Our emotional well-being significantly impacts how we feel, think, and behave. Additionally, it affects how well we can handle stress, relate to others, and make decisions. In the words of the World Health Organisation, mental health is “a state of well-being in which a person is aware of his or her potential, can manage life’s normal stresses, feels optimistic about the future, and can work productively and contribute to their community.”

However, mental health is not a static condition that can be taken for granted. It can fluctuate over time and across different situations, depending on various factors such as biological, psychological, social, and environmental influences. Sometimes, people may experience mental health problems that make it challenging to lead a regular life. These issues can include common conditions such as anxiety, depression, substance abuse, and eating disorders, and more serious ones such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

According to the WHO, one in every four people may struggle with some mental or neurological disorder. The National Morbidity and Mortality Survey in Malaysia reported that 29.2% of adults aged 16 years and above experienced some form of mental health problem in their lifetime. The survey also found that the prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress among adults has increased. These findings indicate that mental health is a paramount public health concern requiring urgent attention.

Services Provided by Clinical Psychologists

A clinical psychologist can provide various services to help people with mental health problems. They include:

Psychological assessment

A clinical psychologist can conduct various tests and interviews to evaluate a person’s cognitive abilities, personality traits, emotional functioning, behavioural patterns, and coping skills. The outcomes of these evaluations can aid in identifying the nature and severity of the person’s mental health problem, as well as their strengths and weaknesses.

 Psychotherapy or counselling

Clinical psychologists can counsel people to help them understand their thoughts, feelings, and behaviours that are causing them distress or impairing their functioning. They can also help people develop new skills and strategies to cope with their challenges and achieve their goals.

Psychologists can use different types of psychotherapy depending on the person’s needs and preferences. Some examples are cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT), interpersonal therapy (IPT), dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), and family therapy.

Psychological intervention

Clinical psychologists can also provide psychological intervention to help people change their maladaptive or harmful behaviours related to their mental health problems. For example, a psychologist can help people with substance abuse disorders to reduce or stop their substance use through motivational interviewing, relapse prevention, and harm reduction techniques.

Psychological consultation

A psychologist can also provide psychological consultation to other professionals or organisations caring for or supporting people with mental health problems. For example, they can advise a psychiatrist on the best psychological treatment for a patient who has schizophrenia. They can also collaborate with a teacher on managing a student with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Psychological research

A clinical psychologist can also conduct psychological research to advance the knowledge and practice of clinical psychology. They can also disseminate their research findings through publications or presentations at conferences or workshops.

The role of clinical psychologists is not limited to helping people with mental health problems. They can also help people facing various life challenges or transitions, such as stress management, career development, relationship issues, parenting skills, grief and loss, and personal growth. A psychologist can also help people who want to enhance their well-being and performance in various domains such as sports, education, work, and health.

To summarise, a clinical psychologist is a mental health professional who can help people with various psychological needs and goals. They can use scientific and evidence-based practices to assess, diagnose, treat, and prevent mental disorders and psychological distress. A psychologist can also provide psychotherapy, psychological intervention, psychological consultation, and psychological research to help people improve their mental health and well-being.

How Can a Clinical Psychologist Help You?

A clinical psychologist can assist in several ways:

Some of the common reasons why people seek help from a clinical psychologist are:

• Loss – Passing away of a loved one, a divorce, a job loss, or any other significant life change may make a person feel overwhelmed by grief, anger, guilt, or sadness. A clinical psychologist can help them to process their emotions and find healthy ways to cope with their loss.
• Stress and anxiety – Some people may have an anxiety disorder due to which they can be constantly worried, nervous, or fearful about various aspects of their life, such as their health, finances, relationships, or work. A clinical psychologist can help them identify the sources and triggers of their anxiety. They can also teach them relaxation techniques and cognitive strategies to manage their stress.
• Depression – When some people feel hopeless, helpless, or worthless for more than two weeks and lose interest or pleasure in things they used to enjoy, it may be clinical depression. Depression is a serious mental health condition affecting mood, energy, appetite, sleep, and concentration. A clinical psychologist can help in understanding the causes and effects of their depression and provide them with medication or psychotherapy to treat the symptoms.
• Phobias – Some people may have a phobia, an intense and irrational fear of a specific object, situation, or activity that interferes with their daily functioning. Phobias can cause panic attacks, avoidance behaviours, and distress. A clinical psychologist can play a significant role in overcoming their phobias by exposing them to the feared stimulus gradually and safely and challenging their negative thoughts and beliefs.
• Family and relationship issues – If you have difficulties communicating, resolving conflicts, or expressing intimacy with your partner, family, friends, or co-workers, a clinical psychologist can be of great help. They may empower you to improve your interpersonal skills, enhance your emotional awareness and empathy, and strengthen your bonds with others.
• Habits and addictions – Many of us have compulsive or addictive behaviour that harms our health, well-being, or relationships, such as smoking, overconsumption of alcohol, excessive amounts of food, gambling, or using drugs. Seeking help from a clinical psychologist can be very useful in such cases. A clinical psychologist can help in breaking unhealthy habits by identifying the underlying psychological factors that motivate us, such as stress, boredom, low self-esteem, or trauma, and by teaching alternative coping skills.
• Performance enhancement – You may also consult a clinical psychologist to improve your performance in any area of your life, such as sports, academics, arts, or work. A clinical psychologist can help boost your confidence, motivation, focus, creativity, and resilience by using goal setting, imagery, self-talk, feedback, and relaxation.

Apart from the above, there are many other mental health conditions and issues that a clinical psychologist can address, such as eating disorders, personality disorders, trauma, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, autism spectrum disorder, learning disabilities, chronic pain, insomnia, sexual problems, etc.

The Difference Between a Psychiatrist and a Psychologist

Though both professionals help people with mental health issues, they have different training, qualifications, and roles.

When Should You See a Psychologist and When a Psychiatrist?

This is a common question that many people have when they face mental health challenges. Both professionals can offer you support and guidance for your emotional and psychological issues but have different roles and approaches.

So, how do you decide who to see? This question has no simple answer. It entirely depends on your needs and preferences. However, some general guidelines are:

• You should see a psychologist if you want to try psychotherapy as the main or only treatment for your mental health issue. Psychotherapy can be effective for many conditions, such as depression, anxiety, phobias, stress, trauma, relationship problems, etc. Psychotherapy can also help to prevent relapse, enhance your well-being, and improve your quality of life.
• For severe mental health issues that require medication, such as bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or severe depression, a psychiatrist should be consulted. Delusions and thoughts of suicide can be treated with medication. Medication can also help in better daily functioning and enhance the quality of life.
• Complex or chronic mental health condition that does not respond well to either psychotherapy or medication alone may require intervention from both a psychologist and a psychiatrist. Combining both treatments may be more effective to treat major conditions such as depressive disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, or post-traumatic stress disorder.

Consult your primary care doctor or another trusted professional for guidance on deciding between a psychologist and a psychiatrist. The most important thing is to seek help and find the best fit for you. Remember that your mental health is just as important as your physical health and that there is no shame in asking for support.

Sources:

• https://drnehamehta.com/struggles-of-a-psychologist/
• https://www.thestar.com.my/starpicks/clinical-psychologists-the-future-of-mental-health-care-in-malaysia
• https://resolve.my/the-status-of-clinical-psychology-in-malaysia/
• https://borgenproject.org/mental-health-in-malaysia/
• https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/bjpsych-international/article/mental-disorders-in-malaysia-an-increase-in-lifetime-prevalence
• https://www.tigercampus.com.my/the-mental-health-statistics-in-malaysia/
• https://www.who.int/publications/m/item/mental-health-atlas