Understanding psychological formulation in clinical psychology
Developing a Psychological Formulation with your Clinical Psychologist means building a shared understanding of the likely causes of your difficulties and the factors that keep them going.
In simple terms, we ask: What led the problems to start? What keeps them going? Why is change so hard, and what barriers are in the way of solving your mental health problems?
How a clinical psychology assessment informs your formulation
Meeting a Clinical Psychologist once or a few times for a clinical psychology assessment—the getting-to-know-you process—helps to develop a Psychological Formulation and review together the best way forward.
A client-led, holistic and culturally informed approach
Clinicians agree that a Psychological Formulation should be client-led and integrate sociocultural and biological factors, personal strengths and personal meaning, alongside well-established psychological theories.
This joint understanding of your psychological problems then helps determine the way forward.
Why psychological formulation helps with mental health change
To change something, it helps first to understand what’s going on.
A Psychological Formulation sets out the likely major causes of a person’s difficulties and what keeps them going—why it has been difficult to make changes on your own so far.
Sometimes, a clearer picture is enough to help you turn a corner; other times, this shared understanding guides where to start in therapy.
Working together with a clinical psychologist
A Clinical Psychologist works collaboratively with you to draw up this unique Psychological Formulation. You bring your lived experience and are the expert on yourself.
The Clinical Psychologist contributes clinical expertise and knowledge of different psychological theories gained over a minimum of six years’ training.
Working together, you build a clear Psychological Formulation.
Psychological formulation versus diagnosis
Clinical Psychologists often find a tailored Psychological Formulation more helpful than a diagnostic label alone.
Diagnosis is based on commonalities across groups and can be less helpful in pointing the way forward psychologically for an individual.
The Psychological Formulation can include reference to diagnostic criteria if relevant and appropriate.
Seeing the bigger picture to plan next steps
Bring the pieces of the jigsaw to us and we can help you build the bigger picture.
We aim to help you feel understood, to see the wood—not just the trees—and to decide where to start to make the changes you want in life based on a shared Psychological Formulation.
What a good psychological formulation includes
A Psychological Formulation usually consists of integrating sociocultural and biological factors, your strengths and personal meaning, alongside well-established theoretical frameworks (e.g., Thrower et al., 2024).
Clinical psychologists generally believe it’s important to use easily understandable language and to tailor each Formulation specifically to the person.
- Factors that may unintentionally keep the difficulties going
- Current coping strategies you use to manage difficulties, including any that may create new problems
- Cycles or patterns that maintain the difficulties
- Protective factors and helpful resources unique to you
- Shared thinking about what a diagnosis or life event means to you
Moving forward with a personalised therapy plan
By clarifying causes, maintaining cycles and protective factors, a Psychological Formulation guides a personalised therapy plan that fits your needs, values and goals.
