Statement of Purpose
In today’s society, the relationship between the human mind and culture is inseparable. In clinical settings where practitioners encounter individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds, values, modes of expression, and approaches to seeking help have become increasingly varied.
The Society for Comparative Clinical Psychology aims to examine and compare approaches to psychological support across different countries, regions, and cultural contexts. Through careful exploration of both the similarities and differences, we strive to realize more flexible and responsive forms of psychological care.
This society was founded by Dr. Taka Mochizuki of Tokyo University of Social Welfare as a forum for researchers and practitioners interested in multicultural adaptation, multicultural clinical practice, and international psychological support. It serves as a space for shared learning where practical wisdom and theoretical knowledge can interact and grow together.
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 use the Contact Form below to send us a brief self-introduction along with your motivation for joining.
Our administrative office will review your message and get back to you shortly.
Membership Fees
Admission Fee: ¥9,000 (provisional)
Annual Membership Fee: ¥3,000 (provisional)
Activities
Regular Research Meetings and Study Sessions
We share theoretical insights from clinical psychology, cross-cultural psychology, and cultural psychology—both from within Japan and abroad—while exploring their practical applications.
Publication of Research Bulletin
We publish an annual electronic bulletin that includes members’ research findings, practice reports, and theoretical reflections.
Promotion of International Exchange and Collaborative Research
We engage in exchanges with international researchers and practitioners, support fieldwork and collaborative international studies, and carry out translation activities.
Practice Sharing Session
This forum is dedicated to sharing case studies and practical experiences in supporting clients from multicultural backgrounds, including challenges and creative approaches from the field.
We welcome contributions from a wide range of settings, including universities, healthcare, education, social welfare, and community-based support.
About the Organization
| Organization Name | The Society for Comparative Clinical Psychology |
|---|---|
| Chair | Taka Mochizuki, Ph.D. (Psychology, Kyushu University) Researcher Number: 30884738 |
| Vice Representative | Jiro Ogata, Ph.D. (Psychology), Kibi International University |
| Vice Representative | Suzuka Tsurukawa, M.A., Licensed Psychologist (Japan), Certified Clinical Psychologist |
| Date of Establishment | 8 May 2015 |
| Contact Information | mochizuki6869@gamil.com |
Contact Email✉️
mochizuki6869@gmail.com