Information to Public

Patients’ Charter

List of Registrants

What is a clinical psychologist?

A Clinical Psychologist is a professional practicing an area of applied psychology. Clinical Psychologists adopt an evidence-based approach to promote psychological well-being and address psychological problems, which include a wide range of developmental, emotional, behavioral and mental disorders with varied severity and complexity.

Clinical Psychologists work in a variety of settings which include, but not limited to hospitals, government agencies, non-governmental organizations, tertiary education institutions and private practice. They work for the benefit of service recipients across the lifespan and with diverse backgrounds, both directly and indirectly.

How can a clinical psychologist help?

A clinical psychologist helps promote psychological well-being and address psychological problems of the public. The goal will be pursued through direct and indirect clinical services and in collaboration with other healthcare professionals where applicable.

  1. Direct clinical services, usually in the form of assessment and intervention, are rendered to people suffering from psychological problems that impaired their functioning in different aspects of life. Clinical Psychologists utilize psychological models to guide professional practice including assessment and diagnosis of neurodevelopmental disorders, adjustment to changes, risk of self-injurious behaviors, neurocognitive functioning, psychopathologies and other relevant psychological problems.
  2. Indirect clinical psychology services, usually in the form of skill and knowledge transfer, are provided through collaboration with other healthcare professionals and service providers. The general public would benefit directly from public talks and workshops conducted by Clinical Psychologists, and indirectly from policies and programmes developed to raise mental health awareness.
  • Prevention, Promotion and Advocacy
    • Clinical Psychologists supply and disseminate psychoeducational information regarding psychological well-being, identification and management of various psychological disorders.
    • Clinical Psychologists participate in the development of mental health policy to increase public awareness of the impact of different mental disorders and related social problems, including stigmatization.
  • Education and Research
    • Clinical Psychologists participate in professional training programmes, research activities, conventions and seminars for continuous professional development. They also provide training and development of programmes for fellow clinical psychologists or other healthcare professionals. They deliver clinical psychology-related knowledge and training to students in academic institutions.
    • Clinical Psychologists also provide on-site supervision to clinical psychology trainees in order to enable them to acquire the clinical skills necessary for attaining a satisfactory level of professional competence.
    • Clinical Psychologists conduct research to further the development of knowledge and practice in mental health-related issues. They evaluate and synthesize scientific evidence to improve practice. They design, implement and report empirical studies in the field of clinical psychology.
  • Consultation
    • Clinical Psychologists offer advice on treatment to other healthcare professionals that meet the needs of service recipients based on psychological theories and research findings.

Pamphlet on Accredited Healthcare Professional Body Series (Clinical Psychologists)

Please click this hyperlink to access the pamphlet issued by the Department of Health, featuring Clinical Psychologists and HKICP as the only accredited healthcare professional body responsible for administering the register of clinical psychologists.

Related resource issued by the Department of Health is accessible here: https://www.ars.gov.hk/en/resource.html

Title for Registrants of Accredited Healthcare Professional Bodies

Hong Kong Institute of Clinical Psychologists (HKICP) welcomes the announcement of the Department of Health regarding the revision of title for registrants of accredited healthcare professional bodies with immediate effect on 18th September 2023 (https://www.ars.gov.hk/en/news_20230918.html).

As HKICP is the only healthcare professional body accredited by the Department of Health responsible for administering the register of clinical psychologists, members of HKICP are permitted to use the title “Clinical Psychologist in Accredited Register” on their name cards (https://www.ars.gov.hk/en/about_ars/accr_mark.html).