What is a Clinical Psychologist?

Selma van Diest is besides an accredited Sex Therapist also a registered Clinical Psychologist. She is trained in using different approaches and techniques to help people overcome their psychological difficulties. 
People could have all kinds of issues that could require the support and insight of a clinical psychologist to improve their situation or mental and psychological health. The most common problems in the area of expertise of a clinical psychologist are depression and anxiety but these are certainly not the only possible reasons to visit a psychologist. Please find more detailed information about certain psychological issues Selma could offer therapy for in the drop-down menu under the button 'Psychology'. 

A clinical psychologist is an expert in the assessment and treatment of human behaviour. A clinical psychologist is extensively trained in applying their knowledge by working with clients in clinical settings using various therapeutic skills aiming to achieve improved psychological and physical health. In Australia a clinical psychologist is registered with the National Psychology Board (PsyBA), can be member of the Australian Psychological Society (APS) and needs to adhere to the professional standards of practice of these bodies. 

Psychological treatment
Psychological treatment is focused on improving a person's mental health by applying empirically supported strategies - 'best practice'. Selma is trained to provide various psychological treatment strategies such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Eye Movement Desensitisation and Rehabilitation (EMDR), couple counselling, Sex Therapy. 

These techniques will provide you as client the opportunity to learn how your own behaviour has been shaped by an interaction of our own values and thoughts and values shown by parents, peers, partners and social environments. Understanding how our world of thoughts and assumptions creates the basis of our actions provides an opportunity to intervene and change undesired feelings and behaviours. Learning to cope with negative emotions will be part of this process as well. As a result you will gain insight in which thoughts and feelings make you behave in a certain way resulting in a certain outcome (such as because you feel down and worthless you avoid going to a social function which results in further feelings of loneliness OR to because you have been sitting behind the computer all day you would like to feel more fit an happy so you decide to go to the gym). Understanding to which thoughts and feelings you'd better listen or ignore you will discover more control to work towards establishing your own happiness. 

With the support of these various therapeutic techniques it is Selma's philosophy that she will support her clients as extensive as necessary while reinforcing the client's own strategies to enable continuation within their own abilities when possible. To prevent a recurrent need to see a therapist Selma will focus on relapse prevention before completing therapy.