Written by Dr Jurai Darongkamas, Consultant Clinical Psychologist, drawing on more than three decades of experience in NHS mental health services and independent practice.
A Consultant Clinical Psychologist is an experienced Clinical Psychologist whose work is at a more senior level, typically involving greater clinical complexity, leadership, supervision, service development and professional responsibility.
Both are Clinical Psychologists; “Consultant” describes the level and breadth of the psychologist’s work and responsibilities, rather than a separate profession.
In the UK, “Clinical Psychologist” is a legally protected title requiring HCPC registration. “Consultant” itself is not a separately protected HCPC title.
What does a Consultant Clinical Psychologist do that a Clinical Psychologist may not?
Consultant Clinical Psychologists typically work with a high degree of professional autonomy and may have responsibility for clinical leadership, service development, supervision and development of other clinicians, teaching and training, and particularly complex clinical work. They may also lead or influence service development and innovation.
They can contribute to service-wide development by taking on strategic and/or clinical leadership roles. Their work may influence policy and service development at Trust, regional or national level.
Some have contributed to the field through service evaluation, research, publications in peer-reviewed academic journals and/or presentations at professional conferences.
Is a Consultant Clinical Psychologist better for therapy?
Not necessarily. A Consultant Clinical Psychologist has substantial senior-level experience and responsibilities, but the best psychologist for an individual depends on their particular difficulties, the psychologist’s specialist expertise and experience, and whether they are a good therapeutic fit. For particularly complex or longstanding difficulties, consultant-level experience may sometimes be especially relevant.
Our Consultant Clinical Psychologists
National Clinical Psychology Service works with a number of experienced Consultant Clinical Psychologists offering private psychological therapy, specialist assessment and other psychological services. These include Dr Jo Jennison, Dr Kate Fox, Nicola Haisman, Dr Nina Shergill, Dr Natalie Southall, Dr Ann Kilanska, Dr Sabrina Nowinski, Dr Adele Stevens and Dr David Newman.
Their areas of expertise and availability vary, so we can help you identify a Clinical Psychologist whose experience is well matched to what you are looking for.
Their areas of expertise and availability vary, so we can help you identify a Clinical Psychologist whose experience is well matched to what you are looking for.
You can find more information about our psychologists on our About Us page.
Does a Consultant Clinical Psychologist have different qualifications?
There is no separate HCPC qualification or registration category for a Consultant Clinical Psychologist.
A Consultant Clinical Psychologist is first and foremost a Clinical Psychologist. In the UK, Clinical Psychologist is a legally protected professional title, and anyone using it must be appropriately registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).
“Consultant Clinical Psychologist” is not a separate profession regulated by the HCPC, nor is there a distinct HCPC registration category or qualification that automatically makes someone a consultant. Instead, the title usually reflects a psychologist’s level of experience, competence, responsibility and seniority within the profession.
Consultant Clinical Psychologists will normally have developed substantial post-qualification experience and advanced expertise. Their work may include particularly complex clinical cases as well as wider responsibilities such as supervising other psychologists, providing clinical leadership, developing services, teaching and training, and contributing to organisational decision-making.
The Association of Clinical Psychologists UK (ACP-UK) describes consultant practice as “a higher level of work” than that ordinarily undertaken by Clinical Psychologists.
In other words, the distinction is primarily about the level and breadth of professional practice, rather than about belonging to a different type of psychology profession.
It is also worth distinguishing the two parts of the title. Clinical Psychologist is one of the professional titles protected in law and regulated by the HCPC. The additional word Consultant does not, by itself, have the same statutory protection outside medicine. ACP-UK therefore emphasises that the consultant title should be used responsibly and in conjunction with an appropriate HCPC-protected psychology title.
Some Consultant Clinical Psychologists may, of course, have additional specialist training, academic qualifications or areas of expertise. However, these additional qualifications are not what creates a separate regulated profession. The underlying regulated profession remains Clinical Psychology, with consultant status indicating a particularly senior level of professional practice and responsibility.
How do Clinical Psychologists become Consultant Clinical Psychologists?
In the UK, Clinical Psychologists usually qualify through a doctoral-level programme in Clinical Psychology combining academic study, research and supervised clinical placements. Most UK clinical psychology training places are NHS-funded, and people on NHS-funded places are employed as trainee Clinical Psychologists while completing their training.
After qualification, Clinical Psychologists develop their expertise through post-qualification clinical experience, professional development, supervision and, often, increasingly senior responsibilities. They may subsequently apply for NHS Consultant Clinical Psychologist posts when suitable vacancies arise.
Typically, after several years of practice and the accumulation of diverse experiences, the option to apply for NHS Consultant Clinical Psychologist positions arises when vacancies become available.
For NHS Consultant Clinical Psychologist appointments, National Assessors appointed through professional bodies such as the British Psychological Society (BPS) or ACP-UK may be involved in the recruitment process. Their role includes advising the employer on whether candidates demonstrate the professional skills and competencies expected at Consultant level.
Is Consultant Clinical Psychologist a protected title?
No, not in its entirety. “Clinical Psychologist” is a legally protected title in the UK and can only be used by an appropriately registered HCPC practitioner. The additional title “Consultant” is not separately protected by the HCPC.
ACP-UK notes that there is currently no statutory control over the use of the title “Consultant” outside the medical profession. It recommends that Consultant should be used together with an appropriate HCPC-protected psychology title, such as “Consultant Clinical Psychologist”, rather than the generic term “Consultant Psychologist”.
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