Practice-based evidence in clinical health psychology

‘Clinicians do not have to choose between standing with their clients or standing with the research.’ (Tilsen & Nylund, 2008, Chapter 6, p.350) From 1 September 2023 the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) in their revised proficiency standards, require all practitioner psychologists both to: ‘engage in evidence-based practice’ and ‘evaluate care plans or intervention plans using recognised and appropriate outcome measures, in conjunction with the service user where possible’ (HCPC 2023) This article describes some of the complexities of these requirements in relation to psychologists working in physical health contexts, proposes sessional measures as a solution and presents data derived from the use of sessional measures in a small clinical health psychology Department in West Yorkshire.