A Clinical Psychologist is a specialist in mental health who holds an M.Phil. Degree in Clinical Psychology from an institution recognized by the Indian Council of Rehabilitation (RCI).

The clinical psychologist trainee is trained in hospital settings during his or her training and observes and operates on cases relating to different mental health conditions when working with the M.D psychology trainees, shoulder to shoulder.

As per the RCI Act, for the prevention and treatment of moderate to serious psychological disorders, a clinical psychologist may perform an independent psychological assessment, examination, psychotherapy, psychoanalysis, hypnosis, biofeedback, and behavioral modification.

What does a clinical psychologist do?

Currently, RCI does not accept the Ph.D. certification in clinical psychology as a valid degree for practicing as a clinical psychologist because it is a qualification for study and has no focus on clinical practice.

What does a clinical psychologist do?

To assess emotional, mental, and behavioral issues with their lives, clinical psychologists consult with patients. The clinical psychologist can diagnose any current or possible disorders through observation, interviews, and tests. Then, along with the patient, they devise a plan of care according to the needs of the patient. Medical psychologists also monitor the progress of the patient on a daily basis to ensure that the plan of action suits their needs and make changes if appropriate.

Clinical Psychologists use scientific approaches to research the variables that affect the feelings, attitudes, emotions, and behavior of people. To help people solve difficulties and deal with life issues such as different mental conditions (including anxiety, depression, eating disorders, panic disorder, and drug abuse, etc.), relationship problems, parenting problems, teenage challenges, lifestyle impact on wellbeing, etc., they use evidence-based methods and psychotherapeutic treatments.

Medications for treating psychiatric disorders are not recommended by clinical psychologists. Instead, they are professional and trained in psychotherapy and use therapeutic methods to treat mental health problems. Clinical psychologists typically collaborate with psychiatrists and other practitioners in mental health in close partnership.

On the job, clinical psychologists:

Identify and diagnose psychological, emotional, or behavioral issues via observation, interviews, and psychometric tests.

Develop and implement non-pharmacological treatment plans. The treatment plans are tailored for each client, keeping their individual differences in consideration.

Monitor patient progress through regular follow up sessions.

Help patients define goals and plan action to achieve personal, social, educational, vocational development and adjustment and make positive changes in their lives.

Provide psychological support to the caregivers of clients.

Teach and supervise clinical psychology trainees.

Meet and create a liaison with other medical and mental health professionals in order to facilitate referrals and provide them a second opinion or advice.

Conduct applied research, adding to the evidence base of practice in the context of different mental health conditions.

Writing medico-legal reports, needed in case of legal proceedings (for e.g., in case of sexual offenders, juvenile delinquents, domestic violence, divorce/separation, claiming child custody, claiming disability benefits/rights.)

Behavioral medicine as a link between clinical psychology and various fields of medicine:

In conjunction with other mental health providers, clinical psychologists work with counselors, psychological social workers, special educators, recovery psychologists, etc. Their position, however, can not be limited only to the field of mental health. In relation to many other fields of medicine, including cardiology, pulmonology, dermatology, oncology, etc., their function must be understood. We first need to understand the sub-specialization of clinical psychology known as behavioral medicine to understand this further.

One of the most common and fastest-growing sub-specialties of clinical psychology is Behavioral Medicine. In essence, behavioral medicine is an interdisciplinary approach that incorporates expertise from multiple clinical areas to combine behavioral and biomedical evidence for the diagnosis, prevention, treatment, and recovery of both psychological and medical issues.

Clinical psychologists who understand the correlation between mind and body function through the nature of their training can help people cope better with chronic medical diseases such as chronic kidney disease (CKD), chronic pain, asthma, COPD, cancer, dementia, etc., as well as avoid the development or worsening of potential diseases (e.g. type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, IBS, etc.). One of the basic principles on which this specialization is centered is that, by altering different physiological functions, psychosocial influences often influence the etiology and maintenance of diseases.

Role of a clinical psychologist in the healthcare sector?

Have you ever found that, relative to others, some people get ill more often than others or take more time to recover? As a consequence of different physiological factors, we generally consider these variations, but psychological and social factors also play a significant role. In the emergence of various mental as well as physical disorders, clinical psychologists are qualified to understand the relation between the different physiological/biological factors, psychological factors, and social factors. The four key ways that clinical psychologists will contribute to the healthcare industry are:

To promote and advocate the maintenance of health and well-being

To prevent and treat certain illnesses

To identify the causal factors and psychological correlates of health, illness, and related dysfunctions.

To analyze and improve the healthcare system and policies.

Major areas in which clinical psychologists can work in the healthcare sector are:

Weight management/ lifestyle management

Drug de-addiction

Chronic Pain management

Stress management

Coping and adjustment to chronic lifelong diseases such as Diabetes, Cardio-Vascular Diseases, Cancer, Skin diseases, etc.

Management of the psychological correlates of some medical problems

Improving treatment compliance and patient-doctor communication

Palliative care

Provision of psychological support to patients admitted in ICU

Psychological support to long-term primary caregivers who are experiencing caregiver burnout.

Psychological support before and after surgery or any intensive medical procedure.

Disclosing critical diagnoses such as cancer, HIV, etc, and poor prognosis to the patient and family in a professional way so that they feel supported in times of distress.

Help patients cope with the side effects of treatment such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy, dialysis, etc.

Different populations who can benefit from the services of clinical psychologists are:

Healthy people-for promoting healthy behaviors and disease prevention

People at high risk for disease (e.g. genetic carriers of a disease or people who engage in high-risk behaviors)

People with complex healthcare needs or diagnosed with acute health problems

People diagnosed with chronic illness

The role of professional psychologists in the various fields of medicine outside mental health treatment must be recognized by the public as well as by the administration. They need to understand how clinical psychologists and medical doctors (from almost all fraternities) can work together and combine their resources, expertise, and experience to assist in prevention, screening and early detection, disease etiology, disease control, health promotion, and preservation, causes for successful care prognosis, rehabilitation, post-recovery adjustment.

In order to help other medical practitioners understand when to refer patients for psychological assessment and intervention, the role of clinical psychologists in the treatment of common medical conditions needs to be emphasized. We will enhance health care and the development of health policy by understanding and embracing the role of clinical psychologists in the health sector, and enable humanity to flourish with a sound body and mind.

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