What is Psychology?

Psychology is the study of people's behaviour, thoughts, and feelings.  Clinical Psychologists first complete a university degree in psychology, then go on to post-graduate clinical training where they specialise in using psychological ideas and methods to help people with problems.

People often confuse psychologists and psychiatrists.  A psychiatrist's background training is in medicine, while a psychologist's training is grounded in the normal development of behaviour and emotions across the age span.  Psychologists cannot prescribe or advise on medications and many do not provide diagnoses.

Clinical Psychologists adhere to the code of conduct and ethical guidelines put forward by the British Psychological Society. This means all information supplied by a person will be treated in the strictest confidence.

However, in some circumstances, and these are very exceptional, Clinical Psychologists have a duty to share information with other health professionals (e.g. to prevent harm coming to the individual they are treating or to another person).

Dr Celina Kelley