expert services in clinical psychology
Body of services provided in the clinical psychology field such as psychotherapy or cognitive behavioral therapy.
Clinical psychologists diagnose, rehabilitate, and support individuals affected by mental, emotional, and behavioural disorders and problems as well as mental changes and pathogenic conditions through use of cognitive tools and appropriate intervention. They use clinical psychological resources on the basis of psychological science, its findings, theories, methods, and techniques for the investigation, interpretation, and prediction of human experience and behaviour.
Competences and skills
120 ESCO relationsEssential knowledge 30 competences
Occupation specific
2 competencesmethods of differential diagnosis
The procedures used to differentiate between conditions having similar symptoms.
Sector-specific
16 competencesclinical psychological treatment
Treatment methods and intervention strategies used in clinical psychology, such as the treatment of persons with mental illnesses and disorders in different settings, with different clinical symptoms and problems and with different age groups.
clinical reports
The methods, assessment practices, credentials and opinions gathering procedures necessary for writing clinical reports.
conditions for professional practice of clinical psychology
The institutional, legal and psychosocial conditions for professional practice of clinical psychology with the aim to apply them in the exercise of the psychological profession in health care.
creation of clinical psychological opinions
The development of opinions based on specialised literature and evidence-based documentation in the field of clinical psychology.
diagnosis of mental health issues
The diagnosis of mental health issues such as disorders or illnesses, and psychological factors in other diseases within different issues and different age groups.
drug interaction management
The managerial activities related to patient`s interaction with the medical treatment provided.
emergency psychology
The methods used for coping with trauma or disasters.
evaluation of psychological performance
The characteristics of the methods used to assess psychological parameters.
health psychology
The development, implementations and evaluation of health psychological concepts.
history of patient's psychotherapeutic problems
The records of the patient`s previous psychotherapeutic problems or disorders.
multi-professional cooperation in health care
The way to behave during team meetings, visits and meetings in multi-professional cooperation especially with other health professionals.
psychological healthcare services
The characteristics of the psychological healthcare services in the inpatient and outpatient sector.
psychological interventions
The characteristics of the methods and procedures meant to instigate change in human behaviour.
psychopathology
The criteria of psychiatric diagnoses, the use of the disease classification system, and the theories of psychopathology. The indicators of functional and organic disorders and the types of psychopharmacological medications.
psychopharmacology
The awareness of various effects that medicines have on the patient or client's behaviour, mood and thinking.
therapy in health care
The principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions.
Cross-sector
12 competencesconsultation
The theories, methods and concepts related to consultation and communication with clients.
counselling methods
Counselling techniques used in different settings and with various groups and individuals, especially concerning methods of supervision and mediation in the counselling process.
crisis intervention
Coping strategies in crisis cases which allow individuals to overcome their problems or fears and avoid psychological distress and breakdown.
first aid
The emergency treatment given to a sick or injured person in the case of circulatory and/or respiratory failure, unconsciousness, wounds, bleeding, shock or poisoning.
health care occupation-specific ethics
The moral standards and procedures, ethical questions and obligations specific to occupations in a health care setting such as respect for human dignity, self-determination, informed consent and patient confidentiality.
neurology
Neurology is a medical specialty mentioned in the EU Directive 2005/36/EC.
primary care
The regular, routine medical care provided to patients, usually performed by a physician or a nurse, that leads to a decision on the following course of action required to solve the health problem of the patient.
psychiatry
Psychiatry is a medical specialty mentioned in the EU Directive 2005/36/EC.
psychological diagnostics
The psychological diagnostics strategies, methods and techniques concerning health-related experiences and behaviours as well as mental disorders
psychological treatment measures
The psychological treatment measures for persons of all ages and groups, with the aim of improving treatment skills and the provisions of trans-cultural and gender aspects.
psychology
The human behaviour and performance with individual differences in ability, personality, interests, learning, and motivation.
scientific literature
The medium of informing the scientific community, including academic researchers, about the results of scientific research. It constitutes a permanent and cumulative collection of all the findings of scientific research in various fields and at any point in time.
Essential skills and competences 69 competences
Occupation specific
2 competencesprovide psychological interventions to chronically ill persons
Provide psychological interventions to patients and their family members associated with chronic illnesses such as cancer and diabetes. Intervention and treatments may include management of pain, stress and other symptoms, anxiety reduction, and adjustment to illness or dementia.
provide strategies of differential diagnosis
Use various methods to identify the most approapriate diagnosis among conditions with similar symptoms.
Sector-specific
44 competencesaccept own accountability
Accept accountability for one`s own professional activities and recognise the limits of one`s own scope of practice and competencies.
advise on healthcare users' informed consent
Ensure patients/clients are fully informed about the risks and benefits of proposed treatments so they can give informed consent, engaging patients/clients in the process of their care and treatment.
apply clinical psychological treatment
Apply clinical psychological treatment for people of all ages and groups based on clinical psychological assessment.
apply context specific clinical competences
Apply professional and evidence based assessment, goal setting, delivery of intervention and evaluation of clients, taking into account the developmental and contextual history of the clients, within one`s own scope of practice.
apply psychological intervention strategies
Use various intervention strategies to treat patients in clinical psychology.
assess healthcare users' risk for harm
Evaluate if healthcare users might potentially be a threat themselves or others, intervening to minimise the risk and implement prevention methods.
carry out psychiatric assessment of child
Evaluate the child or young person's problems with attention to physical, genetic, developmental, emotional, cognitive, educational, family, peer, and social components and use the information to determine a diagnosis for the mental disorder.
comply with quality standards related to healthcare practice
Apply quality standards related to risk management, safety procedures, patients feedback, screening and medical devices in daily practice, as they are recognized by the national professional associations and authorities.
conduct psychological assessement
Assess patient`s behaviour and needs via observation and tailored interviews, administering and interpreting psychometric and idiosyncratic assessments.
contribute to continuity of health care
Contribute to the delivery of coordinated and continuous healthcare.
decide upon a psychotherapeutic approach
Make an informed choice about which type of psychotherapeutic intervention to apply when working with patients, according to their needs.
diagnose mental disorders
Formulate a diagnosis for people with a variety of issues and mental disorders, ranging from short-term personal and emotional problems to severe, chronic mental conditions, recognising and critically evaluating any possible mental health issues.
diagnose psychiatric symptoms
Recognise and diagnose the common medical, neurologic and primary psychiatric symptoms such as delirium, dementia, violent episodes, self-injurious behavior, etc.
employ cognitive behaviour treatment techniques
Employ cognitive behavioural treatment techniques for those whose treatment involves cognitive re-training, addressing dysfunctional emotions, maladaptive behaviours and cognitive processes and contents through a variety of systematic procedures.
ensure safety of healthcare users
Make sure that healthcare users are being treated professionally, effectively and safe from harm, adapting techniques and procedures according to the person's needs, abilities or the prevailing conditions.
evaluate clinical psychological measures
Evaluate the provided clinical psychological measures in order to assess their impact and their outcomes taking into account the patients` feedback.
formulate a case conceptualisation model for therapy
Compose an individualised treatment plan in collaboration with the individual, striving to match his or her needs, situation, and treatment goals to maximise the probability of therapeutic gain and considering any possible personal, social, and systemic barriers that might undermine treatment.
handle patient trauma
Assess the competences, needs, and limitations of people affected by trauma, referring the patients to specialised trauma services where appropriate.
help healthcare users develop social perceptiveness
Provide strategies and support to healthcare users with social difficulties. Help them understanding others` verbal and non-verbal behaviour and actions. Support them in developing better self-confidence in social situations.
identify mental health issues
Recognise and critically evaluate any possible mental health/illness issues.
manage psychotherapeutic relationships
Establish, manage and maintain the therapeutic relationship between psychotherapist and patient and client in a safe, respectful and effective way. Establish a working alliance and self-awareness in the relationship. Make sure the patient is aware that his/her interests are a priority and manage out-of-session contact.
monitor therapeutic progress
Monitor therapeutic progress and modify treatment according to each patient's condition.
organise relapse prevention
Help the patient or client identify and anticipate high risk situations or external and internal triggers. Support them in developing better coping strategies and back-up plans in case of future difficulties.
perform therapy sessions
Work in sessions with individuals or groups to deliver therapy in a controlled environment.
prescribe psychotherapeutic treatment
Prescribe, direct, and administer psychotherapeutic treatments or medications to treat disorders of a mental, emotional, or behavioural nature.
promote mental health
Promote factors that enhance emotional well-being such as self-acceptance, personal growth, purpose in life, control of one`s environment, spirituality, self-direction and positive relationships.
promote psycho-social education
Explain mental health issues in simple and understandable ways, helping de-pathologise and de-stigmatise common mental health stereotypes and condemning prejudicial or discriminatory behaviours, systems, institutions, practices, and attitudes that are clearly separatist, abusive or harmful to people's mental health or their social inclusion.
provide a psychotherapeutic environment
Create and maintain a suitable environment for the psychotherapy to take place, making sure the space is safe, welcoming, consistent with the ethos of the psychotherapy, and meeting the needs of the patients as far as possible.
provide clinical psychological assessment
Provide clinical psychological assessment in relation to health and health-related and health-conditioned behaviour and experience, as well as clinical disease patterns and their impact on the human experience and behaviour.
provide clinical psychological expert opinions
Provide clinical psychological expert opinions and reports regarding the performance, personality traits, behaviours and mental disorders.
provide clinical psychological support in crisis situations
Offer psychological support and emotional guidance to patients facing crises situations.
record healthcare users' progress related to treatment
Record the healthcare user's progress in response to treatment by observing, listening and measuring outcomes.
record the outcome of psychotherapy
Keep track of and record the process and results of the treatment used in the psychotherapy process.
refer healthcare users
Make referrals to other professionals, based on the healthcare user's requirements and needs, especially when recognising that additional healthcare diagnostics or interventions are required.
respond to healthcare users' extreme emotions
React accordingly when a healthcare user becomes hyper-manic, panicky, extremely distressed, agressive, violent, or suicidal, following appropriate training if working in contexts where patients go through extreme emotions regularly.
support patients to understand their conditions
Facilitate the process of self-discovery for the healthcare user, helping them to learn about their condition and become more aware of and in control of moods, feelings, thoughts, behaviour, and their origins. Help the healthcare user learn to manage problems and difficulties with greater resilience.
use clinical assessment techniques
Use clinical reasoning techniques and clinical judgement when applying a range of appropriate assessment techniques, such as mental status assessment, diagnosis, dynamic formulation, and potential treatment planning.
use e-health and mobile health technologies
Use mobile health technologies and e-health (online applications and services) in order to enhance the provided healthcare.
digital
use psychoeducation
Work with patients and their families through psychoeducation.
use psychotherapeutic interventions
Use psychotherapeutic interventions suited to the different stages of treatment.
use techniques to increase patients' motivation
Encourage the patient`s motivation to change and promote the belief that therapy can help, using techniques and treatment engagement procedures for this purpose.
work in multidisciplinary health teams
Participate in the delivery of multidisciplinary health care, and understand the rules and competences of other healthcare related professions.
work on psychosomatic issues
Work with body and mind issues such as the spectrum of human sexuality and psychosomatic ailments.
work with patterns of psychological behaviour
Work with the patterns of a patient or client's psychological behaviour, which may be outside of their conscious awareness, such as non-verbal and pre-verbal patterns, clinical processes of defence mechanisms, resistances, transference and counter-transference.
Cross-sector
23 competencesadhere to organisational guidelines
Adhere to organisational or department specific standards and guidelines. Understand the motives of the organisation and the common agreements and act accordingly.
apply organisational techniques
Employ a set of organisational techniques and procedures which facilitate the achievement of the set goals set such as detailed planning of personnel's schedules. Use these resources efficiently and sustainably, and show flexibility when required.
comply with legislation related to health care
Comply with the regional and national health legislation which regulates relations between suppliers, payers, vendors of the healthcare industry and patients, and the delivery of healthcare services.
conduct psychological research
Plan, supervise and undertake psychological research, writing papers to describe the research results.
counsel clients
Assist and guide clients to overcome their personal, social, or psychological issues.
deal with emergency care situations
Assess the signs and be well-prepared for a situation that poses an immediate threat to a person's health, security, property or environment.
develop a collaborative therapeutic relationship
Develop a mutually collaborative therapeutic relationship during treatment, fostering and gaining healthcare users' trust and cooperation.
educate on the prevention of illness
Offer evidence-based advice on how to avoid ill health, educate and advise individuals and their carers on how to prevent ill health and/or be able to advise how to improve their environment and health conditions. Provide advice on the identification of risks leading to ill health and help to increase the patients' resilience by targeting prevention and early intervention strategies.
empathise with the healthcare user
Understand the background of clients` and patients’ symptoms, difficulties and behaviour. Be empathetic about their issues; showing respect and reinforcing their autonomy, self-esteem and independence. Demonstrate a concern for their welfare and handle according to the personal boundaries, sensitivities, cultural differences and preferences of the client and patient in mind.
follow clinical guidelines
Follow agreed protocols and guidelines in support of healthcare practice which are provided by healthcare institutions, professional associations, or authorities and also scientific organisations.
inform policy makers on health-related challenges
Provide useful information related to health care professions to ensure policy decisions are made in the benefit of communities.
interact with healthcare users
Communicate with clients and their carer’s, with the patient’s permission, to keep them informed about the clients’ and patients’ progress and safeguarding confidentiality.
interpret psychological tests
Interpret psychological tests in order to obtain information on patients' intelligence, achievements, interests, and personality.
listen actively
Give attention to what other people say, patiently understand points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times; able to listen carefully the needs of customers, clients, passengers, service users or others, and provide solutions accordingly.
manage healthcare users' data
Keep accurate client records which also satisfy legal and professional standards and ethical obligations in order to facilitate client management, ensuring that all clients' data (including verbal, written and electronic) are treated confidentially.
promote inclusion
Promote and respect diversity, and advocate for equal treatment of genders, ethnicities and minority groups in organisations in order to prevent discrimination and ensure inclusion and a positive environment.
provide clinical psychological counselling
Provide clinical psychological counselling in relation to health impairments, their conditions and the possibilities for change.
provide health education
Provide evidence based strategies to promote healthy living, disease prevention and management.
provide testimony in court hearings
Provide testimony in court hearings regarding a variety of social matters and other events.
respond to changing situations in health care
Cope with pressure and respond appropriately and in time to unexpected and rapidly changing situations in healthcare.
test for behavioural patterns
Discern patterns in the behaviour of individuals by using various tests in order to understand the causes of their behaviour.
test for emotional patterns
Discern patterns in the emotions of individuals by using various tests in order to understand the causes of these emotions.
work in a multicultural environment in health care
Interact, relate and communicate with individuals from a variety of different cultures, when working in a healthcare environment.
Optional knowledge 8 competences
Occupation specific
0 competencesNo competences in this bucket.
Sector-specific
7 competencesclinical social work
The branch of social work that deals with assessing, making diagnoses, treating and preventing bio-psychological problems and other behavioural disturbances.
experimental psychology
The branch of psychology that is involved in testing theories in relation to all the various aspects of human mind through empirical research methods.
forensic psychiatry
The psychiatry methods applied, the organsation and duties in both criminal and civil frameworks of justice.
neuroscience
The field of study related to the structure, the development and the functions of the nervous system. It focuses on the normal functions of the nervous system, and to what happens in presence of neurological, psychiatric or neurodevelopmental disorders.
occupational health
The subfield of study of public health that focus on improving the wellbeing of individuals in the workplace for all the occupational profiles. It is concerned with health and safety in the workplace and prevention of hazards.
psychosomatics
Interdisciplinary medical specialty addressing the connection between the social, psychological, and behavioral attitudes and their impact on human processes.
sexual disorders
The range of sexual disorders such as sexual aversion disorder, hypoactive sexual desire disorder, and vaginismus and the effects of medication on sexual function.
Cross-sector
1 competenceresearch design
The set of methods and techniques of research that are used to conduct a study. It includes practical steps in research such as purpose statement, data collection, methodology, and data analysis.
Optional skills and competences 13 competences
Occupation specific
0 competencesNo competences in this bucket.
Sector-specific
11 competencesapply caseload management
Manage a number of patients within a given amount of time, striving to provide optimum health services.
apply hypno-psychotherapy
Hypnotise a patient to create subconscious change in the form of new responses, thoughts, attitudes, behaviours or feelings.
apply psychoanalysis
Conduct psychoanalysis on patients, focusing on unconscious forces that can have a negative effect on their psychological well-being.
apply systemic therapy
Conduct therapy, not addressing people on a strictly individual level but as people in relationships, dealing with the interactions of groups and their interactive patterns and dynamics.
conduct forensic evaluations
Participate in evaluations required to attest the presence and severity of a mental illness, according to the requirements of a criminal or civil court.
prescribe medication
Prescribe medications, when indicated, for therapeutic effectiveness, appropriate to the client`s needs and in accordance with evidence-based practice, national and practice protocols and within scope of practice.
provide clinical advice to team members
Provide regular or ad-hoc supervision and advise team members on clinical matters.
provide treatment strategies for challenges to human health
Identify possible treatment protocols for the challenges to human health within a given community in cases such as infectious diseases of high consequences at the global level.
work on the effects of abuse
Work with individuals on the effects of abuse and trauma; such as sexual, physical, psychological, cultural and neglect.
work with healthcare users under medication
Work with healthcare users who are using prescribed medications and other drugs.
work with healthcare users' social network
Get involved with the friends, families and other relevant actors important for the client or patient being treated, under the conditions of confidentiality and transparency.
Cross-sector
2 competencesuse foreign languages for health-related research
Use foreign languages for conducting and collaborating in health-related research.
use foreign languages in patient care
Communicate in foreign languages with healthcare users, their carers, or services providers. Use foreign languages to faciliate patient care according to the needs of the patient.