What is a Clinical Psychologist?
There is a lot of confusion about what a Clinical Psychologist is and how we are trained. Clinical Psychologists
have completed a minimum of 6 years of university training, followed by two years of registrar practice under
rigorous professional supervision before they are eligible for endorsed registration as a Clinical Psychologist.
The post-graduate university training at Masters level develops specialist skills in psychological assessment, a range of psychological treatments and research. Some Clinical Psychologists also do a Doctorate or Ph.D. which adds a further three or four years to their expert training. I have for example done a Ph.D. in medical psychology which added four years to my six years of training.
Over the course of university work Clinical Psychologists comprehensively study the way adults, adolescents and children think, feel and behave and how, for example, difficult relationships, stress or trauma impact on their psychological and emotional functioning. This means we think about the whole person and their life experiences as well as the symptoms themselves. We’re especially interested in how a particular problem has come into being – because that helps guide what to do about it. We think about the connections between thoughts, feelings, behaviour and patterns within these; the connections between past and present; what has been learned and experienced in the family; what an individual’s life experience has brought to them and whether or not there might be a physical component to the problem. Therefore Clinical Psychologists are expert in integrating information from many dimensions and then formulating a treatment plan that is tailored to a particular individual. They additionally assess how well the therapy is working and make whatever adjustments are necessary. This multidimensional perspective means we can see the problem, the person and the context.
All Clinical Psychologists are legally required to register with the Psychology Board of Australia (part of the
Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency) each year. To acquire registration means we must demonstrate continuous professional competence and must practice under a strict code of ethics and conduct, thereby assuring highly trained and ethical practitioners. Seeing someone who is a registered Clinical Psychologist ensures that you
will receive high quality, ethical treatment from a highly trained professional who has demonstrated their competence in practice.
The titles of ‘Counsellor’, ‘Psychotherapist’ and ‘Hypnotherapist’ are not similarly regulated in Australia, therefore
the training and experience of therapists using these titles will vary considerably and often people have no
university training and may have only done short courses. It is always important to check the training, qualifications and experience of people with whom you are entrusting your or your family members mental health to.
How can a Clinical Psychologist help me?
Clinical Psychologists use evidence-based psychological therapies, which they are thoroughly trained to use. Evidence-based therapies mean the therapies have been well researched and have been shown to be effective
in treating common psychological and emotional health problems such as anxiety and depression based difficulties and most childhood emotional and behavioural problems. They do not prescribe medication. There are a number
of different therapy approaches that can be utilized. Please look at the “Psychotherapy Services Offered” page to
see how I work.
Psychological therapies have been shown in research to be as effective as medication in the short term, and
more effective in the long term. Therefore before starting medication discuss with your medical practitioner your psychotherapy options.
have completed a minimum of 6 years of university training, followed by two years of registrar practice under
rigorous professional supervision before they are eligible for endorsed registration as a Clinical Psychologist.
The post-graduate university training at Masters level develops specialist skills in psychological assessment, a range of psychological treatments and research. Some Clinical Psychologists also do a Doctorate or Ph.D. which adds a further three or four years to their expert training. I have for example done a Ph.D. in medical psychology which added four years to my six years of training.
Over the course of university work Clinical Psychologists comprehensively study the way adults, adolescents and children think, feel and behave and how, for example, difficult relationships, stress or trauma impact on their psychological and emotional functioning. This means we think about the whole person and their life experiences as well as the symptoms themselves. We’re especially interested in how a particular problem has come into being – because that helps guide what to do about it. We think about the connections between thoughts, feelings, behaviour and patterns within these; the connections between past and present; what has been learned and experienced in the family; what an individual’s life experience has brought to them and whether or not there might be a physical component to the problem. Therefore Clinical Psychologists are expert in integrating information from many dimensions and then formulating a treatment plan that is tailored to a particular individual. They additionally assess how well the therapy is working and make whatever adjustments are necessary. This multidimensional perspective means we can see the problem, the person and the context.
All Clinical Psychologists are legally required to register with the Psychology Board of Australia (part of the
Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency) each year. To acquire registration means we must demonstrate continuous professional competence and must practice under a strict code of ethics and conduct, thereby assuring highly trained and ethical practitioners. Seeing someone who is a registered Clinical Psychologist ensures that you
will receive high quality, ethical treatment from a highly trained professional who has demonstrated their competence in practice.
The titles of ‘Counsellor’, ‘Psychotherapist’ and ‘Hypnotherapist’ are not similarly regulated in Australia, therefore
the training and experience of therapists using these titles will vary considerably and often people have no
university training and may have only done short courses. It is always important to check the training, qualifications and experience of people with whom you are entrusting your or your family members mental health to.
How can a Clinical Psychologist help me?
Clinical Psychologists use evidence-based psychological therapies, which they are thoroughly trained to use. Evidence-based therapies mean the therapies have been well researched and have been shown to be effective
in treating common psychological and emotional health problems such as anxiety and depression based difficulties and most childhood emotional and behavioural problems. They do not prescribe medication. There are a number
of different therapy approaches that can be utilized. Please look at the “Psychotherapy Services Offered” page to
see how I work.
Psychological therapies have been shown in research to be as effective as medication in the short term, and
more effective in the long term. Therefore before starting medication discuss with your medical practitioner your psychotherapy options.
