Clinical Psychology is a discipline within Psychology that specialises in emotional and behavioural disturbances, and is unique from other forms of Psychology in it’s capacity to Assess, Diagnose and Treat psychological disorders; whereas other forms of psychology may help to optimise outcomes for chronically or acutely-ill patients (Health Psychology), or enhance sports performance (Sports Psychology), or the efficacy and efficiency of organisations (Organisational Psychology).

Clinical Psychology specialises in the treatment, management or recovery from Mood Disorders (including Major Depressive and Bi Polar disorders), Anxiety Disorders, Panic, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, OCD, Complicated Grief and Loss, Addictive Behaviours (including substance abuse and other compulsive behaviours), and Personality Disorders.

Clinical Psychology can help people who have experienced an inability to bounce back from the experience of some stressful or frightening situation, or an accumulation of chronic stress which has finally worn the person down to the point beyond which they can regather themselves; this can take the form of a depressive disorder, an anxiety disorder, post traumatic stress, emotional fatigue which may manifest as pain, irritability, difficulties controlling anger, substance or technology misuse, or social withdrawal and isolation.

Psychological therapy can help people to better understand themselves and their experiences, help change troubling behaviours, shift difficult emotional and psychological issues, and help in the treatment of depressed mood, anxiety, trauma, grief, low motivation and relationship difficulties.

Clinical Psychology in particular can help in the treatment, diagnosis and clarification of psychological disorders, however not all suffering is necessarily pathological. Clinical psychology can help people to better understand themselves and their personal experiences, help to build self-awareness and self-acceptance, and help improve experiences of relationships and life in general.

Just like people, every session is unique. The experience of sessions can be very different depending on the type of therapy selected. For example, an EMDR session can be highly structured, whereas a psychodynamic psychotherapy session will be free flowing and highly organic with much less overt direction from the therapist (in the service of exploring unconscious themes which will emerge through the content).
Sometimes a session can stir difficult or painful memories and feelings – whilst unpleasant and sometimes distressing, this is often a good indication that therapy is getting in touch with aspects of experience that a person has been going to lengths to keep distance from (which can be the reason for some of their presenting difficulties).
Bringing these experiences and feelings into conscious awareness allows the opportunity for them to be processed in the presence of, and with help from an empathically attuned and professionally equipped other who facilitates the work of therapeutic change.

Counselling is a process where the counsellor facilitates thought that helps a client come to answers and realisations that were there to be found or developed.
Psychology draws on a body of knowledge regarding human development, motivations and influencing factors on human behaviour and emotional reactions to help a person to firstly increase their self-awareness and understanding, and then if possible alter current problematic experiences and behaviours, or develop more adaptive behaviours and mechanisms of managing difficulties.
Clinical Psychology is a discipline within psychology that focuses specifically on mental illness, assessment and diagnoses.
Whilst many Psychologists can also provide therapy for emotional suffering with great skill, competence, experience and passion, Clinical Psychology endorsement is the recognition of extra formal education, extra formal training and ongoing professional development responsibilities specific to the field of mental illness, undertaken by Clinical Psychologists.