every city has such universities. In Moscow, for example, the university of N.I. Pirogov, I.M Sechenov and the following:
- GAUGN
- GBOU VPO MGPPU
- GBOU VPO MGMSU im. A.I. Evdokimov Ministry of Health of Russia
- NOU VPO "Moscow Institute of Psychoanalysis"
Work in the specialty of clinical psychology
Specialty clinical psychology - who to work with?
- Clinical psychologist;
- Teacher-conflictologist;
- Social teacher;
- Psychologist;
- Inspector of the Department of Juvenile Affairs;
- Psychotherapist;
- Sports psychologist;
- Neuropsychologist;
- Valeologist;
- Social psychologist;
- Psychiatrist;
- Specialist of social protection authorities;
- Correctional teacher;
- Rehabilitation teacher;
- Pathopsychologist.
Specialty: clinical psychology, where to work.
Graduates of the specialty 05/37/01 clinical psychology can work in sanatoriums, medical institutions, disaster centers, and can help organizations such as the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations. After graduation, you can work in a hospital with people who have suffered serious illnesses, you can go into private practice, helping families in conflict situations, children who have suffered psychological trauma.
Head of the Department – Doctor of Psychological Sciences, Professor N.D. Tvorogova
CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY – a new psychological specialty
Clinical psychology is a broad-based psychological specialty that is intersectoral in nature and involved in solving a set of problems in the healthcare system, education, and social assistance to the population. A clinical psychologist can work in mental health centers, hospitals, consulting rooms, etc., or have a private practice (not to be confused with a psychiatrist!). For example, he may deal with people who complain of anxiety, expressed in functional disorders of the emotional or sexual plane, or of difficulties in coping with the problems of everyday life.
In 2000, the State educational standard for higher professional education in clinical psychology was approved in the Russian Federation and the training of specialists corresponding to it began in our country. The specialist is called upon to perform the following types of professional activities: diagnostic, expert, correctional, preventive, rehabilitation, advisory, research, cultural and educational, educational.
The name of the specialty is associated with the word “clinic”, the Greek origin of which suggests the meaning: klinikos - bed, kline - bed. The modern meaning of the word is: a place where people come for individual examination, diagnosis and/or treatment. In this general sense, the term covers physical and psychological aspects. Usually, qualifying words are added to the word to make the orientation of the clinic clear, for example: behavioral clinic (specializes in behavior therapy, behavior modification), child education clinic (specializes in psychological problems of children), etc. In this context, the word “clinical” means: ( 1) an individual approach to psychological work with this particular person; (2) a type of therapeutic practice that relies on subjective, at the same time scientifically verified decisions of the clinician (the work of a psychologist with each client who comes to him for help is unique); (3) an approach to research conducted by a psychologist for scientific purposes, relying on a small number of subjects examined in a natural setting (as opposed to an experimental approach). It is in this sense that the word “clinic” gave rise to the name “clinical psychology.”
In its theoretical concepts, clinical psychology is based on a holistic approach to a person, the concept of “health” (and not just the concepts of “disease”, “pathology”), the idea of individual responsibility for one’s health; on a family approach to providing psychological assistance to the client, taking into account the social context of his life.
The strategic “targets” of the professional activity of a clinical psychologist are the mental “objects” to which the psychologist’s influence is directed in the process of his work with the client. A clinical psychologist deals with the difficulties of adaptation and self-realization of his clients.
The causes of maladjustment may be related to physical (congenital or imaginary physical defects, chronic disease, consequences of injury or surgery, etc.), social (divorce, loss of job, change of profession, moving to a new place of residence, etc.), mental (emotional tension, fear, resentment, etc.) and spiritual (loss of meaning in life, devaluation of habitual life goals, changes in the value system, etc.) state. Responding to the challenges of life in its various spheres, a person has to adapt to the changes occurring in his body, his mental life, his financial situation, his social life, etc. This adaptation is achieved through the restructuring of his psychological reality, changes in the motivational sphere, value orientations , goals, by modifying one’s behavior, changing mental and behavioral stereotypes, social roles, correcting self-image, etc. In the process of adapting to changes in life, a person masters new functions (professional, home, social, etc.). Adaptive behavior is useful behavior that helps one to adapt; in everyday life it is considered reasonable and normal. Maladaptive behavior patterns are associated with mental distress.
In the process of adapting to a dynamic, constantly changing life, a person has to compensate for the loss of certain of his capabilities (physical, social, etc.) in order to maintain his usual functions. Compensation is replenishment, compensation, balancing. Freud believed that an individual uses compensation to make up for a lack of something. In Adler's theory, compensation was seen as the main mechanism by which a person overcomes feelings of inferiority. In a difficult situation for himself, a person is constantly looking for resources to preserve functions that are important to him, to compensate for disrupted functioning mechanisms, thereby maintaining the stability of his psyche, personality, and ego.
However, an individual has the opportunity not only to adapt to life thanks to the mechanisms of adaptation and compensation, but also to protect himself from it, for example, by consciously adapting life to oneself, making it more stable, “adjusting it to oneself” (conscious social practice is one of the most important characteristics of activity personality, its resource for maintaining its mental well-being in a changing world). By incarnating externally, making personal investments in people, objects, living and inanimate nature, a person strives to change the world of things and people, while maintaining his individuality unchanged. In a situation of threat, the personality includes a dynamic complex of protective and adaptive mechanisms (which have already become habitual or develop a new complex). In clinical psychology, psychological defense is any reaction, any behavior that eliminates psychological discomfort, protects the spheres of consciousness from negative, traumatic experiences. One of the productive methods of protection is successful social practice aimed at changing the environment (biological and social) of living (development of new laws, rules, traditions, development of science and technology to make one’s life easier, finding pleasant people and maintaining friendships with them, etc. .) and preventing the development of tendencies unfavorable for humans in it.
The tasks of a clinical psychologist include assisting his client on the path of his adaptive self-change, providing assistance in finding resources to compensate for his losses. And on the path of social practice (and related creativity), a person often needs the help of a clinical psychologist in finding psychological resources for it and in receiving social support.
A client who comes for a consultation with a psychologist may demonstrate problems associated not only with his maladjustment, but also problems accompanying the processes of self-realization. The model of adaptive behavior does not describe all types of personality activity. To describe the subjective well-being (psychological health) of an individual, the following indicators are most often used (M. Jahoda, 1958): self-acceptance, optimal development, growth and self-actualization of the individual; psychological integration; personal autonomy; realistic perception of the environment; the ability to adequately influence the environment. These indicators of well-being can be considered as the target function of psychological assistance to a client with any of his requests, with any current conflict or problem.
Characteristics of the training of clinical psychologists
at the First Moscow State Medical University named after. I.M.Sechenova
The focus of the training of clinical psychologists is on the implementation of the Federal State Educational Standard;
Harmonization of the training of clinical psychologists with European standards;
Availability of professionally trained teaching staff;
Availability of the material and technical base necessary for the educational process (including a computer class, purchased psychodiagnostic techniques, a package of methods for processing psychodiagnostic examinations; there is a psychological training room and an office for individual consultations for students; there is a self-study room equipped with a personal computer with access to Internet);
Students' internships take place in University clinics;
The university offers postgraduate studies in psychological sciences;
The main aspects that highlight the training of clinical psychologists at the First Moscow State Medical University named after. I.M.Sechenova
Clinical psychologists prepare primarily for work in health care and medical (pharmaceutical) education;
The training of clinical psychologists at the university is carried out not only by highly professional psychologists, but also by leading representatives of medical specialties;
The training is aimed at developing professional competencies that allow the graduate of the department to begin practical activities;
Practical training of students is combined with fundamental psychological training;
Students have the opportunity to use the unique information resources of the University’s Fundamental Library without leaving their home;
While mastering the specialty, students are offered the opportunity to receive individual psychological consultations and participate in group training sessions;
Over the years of study, psychology students have the opportunity to make friends among future doctors, pharmacists, registered nurses, social workers;
Based on the results of completing research work from the 2nd year, students who have achieved success in it are invited to take part in student scientific conferences in the 4th-5th year;
After graduating from the university, graduates have the opportunity to become a member of the Russian Psychological Society (its Moscow branch), which has more than 100 years of history (formed in 1885), and take part in the work of its section “Health Psychology” (headed by Prof. N.D. Tvorogova ).
Characteristics of Friendly Faculty
Between the First Moscow State Medical University named after. I.M. Sechenov and Moscow State University. M.V. Lomonosov, after the opening of the department of clinical psychology at the First Moscow State Medical University in 2010, a cooperation agreement was concluded (students of the department of clinical psychology of the First Moscow State Medical University named after I.M. Sechenov have the opportunity to listen to lectures by leading professors of the Faculty of Psychology of Moscow State University);
The Faculty of Psychology of Moscow State University, along with the Faculty of Psychology of St. Petersburg University, are the first faculties to begin training professional psychologists in the USSR. The Faculty of Psychology of Moscow State University is characterized by a scientific school that has become the leading one in the USSR, the Russian Federation, and recognized by the international scientific community;
First Moscow State Medical University named after. I.M. Sechenov is historically connected with Moscow State University, being a successor to the Faculty of Medicine of the Moscow Imperial University (the old name of Moscow State University);
After the start of training psychologists at the Faculty of Psychology of Moscow State University, professors and clinics of the First Moscow State Medical University named after I.M. Sechenov (in 1966, when the training of professional psychologists began in the USSR - the First Moscow State Medical University had a different name) participated in their specialization in medical psychology. Currently, graduates of the Faculty of Psychology of Moscow State University and its graduate students form the basis of the teaching staff teaching various psychological disciplines at the First Moscow State Medical University.
Characteristics of training psychologists that are not found in other universities
First Moscow State Medical University named after. I.M. Sechenov is the oldest and universally recognized medical university in the country, which has proven the high quality of training of specialists there; Currently it is a leading university under the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation;
First Moscow State Medical University named after. I.M. Sechenov has a long tradition of studying the human psyche (at the end of the 19th century, a psychological laboratory was opened, headed by Prof. Tokarsky; the Korsakov psychiatric clinic has a long tradition of studying mental phenomena; in the Soviet period, it had a psychodiagnostics laboratory, headed by Prof. Berezin; Professors Sechenov, Anokhin, Sudakov worked at the Institute of Human Physiology, creating a unique scientific school that contributed to the understanding of psychophysiological processes, etc.);
At the First Moscow State Medical University named after. I.M. Sechenov in 1971, immediately after the first graduation of professional psychologists in the USSR, the first department of medical psychology in the country's medical universities was opened, which successfully adapted the psychologists accepted to work there to the requirements of medical science and practice, to the requirements of medical education; became the leading base for improving the psychological and pedagogical qualifications of teachers at medical and pharmaceutical universities of the USSR; prepared her own model of psychological training for health care organizers, laid the foundations for the psychological training of registered nurses and family doctors, who for the first time in the USSR began to be trained within the walls of Sechenovka, became in 2011. basic department of the department “Clinical Psychology”;
Currently, professional training of clinical psychologists in senior years of the department takes place at the bases of unique university clinics;
Students of the department from health care organizers teaching at the First Moscow State Medical University named after. I.M. Sechenov, have the opportunity to obtain information about promising areas of work for clinical psychologists in reformed healthcare institutions;
Already on the student bench, students of the department can present their coursework and diploma works at scientific conferences not only of a psychological profile, but also of medicine;
The training of clinical psychologists at our medical university is headed by a Doctor of Psychology, who has academic psychological training at the Faculty of Psychology of Moscow State University (specialized in neuropsychology, a student of Prof. A.R. Luria) and devoted her entire professional life to pedagogical work within the walls of the First Moscow State Medical University. THEM. Sechenov (Member of the Moscow House of Scientists of the Russian Academy of Sciences, full member of the International Academy of Informatization and the American Academy of Sciences, Education, Industry and Arts (California), Academician of the International Academy of Psychological Sciences; has the highest qualification category in the specialty "Psychotherapy", member of the Presidium of the Moscow Psychological Society, honorary professor of the Faculty of Psychology of Moscow State University, member of the Presidium of the UMO for classical university psychological education. Since 1998, for five years - member of the doctoral council on rehabilitative medicine at the Moscow Medical Academy named after I.M. Sechenova, since 2007 - member of the doctoral council on medical psychology at Moscow State University; since 2011 - chairman of the educational and methodological commission on clinical psychology of the Educational Institution for Medical and Pharmaceutical Education of Russian Universities, member of the Committee on Psychology and Health (SC on Psychology and Health) European Federation of Psychological Associations (EFPA), member of the Ethics Committee of the RPO, chairman of the section “Health Psychology” of the Moscow Psychological Society. Awards: medal of the 850th anniversary of Moscow, badge “Excellence in Health Care”, in 2012 the prestigious “Golden Psyche” award and diploma of the Russian Psychological Society “For the best textbook in psychology”, etc.);
Applicants who have entered the young department of the oldest medical university in the country and have successfully mastered the general educational program in clinical psychology have a chance to be among those who lay down the traditions of the Sechenovka brotherhood of psychologists, have a chance, thanks to their caring position and creative attitude towards mastering the specialty, to participate in development of the department of clinical psychology of the First Moscow State Medical University, laying down traditions that will contribute to the high quality of training of clinical psychologists within the walls of the medical university.
SPECIALIZATIONS of a clinical psychologist
Specialization No. 1 “Pathopsychological diagnostics and psychotherapy”
Specialization No. 2 “Psychological support in emergency and extreme situations”
Specialization No. 3 “Neuropsychological rehabilitation and correctional and developmental training”
Specialization No. 4 “Clinical and psychological assistance to children and families”
Specialization No. 5 “Psychology of health and sports”
Specialization No. 6 “Clinical and social rehabilitation and penitentiary psychology”
Currently, the department is conducting single-unit training in specialization No. 1, laying the foundations for other specializations that can be mastered at the postgraduate level of advanced training.
The most common entrance exams:
- Russian language
- Mathematics (basic level)
- Biology - specialized subject, at the choice of the university
- Foreign language - at the choice of the university
Psychological education is one of the most in demand in our country and in the world. This direction is closer to medical than to social and psychological sciences. It allows you to trace how a person’s mental activity changes under the influence of various deviations and anomalies. The activities of a clinical psychologist are aimed not only at overcoming pronounced diseases, but also various situations.
Admission exams
The most important and decisive exam for the applicant will be the specialized exam in biology. In addition to this, you will have to take the Russian language and (your choice) mathematics or a foreign language. Students who want to master the specialization must have from 31 to 71 or higher points on the Unified State Examination, depending on the chosen university.
Brief description of the specialty
Universities train professional psychologists with an emphasis on:
- on problems of family and children;
- rehabilitation and penitentiary work in correctional and medical institutions;
- diagnostics and psychological therapy;
- working with people in emergency situations.
Graduates are focused specifically on practical work with people.
Large universities in the capital
There are about one and a half dozen educational institutions in Moscow where you can apply to obtain a specialty in Clinical Psychology.
The following are popular among educational institutions and provide a good base:
- Moscow City Pedagogical University;
- Russian National Research Medical University named after. N.I. Pirogov of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation;
- First State Moscow Medical University named after. THEM. Sechenov of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation;
- Moscow University of Public Administration;
- Moscow State University named after. M.V. Lomonosov.
Terms and forms of training
After finishing 11th grade, full-time students will have to study for 5.5-6 years (depending on the institution), and part-time students will have to study for a year longer. Evening or distance learning options are available.
Subjects studied by students
The disciplines necessary for students to fully master their specialty can be roughly divided into several blocks. Among them, an important place is occupied by the practical block, which will teach you how to apply your knowledge in conditions close to real activities in medical, educational, recreational and other institutions.
Students will gain knowledge in the following subjects:
- general education subjects required by a student regardless of the field of study (sociology, ethics, culture, history, etc.);
- various areas of psychology (general, social, organizational, developmental, pedagogical, conflictology and others);
- psychodiagnostics, psychotherapy;
- correctional, developmental psychology;
- psychology of extreme and emergency situations;
- basics of psychological counseling;
- block of workshops.
Gained knowledge and skills
Graduates will learn to work not only directly with people of completely different ages who need consultation and therapy, but also to develop methodological instructions, examination and correction programs, and write recommendations.
The list of skills important for a clinical psychologist is very extensive:
Who to work with
The range of areas of activity in which a graduate of this specialization will be useful is extremely wide. The skills of a psychologist will be useful in the field of education, defectology, rehabilitation, for solving family problems, and overcoming conflicts in a team.
Graduates should consider working in the following areas:
- valeologist (specialist in physical and spiritual health);
- social, family and even sports psychologist;
- correction or rehabilitation teacher, defectologist, pathopsychologist;
- conflict specialist;
- inspector in social protection authorities;
- neuropsychologist and many other areas.
The starting salary of a psychologist during the first year or two of work can be only 15-20 thousand rubles (for example, this is how much a psychologist in a kindergarten will earn). Earnings increase with experience, and in private centers and consulting offices it is higher than in government agencies. A valeologist will be able to count on an amount similar to the salary of a medical worker, and a specialist with 5 years of experience is unlikely to work for an amount less than 30 thousand rubles. The salary of a consulting psychologist can be 20-50 thousand rubles.
Continuing training in the specialty
The program provides skills for fruitful independent work in the specialty. However, if you want to improve your business skills and increase your level of knowledge, you can enroll in a master’s or graduate school in this or another psychological field. A master's degree will be required for those who are focused on scientific or teaching activities in the future or want to work abroad, where a master's level is valued.
The social significance and demand for the profession of a clinical psychologist attracts the attention of those who are just choosing a career path or have decided to change their field of activity. Are you also interested in a promising specialty? Are you wondering where is the best place to learn it? Teachers from ANO "NIIDPO" will answer the most common questions about the profession of a clinical psychologist.
I want to help people in difficult situations. Is becoming a clinical psychologist right for me?
A clinical psychologist studies the relationship between mental phenomena and various human health disorders. He deals with prevention, diagnosis, therapy, and correction of psychological disorders in people suffering from serious illnesses and addictions, in stressful situations, and adapting to a new environment.
If you decide to study as a clinical psychologist and build a career in this field, you will have to work with patients who, for example, have lost relatives, learned about a terminal diagnosis or disability, or faced violence. Therefore, you will need not only a desire to help patients and the ability to empathize with other people’s problems, but also resistance to stress, emotional stability, and tact.
Is it necessary to spend several years studying to become a clinical psychologist?
When choosing an educational institution where to enroll as a clinical psychologist, consider your career ambitions, current level and profile of education, time and financial capabilities.
If you already have a higher education in psychology (or higher education and retraining in the field of psychology for at least 1000 hours), you do not have to go to a university and complete a specialty, bachelor's or master's degree to obtain a new specialty. You can undergo professional retraining. It will take only 1-1.5 years instead of the 5-6 years that are required to obtain a second higher education. Moreover, at ANO “NIIDPO” they teach clinical psychologists in absentia - you master the program through a remote portal at a time convenient for you. This allows you to work, study full-time, travel, that is, lead a normal lifestyle and at the same time master a promising profession.
Have you decided to undergo retraining as a Clinical Psychologist? Choose a suitable program from the catalog of ANO "NIIDPO"*
|
Course name |
How long does it take to study to become a clinical psychologist?under this program? |
Assigned qualification |
|
2030 hours - 17 months |
"Clinical Psychologist" "Pathopsychologist" |
|
|
1690 hours - 14 months |
"Clinical Psychologist" |
|
|
1080 hours - 11 months |
"Clinical Psychologist" |
|
|
2030 hours - 17 months |
"Clinical Psychologist" "Crisis Psychologist" |
|
|
2030 hours - 17 months |
"Clinical Psychologist" "Perinatal psychologist" |
|
|
2030 hours - 17 months |
"Clinical Psychologist" "Oncopsychologist" |
*The catalog is regularly updated with new programs. Check with managers for the current list of courses.
I am already 30/40/50/60 years old. Is it too late for me to study to become a clinical psychologist?
It’s not too late to get a new specialty and start a career at any age. Moreover, now that there is a distance learning form that allows you to study without interrupting your work and personal affairs. Additional vocational education is most often received by people aged 30-40 years. But there are also those who enroll in courses while studying full-time at the university (at 18-25 years old) or after retirement.
What is required to enroll in professional retraining courses?
To enroll in courses, you will need to provide electronic copies of the following documents to the admissions committee:
- a diploma confirming the presence of a higher education in psychology (or higher education and retraining in the field of psychology of at least 1000 hours);
- a certificate from your place of study if you are a senior student;
- identification document;
- a document confirming the change of surname (if any).
Senior students are also accepted. Enrollment is carried out without exams, subject to the presentation of documents confirming the level of education (or studying in the last years of the university).
How will the training take place?
Groups for training courses are formed throughout the calendar year. After enrollment, you will have access to your personal account on the educational portal, where you will:
- study electronic library materials;
- participate in webinars online and watch them recorded;
- communicate with other Students and teachers on the forum;
- work on practical assignments that help consolidate the theoretical material covered;
- undergo certification.
Professional retraining and advanced training programs do not require personal presence at the training center.
What document will I receive upon completion of the course?
After passing the final certification, you will be given a diploma of professional retraining with the assignment of the corresponding qualification program (“Clinical psychologist”, “Crisis psychologist”, “Pathopsychologist”, “Oncopsychologist”, etc.), which is recognized by employers on a par with university diplomas or a certificate of promotion qualifications.