Clinical psychologists engage in a wide range of activities; academic, educational and clinical
although the majority engage in some form of clinical practice.
Academic Research: research into the assessment, treatment, or cause of mental illness and related conditions.
Education: teaching in universities, medical schools or hospitals
Clinical Practice: professional services including psychological assessment, provision of psychotherapy, development and administration of clinical programs, and forensics (e.g., providing expert testimony in a legal proceeding).
In contrast to the role of the psychiatrist, the clinical psychologist does not hold a medical degree and does not prescribe medication. The expertise of the clinical psychologist lies in the field of psychological assessment, clinical formulation and psychotherapy to treat mental disorder.
Psychological Assessment:
evaluation of individual behaviour, personality, emotions and cognitive abilities to identify psychological factors that may be inhibiting a person's ability to think, behave, or regulate emotion functionally or constructively. The information collected is used to form a hypothesis about psychological or behavioural problems, make risk assessments and treatment plans. Methods include formal testing measures, interviews and clinical observation.
Formulation : After assessment, clinical psychologists make a formulation, an individualized map of the difficulties that the patient or client faces, encompassing predisposing, precipitating and perpetuating (maintaining) factors. This may include recommendations for psychotherapeutic interventions and assessment of risk.
Intervention - Psychotherapy:
Clinical Psychologists are trained, and often specialise in, one or more psychotherapies to improve symptoms of many mental disorders, including but not limited to treatment for anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, personality disorders and eating disorders.
Psychotherapy involves a formal relationship between professional and client, usually an individual, couple, family, or small group, which employs a set of procedures intended to form a therapeutic alliance, explore the nature of psychological problems, and encourage new ways of thinking, feeling, or behaving.
