Psychotherapy and counselling are processes of transformative change. In Hong Kong, many professional psychologists who have received specialized clinical trainings are called clinical psychologists. They not only conduct interviews and assessments with those seeking psychological assessment services but also work collaboratively with them in psychotherapy. Clinical psychologists have a deep understanding of their clients' situations and guide them to think from a different perspective, helping them gain a clearer understanding of themselves and their surroundings. This enables clients to have more choices and not be limited to just one option, positively impacting their mental state and thoughts. Cognitive-behavioural therapy is the most common form of treatment, helping clients to approach and deal with problems with a positive and proactive attitude and behaviour. Additionally, targeted psychological treatments and counselling methods may be necessary in different situations, such as Art Therapy, Humanistic Therapy, and Psychodynamic Analysis Therapy, among others. These are all recommended methods commonly used by clinical psychologists.

It is difficult to generalize the time and duration required for counselling and psychotherapy, as they can be influenced by multiple factors. For example, if a client's psychological issues are more severe and complex, more time may be needed for the psychological service. Other factors such as the client's background, problem-solving ability, other sources of stress at the time, and treatment goals can also affect the recommended duration of psychotherapy. It's important to emphasize that our clinical psychologists and psychotherapists constantly review the progress of the treatment process, so the length of counselling or therapy can vary. Encouraging the client to express their thoughts more (which is also recommended by the therapist) and having effective communication between both parties during the therapeutic process can significantly improve the progress of psychotherapy.

If a clinical psychologist or psychotherapist conducts a comprehensive assessment and determines that referral to a psychiatrist is necessary based on the individual's mental state, they may issue a referral letter. After an evaluation and treatment by the psychiatrist, if medication is deemed necessary to further aid in the individual's recovery, the psychiatrist will prescribe medication to the individual.

As a client of psychotherapy and counselling, it is important to try to stay relaxed and calm during the process. Feeling nervous or anxious is normal, especially if it is the first time receiving psychological services, but there is no need to overly worry about it. The key to effective psychotherapy and counselling is to be honest and open with the clinical psychologist or psychotherapist. They need to deeply understand the root causes of the client's distress, and may need to discuss their family, work, and other background information during the sessions. Therefore, it is possible that the discussion may bring up some unpleasant memories or emotions for the client, but the psychologist or therapist will encourage them to express everything they feel. However, it can be difficult and embarrassing to reveal everything to a stranger all at once, so it is okay to share at one's own pace and according to one's own feelings. It is important to note that one session is usually not enough to completely solve the problem, so clients should make follow-up appointments and reserve enough time to receive psychological services. Regularly being late, leaving early, or missing appointments will waste the psychological therapy services and greatly affect the effectiveness of the treatment.

Regarding clinical psychology services, psychotherapy involves sharing and dialogue. The difference between this type of service and confiding in a friend is that clinical psychologists and psychotherapists specifically address the mental and psychological health, related issues, causes, and symptoms of the client in a professional manner. They systematically discuss these topics with the client based on theories and research findings. Psychotherapists in Hong Kong recommend this type of service because it helps clients understand their own thoughts and emotions throughout the entire psychotherapy process. Clinical psychologists and psychotherapists work with the client to set treatment goals and make changes step by step, allowing psychological problems to be resolved gradually. Therefore, to summarize, psychotherapy and counselling services in Hong Kong may include sharing emotions, but it is not simply confiding in someone. It is a systematic clinical psychotherapy service.