Dr Clare Quinn - Consultant Clinical Psychologist

What is a Clinical Psychologist?

Clinical Psychologists have at least six years of formal training; they have a degree in psychology and a diploma or doctorate in Clinical Psychology. They are trained in talking therapies and theories. They do not have medical training and do not prescribe or advise about medication.

Clinical Psychologists carry out assessment and therapy with people with a range of problems. They work with people to bring about change in their lives, working together to enable people to understand their difficulties better and think about the best way to cope with their concerns.

Therapeutic Approaches

Cognitive Analytical Therapy (CAT)
CAT enables us to think about how we relate to ourselves and how we then relate to other people. It works on the premise that early on in our lives we develop ways to cope with and manage situations but these ways of coping eventually become problems in themselves. The therapist and client work together to look at what has hindered changes in the past, in order to understand better how to move forward in the present.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
CBT is a psychological approach which research has shown to be effective for a wide range of problems. Clients and therapists work together to identify and understand problems in terms of the relationship between thoughts, feelings and behaviour. The overall aim is for the individual to develop skills and understanding in collaboration with the therapist and then to continue to use these skills once therapy has ended.

Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR)
EMDR often resolves emotional disturbances and trauma where other therapies have been less successful. EMDR is particularly suitable for the treatment of trauma, which may have resulted from an accident, disaster or significant emotional distress.