Mind & support

Clinical psychologist

นักจิตวิทยาคลินิก

Clinical psychology is a health profession that assesses and treats psychological difficulties, mainly through evidence-based talking therapies: in Thailand, it is a licensed profession.

IntensityModerate

Origin

United States

History

Generally dated to 1896, when Lightner Witmer opened the first psychological clinic

A session

Often around 50 minutes for individual therapy

Licence in Thailand

Required

Where it comes from

Clinical psychology is generally considered to have begun in 1896, when Lightner Witmer opened the first psychological clinic at the University of Pennsylvania to help children with learning difficulties.

For several decades the field focused mainly on psychological testing. The Second World War changed this: the need to care for many returning soldiers led the US Veterans Administration to fund doctoral training, and clinical psychology grew rapidly from the late 1940s.

Today clinical psychology is a regulated health profession in many countries. In the UK, for example, "clinical psychologist" is a protected title, and in Thailand clinical psychology has been a licensed branch of the healing arts since a Royal Decree of B.E. 2546 (2003).

The principle

The American Psychological Association describes clinical psychology as the specialty that provides continuing and comprehensive mental and behavioural health care for individuals, couples, families and groups. Its core activities are psychological assessment, diagnosis, clinical formulation and psychotherapy.

Clinical psychologists mainly help through structured, evidence-based therapies such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). Unlike psychiatrists, who are medical doctors and can prescribe medication, psychologists generally do not prescribe; the two professions often work together.

What people come for

Understand and manage persistent anxiety, low mood or stress
Get a psychological assessment (for example cognitive or developmental testing)
Work through the effects of a difficult or traumatic experience
Change patterns of thinking or behaviour that cause difficulties
Receive support alongside psychiatric or medical treatment

How it works on the body

Psychological therapy works through the mind, but it often looks at how thoughts, emotions, behaviour and bodily reactions influence each other.

A session, step by step

01
Assessment
The first sessions explore your difficulties, history and goals, sometimes with questionnaires or psychological tests.
02
Formulation
The psychologist shares an understanding of what may be maintaining the problem and proposes an approach.
03
Agreement
You agree on the type of therapy, frequency, likely duration and fees; for example, CBT usually involves around 5 to 20 sessions.
04
Therapy sessions
Sessions are usually regular, weekly or every two weeks, often around 50 minutes.
05
Practice between sessions
Some approaches include exercises to try in daily life between sessions.
06
Review and ending
Progress is reviewed and the end of therapy, or a referral, is planned together.

Precautions

In Thailand, check that a clinical psychologist holds a healing-arts licence in clinical psychology (ใบประกอบโรคศิลปะ สาขาจิตวิทยาคลินิก).
A psychologist generally cannot prescribe medication. If medication may be needed, a psychiatrist (a medical doctor) is the right professional.
If you have thoughts of suicide or self-harm, call the free 24-hour hotline 1323; in immediate danger, call emergency services on 1669 or go to the nearest hospital.
Therapy can sometimes feel harder before it feels better; talk openly with your psychologist about how sessions are going.
Ask about confidentiality and its limits at the first session.

Complementary practice: does not replace medical advice.

In Thailand

In Thailand, clinical psychology is a licensed branch of the practice of the healing arts under the Healing Arts Practice Act B.E. 2542 (1999), added by Royal Decree in B.E. 2546 (2003). Licensing is overseen by the Professional Committee for Clinical Psychology under the Ministry of Public Health. To be licensed, a person needs an accredited clinical psychology degree, a supervised clinical internship and a pass in the national licensing exam, and must keep up continuing professional development to renew. Graduates without a licence can work only under the supervision of a licensed clinical psychologist. Psychiatrists, by contrast, are medical doctors who complete specialist training overseen by the Medical Council of Thailand. Demand is growing: new clinical psychology degrees continue to open, such as a bachelor's programme approved at Thaksin University in 2025. For free support at any time, the Department of Mental Health runs the 1323 hotline.

Read the full guide →

Frequently asked questions

Psychologist or psychiatrist: what is the difference?

A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who can diagnose mental disorders and prescribe medication. A clinical psychologist specialises in psychological assessment and talking therapies and generally does not prescribe. They often work together.

How is a psychologist different from a counsellor or a coach?

In Thailand, clinical psychologists are licensed and trained to assess and treat mental health conditions. Counsellors offer talking support for current difficulties but have no separate Thai licence. Coaches help with goals and are not therapists.

When should I see a psychologist?

When distress lasts for weeks and affects sleep, work, studies or relationships, after a traumatic event, or when you want a professional assessment. If you are unsure, the 1323 hotline can guide you.

How do I check that a psychologist is licensed in Thailand?

Ask for their healing-arts licence number in clinical psychology. Licensing is managed by the Professional Committee for Clinical Psychology under the Ministry of Public Health.

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