Definition: Clinical sociology is a humanistic, multidisciplinary approach that seeks to improve the quality of people’s lives though assessing situations and reducing problems using analysis and intervention. The field is based on the assumption that many human needs are social and therefore are not amenable to the traditional psychological models designed to remedy human problems. Clinical sociologists have different areas of expertise—such as health promotion, sustainable communities, social conflict, or cultural competence—and work in many capacities.

They are, for example, community organizers, sociotherapists, mediators, focus group facilitators, social policy implementers, action researchers, and administrators.