Types of Support
Different Types of Support
At NeuroDirect we value choice and transparency. We want to ensure that you find the right professional for you, so we have put together information below to shed some insight into their expertise. This is not an exhaustive list, but it is a starting point to help your decision process.
Clinical Psychologist
- Clinical Psychologists are mental health professionals who specialise in assessments, diagnosis and psychological treatments.
- They work with a range of conditions including:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Eating disorders
- Psychosis
- Personality Disorders
- Neurodevelopmental Conditions
- Addictions
- Trauma
- Executive dysfunction
- Family or personal relationship issues
A clinical psychologist would typically go through years of education and training and would hold a doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology (DClinpsych). They work in a variety of settings including hospitals (NHS), private practices, and academic institutions and would often interact with other departments to receive referrals from various professionals such as doctors, therapists, social workers and nurses. They utilise a range of evidence-based assessment
Techniques including:
- Clinical interviews
- Standardised questionnaires
- Cognitive assessments and psychometric tests
- Observation of behaviour (this sometimes includes observations at schools)
Assessments may lead to therapeutic interventions by the same clinical psychologist or another qualified professional they refer the client to. Clinical psychologists in the UK are usually trained in a range of therapeutic models. Post-qualification, they then may specialise in a specific therapeutic model but typically continue to work integrative manner. This is what makes therapy with a clinical psychologist different to a therapist that is trained in one modality. Models that the clinical psychologist are usually trained in consist of the following:
- Cognitive Analytic Therapy (CAT)
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)
- Interpersonal Therapy
- Or other various psychotherapeutic approaches
Clinical psychologists are not qualified to prescribe medication as only a qualified prescriber is able to do this (e.g., psychiatrist, pharmacist, nurse) is allowed to do so. Clinical psychologists support the client with emotional and behavioural interventions and will never prescribe medical interventions. Should medication be recommended, they will refer the client to an appropriate medical professional.
Clinical Psychologists must be registered with the Health and Care Professionals Council (HCPC) before they can practice in the UK. The title ‘practitioner psychologist’ is the generic title which can be used by any HCPC registered psychologist. The title ‘Clinical psychologist’ is a protected title and only a registered psychologist that meets the HCPC criteria for a clinical psychologist can use the title legally. You will see that some clinical psychologists’ are also registered with a professional body such as the British Psychological Society (BPS) or the Association of Clinical Psychologists (ACP)
10+ Years of experience
Occupational Therapist
An Occupational Therapist (OT) is a healthcare specialist who helps clients of all ages learn or re-learn the skills needed for daily life such as self-care, executive function skills, and becoming as independent as possible. They work with clients who have physical, executive, behavioural or developmental challenges that can impact their day-to-day activities. The interventions an OT can provide include:
- Cognitive rehabilitation where they work to improve executive skills like attention, problem solving and memory.
- Physical rehabilitation where they help clients physical injuries improve mobility, strength, balance and coordination through exercises and assistive devices.
- Activities of Daily Living (ADL) where they can assist clients with developmental or sustained injuries develop skills important for daily living like hygiene, eating and household tasks. They can also introduce assistive technology to help clients perform daily activities more independently.
- Sensory Integration Therapy (SI). An OT can help with sensory processing difficulties and they can understand what sensorily bothersome things need to be removed or sensorily helpful things added. They also specialise in Sensory Diets.
An occupational therapist may work in a wide variety of settings including hospitals (NHS), schools, rehabilitation centres and mental health practices. They often collaborate with other healthcare professionals to ensure all-rounded care for the client. An OT will typically hold a degree in occupational therapy and be licenced by the Health and Care Professionals Council (HCPC) before they can practice in the UK.
Counsellor
A counsellor is a registered therapist who provides emotional and psychological support to individuals who are experiencing the following issues:
- Anxiety
- Divorce of relationship difficulties
- Bereavement
- Emotional difficulties
- Illnesses
- Unemployment or job uncertainty
- Counsellors may specialise in many different therapeutic approaches and it is important that clients find one that is compatible with their needs. The roles of a counsellor would usually include the following:
- Providing various talking therapies to support emotional wellbeing
- Conducting assessments in order to understand a client’s needs or goals
- Providing psychoeducation about mental health and coping and self-care skills
- Help clients develop strategies to improve self-esteem or communication skills
- Refer clients to other specialists like psychologists, social workers or psychiatrists if additional support is needed
- A counsellor would typically have a qualification within an appropriate field such as psychology, nursing, education or social work that is British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) approved.
Speech & Language Therapist
A Speech and Language Therapist (SLT) is a healthcare professional who specialises in assessing, diagnosing and treating communication and swallowing (dysphagia) conditions. The conditions they tend to work with include:
The roles of an SLT usually involves the following:
SLTs work in a wide range of settings including hospitals (NHS), schools, homes and private practices. They would typically have a degree in a relevant subject approved by the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT) to ensure professional standards.
Consultant Psychiatrist
A consultant psychiatrist is a medical doctor who specialises in diagnosing and treating individuals with mental health issues. They can provide both medical and therapeutic interventions. Consultant psychiatrists are highly experienced and tend to attain senior roles within the healthcare system. Their roles include:
- Assessing and diagnosing clients of all ages using comprehensive assessments to understand a client’s symptoms and impact on their daily life.
- Providing personalised treatment plans for their clients which may involves various therapeutic and medical interventions
- Providing medication where needed as they are also licensed medical doctors. This allows them to prescribe and monitor the use of psychiatric medications for mental health conditions and neurodevelopmental conditions such as ADHD.
- Psychiatrists treat many psychological conditions including:
- Mood disorders
- Personality disorders
- Neurodevelopmental conditions
- Addiction
- Eating Disorders
- Insomnia and sleep disorders
- Consultant psychiatrists work in various settings including hospitals, mental health practices and clinics. They usually collaborate with many other health professionals to ensure clients receive comprehensive care. A Psychiatrist typically has a degree in medicine and an additional 8 years of training and be on the General Medical Council (GMC) register.
Coach
A coach is a professional who provides support, guidance and motivation to individuals of all ages. A coach works with clients to help them improve an understanding of themselves and develop coping strategies for various aspects of life. There are many different types of coaches available and some of the work they focus on can include the following:
- Mental health
- Neurodevelopmental support
- Self-Esteem/ life coaching
- Health and Wellness
- Business support
Coaches can provide detailed psychoeducation to help teach clients about their symptoms, how to treat them, build resilience and self-care strategies. They can also provide resources to help clients understand their experiences and create a safe space for them to share them. Coaches can also assist clients in identifying goals and find ways to develop steps to achieve those goals using a strength-based approach.
Coaches work in a variety of settings including private practices, organisations or in association with other healthcare professionals. Coaching is a relatively new field and unlike in other fields is not regulated in the same way as clinical professions like psychiatrists or therapists. Therefore, it is important to find a coach who has the appropriate qualifications and training.
Nutritionist
A nutritionist is a health expert in food and nutrition and works to help others achieve their health goals through providing advice and setting goals. Nutritionists assess clients’ dietary habits, health and lifestyle to identify areas of concern. They provide advice on healthy eating habits and help clients understand the relationship between health and diet. They also help clients develop and monitor personalised meal plans to align with the clients goals and use tools like food diaries and taking measurements.
Registered Nutritionists are regulated by the Association for Nutrition (AfN) and have the required professional training however, the title “nutritionist” is not a protected title in the UK and therefore it is important to find one who has the appropriate qualification and training. It is important to note that nutritionists are not qualified to work with individuals to manage eating disorders as only dieticians are.
Dietician
A dietician is a healthcare professional who specialises in the science and practice of nutrition. Similar to a nutritionist they provide evidence-based guidance and support for food and nutrition The role of a dietician usually involves the following:
- Assessing client’s nutritional needs, health and habits to identify any nutritional deficiencies using interviews, tests and medical records.
- Providing dietary recommendations and interventions to manage or prevent health conditions.
- Providing meal plans and promoting healthier eating habits using existing knowledge of the client’s lifestyle and habits
Dieticians work in various settings such as hospitals, private practices, food industries and catering. Dieticians would have degrees in nutrition or dietetics and are registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) to ensure specific standards and ethical practice.