1st Edition
Investigating Clinical Psychology Pseudoscience, Fringe Science, and Controversies
Investigating Clinical Psychology takes a deep dive into the field of clinical psychology through the lens of pseudoscience and fringe science. An expert panel of authors honors the role of science in the field while also exploring and guarding against the harms that pseudoscience can cause.
Clinicians have an ethical duty to provide the best available, evidence-based care. Engaging, accessible, and open-minded in approach, this book outlines the distinction between science and pseudoscience in order to prevent the false, and often quite harmful, effects that pseudoscientific practices can have on patients in need of mental health services. The book covers a variety of topics, including harmful therapies, purple hat therapies, animal-assisted therapies, hypnosis, and energy medicine. Featuring world-renowned voices from health care specialists to skeptics on the outside of the field gazing in, it equips readers with the skills needed to differentiate between pseudoscientific and evidence-based approaches in both study and practice.
Aligning with many major undergraduate textbooks for easy course integration, Investigating Clinical Psychology is valuable supplemental reading in undergraduate and graduate courses in clinical psychology. It is also a beneficial reference for clinicians in practice, as well as anyone interested in pseudoscience within the mental health sector.
Foreword
Timothy Caulfield
Preface
Stephen Hupp
PART I: Introduction
1. The Role of Science in Clinical Psychology
Jonathan N. Stea
2. Intellectual Humility and Historical Roots in Pseudoscience
Daniel Machado, Owen Hicks, and David J. A. Dozois
PART II: Assessment
3. Dubious Diagnoses
Blake A. E. Boehme, Andres De Los Reyes, & Gordon J. G. Asmundson
4. Rorschach Inkblots
James M. Wood, M. Teresa Nezworski, and Howard N. Garb
5. Personality Assessment
Gerald P. Koocher and Yilong Peng
PART III: Intervention
6. Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy
Miranda A. L. van Tilburg
7. Harmful Mental Health Interventions
Yevgeny Botanov, Alexander J. Williams, John Sakaluk, and Robyn Kilshaw
8. Energy Medicine
Jon Guy, Melanie Trecek-King, Ruth Ann Harpur, and Jonathan N. Stea
9. Purple Hat Therapies
Eve A. Rosenfeld and Carmen P. McLean
10. Animal-Assisted Therapies
Kitti Bessenyei, Igor Yakovenko, Lindsey Snaychuk, and Andrew (Hyounsoo) Kim
PART IV: Special Topics
11. Child and Adolescent Psychology
Jaden Sangoi, Keaira Cox, and Stephen Hupp
12. Alternative Medicine
Edzard Ernst
13. Neuropsychology
Isabella Hartley and Indre V. Viskontas
14. Forensic Psychology
Montana L. Ploe, David K. Marcus, and John F. Edens
PART V: Conclusion
15. Science-Based Clinical Psychology
Stephen Hupp and Vyla Hupp
Biography
Jonathan N. Stea, PhD, RPsych, is a practicing clinical psychologist and adjunct assistant professor at the University of Calgary (UofC) in Canada. He’s a two-time winner of the UofC’s Award for Excellence in Clinical Supervision and the 2022 recipient of the Psychologists’ Association of Alberta’s media and science communication award. His forthcoming book about mental health misinformation and pseudoscience will be published in 2025 by Penguin Random House Canada, Oxford University Press, and Audible.
Stephen Hupp, PhD, is a clinical psychologist and professor of psychology at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE) in the United States. In 2015, he won the Great Teacher Award from the SIUE Alumni Association. He has published several books, including Pseudoscience in Therapy and Science-Based Therapy, and he is the Editor of Skeptical Inquirer: The Magazine for Science and Reason.
"This excellent book that helps us all better understand and navigate the ever growing world of fads and pseudoscience in the field of psychological therapies. In my opinion, a must read for all students in the psychological helping professions, their teachers, clinicians and those who make health care policies. Kudos to the editors and a heartfelt thank you to each of the contributors."
Hon. Dr. Stanley Kutcher, Professor Emeritis, Department of Psychiatry, Dalhousie University, Canada.
