Clinical Psychologists

Prof Judy Hyde recently wrote to the Minister of Health advising that all psychologists who do not have a Clinical Masters degree should not be able to provide clinical services. The first problem with this idea is that there are many who have Master's degrees in Clinical Psychology who have never delivered psychological services (eg. academics and administrators), or who are not temperamentally suited to the role, who would not be competent to effectively treat psychological problems. Other psychologist who are known by their colleagues and clients to be highly effective may not have attained post graduate qualifications for one reason or another. In other words having a degree does not always equate to competence. I should also point out that there are quite a number of prominent Clinical Psychologists such as a former President of the APS, who are no doubt very good psychologists, who do not have the Masters Degree, but achieved the title of Clinical Psychologist through grandfathering provisions. Should they be excluded from using the title and treating psychological problems? On the issue of differentiating between Clinical Health Psychologists and Health Psychologist who don't engage in clinical practice and who work in public health spheres such as the promotion of healthy lifestyles and prevention programs I would have thought this was important and legitimate and does not imply the person is a Clinical Psychologist just as Clinical Neuropsychologists don't pretend to be. Anther person who calls herself a Clinical Psychologist is Dr Lizbeth Tong (-Norris), who never had a psychology qualification except a Diploma of Psychology, no doubt because she didn't make it into the Honours class. She has a Bachelor of Arts and Masters of Arts (Pass) and a PhD in sociology. She is listed as having General Registration and not even specialist endorsement. She is a member of the Psychology Tribunal. Another is Ms Margaret Crowley who also does not have a qualification in Psychology apart from a Grad Dip in Counselling Psychology. She has a Bachelor of Applied Science and no Masters degree. She is also listed as having Generalist Registration. According to Prof Hyde's analysis it seems unreasonable that these people sit in judgement of other Psychologists and raises serious questions about the competence of these people to properly carry out these duties. It seems that in her estimation, at the very least, their qualifications and experience should be on par with those they judge.