What is a Clinical Psychologist?

‘Evidence-based treatments’ are treatments for which there is a substantial body of research demonstrating their effectiveness for a particular condition or client group. In practice this means that a Clinical Psychologist can tailor an individualised treatment plan to your specific needs using a range of different treatments and therapies that have been shown to work for other individuals with these problems.

Clinical Psychologists are required to have completed a minimum of 6 years of graduate study (an Undergraduate degree in Psychology and a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology) and have gained at least two years of experience in the field before qualification. After qualification they are a highly regulated profession, and Clinical Psychologists are required to continue to meet the standards of their professional regulatory body (Health and Care Professionals Council) in terms of conduct, skills and training. Chartered Psychologists need to have completed and demonstrated (to the British Psychological Society) society-recognised education, skills and practice at a high professional standard.