Clinical psychology is a practice that involves psychological techniques and principle that application that facilitates the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of the functioning and behaviors of human beings (Ainsworth, 2013). Clinical psychology practice ranges within a broad spectrum like using counselling or psychotherapy as well as standardized assessment instruments on different clients. Forensic psychology involves clinical specialties application to the legal arena and individuals who get into contact with the law. Forensic psychology is broadened by applying experimentations and research in psychology areas to legal institutions. The practice of forensic psychology is requires psychologists to give psychological assessments to people involved with legal institutions (Ivernon, 2008). Therefore, essential skills forensic psychologists need to have are the clinical skills that assist in writing of reports, presentation of cases and clinical assessments.
Clinical psychologists may have a role to take part in legal issues in relation to a client where they may be needed to submit records on child abuse incidences and in some instances they could be needed to testify against or on behalf of the client in the court of law (Iverson, 2008). Clinician participation in legal proceeding may result in ethical or legal dilemma because it goes against the requirement of maintaining confidentiality with a client. A forensic psychologist offers services only in psychology areas which they have expertise in, as they have the responsibility of presenting levels of knowledge that are reasonable and fundamental. Therefore, these standards provide forensic psychologists with the privilege to participate in legal proceedings as expert witnesses without having jeopardize any form of confidentiality. Forensic psychologists meet clients between one to two occasions where they get to conduct an evaluation and this takes place after commission of crime and accusations are made.
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According to Rogers (2010), clinical evaluations are usually more informed and detailed as compared to forensic evaluation because forensic psychologists do not treat patients. Forensic psychologists determine objective reality whereas clinical psychologists determine the subjective reality of the patient. When a clinical psychologist handles a patient for the first time, the patient is provided with informed consent. Informed consent involves the therapists educating clients on the kind of responsibilities and rights they have during therapy. The counseling goals, the counselor’s responsibility to the client, the therapist’s qualification as well as the confidentiality’s limitation and expectations are some of the aspects of informed consent. Due to the possibility of having testimony from the counselor in court, the expectations and limitation of confidentiality become the most significant part of informed consent.
Informed consent in a forensic evaluation involves the forensic psychologist informing the client that any information disclosed by the client that will have a direct connection with the legal proceedings will not remain confidential. Clinical psychology evaluations tend to be present-oriented because the time of testing is focused on the presence of the client like their intellectual functioning. Forensic psychology evaluations are focused on what happened in the past as insanity assessments focused on the client’s state of mind when the crime occurred ( Gudjonsson & Haward, 2016). Additionally, forensic evaluations are restricted to a specific time duration because of the court schedules and resources that are limited ultimately putting restrictions on the assessment of the client. Clinical psychology includes the psychologist and client working towards achieving a trusting alliance whereas the forensic psychologist creates emotional distance because emotional manipulation is inevitable. Moreover, clients in a forensic evaluation have no option to back out the assessment because the act is essential for court proceedings whereas in a clinical setting clients can voluntarily take assessments.
References
Ainsworth, P. (2013). Offender profiling and crime analysis. Willan.
Gudjonsson, G. H., & Haward, L. R. (2016). Forensic psychology: A guide to practice. Routledge.
Iverson, G. (2008). Dual relationships in psycholegal evaluations: Treating psychologists serving as expert witnesses. American Journal of Forensic Psychology, I 8 (2), 79-87.
Rogers, R. (2010). Structured interview of reported symptoms. The Corsini Encyclopedia of Psychology, 1-2.
