Dr David McCormack, Clinical Psychologist, Belfast

INFO@DAVIDMCCORMACK.IE

David McCormack is a qualified and experienced Clinical Psychologist working in private practice with adults in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

He trained as a Clinical Psychologist at Queen’s University Belfast and worked in a range of NHS clinical settings following qualification. He worked as a Clinical Psychologist at the Royal Hospitals in Belfast, dividing his time between children’s, maternity and general adult services, before going on to work at the Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust and then the Maudsley Hospital in London. His experience includes adult mental health and specialist hospital settings. While working in England, he completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy at the University of Oxford and, alongside his private practice, works as a Lecturer (Education) in Clinical Psychology at Queen’s University Belfast.

He is fully insured and registered to practice as a Clinical Psychologist in Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Registered Clinical Psychologist, PYL24053.

People seek a consultation with Dr. McCormack for a range of difficulties, including distress related to past experiences, struggles with anxiety or low mood, or challenges in their personal or professional lives.

Some people have a clear sense of what they want to address, while others feel stuck or uncertain about what’s wrong. They may notice strained relationships, excessive worry, or a persistent sense of unhappiness but struggle to find a way forward. In these situations, the first step is to explore and make sense of what is happening, understand what may be maintaining the difficulties, and, if appropriate, engage in psychological therapy to work toward meaningful change.

To enable clients to overcome the problems they are attending for Dr McCormack uses evidence-based psychotherapy, drawing upon a number of psychological approaches. The main approach he uses is Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. The reason for this is because it is an effective approach for a number of common psychological and emotional problems.

However, as people are inherently complex and their problems unique, he always tailors therapy to a client's individual needs so as to best support them to overcome the difficulties they are experiencing.

"If you have never attended a clinical psychologist before you might be a bit apprehensive and not sure what to expect. It is really quite normal to feel this way. Let me try and reassure you, if I can, by telling you a little bit about what to expect. At our first appointment we will meet for approximately ninety minutes and I will ask some questions to understand what’s troubling you. I may also ask you to complete some specialised questionnaires to help me to better understand how you are feeling. At the end of our first appointment it should be clear as to the best way forward. If it seems that I can help then we can discuss whether you would like to attend for a course of therapy. This would typically mean meeting for a number of sessions of focused psychological therapy aimed at overcoming the problems identified."

David McCormack

DR DAVID MCCORMACK
CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST