Counselling psychology: The Fifth Estate of Hong Kong mental health services

Currently, Hong Kong along with the rest of Asia is facing enormous changes, with even more challenges promised for the future. As with the rest of the globe, the population of Asia is ill prepared in meeting the problems arising from these changes. Psychological pathology is increasing at a rapid rate, more than can be accounted for by just population growth. In addition, non-pathological individuals, couples and families are coming under increasingly stressful situations. Dysfunctionality within the general population will touch the lives of everyone at some time or another. Current resources are inadequate to meet these needs in Asia. Using the analogy of the Fifth Estate, the argument is presented that counselling psychologists have a place in Hong Kong and in Mainland China as service providers. In addition to the broad category of mental illnesses, counselling psychologists can provide services to the remainder of the population who may be experiencing situational and temporal psychological difficulties. While the services of counselling psychologists are needed, it is incumbent upon these professionals to sell themselves to the public as legitimate service providers.