Clinical Psychologist

Clinical Psychologists work with people experiencing a range of difficulties that occur during their lives.

You will work with people of all ages on a wide range of psychological difficulties in mental and physical health. This can include anxiety, depression, psychosis, personality disorder, eating disorders, addictions, learning disabilities and family or relationship issues. You may work with children, young adults, adults, and older adults. You will draw on your knowledge to bring about positive change.

Role Characteristics

Understand your patient’s needs, abilities or behaviour using different methods, including psychometric tests, interviews and observations of their behaviour
Plan, monitor and adapt treatment programmes and interventions, including therapy, counselling or advice
Offer therapy and treatments for issues relating to a range of mental health conditions
Plan therapies that reduce psychological distress and promote psychological well-being
Provide consultation, training and supervision to other professionals and other agencies
Evaluate the efficacy and outcome of treatments

Skills

Active listening
Advice giving
Decision-making
Observation
Working with groups
Written communication

Day in the life

Watch the video about a career in NHS as a clinical psychologist.

Routes into this role

Here are some example routes that can lead into this role.

GCSEs

BTEC

A-Levels

Undergraduate degree

Degree apprenticeship

Postgraduate degree

How to become

You will usually need 5 GCSEs including English and maths and at least two A levels or equivalent - psychology can be useful but is not essential.

You will need a British Psychology Society accredited degree in Psychology. After your degree, you will need to go onto further postgraduate study in Clinical Psychology.

To practice as a Clinical Psychologist, you must be registered with the Health and Care Professionals Council (HCPC).

Where can this role lead

No matter what role you start in or where you are in your career path, there are always opportunities to develop and progress in health and care.

You may choose to specialise in a particular area of clinical psychology, such as addiction, forensic clinical psychology, or psychosis and complex mental health. With experience you could specialise in working with certain people such as children or young offenders.

You could move into research or teach at a University.