Counselling psychologist : Job description

Counselling psychologists work therapeutically with clients who present with a variety of mental health problems and difficulties regarding life issues. Life issues may include bereavement, the effects of childhood sexual abuse, relationship issues, domestic violence or major trauma. Mental health problems include anxiety, depression, eating disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder or psychosis. Counselling psychologists work collaboratively with people to explore underlying issues and empower them to consider change.

Counselling psychologists use a holistic framework when working with clients and examine issues within a wide context. They also focus on personal insight and the relationship with the client.

Typical work activities

Counselling psychologists aim to help individuals make decisions for themselves in order to improve their sense of personal wellbeing and alleviate distress. The work is concerned with the application of psychological theories and techniques to help people deal with everyday problems associated with life events and mental health issues. Contact is mainly in a community/social, health/medical or organisational setting with the following clients:

• individual adults or children;
• students and young people;
• families and couples;
• older people.

Tasks typically include:

• applying psychological principles when working with individuals and groups in order to assist in changing, improving, understanding or managing situations;
• building relationships with clients: ‘being with’ rather than ‘doing to’ the client;
• performing assessments, including assessments of mental health needs, risk assessments and psychometric testing;
• formulating psychological explanations of the cause of mental health difficulties;
• planning and implementing therapy as well as evaluating outcomes;
• writing reports and record keeping;
• overseeing the management of services and staff;
• receiving ongoing personal therapy and supervision;
• undertaking research, either individually or as part of a team;
• offering advice on how best to work with a client when employed on a consultancy basis.

The work may also involve teaching, supervising and training other counselling psychologists or related professionals.