INTRODUCTION TO CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY PART 2

• Philippine Mental Health Act of 2018


  Law that aims to promote and protect the mental health of all Filipinos, ensuring access to mental health services and the rights of individuals with mental health conditions
• Philippine Psychology Act of 2009


  Law that aims to regulate the practice of psychology in the Philippines, establish professional standards, and promote psychological services for the welfare of individuals and communities
• Psychologist


  A natural person who is duly registered and holds a valid certificate of registration and a valid professional identification card as professional psychologist, issued by the Professional Regulatory Board of Psychology and the Professional Regulation Commission
• Psychometrician


  A natural person who holds a valid certificate of registration and a valid professional identification card as psychometrician issued by the Professional Regulatory Board of Psychology and the Professional Regulation Commission, authorized to administer and score objective personality tests, structured personality tests (excluding projective tests and other higher level forms of psychological tests), interpret results, and conduct preparatory intake interviews of clients for psychological invention sessions, under the supervision of a licensed professional psychologist
• Ethical Principles


  • Respect for the Dignity of Persons and People
  • Competent Caring for the Well-Being of Persons and People
  • Integrity
  • Professional and Scientific Responsibilities to Society
• Resolving Ethical Issues


  1. Correcting misuse or misrepresentation of one's work

  2. Resolving conflicts between ethics and other authorities

  3. Cooperating with ethics committees

  4. Refraining from filing unethical complaints without factual evidence

  5. Avoiding unfair discrimination against complainants and respondents in ethical proceedings
• Competencies


  • Providing services, teaching, and conducting research only within areas of competence
  • Making appropriate referrals when necessary
  • Continuously updating skills and knowledge through continuing education and training
  • Basing work on established scientific principles
  • Delegating tasks responsibly
  • Making services available in emergency situations
  • Addressing personal problems that may affect work and seeking professional assistance
• Human Relations


  • Refraining from unfair discrimination, sexual harassment, and other forms of harassment
  • Avoiding multiple relationships unless unlikely to impair objectivity or effectiveness
  • Refraining from conflicts of interest and exploitation
  • Cooperating with other professionals when necessary
  • Ensuring informed consent in all interactions
• Confidentiality


  • Protecting client information and ensuring it is secured from unauthorized access
  • Discussing limitations of confidentiality with clients beforehand
  • Disclosing information only after careful consideration or in cases of imminent danger
  • Obtaining permission before recording client voices or images
  • Responsibly disclosing information to avoid misuse or infringement of human rights
  • Obtaining consent for disclosure, except when mandated by law or for valid purposes
  • Ensuring qualified supervision and necessary approvals when sharing information with other professionals or organizations
  • Avoiding disclosing identifiable client information in consultations with colleagues unless necessary
  • Obtaining consent or adequately disguising client identity when using confidential information for other purposes
• Advertisements and Public Statements

  • Ensuring truthfulness, accuracy, and freedom from deception or exaggeration
  • Conveying information in a professional manner, avoiding sensationalism or misleading claims
  • Providing accurate information about qualifications, credentials, services offered, and fees charged
  • Distinguishing between facts and opinions
  • Avoiding degrading comments about others
  • Refraining from seeking personal gain through endorsements or commercial announcements
  • Being cautious when providing public advice or comments through media presentations
  • Refraining from soliciting testimonials from clients or others vulnerable to undue influence
• Records and Fees

  • Creating and maintaining records related to professional and scientific work
  • Ensuring confidentiality in handling records
  • Making plans to transfer records appropriately when withdrawing from a position or practice
  • Refraining from withholding records needed for emergency treatment due to payment issues
  • Establishing compensation agreements with clients early in the professional relationship
  • Refraining from misrepresenting fees
• Assessment


  • Basing expert opinions on substantial information and appropriate assessment techniques
  • Obtaining informed consent before assessments, except in specific circumstances
  • Selecting and administering tests judiciously, considering client characteristics and using standardized, valid, and reliable tools
  • Interpreting assessment results accurately, considering factors such as test validity, client characteristics, and cultural differences
  • Maintaining confidentiality of test data and following test security protocols
  • Ensuring assessments are conducted by qualified individuals and that test construction follows established scientific procedures
• Therapy


  • Upholding confidentiality and respecting client rights to commit to or withdraw from therapy
  • Monitoring own fitness to provide therapy and seeking supervision or consultative support when needed
  • Refraining from engaging in multiple relationships or sexual intimacies with clients, their relatives, or significant others
  • Ensuring protection of client information from unauthorized disclosure through record-keeping practices
  • Assessing and ensuring the balance between young people's dependence on adults and their capacity for acting independently when working with young clients
  • Discussing referrals with clients and making them to competent professionals
  • Terminating therapy when it is determined to be no longer beneficial or potentially harmful to the client
• Education and Training


  • Carefully designing education and training programs to provide appropriate knowledge and experiences while meeting licensure or certification requirements
  • Accurately reflecting program content, goals, and requirements in descriptions
  • Maintaining accuracy in teaching and ensuring course syllabi reflect content and evaluation criteria
  • Requiring personal information disclosure by students or supervisees only if clearly stated in program materials or necessary for evaluation or assistance
  • Allowing students the option to choose practitioners outside the program for mandatory therapy requirements
  • Ensuring fair and transparent feedback processes and evaluations
  • Prohibiting sexual relationships with students or supervisees to maintain professional boundaries
• Research


  • Prioritizing the rights, dignity, and welfare of participants
  • Ensuring informed consent and respecting cultural expectations
  • Protecting vulnerable populations
  • Maintaining honesty in reporting findings and refraining from plagiarism or duplicate publication
  • Justifying deception in research by significant scientific value and providing appropriate debriefing afterward
  • Treating animals used in research humanely and justifying their use by necessity to advance understanding or benefit human or animal welfare
  • Sharing data for verification while respecting confidentiality and proprietary rights
  • Acknowledging limitations and alternative explanations to maintain integrity and transparency