What is a psychologist?
Psychology is the study of people’s minds, how they think, how they behave and interact with others. Psychologists practice this science to help people with emotional issues. They complete a doctorate degree in psychology and are not usually medically qualified so provide talking therapies rather than prescribe medication. They complete at least 6-9 years of training before they can start practicing.
All psychologists are highly qualified practitioners, with specialisation & experience in a range of different fields of psychology, including: clinical, health, counselling, educational and forensic psychology.
Child & Adolescent (CAMHS) Psychologist
Child and adolescent psychologists are trained practitioners who specialise in talking therapies for children with emotional and behavioural needs. They have vast experience in working with young people and tailor their approach to support the young person in overcoming negative thoughts, managing intense emotions and altering behaviours that may be holding them back from reaching their potential.
- School Refusal
- Challenging behaviours
- Separation Anxiety
- Psychological Trauma
- Social Anxiety, OCD, Anxiety and stress
- Eating disorders
- Low mood and depression
- Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Educational Psychologists help children and young people achieve their full potential by assessing difficulties they may have with learning. They provide advice and training to schools and local authorities to enhance the learning experience. They help develop strategies in order to improve all children’s experiences of learning.
Educational psychologists will often also have received training in assessing emotional wellbeing of young people as well as in providing therapy, They can support the young people to reduce emotional distress and manage negative thoughts.
General Adult Psychologist
General adult psychologists are clinicians who have expertise in the treatment of individuals over the age of 18. They have received ongoing training and have developed the necessary skills to create strong relationships with clients, helping them to overcome difficulties in their lives through talking therapies. There are a range of different psychologists who can offer treatment to adults including:
Clinical Psychologists offer therapies to people with mental disorders and are equipped with skills in assessment and treatment of complex mild to severe difficulties. They use a range of different techniques and therapies to treat mental and emotional disorder.
They are able to personalise and tailor the treatment to the patient’s specific needs.
Clinical psychologists work with a range of issues including but not limited to:
- Depression
- Anxiety disorders: OCD, Social Anxiety, Agoraphobia
- Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Eating disorders
- Addictions
- Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)
- Bipolar Affective Disorder
Health psychology focuses on how physical, social, and psychological factors influence health and illness.
Health psychologists help people to manage the psychological and emotional aspects of physical health and illness. They help promote healthier lifestyles and encourage people to improve their mental and physical well-being. They would help with:
- Adjusting to a serious illness, such as cancer
- Changing Lifestyle associated with poor diet and lack of exercise
- Changing negative beliefs about health and illness as in illness anxiety
- Enhancing healthy lifestyle such as with healthy eating and sleep behaviours, Smoking cessation.
- Management of diabetes or other long-term health issues, from a psychological perspective
- Chronic Pain management
Counselling psychologists provide a wide variety of techniques and therapeutic approaches to support people experiencing anxiety, depression, substance abuse, as well as more complex disorders, such as post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and personality disorders. They can specifically help with a supportive approach in the following situations:
Counselling psychologists often work with issues that
people may find challenging such as:
- Bereavement and loss
- Domestic violence
- Relationship difficulties
- Sexual abuse
- Psychological trauma
Forensic psychologists offer assessment and treatment of criminal behaviours. They work in criminal, civil and family legal context and provide research-based evidence to develop policy and working practices, give evidence and advise courts, parole boards and mental health tribunals. They use their your specialist knowledge of psychological theory and criminal behaviour to:
They also work with people who have committed offenders to help them understand and overcome their problems and behaviour patterns by:
- Support police investigations through criminal profiling
- Help to write policies and strategies
- Carry out research to improve and develop professional practice
- Prepare risk assessments for offenders
- Develop treatment and rehabilitation programmes
- Provide psychological therapy
- Family services (e.g., family violence counselling services, parent training programs)
- Alcohol and drug rehabilitation services
Older Adult Psychologist
Older Adult psychologists provide specialised assessment, treatment and ongoing therapy to adults over the age of 65 years, who suffer from a range of mental health problems including memory issues, dementia and other disorders also seen in the other age groups including depression and schizophrenia.
Clinical Psychologists offer therapies to people with mental disorders and are equipped with skills in assessment and treatment of complex mild to severe difficulties. They use a range of different techniques and therapies to treat mental and emotional disorder. They are able to personalise and tailor the treatment to the patient’s specific needs. Clinical psychologists work with a range of issues including but not limited to:
- Dementia – Cognitive stimulation therapy, behavioural adjustments Cognitive and Memory Assessment
- Depression, Mood disorders
- Anxiety disorders:
- Addictions in older people
Health psychologists focus on how biological, social, and psychological factors influence physical and emotional health and illness. They can help the older adults with:
- Adjusting to a serious illness, such as cancer
- Increasing levels of physical and mentalactivity
- Enhancing healthy lifestyle including eating and sleepbehaviours:
- Psychological management of diabetes or other long-term health issues