By Dr. Ephraem Tsui, MSc, PhD, RCP(HKPS), FHKPS, CEC President, The Hong Kong Psychological Society
When children show emotional, behavioural, or school problems these days, parents may wish to find a psychologist for help. However, parents may not know where and how to find the right psychologist. In this article, I will share some essential tips for parents and help them understand how psychologists may help their children.
Psychologists in Different Specialties
Psychologist is one of the many types of helping professionals who work with children. Psychologists are very often confused with psychiatrists, who are medical doctors with specialty training in treating mental illnesses. They tend to make medical diagnosis and prescribe medication. Psychologists are also often confused with psychotherapists or counsellors, who are trained in helping people but they may not share the same knowledge or specialised training as psychologists. To add to the confusion, there are psychologists who were not trained to work with children and therefore should not offer to help children professionally until they are competently trained.
Tip #1：Parents Should Understand the Psychologist’s Professional Background and Competence
The Hong Kong Psychological Society is the most historical and largest organisation of all disciplines of psychology in Hong Kong. One of its functions is to regulate psychologists who are its members. I estimate around 80 percent of all practicing psychologists in Hong Kong, and around 95 percent of psychologists working in the public sector are members of the Society. The Society also upholds a very high ethical standards for psychologists. Member psychologists voluntarily subject themselves to be regulated by the Society and any breach of the Society’s Code of Professional Conduct will be investigated and disciplined. Parents can find a psychologist who is subject to professional regulation and ask them to provide proof of being regulated within Hong Kong.
Tip #2：Parents Should Understand the Psychologist’s Professional Background and Competence
There are different specialties of psychologists, namely clinical, educational (or school), counselling, and other psychologists. They all possess a proper undergraduate degree in psychology and also a master or doctoral professional degree in their respective psychology specialties. The Society also recognises psychologists who possess master or doctoral degree in other fields of psychology but they should not claim to be specialist psychologists unless they have completed a recognized training programme. Parents should know that not all psychologists are equally competent in working with children. Parents should check their professional training background and competencies.
Tip #3：Public Sector Clinical Psychologists Provide Professional Child Support
Clinical psychologists (CP) have been working in Hong Kong since 1971. Today, there about 630 CPs recognized by the Society. Most of them work in the Hospital Authority (HA), Department of Health, Social Welfare Department, and some other government departments. Nearly all of them are regulated members of the Society. They all have proper training to work with children. However, most of the government CPs cannot accept direct request for psychological service. The referral decision may rest with social workers or medical doctors. The waiting list can be long. Parents can trust HA or government CPs as they should be well-trained to work with children.
Tip #4：No Referral Needed to See Private Clinical Psychologists
As waiting time for public service can be long, some parents will look for quicker psychological support for their children. Some NGO may offer specialised child clinical psychological services. A reasonable fee may be charged. Phone enquiry will help. Alternatively, parents can also book an earlier appointment with CPs in private practice. Referral is not needed. Today, there are over 200 CPs regulated by the Society providing private psychological service and serving children. Parents can check the Society’s website to find several of them listed. Charges may depend on the experience of the CP as well as their service quality. Parents can search for NGO or private practicing CPs for quicker service but they need to make sure the CP is properly regulated. Parents should also know that no psychologist should try to extend the service unnecessarily or when the service is no longer benefiting the child clients.
Tip #5: New Trends in Mental Health Support for Students with Special Needs
In recent years, some schools have commissioned private CP services for their students with special needs. Parents can ask the school if such CP service is available. Another new develop is that some NGOs have employed “mental health wellbeing practitioners” who are supervised by experienced CP to provide low intensity psychological treatment to people from age 12 to adult. This may become a new trend of psychological service for people with milder mental health issues.
Tip #6: School Referrals to Educational Psychologists Help Children with Learning Difficulties
Educational psychologists (EP) have also been working in Hong Kong since the early 1970s. Today, there are about 460 EPs regulated by the Society. Most EPs work in the Education Bureau while some are working in the educational branch of NGOs. I believe that all normal and special schools, including kindergartens, are now served by EPs.
The school is referring their children with special needs to their school EP for expert support. Most EPs go to assigned schools regularly to help students with educational or learning difficulties. They also work closely with teachers to handle students with behavioural or emotional problems. Some students may need to be referred to a psychiatrist or CP for further help. Private EP services are also developing in Hong Kong as an option for parents.
Tip #7: Parents Can Consult Counseling Psychologists About Their Child’s Psychological Potential Development
Counselling psychologists (CoP) care more about the positive psychological growth of people in actualizing their potentials. CoPs can help children and youths overcome stresses and developmental obstacles. Many sports psychologists are CoPs. Today, there are 170 CoPs regulated by the Society. Most of them work in schools and NGOs while some in university student counselling units. Private CoP services have also started to develop in Hong Kong. Parents can consult CoPs about their children’s strengths and potentials.
It is unfortunate that there is still no statutory registration and regulation of psychologists in Hong Kong. A person without proper qualification or training can easily claim to be a psychologist or to provide psychological services, such as unnecessary intelligence testing. I urge parents seeking psychological service for their children to be patient with the waiting time of public service, or be extra vigilant in checking the professional competency of any psychologist outside the public sector.