Psychologists
The word 'psychology' comes from the words psyche and logos. Psyche means the soul, life's breath or the mind, while logos means knowledge.
Training
The basic qualification for a psychologist is a degree in applied psychology from a university. The Singapore Psychological Society requires a Master's or a Doctoral degree in applied psychology in order for registration in the Singapore Register of Psychologists. A psychologist can also have a post-graduate degree in child psychology. These psychologists generally specialise in the treatment of children.
When a psychologist graduates from university, he or she follows a basic training programme involving at least 400 hours of supervised practice. Then they become registered psychologists when they are approved by the Singapore Psychological Society.
Treatment
Psychologists can specialise in treating
- crises
- anxiety and depression
- psychoses
Psychologists are responsible for using the most suitable methods in helping the patients to recover from their problems. Psychologists have themselves received personal training.
Code of Professional Ethics
The work of psychologists is regulated by the Singapore Psychological Society in accordance to the code of professional ethics. They are among other things:
- we can be held responsible for our work
- we are obliged to comply with a series of ethical rules and principles
- we must demonstrate care and conscientiousness in every aspect of our work
A psychotherapist has completed a higher education course in psychotherapy with one of the following specialisations:
- cognitive therapy
- psychodynamic therapy
- systemic therapy
- existential-humanistic (Gestalt and body-orientated therapies)
The psychotherapy training also gives the psychologist an in-depth knowledge of:
- mental disorders
- personality
- psychological diagnostics and assessment
- ethics
- legislation
- many other related disciplines
After successfully completing his or her psychotherapy training, the psychologist will be approved as a "specialist in psychotherapy". These psychologists can call themselves psychotherapists. But "psychotherapist" is unfortunately not a protected title. This means someone without the long education can also call themselves a psychotherapist.
When you are choosing a psychotherapist, you can enquire about their professional background and the training they received. Importantly, the psychotherapist must assess your problems with care and professionalism.