ABSTRACT
There are over 1.5 million people in the UK with learning disabilities, and clinical psychologists play a central role in supporting them when they have difficulties. Despite this, it is an area referred to only briefly in psychology texts and academic courses. This chapter will look at learning disabilities, their prevalence and the causes of the conditions that underlie them. We will show the context in which clinical psychologists work, and consider the assessment and treatment approaches that they use in tackling cognitive, emotional and behavioural problems experienced by people with learning disabilities.
