How long did it take you to train as a Psychologist?

[LostHerSheep]

I've just turned 39 and lockdown has made me reassess my career. I'm a teacher and I don't love it any more. I have 2 dc, husband, ok (not amazing) finances.

Degree and masters in psychology, experience of working with kids and adults as a teacher, in schools, colleges and secure units.

Ideally I'd like to do Forensic or Clinical psychology (not educational).

Having spoken to a couple of friends in related fields it feels like I'm too old, everyone is 23ish straight from uni. (They haven't said this, it's what I've taken from the conversations)

Anyone out there done this and if so how long did it take you? Hoping my life experience and work history means I have something to offer that a 23 year old may not have? (Clutching at straws?)

Honestly Clinical is horribly competitive, your experience will count but not quite enough, you'll need specific mental health experience (assistant psychologist) and, if you haven't already, research experience. But it can't hurt to apply (I think applications are starting around now, can't hurt to chunk one in)

Forensic is less competitive but they're are also less opportunities at the end of it and you often have to self fund the training course (clinical is paid for)

May also be worth considering Counselling psychology - similar issues to forensic but you're more likely to get an NHS job

Your course mates will mostly be about 25 but there are always a couple of older students

Out of interest, why not educational? It’s such a great job.

Actually, your experience sounds great. What were you doing in the secure units? Was that as a teacher? Sounds entirely relevant experience for a CP. You would need to get more psychology relevant experience working with MH, either as an assistant psychologist or support worker. You could do some voluntary stuff if you can afford to.
Training itself takes 3 years but as PP mentions it is very competitive so it can take years to get on. I think it took me 3.5 years of experience to get on- two AP roles, support worker and research assistant.

Happy to PM if you want to chat more.

What is it specifically about CP or forensics that interests you? There may be other career paths.

So out of my friend who have been trying since they graduated aged 21, two have got onto the doctorate training process. They are aged 29 and 30. Most people give up before then. Its a v v competitive slog! A lot of the experienced unpaid.

Thank you for your replies!

I was mature when I did my masters and have memories of some very glamorous 21 year olds rolling their eyes when I asked about concepts that were obvious to them but I was 'out of the loop'. It's affected my confidence that I'd be out of date and unable to cope.

I have enjoyed teaching in the secure units most, probably because it hasn't been 'pure' teaching it's been a lot of pastoral care (it always is with adults whatever the setting to be fair!) and I've found liaising with the psych department fascinating. This is what has made me research forensic/clinical as it would be working with the MH side, risk management and treatment.

Due to being older I can relate differently eg I've lived, loved, failed, been judged, humiliated, picked myself up again, learnt resilience the hard way, dealt with my own MH.... this isn't purely to do with age of course.

@herecomesthenamechanger

I've seen that clinical is really competitive. I think this is part of my worry that I could be 49 and still a trainee and might look like a dick!!

Thanks @SRK16 your comments are encouraging. As it happens I have done research too - I had to as part of my masters and then I continued as a volunteer researcher while working as a teacher. (Exhausting but I was trying to think long term. I've had teaching "wobbles" for a while now) I Co-authored a paper which has come back with a lot of questions so may not get published.

I'm the same age as you OP and a teacher and am looking at doing MSc Psychology conversion with a view to becoming an EdPsych. No advice, just following for info!

@lelophants

I'm kinda hoping my background could mean I don't have to wait as long as your friends did? It's so hard to know.

I think your background is brilliant, do you still have links there (maybe volunteer or apply for a job in the psychology department?)

It won't take you 10 years, probably more like 2 with your experience if you can get something more psychology related but honestly if you love it it's probably worth it. You've still got a lot of working years in you and I'm very confident your age wouldn't go against you in any way.

I know two people who are clinical psychologists. Both had undergraduate degrees in psychology but I don’t think either had a master’s. It took one one year to get onto the course and the other two years. They worked as assistant psychologists in a variety of settings before that - all paid.

Good luck @Bgirl

@daisypond thanks, good to see it can happen quickly.

I'm in this field and I definitely don't think you're too old! On training you would be at the older end but not wildly so (IME 23 is unusually young...) and NHS professions in general are full of mature career-changers. It's a good career for later on imo - not physically exhausting (though mentally can be) and as you say life experience is helpful, no reason why you couldn't be in clinical practice for many decades yet and you already have the first degree. Clinical is v competitive but your secure unit experience especially would go down well, you would need to be smart in how you conveyed your liaising with the psych departments and what you have learned from that. Technically you don't have to have been an assistant or research assistant to get onto clinical training; you have to be able to demonstrate realistic understanding and experience of what psychologists do - but almost all successful candidates will have been in these roles, some for a long time. Good luck - sounds like you have lots going for you!

Thanks @onewhitewhisker Would I be right in thinking CPs work across a broader range of environments and hence would be able to come out of the more stressful settings once 'older'? It's my understanding that FPs mostly work in prisons which although I find fascinating I can't imagine how that works once you get older - maybe move in to management??

I like the idea of working with the police too in the future (as a psych) but haven't seen much at all about which type of psychologist is more likely to do this, would that be forensic?

I should add, by this:

"I like the idea of working with the police too in the future (as a psych) but haven't seen much at all about which type of psychologist is more likely to do this, would that be forensic?"

I mean working with offenders in police custody.

Go for it, I am 50 and regret not having gone for it at your age. Am hopefully going to start Health Psychology MSc part time but feel ship has sailed at this point with regards to doing part 2.

You could train in clinical with specialism in forensic (so choosing forensic hospitals for your final placement) I don't think you would struggle to move to ward job or community job with that kind of experience although if I'm honest (having worked in both settings) I wouldn't say either were harder or more intense than the other.

You're only mid career really, plenty of time to change eg you could work 20y for NHS after training.

But first the basics: Do you have graduate basis for chartership from your UG degree? (GBC) and what class did you get? Can you publish your paper? They like PG research experience. Do you like academic study? It's a lot during training - essays, case reports, projects as well as the thesis.

Then the clinical - can you get some face to face mental health experience? Do you know any CPs you could talk to/shadow?

Hi OP, yes for clinical there's a huge range of settings from IAPT type through to working in inpatient, forensic units or prisons. It also isn't too hard to change direction within the profession, or to combine NHS and private practice. I'm afraid I don't know about who provides therapeutic work to offenders in police custody but you could get into working with YOT, forensic offenders in the community or inpatient through either clinical or forensic.

@FoolsAssassin go for it! I should take my own advice because I read your reply and thought you're never too old to try something new. We'll be working til 70ish and alive til....well, who knows! Too long to have regrets (I just wish my negative brain could think this way) Good luck x

Thanks @herecomesthenamechanger. Lots to think about here 😊

I’m not suggesting giving up on your dreams but have you considered working for the Probation Service? A lot of your interests and experience sound highly relevant - it could be a good fit?

I think your experience sounds great and you’d be really valuable to a doctorate training course (3years). It is competitive but I honestly wouldn’t let that put you off. Plenty of people get in first time round (not me, but some do!). I wouldn’t bother trying to do extra research or publish, just sell what you’ve done already.

The applications are usually submitted in December so I’d get organised for it. Make sure you actually answer the questions on the application as they will be rated against a scoring criteria based on the job description. So match your experience to what they are looking for/ asking.
If you know any qualified Clinical psychologists then you could ask them to read it over. Good luck.

Hi @ evidenceoranxiety yes I have GBR and am a fully paid up member of the BPS. I got a 2:1 at UG and have a PGCE as well as the masters. I will be looking to resubmit the paper (with my co's) asap but it's a slow process. Re the experience, I need to think more about this. I work full time and need my A/L for my kids, in a bit of a bind here. Would volunteering for a Samaritans type thing help?

Thanks @onewhitewhisker, you've been really helpful. It's hard to find these 'little' queries through googling, it all feels very secretive :)

@NC4Now I have thought a bit about this (I have been looking around from teaching for a good while!) but I think it's more the assessment/formulation/treatment side I want to go for.

thanks @BertandErnie1. I will do some proper looking at dates and locations as December will come around fast if the rest of this year has been anything to go by...