Welcome all of you to this website on the Graduate Studies in Clinical Psychology, offered by the Department of Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong. I hope that I am right to assume that you are interested in a career in clinical psychology. Before you commit to doing so, let me first raise this question with you. What do you expect to get from a career in clinical psychology?

A reasonable monthly income? A stable job? A helping profession? A respectable status? Gratitude messages from clients? But, in return, the price is to deal with daily those “pessimistic” or “gloomy” sides of human existence. You see agitated faces with anxiety and depression or blank faces with incoherent speeches or thoughts. 

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I do not fully endorse the last two statements. They represent only one side of looking at our job as a clinical psychologist. When my clients come to see me, I instead see in them resilience and strength. They are NOT willing to give themselves up, despite all the adversities forcing upon them. To me, this spirit is the real beauty in life. We are privileged to have clients sharing their darkest or most unfortunate secrets with us and allowing us to walk with them into a future uncertain to both of us. There is a fair share of disappointment, frustration or despair, yet not without some surprise, delight and triumph. These ups-and-downs are educational and growth-enhancing to ourselves as a clinical psychologist and as a person, expanding our horizon and humanity. In the end, I hope that we all come out from these clinical experiences as a better, more matured and wiser person. 

I cannot promise any aspiring clinical psychologist a rose garden. But, I am quite confident that you can find yourself a life and not an existence in your career in clinical psychology. I hope to meet with some of you one day.​