CLINICO-FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGY

The aim of education on the specialisation in clinical-forensic psychology is to provide students with the latest developments in psychological diagnostic methodology in a practical manner – preparation for competent use of ready diagnostic tools.  Students will acquire knowledge and skills in the interpretation of personality development and disorders, recognition of disorders that impede normal development and functioning, recognition of healthy and pathological personality, mechanisms of psychological disorders including deviation and aggressive behaviour, standards for drawing up psychological opinions, forms of psychological assistance. They will learn the methodology of the work of a forensic psychologist, the essence of crisis intervention and the psychology of testimony. They will also become familiar with the basics of criminology, victimology and suicidology, acquire basic skills in profiling offenders, analysing evidence and forensic opinion writing.

The specialisation prepares you to work as a clinical psychologist, diagnostician and therapist. Graduates will be prepared to conduct psychological diagnosis, apply selected forms of psychological assistance in institutions for treatment of mental health disorders, neurological wards, paediatric wards of general and specialised hospitals, institutions for treatment of addictions.  They can also take up a job in counselling centres for children and adolescents, psychological and pedagogical counselling centres, counselling centres for addicts of psychoactive substances, family counselling centres and other counselling centres conducting consultative, advisory and therapeutic activities. Potential workplaces for graduates of this specialisation are also: private offices running psychological and psychotherapeutic practices, rehabilitation and care centres for patients with chronic diseases, treatment and care centres for the elderly, health promotion institutions, local and governmental teams responsible for health policy and action in crisis situations. The specialisation prepares for work in psychodiagnostic teams, provides the basis for mediation in criminal and civil cases (after supplementing with a specialist course), enables work as professional and social probation officers, family and juvenile probation officers (after supplementing with a qualification course).