Issues and trends in clinical psychology change from time to time, from one social context to another,

from one school of thought to another. For example, issues and trends in CP won’t be same as USA and
that is why we need to have a culturally specific approach towards resolving these issues and trends.

Nevertheless, many contemporary issues challenge the field of clinical psychology. First, several
training models are available, each with different emphases and outcomes. The scientist-practitioner
model is clearly the most popular one, but some have become disenchanted with this model and question
whether a true integration of science and practice can be achieved. Several training models that
emphasize the practice of clinical psychology (Psy.D. degree, professional schools) have become
increasingly popular in recent years. Finally, the clinical scientist model of training represents an
alternative that emphasizes research and empirically supported approaches to assessment and
intervention.
The professional regulation of clinical psychologists involves methods aimed at protecting the
public interest and assuring competence. Certification and licensure occur at the state level and are
attempts to make the public aware of those who are deemed to be well-trained and competent clinical
psychologists. Like we have Rehabilitation council of India in this country which recognizes the
profession and regulates trends and code of conduct. How far it regulates and keeps the check on the
ground level is a question worth considering. In a new parliamentary bill all counsellors, social workers
and allied professionals will get licensed under a registering body. So , there are chances of more
malpractices as a simple counsellor without professional clinical training can present himself as a
clinical psychologist.

In Indian context what are the issues that need to be handled

To be in harmony with the recent advances in clinical psychology in the west and at the same time to
cope with the demands within our own country, clinical psychologists in India face multiple challenges.
Some of these challenges include the need to create more public awareness, educating and creating
awareness among other health professionals about clinical psychology’s role in medicine for
providing most efficient services and liaison, development of more ethno-specific interventions,
focus on developing more indigenous approaches of understanding mental illness, providing adequate
and appropriate leadership models for younger psychologists, enhancing the training facilities and
accepting more educational roles, and equipping Indian psychologists to deal with new and challenging
problems such as HIV or AIDS , increasing paradigm shift in family types from joint to nuclear, the
advent of technology in psychotherapy, the impact of media on Indian youth.
After DSM 5 was published new diagnosis came to limelight and we have the challenge of finding and
treating them as per our culture.
There are some specific challenges which were not there in such a great magnitude a decade or
two ago. The problem of addiction be it heroin addiction, porn addiction or gaming addiction.
Even though people are getting educated about the mental health issues role of psychotherapy and
professional role of clinical psychologist, still the decades old stigma etched in our psyche is hard to
remove and needs more and more work.
Then there comes problem of funding from government for mental health in general and clinical
psychology in particular because unfortunately most people don’t know the role and responsibilities
and scope of clinical psychology.
Behavioural medicine a sub field of clinical psychology proves its role in every branch of medicine
be it cardiology, oncology, urology etc and most people even main stream doctors are unaware
about it.
 Then there comes the issue of testing most of tests objective, subjective or projective are developed
and standardised in west. So they are not appropriate for our population. Culture or context plays a
significant role in behaviour and cognition of an individual even the tests standardised in south india
aren’t appropriate for north like Kashmir.
Also, the tests are old and the material is unfamiliar to the person living in this decade.