Clinical Psychologists at NUH are mental health professionals who hold postgraduate qualifications in Clinical Psychology or Clinical Neuropsychology. They are trained in providing psychological (non-drug) assessments and treatments to reduce distress and to promote the psychological well-being in patients. They work within a multidisciplinary team comprising Doctors, Nurses, Occupational Therapists, Social Workers, and other healthcare professionals to provide the best possible standard of care for patients.
1. What is Psychotherapy?
Psychotherapy is a "talking" type of therapy in which a trained mental health professional (e.g. a Clinical Psychologist) helps patients to work through difficult psychological issues. It involves a working relationship between the patient and Clinical Psychologist, to explore the nature of psychological problems and to encourage new ways of thinking, feeling, or behaving.
Psychotherapy services provided at NUH:
- Therapy (e.g. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Solution Focused Brief Therapy, etc.) for Individual Psychotherapy Conditions including:
- Depression/ Mood Disorders
- Anxiety Disorders
- Eating Disorders
- Schizophrenia
- Stress Management
- Insomnia
- Women's emotional health issues (e.g. postnatal depression)
- Difficulties adjusting to life's circumstances
- Coping with medical conditions (e.g. cancer)
- Couples / Marital Counselling
- Family Therapy
- Group Sessions
What to expect in Psychotherapy?
In the first session, the patient and his or her Clinical Psychologist will agree on a fixed number of sessions and special goals to work on in the therapy. They will then review his or her progress before determining whether more sessions are needed. Other details:
- Psychotherapy is "time-limited" - Clinical Psychologists are trained to provide effective and evidence-based treatments in the most efficient way possible. At NUH, we work within the guideline of 8 to 12 therapy sessions per patient.
- Each session lasts about 40 minutes.
- Patients are encouraged to attend sesssions frequently (once every 2 to 3 weeks) in order for psychotherapy to be most effective.
- Each psychotherapy session at NUH is conducted within alloted time slots, thus patients are encouraged to be punctual.
2. Psychological Assessment services provided at NUH:
- Neuropsychological Assessments:
- Intellectual Functioning
- Dementia
- Mild Cognitive Impairment
- Traumatic Brain Injuries
- Memory Difficulties
- Post-Stroke Cognitive Functioninig
- Decision-Making Capacity
- Assessment for Medico-Legal Purposes
- Psycho-Educational Assessments:
- Learning Difficulties
- Autism Spectrum Disorders
- Attention problems, e.g. ADHD
- School readiness
What is Psychological/ Neuropsychological Assessment?
A psychological/ neuropsychological assessment is conducted to provide a better understanding of an individual's behaviour, abilities, and/or problems. The assessment usually involves a clinical interview, the use of various psychological/neuropsychologcal tests (question and answer, or pen and paper tests), a review of medical records, and direct observations of behavior. The assessment findings assist in clinical diagnosis, treatment planning, and rehabilitation.
What to expect in a Psychological/Neuropsychological Assessment?
Clinical interviews will be conducted with the patient, his/her parent(s)/ family members, and teachers to gain an understanding of the patients' background and problems. Relevant psychological and neuropsychological tests will then be administered. Testing will typically be completed in one to three sessions, and each session lasts from 2 to 2.5 hours. Brief feedback on the test findings will be provided by the Clinical Psychologist during the last testing session. A detailed report and feedback on the assessment results along with recommendations will be provided by your Clinical Psychologist or Physician approximately 3 - 4 weeks after the assessment.
3. Public Education / Outreach and Workshops:
- Anxiety (English and Mandarin)
- Insomnia
- Anger Management
- Parenting Skills
- Mindfulness
