What's Clinical Psychology? Who's a Clinical Psychologist

The Great Confusion? What's Clinical Psychology? Who's a Clinical Psychologist? 


What's Clinical Psychology? 
Clinical psychology is a broad branch of psychology that focuses on diagnosing and treating mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders. Some of the more common disorders that might be treated include learning disabilities, substance abuse, depression, anxiety, and eating disorders.

How is Clinical Psychology different from Counselling Psychology and other branches of Psychology. 

Counselling Psychologists tend to work more with healthy patients who have fewer serious psychological problems. Their work focuses more on social and physical issues that arise from typical life stresses or more serious issues associated with school, work or family settings. Thus, their work is more client-centric, focusing on wellness and prevention rather than pathology.

Are Counsellors Mental Health Professionals? 
As per Mental Health Act, 2017 only following personals qualify for the term "Mental Health Practitioner/Professional" which include 
Mental Health Act, 2017, Part B, 

Definition of Mental Health Professionals

“Mental Health Professional” means—
(i) a psychiatrist as defined in clause (x) (With an MD in Psychiatry) ; or

(ii) a professional registered with the concerned State Authority under
section 55 (RCI Licensed); or

(iii) a professional having a post-graduate degree (Ayurveda) in Mano
Vigyan Avum Manas Roga or a post-graduate degree (Homoeopathy) in Psychiatry
 or a post-graduate degree (Unani) in Moalijat (Nafasiyatt) or a post-graduate
 degree (Siddha) in Sirappu Maruthuvam. 

The bill also considers Psychiatric Social workers, Psychiatric Nurses as Mental Health Professionals. But clearly excludes Counsellors from this definition. 

Can Counselors practice as Mental Health Professionals in India? 

As per Mental Health Care Act 2017, Clinical Psychologist is recognised as Mental Health Professionals who are allowed to work in the Mental Health Care Settings and clearly defined “Clinical Psychologists"

(g) “clinical psychologist” means a person––

(i) having a recognised qualification in Clinical Psychology from an institution approved and recognised, by the Rehabilit ation Council of India, constituted under section 3 of the Rehabilitation Council of India Act, 1992; or

(ii) having a Post-Graduate degree in Psychology or Clinical Psychology or Applied Psychology and a Master of Philosophy in Clinical Psychology or Medical and Social Psychology obtained after completion of a full time course of two years which includes supervised clinical training from any University recognised by the University Grants Commission established under the University Grants Commission Act, 1956 and approved and recognised by the Rehabilitation Council of India Act, 1992 or such recognised qualifications as may be prescribed". 

RCI is the only statutory body to issue licensed
certificate, monitor and regulate Clinical Psychology profession and professionals in India.

Can Counselors, Scholars with PhD in Psychology/Clinical/Counselling Psychology, MPhil in Counselling Psychology (or other branches) work as mental health practitioners? 
As per Mental Health Care Act 2017 and RCI, two years full time supervised training in M. Phil in clinical psychology degree is the only essential qualifications to practice as clinical psychologists in field of mental health.

No other degree such as Ph.D in Clinical Psychology or Psychology, or certificate, or masters in Clinical Psychology and psychology, Diploma in Guidance, Counselling, Psychotherapy, , 3 months or 6 months  internship in the field of clinical psychology, open university courses like M.Sc in Psychotherapy and Counseling, individuals underwent few days of few weeks professional training in CBT, REBT, NLP, SLD, Neuropsychology or Hypnosis in India or abroad or similar courses cannot make eligible anyone to practice as Clinical Psychologist in India. So, don’t be misguided by any kind of fake information, advertisement and certificate programs which are not recognized by RCI to practice as a Clinical Psychologist.

What if they still decide to practice? 

 Any person working as clinical psychologist without RCI registration as Clinical Psychologist shall be punishable before the Law under Section 13(3) of RCI Act, 1992.

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