I’m a Clinical Psychologist and one of the most common questions I get asked is about how my role differs from other mental health professionals. So, I’ve put together this guide to hopefully give you an overview of our roles:
Health Care Assistants (HCAs): HCAs assist other professionals by helping feed, clean and monitor patients. Anyone with relevant experience can become a healthcare worker.
Support Workers: Support Workers are unqualified staff who provide emotional or practical support for people who are experiencing difficulties. Sometimes they can provide low level therapeutic interventions like graded exposure, if supervised by a qualified member of staff.
Occupational Therapists (OT): OTs are professionals who have compelted a 3-4 year Undergraduate degree or 2 year Post graduate/Masters degree in Occupational Therapy. They offer practical support to people whose health prevents them doing the activities that matter to them. They may set up hand rails for people with physical disabilities or help people with mental health problems to restart hobbies and interests. They aim to help you improve your life through meaningful activity.
Mental Health Nurses: Nurses have generally completed a 3 year Nursing degree and work in hospitals and the community to support people with a range of mental health issues. They can support with medication, physical care and therapeutic interventions. They must be registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC).
Social Workers: Social Workers use talking therapy, support and advocacy to help people deal with social factors in their life, including housing, relationships and employment. To become a Social Worker, you can complete a BSc Social Work degree or, if you have a relevant undergraduate degree, you can complete a 2 year post-graduate master’s degree in Social Work.
Clinical Associates in Psychology (CAPs): CAPs have completed an undergraduate degree in Psychology and then an 18 month full-time apprenticeship. They can work in the specific area of mental health that they have trained in (eg Adult community mental health) with supervision from a qualified psychologist.
Assistant Psychologists: Assistant Psychologists have completed an Undergraduate Degree in Psychology and are now assisting a qualified Psychologist in order to gain further experience. They can deliver basic therapeutic interventions under supervision. Once they have gained experience in a range of settings, they can then apply for a place on the Doctorate in Clinical Psychology to become a Clinical Psychologist.
Clinical Psychologists: Clinical Psychologists have completed an undergraduate degree in Psychology, work experience in a range of different settings as an Assistant Psychologist, potentially a Maters or Post graduate diploma in mental health and then a 3 year Doctorate in Clinical Psychology. Once qualified as a Clinical Psychologst, they can then provide various talking therapies for people who have mental health problems. They tend to work with clients with a wide range of mental health problems, whereas Counselling Psychologists tend to work with clients who have milder difficulties.
Counselling Psychologists: Counselling Psychologists have completed an undergraduate degree in Psychology, work experience in a range of different settings and then a Doctorate in Counselling Psychology. Once qualified, they can use therapeutic interventions to support people experiencing difficulties in their lives.
Family Therapist: Family Therapists work with families and couples to help improve their relationships and mental health. To become a Family Therapist, you generally need to have a professional qualification already, such as Mental Health Nurse, Psychologist, Social Worker, Occupational Therapist, etc. You can then complete a 3-4 year part-time course in Family and Systemic Psychotherapy.
Cognitive Analytic Therapy (CAT) Practitioners: CAT is a type of therapy that focuses on the relational patterns that contribute to mental health difficulties. To become a CAT Practitioner, you generally need to have a professional qualification already, such as Mental Health Nurse, Psychologist, Social Worker, Occupational Therapist, etc. You can then complete 2 years study to become a Cognitive Analytic Practitioners and a further 2 years study to become UKCP Accredited CAT Psychotherapists.
Psychiatrists: Psychiatrists are medical Doctors who have specialised in Mental Health and can assess, diagnose and treat mental health problems with medication. To become a Psychiatrist, you need to complete a 5-year degree in medicine (recognised by the General Medical Council GMC), a 2-year foundation programme of general training, and a 6-year specialist training programme in psychiatry.