USEFUL INFORMATION
Useful Information
What is a Clinical Psychologist?
Clinical Psychologists aim to decrease emotional distress and enhance and promote psychological well-being by understanding the links between thoughts, behaviours and emotions. Talking to a Clinical Psychologist can help you to explore and understand more about what is happening in your life and to find new, more effective ways of coping.
Clinical Psychologists are able to utilise a wide range of psychological models and treatments in order to provide effective, evidence based interventions based upon a shared understanding, or 'formulation', of each client's difficulties.
Clinical Psychologists have gained an undergraduate degree in psychology. Following this, relevant work experience is required in clinical psychology and/or research psychology posts. This is followed by the undertaking of a three-year full-time postgraduate Doctorate in Clinical Psychology.
Doctoral training comprises of several intensive placements in different NHS specialities, academic study and a research thesis. This ensures a wide breadth of clinical knowledge and experience, as well as more specialist training closer to qualification.
Following completion of training, Clinical Psychologists are required as part of their national registration to engage in continuing professional development (CPD) to maintain and update their knowledge and skills.
What is Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)?
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is a well researched form of talking therapy. It focuses on the links between thoughts, feelings and behaviour and their impact on the difficulties you are experiencing.
Learning strategies to identify and address unhelpful patterns of thinking and behaviour can have a positive impact on your emotional well-being.
CBT usually focuses on the present but might also look at the impact of your past experiences on the way you currently interpret the world.
For more information about CBT use these links:
What is Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)?
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (pronounced as the word 'act') is an empirically based psychological intervention which uses acceptance and mindfulness strategies, together with behaviour change strategies to increase a person's 'psychological flexibility'.
ACT uses three broad categories of techniques: mindfulness (including being present in the moment and defusion techniques); acceptance; and commitment to values-based living.
It helps people learn to live well alongside their problem if it cannot be removed (such as a long-term conditions) and can help people adjust to life stage transitions and improve their quality of life.
For more information about ACT use these links :
What is EMDR?
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) was developed in the 1980's by American Psychologist, Dr Francine Shapiro. It is a rapid and highly effective evidence-based psychotherapy, initially developed as a very effective treatment for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). There is now increasing research into its effectiveness for a range of other difficulties.
Often when a person experiences a traumatic or distressing event their brain's own natural ability to process and deal with information becomes overloaded and is not able to work effectively. This can leave them experiencing a range of difficulties including poor sleep, intrusive thoughts about what happened, nightmares, flashbacks, anxiety and depression.
EMDR utilises the brain's natural processing abilities to work through distressing images or memories. Sets of eye movements are used to mimic those in the REM stage of sleep, which is when your body usually processes events and stores them as memories (other types of bilateral stimulation such as tapping or sounds may also be used). Linking images of distressing events with sets of eye movements leads the memories to lose their painful intensity and allows them to take on a more neutral level of emotion.
For more detailed information about EMDR use these links:
EMDR UK & Ireland (www.emdrassociation.org.uk)
get self help (www.getselfhelp.co.uk/emdr.htm)
