Clinical psychologists aim to reduce psychological distress and to enhance and promote psychological wellbeing. This means working with individuals, couples and families presenting with mild to severe and enduring difficulties. This can be within the community mental or physical health contexts. They work with people throughout their lifespan and with those with learning disabilities. The Practitioner Doctorate provides high-calibre professional clinical psychology training based on a coherent synthesis of psychological theory, research and practice. The Programme integrates three elements: * Academic: a comprehensive review of the major academic areas of clinical psychology; * Research: the development of theoretical and research skills, generating novel research, development and evaluation of all aspects of clinical practice; * Clinical: high-quality training in clinical skills. Programme content and structure The Programme is a three-year full-time Programme which consists of an academic and research taught and experiential component with associated workshops to support the integration of the research knowledge. Clinical skills are taught at the University as well as on health and social care practice placements. Half the time is spent on the academic and research elements of the programme, including some self-directed study time, with the remaining time being spent acquiring professional and clinical skills. The Surrey approach is to provide an applied psychology training that has an integrative basis for practice in psychotherapy as a registered clinical psychologist. Time is spent both clinically and academically addressing the integration of theory and practice. In clinical practice this is undertaken in supervision, whilst within the University environment a number of learning experiences have been developed to foster reflectivity, e.g. skills groups and the personal and professional learning discussion groups, which are further supported by meetings with tutors and mentors. There is a series of lectures and workshops, grouped together in teaching units, which provide the theoretical context for understanding the presenting clinical or organisational issues or dilemmas. As the Programme is a degree by research, all academic assignments need to be individually passed at D level with a viva voce examination of the major research element of the training. All the clinical placements need to be passed. There are no compensatory systems in place. The time distribution for academic / research work and clinical skill development has formally been set by the BPS to ensure that there is sufficient time to integrate the two aspects of the course. At Surrey, the philosophy is to support the trainees’ considering themselves as applied scientists within the domain of clinical psychology, and not as practitioners who consume other’s research.

The Department of Health has raised the profile of applied psychologists in addressing the health of the nation. The National Institute for Clinical Excellence has published guidance in a number of areas, stipulating the need for psychological assessment and psychological therapy access. There is convincing evidence that talking therapies can make a significant difference to people presenting with the widest spectrum of psychological difficulties. Applied clinical psychologists working in higher-education institutions in collaboration with clinicians in the service are at the forefront of developing this evidence base.