The Psychotherapist
Psychotherapists use a specific psychological method to help patients having issues. There are several psychotherapeutical orientations: analytical, humanistic, interactional and behavioural.
In France, there is no state-registered diploma of Psychotherapy. The law protects the title; only Psychologists and Psychiatrists can declare themselves Psychotherapists.
In Hong Kong, on the other hand, law does not protect the title of Psychotherapist and there is no university training. So the title of “psychotherapist” can be use by Psychologists who offer psychotherapy services but also by anybody whether this person has an appropriate training or not.
The Psychologist
Psychologists have a state-registered diploma in Psychology.
They have a clinical function:
- they can be psychotherapists supporting the development of the person
- they can make diagnostic hypothesis
The training of Clinical Psychologists focuses on the study of the psyche, the understanding of human behaviour and the learning of techniques. Those techniques include for example psychological assessment to evaluate cognitive abilities and various aspects of personality. It also includes clinical interview to help patients understand and solve their personal difficulties.
Psychologists can work in a private practice or in various institutional settings such as hospitals, schools, prisons, courts or companies. They are full members of multidisciplinary teams. There aim is to contribute to changing individual and collective behaviours.
Most of the time, Psychologists also go through their own psychoanalysis with their therapist. It enables them to differentiate between their patients issues and their own.
The Société Française de Psychologie (SFP) adds that "regardless of personal commitment terms, the psychologist is an authentic relationship specialist, who works for mankind and with mankind, a responsible and competent professional, unique by the specificity of his intervention and plural by his creative force, his potential for adaptation and the diversity of his actions. "
In France, law protects the title of Psychologist. Only people who have the appropriate training can call themselves Psychologists.
In Hong Kong the title is not protected. As there is no legal requirement to work as a Psychologist, anybody can call themself a Psychologist. This is why patients must ensure that the Psychologist they meet has the appropriate training. The Hong Kong Psychological Society provides a list of registered Clinical Psychologists with an independent or private practice. To get round this lack of regulation and better protect patients from a therapy malpractice, the HKPS ensures the qualification of those registered professionals.
The Neuropsychologist
A neuropsychologist is a psychologist who specialises in neuropsychology. A neuropsychologist studies the relationship between the different regions of the brain and behaviour. Neuropsychology sits somewhere between psychology and neurology.
To simplify, the starting point in neuropsychology is that behaviour and psychological functioning are related to brain structure and functioning.
Patients
A neuropsychologist’s role is to evaluate psychological functioning. They are called upon in cases of patients suffering from central nervous system diseases or lesions such as a stroke, brain injury, neuro-degenerative disease, encephalitis or meningitis, brain tumour etc.
They also treat patients whose difficulties are not directly related to a central nervous system condition: learning disorders, developmental disorders, attention deficit disorders, mental health issues etc.
Assessment
In order to understand the nature of the difficulties faced by the patients, clinical interviews are carried out, the patient’s medical history is examined and cognitive tests are administered.
These elements enable the neuropsychologist to identify the mental functions and behaviours that remain preserved and those that are impaired. The objective of gathering this information about the patient is both diagnostic and prognostic, anticipating the probable consequences of the condition on the autonomy of the patient. The assessment is the base on which the rehabilitation care plan will be built.
Rehabilitation
It is by drawing on the patient’s preserved capacities that the neuropsychologist develops a rehabilitation process for cognitive and/or behavioural difficulties.
The rehabilitation will involve a range of tools and techniques: practical exercises aimed at retraining the impaired functions, adjustments to the living environment, learning to use external aids and internal strategies, simulation of real-world tasks in daily or professional life.
The objective of the treatment is to help the person to build on their learning capacities, to adapt to living with the consequences of a trauma, to minimise the difficulties or use compensatory strategies in order to promote personal, social and professional autonomy. The rehabilitation aims to improve the well-being and quality of life of the patient.
Other roles
The neuropsychologist also has an important role accompanying the loved ones of the patient. They will explain the condition of the patient and its consequences. They will support in the process of finding solutions to the difficulties encountered. They will involve the family and significant others in the rehabilitation process.
Finally, the neuropsychologist may be contacted to provide medico-legal evidence. Their role in this case, is to evaluate the extent of the impairment and its impact on daily and professional life. They will determine the degree of disability.
The Psychiatrist
Psychiatrists have a state-registered diploma in Medicine. They are doctors specialized in the study and treatment of mental illnesses.
In France and in Hong Kong the title of Psychiatrist is regulated and protected by law. A list of registered Psychiatrist is available on the Medical Council of Hong Kong website.
They take care of patients with various mental disorders. Those disorders often necessitate prescribing medication. Psychiatrists primarily specialized in treatment using drugs. But in France in addition to the psychopharmacological approach, Psychiatrists can also be psychotherapists. They can train in psychology to use different psychological methods and concepts to treat patients.
The Psychoanalyst
Psychoanalysts are Psychotherapists who use the analytical method to treat their patients. Psychoanalysis was founded by Freud. This method requires several years of analytical therapy for the patient. It aims to enhance the patient’s understanding of the meaning of their subconscious symptoms and behaviours.
Psychoanalysts must undergo several years of personal analytical therapy themselves; this is imperative to practice. On a weekly basis, they have to present to a supervisor a detailed report of the psychoanalysis they lead. Referring to a colleague controls and ensures the quality of work with patients.
Psychoanalysts don’t have a state-registered diploma and the title is not protected. This is why patients should ensure that their Psychoanalyst is also qualified as a Psychologist.
