What is the clinical method in psychology?

The clinical method in psychology can be defined as a conjunction of procedures used in this discipline to understand the possible causes of the conflict presented by individuals, or at least the factors that can be influencing the principle problem.

This clinical method has established steps that guide the process, and these steps include the recompilation of information, the creation of hypotheses about the problem and their testing, and the choices about the treatment. However, the clinical method is very complex and requires time.

An example of the use of the clinical method in psychology might be with a patient who goes for a psychological consultation. What the professional in charge should do is follow the steps of the clinical method, starting by making a systematic observation of the patient, detailing what he communicates verbally and non-verbally, and collecting information through tools such as an interview or a psychometric test, to proceed correctly to the next step, which is to create hypotheses. The professional must take into account every aspect of the patient and make a formal diagnosis. Finally, once the diagnosis of the patient is made, the treatment, therapy, or possible solutions can be indicated, depending on the case.