S1E147: Is your psychologist actually qualified? How to check in Singapore

Mar 9, 2026

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Clearing the air on what different types of psychologists do.

Synopsis: Every first Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times helps you make sense of health matters that affect you.

The Ministry of Health has announced that five key psychological subdisciplines will be registered under the Allied Health Professions Act, with details expected to be out in early 2027. This move aims to enhance the safety and public trust associated with psychological services and the profession as a whole.

In this episode, ST senior health correspondent Joyce Teo speaks to two council members of the Singapore Psychological Society to find out more about the different roles of psychologists.

They delve into how a clinical psychologist and an educational psychologist may help a client, what one can do to determine if a potential psychologist is the right person to help you, and why registration is important.

The guests are Mr Adrian Toh and Dr Cassandra Neo. Adrian is a clinical psychologist in private practice while Cassandra is a psychologist who works at a public hospital and is trained in educational psychology.

Highlights (click/tap above):

2:35 What do psychologists do?

4:10 How might a clinical psychologist and an educational psychologist collaborate to help a primary school student who is not doing well in school?

16:30 Ahead of the registration of psychologists, what can you do to find the right psychologist?

19:55 The different types of psychologists

22:46 How do psychologists qualify for the Singapore Register of Psychologists?

25:19 Why registration is important; reports of potentially harming behaviours of psychologists

Read Joyce Teo's stories: https://str.sg/JbxN

Host: Joyce Teo (joyceteo@sph.com.sg)

Produced and edited by: Amirul Karim

Executive producers: Ernest Luis and Lynda Hong

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