Clinical Psychology* is a branch of psychology dealing with the understanding and treatment of health problems, particularly mental disorders.

The main problems dealt with are:

• Phobias
• Depression
• Addiction
• Anxiety
• Obsessions
• Behavioural problems
• Sexual problems
• Brain disease or damage
• Psychoses (such as schizophrenia)

Clinical psychologists are also involved with issues affecting the health service in general, such as using their psychological knowledge to help with promoting a particular subject or scheme. Sometimes, a clinical psychologist will be asked to help with a secondary problem, for example sexual difficulties after a spinal injury.

Clinical Psychologists

The British Psychological Society says:

‘Clinical psychologists aim to reduce psychological distress and to enhance and promote psychological well-being.’

Clinical psychologists generally begin work with a patient by assessment. This will utilise a range of techniques such as psychometric tests, interviews and behavioural observation. Assessment will probably result in treatment. Treatment usually manifests itself as counselling. After treatment the clinical psychologist and the rest of the healthcare team will evaluate the effect of the treatment.

Clinical psychologists work mainly in health and social care setting, such as hospitals, health centres and social services. Some clinical psychologists work in private practice and others as teachers or researchers.

Patients usually access the services of a clinical psychologist through a referral, either from their GP, or medical or nursing staff from a hospital. However, some clinical psychology services do accept self-referrals.

Clinical psychologists often find themselves working with many other health care professionals, such as physicians, physiotherapists, nurses or social workers. They also work in groups with other clinical psychologists, as well as independently.

Qualifications and Training

To register as a Chartered Clinical Psychologist*, it is necessary to:

• obtain the Graduate Basis for Registration (GBR), by completion of an accredited qualification in psychology (usually a degree);
• complete an accredited postgraduate training course in clinical psychology (usually a doctorate);
• agree to abide by a code of conduct and be subject to a disciplinary procedure;
• and be judged fit to practice psychology without supervision.

Competition for entry into postgraduate clinical psychology courses is high, and the BPS recommends that applicants obtain relevant psychological work or research experience, such as working as a psychological assistant, research assistant, or care nurse.

Pay, Prospects and Conditions

Copies of the annually revised salary scales for clinical psychologists are available from the British Psychological Society on request. Prospects and conditions for clinical psychologists are at this time, very good. There is, at the time of writing, a shortage of Clinical Psychologists in the NHS.

Further Reading

The British Psychological Society's website is http://www.bps.org.uk.

For those interested in clinical psychology, Marzillier and Hall’s excellent What is Clinical Psychology? would make very good reading matter.