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Psychology is about the functioning of brain and behaviour, our emotions, thoughts; who we are and what is important to us. Resilience, relationships, values and motivation are all psychological concepts.

All Registered Psychologists have completed masters and/or doctoral level training (around eight years at university) as well as practical training in the professional role of a psychologist.

Psychologists are required to keep current with their knowledge of psychological techniques and the science of what works.

The NZ Psychologist Board has a range of resources for the public as well as a searchable register of psychologists psychologistsboard.org.nz.

The key organisations to which psychologists belong are the New Zealand Psychological Society (NZPsS) and the New Zealand College of Clinical Psychologists (NZCCP).

Psychologists work under a shared code of ethics and are required to act in line with the code.

Some psychologists have registration in a specific scope of practice (clinical, educational, neuropsychology or organisational) and others have a general scope of registration.

How Does Clinical Psychology Differ From Other Professions?

Clinical psychologists apply the science of psychology in clinical practice. They are experts in mental health and have advanced training in psychological assessment, including use of psychometric tests and structured diagnostic assessment methods. They are also experts in providing talking therapies (such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Dialetical Behavioural Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Feedback Informed Therapy). In addition to their initial training, psychologists develop their practice in key areas of specialist expertise (see profiles).

Key specialty areas include – trauma, grief, depression, anxiety, offending behaviour, working with the psychological consequences of injury and chronic health conditions, understanding learning and cognitive functioning, workplace stress, addiction, understanding family functioning, neurodevelopmental assessments, infant and maternal health, and personality. Psychology has a range of applications across groups, workplaces, systems and within our core practice of working one to one in assessment and therapy.

Neuropsychologists use structured assessment methods and standardised psychometric tools to isolate key variables that make up intelligence, and changes to our intellectual function post injury or neurological event. While Neuropsychologists have knowledge about brain structure and neurodevelopmental conditions, their expert area is in the assessment of brain function, usually by focussing on cognitive strengths and deficits. Neuropsychologists are able to isolate specific variables that make up cognitive capacity, including assessment of general and pre-injury intellect, attention, processing speed, language, learning and memory, reasoning/problem solving, visual-spatial capacity and executive functioning. In New Zealand, Neuropsychologists generally train post-clinical training to meet the requirements of the neuropsychology scope of practice. Neuropsychologists are often involved in rehabilitation, such as in the area of concussion and brain injury rehab.

Private psychological services are in the range of $200 to $320 plus GST per hour. Assessment is at the higher end of this pricing due to the use of standardised psychometric tests.