Future Changes in the Field of Psychology
Within the next 100 years, the field of psychology will change drastically due to various determinant factors. “Some of the factors that will trigger such changes include the need for integrated healthcare, technological advantages, diverse needs by society, and scientific discoveries” (Real Psychology, 2011). In the future, several psychiatric disorders will be fully analysed, understood and effective treatment options discovered.
Therapy and medicine will be effectively used as the best treatments for psychiatric and medical disorders. As opposed to the current practices, the Mental Health Professional (MHP) will assume a universal role. Currently, psychologists attend to only one member of a family and any other person from such family should seek help from a different MHP.
Many people are slowly accepting their MHP’s as their family doctors which will eventually lead to a common practice. “In the long-run, family therapists will see many members of the same family for check-ups; preventive interventions and crisis intervention” (Real Psychology, 2011). The future changes in psychology and their possible causes are discussed in the following titles.
Psychology Changes and Key Factors
Need for Provision of Integrated Health-Care.
In the current situation, psychologists are usually considered as Mental Health Professionals (MHP). However, future needs call for psychologists to widen their operations and become full members in the health-care system. This will ensure that the field of psychology from the medical perspective is much more effective and meets all the requirements for service provision.
It is a common trend for primary-care givers to handle more than 70% of mental health problems without involving the help of qualified psychologists (American Psychological Association, 2011). Relevant studies have shown that psychosocial and lifestyle problems are the leading causes of health problems like heart disease, obesity and diabetes.
As such, mental health professionals and other medical professionals are expected to increase their participation in addressing such issues. “It will be mandatory that Psychologists form an integral part of the health-care system due to their knowledge about human behaviour and how to change it” (American Psychological Association, 2011).
Technological Advancements
Integration of technology into practice will allow for drastic changes in the field of psychology. In order to be part of the health-care systems, psychologists will have to employ the use of technological advances such as the use of electronic health records (EHR). This will allow future psychologists to diagnose patients accurately, provide substantial solutions and, at the same time, keep patients information secure.
Requirement to Meet Society Needs
The society is increasingly becoming ethnically and culturally diverse. As a result, psychologists are required to provide effective services to all the people. “According to the U.S Census Bureau, 16 percent of the United States population uses community health-care centres for lack of health insurance” (American Psychological Association, 2011).
Unfortunately, psychologists also do not practice in these places. In the future, new policies will be enacted to enable psychologists to be trained using multicultural principles to handle such populations.
Application of Scientific Evidence
In the future of psychology, evidence-based practice will be mandatory for success in the field. Graduate students are being trained on how to use programs specifically designed for evidence-based practice methods in psychology. “Furthermore, basic scientific evidence such as the couple and family process will be integrated into the regular practices” (American Psychological Association, 2011).
Since they play a vital role in providing mental health services, future psychologists will have to widen their scope of operation and provide services to communities, schools, organizations and businesses.
Conclusions
“In conclusion, the future of psychology must include the incorporation of technology, a diversification of training, and a shift of methodological focus to translational science in order to address all the needs in society” (The Future of Psychology, 2010).
Reference List
American Psychological Association. (2011). Vision for the Future of Psychology Practice. Web.
Real Psychology. (2011). The Future of Psychology. Web.
The Future of Psychology. (2010, October 19). The Future of Psychology Paper (PSY490). Web.