比較臨床心理学会
The Society for Comparative Clinical Psychology

What is Comparative Clinical Psychology?

 Comparative Clinical Psychology is an interdisciplinary field of study that aims to elucidate the universality and cultural diversity of psychological support by comparing the theoretical frameworks, practical methodologies, professional systems, and ethical foundations of clinical psychology across different cultural, social, and historical contexts.

 This field focuses on how psychological distress and recovery processes interact with cultural and institutional contexts. Through the analysis of clinical practices from various countries, it seeks to reconstruct cross-cultural clinical theories and develop practical intervention models suited for multicultural societies. Furthermore, it critically examines ethics, training, and professional identity in intercultural psychological support, contributing to the global development of clinical psychology.

[Explanation of the Definition]
  Comparative Clinical Psychology is not merely a field for introducing or translating the clinical psychology of various countries.  Rather, it involves the comparative examination of all the fundamental components that constitute clinical psychology—including cultural conceptions of psychological problems, frameworks of psychological support, therapist–client relationships, and the methods by which professionals are trained and institutionalized. Through this process, it seeks to uncover the cultural constraints, universal structures, and institutional characteristics embedded within clinical psychology across different cultural contexts.

 Through such comparative inquiry, the field contributes to the development of clinical support models that are appropriately adapted to the cultural contexts of each country and region.  At the same time, it promotes critical reflection on and reconstruction of existing clinical psychological theories.  In recent years, particular emphasis has been placed on collaboration with related fields such as multicultural clinical practice, cultural competence, and decolonial psychology.

[Examples of Key Research Topics in Comparative Clinical Psychology]
 1.International Comparison of Professional Training and Certification Systems
e.g., A comparative study of professional standards and training systems in Japan, the U.S., China, and France.

 2. Cultural Adaptation of Psychotherapy
e.g., How psychotherapeutic approaches like CBT or body-oriented therapy are translated and adapted in different cultural contexts.

 3. Cultural Variations in the Expression and Classification of Psychological Distress
e.g., How depression, trauma, and anxiety are presented and understood across cultures.

 4. Comparative Ethics and Values in Psychological Support
e.g., Considerations of family involvement, individualism vs. collectivism, and cultural variations in confidentiality and reporting obligations.

 5. Cultural Differences in Communication Styles in Clinical Interviews
e.g., The meanings of silence, eye contact, and self-disclosure, and how clinicians adapt their approach.

 6. Psychological Support for Individuals in Transcultural Contexts
e.g., Mental health support for immigrants, international students, and intercultural families, including multilingual interviewing and interpreter involvement.

 7. Postcolonial Critique and Reconstruction of Clinical Psychology
e.g., Issues arising from the transplantation of Western-centric theories and methods, and the re-evaluation of local knowledge.

「Membership Information」

We warmly welcome the participation of individuals with the following interests and areas of expertise:

 Clinical psychologists and licensed psychologists interested in multicultural adaptation and cross-cultural psychology

 Practitioners in education, social welfare, or healthcare who provide psychological support to international students, foreign residents, and other culturally diverse populations

 Researchers with clinical or fieldwork experience abroad

 Scholars specializing in comparative culture or cultural psychology

⭐️ How to Join
　Please submit a brief self-introduction and your motivation for joining, or information indicating that you have been recommended by one current member of the Association, via the “Contact Us” form below.
After reviewing the submitted information, the Secretariat will contact you.

Membership Fees
Admission Fee: ¥9,000 (provisional)
Annual Membership Fee: ¥3,000 (provisional)

About the Organization

Contact Email✉️

soc.sccp@gmail.com