Abstract

The application of psychological theory to clinical practice Barbara A Wilson Practising clinical and neuro psychologists working in adult brain injury rehabilitation use a range of theoretical approaches in their clinical work. In 2002 Wilson published a model of rehabilitation arguing that rehabilitation is one of many fields needing a broad theoretical base incorporating frameworks, theories and models from many different areas. Being constrained by one theoretical model can lead to poor clinical practice. This lecture considers some of the theories and models which have had the most influence on the field of neuropsychological rehabilitation. Included are theories and models of cognitive functioning, learning, assessment, emotion, recovery and plasticity as well as broad based models such as holistic and social models. We consider how theories and models are employed directly or indirectly in our clinical work. The importance of combining clinical work with research is emphasised. Clinical examples are used to illustrate the points made. The presentation concludes with guidelines for good clinical practice all of which have derived from clinical research.

Brief Biography of Barbara A Wilson Barbara Wilson is a clinical neuropsychologist who has worked in brain injury rehabilitation for nearly 40 years. She has won many awards for her work including an OBE for services to rehabilitation in 1998 and three lifetime achievement awards, one from the British Psychological Society, one from the International Neuropsychological Society and one from the National Academy of Neuropsychology. In September 2011 she received the Ramon Y Cahal award from the International Neuropsychiatric Association. In December 2014 she received the M.B.Shapiro award, a late career award for clinical psychologists who have achieved eminence in the profession and have had significant impact on the knowledge/practice of British clinical psychology. She has published 22 books, over 270 journal articles and chapters and 8 neuropsychological tests. She is editor of the journal “Neuropsychological Rehabilitation” which she founded in 1991 and in 1996 she founded the Oliver Zangwill Centre for Neuropsychological Rehabilitation. A rehabilitation centre in Quito, Ecuador is named after her. She is currently president of the Encephalitis Society and on the management committee of The World Federation of Neuro Rehabilitation. The Division of Neuropsychology has named a prize after her, the Barbara A Wilson prize for distinguished contributions to neuropsychology. She is a Fellow of The British Psychological Society, The Academy of Medical Sciences and The Academy of Social Sciences. She is honorary professor at the University of Hong Kong, the University of Sydney and the University of East Anglia and has honorary degrees from The University of East Anglia and The University of Cordoba, Argentina. Barbara A Wilson, OBE , Ph.D, CPsychol, ScD, FBPsS, FMedSci, AcSS