How can a clinical psychologist help? Well, in broad terms, a clinical psychologist works collaboratively with you to help you understand more about your difficulty, why it occurred, what factors are maintaining it, and how to manage and/or overcome it. One particular type of therapy is cognitive behaviour therapy.
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT)
CBT teaches you a number of skills and strategies to cope more effectively with your problems. It focuses on identifying and then modifying thoughts and behaviours that are contributing to (or causing) the difficulties.
It is typically a short-term therapy (between 5 and 15 sessions), because it teaches you the skills you need to manage your difficulties on an ongoing basis, rather than having to be reliant on a therapist. Also, it is very practical and “hands-on”, teaching you what you need to know in the here and now to alleviate your symptoms and feel better.
Research conclusively identifies CBT as an effective psychological treatment for a wide variety of problems, including stress, depression and anxiety.
Confidentiality is given paramount importance in the context of therapy. A psychologist is unable to reveal anything to anyone of what a client says or does in session, unless:
Permission is given by the client to do so
The psychologist has reason to believe that the client is likely to cause harm to themselves or someone else
Therapy versus Medication
Why would someone invest the time and expense into psychological therapy when there are effective anti-depressant medications easily available? The primary advantage of therapy over medication is that it teaches skills that you will have for the rest of your life; medication only works for as long as you take it. Another clear advantage is that therapy does not have any physical side-effects, which can occur with medication. Research tells us that CBT is equally as effective as anti-depressant medication in the short-term (months), but more effective in the longer term (years) because its effect does not wear off.
Combining therapy and medication is often an effective option, and a clinical psychologist can work in conjunction with your GP or psychiatrist for this purpose.
It must be noted, however, that for some more severe mental illnesses, medication is a necessity for symptom relief. Please consult your GP or psychiatrist for further information on medications.
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