A Career in Clinical Psychology

Hi I'm a Trainee Clinical Psychologist working in the NHS. I have an anonymous instagram account where I draw about all things psychology and mental health I've done a doodle of myself and some of the skills I'm learning on my course.

How do you become a Clinical Psychologist?

You need an accredited undergrad degree in psychology and usually at least a year's experience working in a relevant setting (e.g. as an assistant psychologist or support worker) before applying for a 3 year Doctorate degree (NHS funded) to become a Clinical Psychologist. It is quite a long, competitive process but it is possible and can be really rewarding when you get there.

What does a typical day look like?

It depends! On teaching days I attend (virtual) lectures and workshops on a variety of topics (everything from systemic therapy, to discussing complex trauma presentations, to learning about legal/ethical issues). On placement days, I will typically have a few 1:1 clinic appointments with patients, meetings, report writing, admin and supervision.

Whats the hardest part/best part of your role?

I love being able to formulate, which means helping someone make sense their difficulties using a psychological approach.The most difficult part for me is the responsibility of the role. For example, we often have to assess for things like risk of suicide. It's so important we keep people safe and so we have to make sure we do everything right. There can also be an emotional impact to the work we do. I find my supervision sessions really helpful to reflect on how my work impacts me.