Health-care specialty in clinical child and adolescent psychology: A reasoned proposal

Abstract

Clinical child and adolescent psychology is a health care specialty in psychology that is recognized with its own identity in many countries. In the Spanish National Health System, its institutionalization runs parallel to the one related to clinical psychology, mainly after the psychiatric reform law, which has led to its gradual consolidation in the different health structures and ways of doing of clinical psychologists. The objective of this article was to make a reasoned reflection on some of the most relevant issues concerning clinical child and adolescent psychology that allows the debate necessary for the training of specialists in this field. After a brief review of its history, competencies and areas of action that enables its consolidation, as well as the future development of this specialty through the Spanish internship specialist training model for clinical psychology are described.