Need Counselling? Choosing Your Mental Health Ally

In recent years, psychological stress resulting from the pandemic or societal changes has made emotional difficulties more common. Seeking psychological counselling is nothing to be ashamed of; in fact, it can significantly benefit your mental health. However, when it’s time to seek help, navigating the array of psychiatric services can feel overwhelming. Where should you start? And under what circumstances should you seek counselling or other psychiatric services? For further guidance, you can refer to one of our earlier articles (available in English only).

Is Psychiatrist same as Psychological Doctor?

Before diving into the roles of different mental health professionals, let’s clarify one thing: there is no such title as "psychological doctor." The correct term is "psychiatrist." Psychiatrists are medical doctors who have further specialty training to diagnose, treat, and help prevent various mental health conditions. Common psychiatric illnesses such as depression, anxiety disorders, and schizophrenia are often diagnosed and managed by psychiatrists, who may prescribe medication or arrange for psychological therapy. In Hong Kong, general practitioners (GPs) or primary care doctors can provide referrals for individuals in need, enabling treatment in public hospitals under the psychiatric specialty. Psychiatrists will then follow up on these cases.

View the List of Private Practising Psychiatrists in Hong Kong from the Hong Kong College of Psychiatrists

What Other Professionals Are Available?

Clinical Psychologists

Many people confuse the terms psychiatrist (醫生) and psychologist (心理學家) in English. While the two professionals often collaborate on cases, their roles differ slightly. Psychologists are also highly trained to handle cases involving behavioural, learning, or emotional disorders. However, unlike psychiatrists, they cannot prescribe medication. Instead, they assess patients and develop personalised or group therapy plans to assist them. Apart from being referred by medical professionals like psychiatrists, individuals seeking help can:

Register at a nearby Integrated Family Service Centre to apply as an individual
Call the Social Welfare Department hotline at 2343 2255 to describe your needs to a social worker. They will conduct an initial assessment and decide whether to refer you to clinical psychology services.
Seek referral through the courts if necessary
Contact other organisations that assist individuals in accessing psychological support services

View the List of registered NGOs and private practising clinical psychologists from the Hong Kong Psychological Society
View the Registered Clinical Psychologists List from the Hong Kong Clinical Psychologists Associatio

Therapists

Different therapists specialise in various psychological treatments. Here are some commonly practised therapies in recent years:

Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR): This therapy is designed to help individuals, particularly those with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), recover from symptoms caused by traumatic experiences. During the process, the therapist moves their fingers back and forth in front of the patient’s eyes, asking them to follow the movement while recalling distressing events. Gradually, the therapist guides the patient to shift focus to more positive thoughts.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT): This method helps patients identify negative and unhealthy thoughts or behaviours, breaking them down into smaller components (thoughts, physical sensations, and actions) for analysis. These are then replaced with healthier, more constructive alternatives. Beyond common mental health issues like panic disorder, Obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD), and bipolar disorder, CBT is also effective for treating conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), chronic fatigue syndrome, and fibromyalgia.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT): This therapy encourages patients to recognise and accept their thoughts and feelings. It then helps them reframe their perspective, focus on mindfulness, and commit to personal values and behavioural change. ACT aims to improve patients’ abilities to cope with and adapt to various situations.
Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT): Combining cognitive behavioural therapy, developmental psychology, evolutionary psychology, social psychology, neuroscience, and Buddhist philosophy, CFT encourages patients to practice gratitude, mindfulness, and compassion-focused imagery exercises. This approach helps individuals treat themselves and others with kindness and compassion.

Counsellors

Counsellors focus on addressing interpersonal and personal issues by providing solutions. Unlike therapists, who delve deeply into personality transformations, counsellors concentrate on specific aspects of the help-seeker’s life and work to resolve these targeted issues. Common examples include addiction, marital problems, and grief due to loss.

Social Workers

In contrast to the treatment-focused professionals listed above, social workers provide case management and counselling services. They also assist patients in navigating complex welfare systems to access the most suitable services. For instance, they help individuals secure employment, apply for halfway houses, or obtain government subsidies.