Week 7 Post: Health Psychology

Week 7 Post: Health Psychology

Week 7 Post: Health Psychology

This is a weekly post for one of my classes. whoever can do this should make sure that they use in text citations and answers the question fully.

Please answer each of the following question using the following website, which is the website for the APA division representing health psychology: http://www.health-psych.org/index.cfm

What is health psychology? In what ways is it similar to clinical psychology (what does it have in common)? In what ways is it different from clinical psychology?

What is involved in the training to specialize in health psychology? In what ways is this similar to clinical psychology? In what ways is it different from clinical psychology?

What settings do health psychologists work in? What are some examples of what they do in those setting?

What are some of the competencies to practice health psychology? (there is a specific webpage for this)
What types of research do these psychologists do? What are some examples of recent research study topics?

What are aspects about being a health psychologist that you would like? Dislike?

This is how other students formatted their answer, so I’m guessing it has to be answered in this manner:

What is health psychology? In what ways is it similar to clinical psychology (what does it have in common)? In what ways is it different from clinical psychology?

KINDLY ORDER NOW FOR A CUSTOM-WRITTEN, PLAGIARISM-FREE PAPER

Health psychology is the study of how psychological and behavioral health attribute to overall physiological health through incorporation of psychological theory and research aimed at development of healthy lifestyle management including chronic disease, disease prevention strategies, and rehabilitation for both acute and chronic conditions (APA Division 38, 2016). It is a younger specialized field within psychology that utilizes a biopsychosocial model of health and disease, interdisciplinary specialization of the field “integrates scientific exploration and clinical applications of psychology, medicine, and public health disciplines such as health promotion, epidemiology, health education, and health policy” (Curtain & Martz, 2016). The APA suggests health psychology aims to explore “How biology, environment, and behavior impact health and illness” (APA Division 38, 2016).

Health psychologists utilize cognitive and behavioral assessment, psychophysiological assessment, clinical interviews, demographic surveys, objective and projective personality assessments and employ many of the same clinical interventions and approaches to treatment including stress management, relaxation, cognitive-behavioral strategies and psychoeducation in both individual and group settings (APA Division 38, 2016). The health psychologist also conducts research with a narrowed focus to cause and development of illness, healthy lifestyle development and prevention, treatment options people utilize to treat their medical illnesses, the effectiveness of coping skills for stress and pain reduction, biopsychosocial connections with immune functioning, and factors in the recovery, rehabilitation, and psychosocial adjustment of patients with serious health problem (APA Division 38, 2016).

2.What is involved in the training to specialize in health psychology? In what ways is this similar to clinical psychology? In what ways is it different from clinical psychology?

Heath psychologists generally have a Ph.D. or Psy.D. in psychology following a similar path as that of a clinical psychologist, obtaining general psychology training at undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels (APA Division 38, 2016). Both clinical and health psychologists are licensed for independent practice in clinical and counseling psychology; however, a health psychologist can receive some specialized training at undergrad and graduate levels and will receive specialized training and coursework specific to health psychology, up to and including at postdoctoral or internship levels (APA Division 38, 2016). As an undergraduate health psychologists would take courses focusing on “abnormal social psychology, learning processes and behavior therapies, psychophysiology, anatomy and physiology, psychopharmacology, community psychology, and public health” (APA Division 38, 2016). At graduate and doctoral levels, health psychologists elect a specialized track which include training for research careers or direct clinical services incorporating clinical expertise and a full range of additional training in health to prepare a student to become a “scientist-practitioner psychologists with a special focus on applying their clinical skill to health issues” (APA Division 38, 2016).

3.What settings do health psychologists work in? What are some examples of what they do in those setting?

Health psychologists work in a variety of settings including academic research (universities), professional practice, and education and training across an array of community, clinical, occupational, and acute health care settings such as hospitals, primary care facilities, lobbying government agencies (NIH or public policy lobbies) and because of the combined clinical and health trainings, health psychologists are well suited to work in combined clinical/research settings (APA Division 38:FAQ, 2016) . Most applied health psychologists are trained in applied clinical or counseling psychology, but primarily work in academic or research settings and according to Curtain and Martz, 2016, “Applied health psychologists work in a number of different settings including medical centers and medical schools, rehabilitation centers, and private practices, as well as in academic and research institutions.” In these settings, health promotion, disease prevention, and health policy development are a common focus. academic research, professional practice, and education and training across an array of community, clinical, occupational, and acute health care settings

4.What are some of the competencies to practice health psychology? (there is a specific webpage for this).

France et al, 2008, suggest that the knowledge-based competencies of an entry level clinical health psychologist include “knowledge of biological assessment, psychological assessments, and social-environmental assessment strategies all relevant to individuals as well as systems. They further indicate applied competencies to include ability to independently analyze question-problems, properly administer biopsychosocial and cognitive assessment tools appropriate to the individual’s presenting problem (physical illness, injury, disability), conduct comprehensive biopsychosocial interview and evaluate both biological and psychosocial findings related to physical health, assess biopsychosocial risk factors, assess any influencing environmental factors, assess biopsychosocial factors affecting adherence to medical/psychological care, assess biopsychosocial impact of medical procedures, demonstrate an understanding of ethical and legal consequences to utilization of biopsychosocial assessment strategies in addressing health and health care issues and finally demonstrating the ability to access, evaluate and utilize information to assist in assessment using new and emerging health techniques” (France et al., 2008).

The Society for Health Psychology (2016). Retrieved from: https://societyforhealthpsychology.org/training/training-competencies/all-health-psychologists/

Identifies specific knowledge and application based competencies as outlined below:

Knowledge base: The entry-level health psychologist researcher should have knowledge of:

The historical relationship of health psychology to the basic sciences, public health and clinical investigation.
Scientific foundations and methods of psychology and exposure to allied health disciplines (e.g. epidemiology, physiology, genomics, bioinformatics)
Bio-behavioral, social-environmental, and psychological factors associated with health behaviors, illness, and disease. Week 7 Post: Health Psychology

Mechanistic and mediational pathways between contextual, psychosocial and biological phenomena as they relate to disease progression, health promotion and illness prevention.
Biological, psychological, behavioral and sociocultural tools (e.g., psychophysiological assessment, interview techniques, assessment development, observational coding, focus groups, web-based informatics tools) relevant to individuals and systems.
Dynamic interactions between populations and contextual variations (age, gender, ethnicity, culture, religion, etc.) on health behavior and health outcomes.

Pathophysiology of disease and the implications for development of biopsychosocial treatments.
Appropriate methods and procedures to develop a program of research.
Strengths and potential pitfalls of role relationships that characterize interdisciplinary collaborative research.
Regulatory and ethics competence in relation to interdisciplinary research.

Applications: The entry-level health psychologist should be able to:

Evaluate biopsychosocial findings related to physical health or illness/injury/disability.
Assess biopsychosocial and behavioral risk factors for the development of physical illness, injury, or disability.

Assist in assessment of new and emerging health technologies.
Develop health psychology research protocols and evaluate their effectiveness and quality.
Evaluate biopsychosocial and cognitive assessment tools appropriate to understanding physical illness, injury, or disability.

Design and evaluate empirically supported health promotion, prevention and other interventions appropriate to target populations in the context of an interdisciplinary team.
Apply diverse methodologies to address contextual, psychosocial, and biological processes as they relate to disease progression, health promotion, and illness prevention.
Select, apply, and interpret data analytic strategies that are best suited to the diverse research questions and levels of analysis characteristic of health psychology.

Work toward translation of research findings to applied settings.
Translate issues presented by professionals from other disciplines into research questions and appropriate methods for investigation.
Integrate the talents and skills of professionals from different disciplines and different levels of training (e.g., masters, doctoral) to optimize research. Week 7 Post: Health Psychology

KINDLY ORDER NOW FOR A CUSTOM-WRITTEN, PLAGIARISM-FREE PAPER

Integrate within and lead in the formulation of interdisciplinary research teams.
Accurately and efficiently communicate research findings in a manner that is consistent with the highest standards within the profession in ways that can be understood by fellow psychologists, professionals from other disciplines, and lay audiences alike.

Write a research proposal of a quality sufficient to be submitted to a granting agency.
Publish in peer reviewed journals in the area of health psychology.
Understands the bounds/limits of one’s research competence.
Obtain proficiency in a traditional area of psychology such as psychophysiology, psychometrics, statistics, affect and cognition or social psychology.

Obtain knowledge, exposure and competency outside of an area of traditional psychology (e.g., epidemiology, genetics, neural imaging, body imaging, assaying biomarkers, nutrition, exercise, sleep).
Demonstrate adequate training and evidence of skill as a teacher, and have the requisite knowledge to develop and implement an undergraduate health psychology course.
Understand the role and responsibilities of an effective mentor, and have the ability to promote the development of research and teaching competencies in graduate and undergraduate students.

5.What types of research do these psychologists do? What are some examples of recent research study topics?

Health psychologists do research in many facets of human health and behavior, including epidemiological research, randomized control trials, and meta-analysis. They research causes, methods, ad strategies to decrease unhealthy behaviors such as smoking, unsafe sex, dietary fat consumption as well as how to increase healthy behaviors such as exercise and stress management to prevent disease (Curtin & Martz, 2008).

6.What are aspects about being a health psychologist that you would like? Dislike?

I like the fact that they incorporate research application into the career of the clinical health psychologist and how biology, environment, and behavior impact health and illness. These core concepts of a clinical health psychologist can make a huge impact on clinical psychology work as part of the long-term career and can have a direct impact on unifying patient care to treat and prevent disease or other health issues since people are now dying in part due to the cumulative effects of their own behaviors. I prefer to be challenged and have a strong liking for figuring things out no matter how long it takes. I am not a fan of the length of time it might take to become licensed in this specialized filed; however, they do accept students and practitioners from all career stages. Week 7 Post: Health Psychology

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

APA. (2012). Education and training guidelines: a taxonomy for education and training in professional psychology health service specialties. Retrieved on October 6, 2016 from: http://www.apa.org/ed/graduate/specialize/taxonomy.pdf

APA Division 38. (2016) Retrieved October 5, 2016 from: http://www.health-psych.org/index.cfm

APA Division 38. (2016) Faq Retrieved on October 5, 2016 from: http://www.health-psych.org/documents/ETfaqs0511Final.pdf

Curtin, L & Martz, D 2008, ‘Health psychology’, in 21st century psychology: a reference handbook, SAGE Publications, Inc., Thousand Oaks, CA, pp. II-164-II-174, viewed 7 October 2016, doi: 10.4135/9781412956321.n69.

France, C. R., Masters, K. S., Belar, C. D., Kerns, R. D., Klonoff, E. A., Larkin, K. T., et al. (2008). Application of the competency model to clinical health psychology. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 39, 573–580.

Society for Health Psychology. (2016). Retrieved October 7, 2016 from: https://societyforhealthpsychology.org/

The Society for Health Psychology (2016). Retrieved from: https://societyforhealthpsychology.org/training/training-competencies/all-health-psychologists/