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Definition of Practice Areas

Adapted from the Definitions of Practice Areas written by the College of Psychologists of Ontario

Health and Rehabilitation Psychology

All members of the Saskatchewan College of Psychologists require the following minimum working knowledge base:

• knowledge in the core areas of psychology (MRA standards);
• knowledge of learning;
• knowledge of all relevant ethical, legal and professional issues;
• knowledge of research design and methodology;
• knowledge of statistics; and
• knowledge of psychological measurement.

Health and Rehabilitation Psychology is the application of psychological knowledge and skills to the assessment and treatment of individuals with impairments in their physical, emotional, cognitive, social, or occupational capacities as a result of injury, illness or trauma in order to promote maximum functioning and minimize disability. It also involves promotion and maintenance of health, the prevention and treatment of illness, and the identification of determinants of health and illness.

In addition to the above minimum knowledge base, members practising Health and Rehabilitation Psychology require the following:

• knowledge of lifespan development;
• knowledge of psychopathology;
• knowledge of personality/individual differences;
• knowledge of psychological and behavioural assessment;
• knowledge of psychodiagnostics;
• knowledge of behavioural medicine and psychological issues related to health;
• knowledge of intervention procedures and/or psychotherapy and/or rehabilitative interventions; and
• knowledge of evaluation of change.

In addition, practitioners providing services in Health and Rehabilitation Psychology to children and adolescents must have a background in developmental psychology and knowledge of appropriate assessment and therapeutic techniques.

For members practising Health and Rehabilitation Psychology the following minimum skills are required:

• the ability to perform an appropriate assessment;
• the ability to formulate and communicate a differential diagnosis; and
• the ability to plan, execute and evaluate an appropriate treatment program.