Any clinical psychologists here?

[Milosmirror]

If you are a CP, do you like your job?

How long and what exactly did you study?

Do you have a Phd?

What's it like day-to-day e.g. how do you cope with the difficult things you hear about?

Do your patients ever really improve? What does a typical day look like?

AIBU to imagine it's a really interesting and fulfilling career?

I love my job. Not the admin side obviously.

I studied undergraduate Psychology including a year in industry - 4 years. Then I did a masters - 1 year. Then I worked in industry for 3 years. Then I got on the doctoral training programme - 3 years.

I do not have a phd, but in order to qualify as a CP you need to complete a doctoral programme.

I see clients one to one, but i also do supervision and consultations, meetings, training, research. I have always been good at compartmentalising personally.

My patients do improve and it's amazing when they do. Makes all the NHS shite worth while.

Not a CP, but in a related field.

All clinical psychologists will have completed the doctorate in clinical psychology. This is the only way to become one. It's very hard to get onto the doctorate, many people apply for years, and you also generally have to take unpaid work placements for some time to have a chance of a place. You also of course need to have an accredited undergraduate degree in psychology, or equivalent conversion course.

@MonsteraCheeseplant what is compartmentalising?

Not in the field but can say that some patients do improve. My clinical psychologist saved my life, marvellous woman she was.

i love my job and am so glad I trained in it. In the UK you have to complete a 3 year professional doctorate (not a phd, dclinpsy) and prior to this you need a lot of work experience and an undergrad degree in psychology. From when I finished my degree it took me 3 years to get on the course.

Day to day it is varied. There is no typical day really and it depends on what kind of service you work in and what your role is, you could be doing a lot of therapy, or supervision, service development... my role is mostly therapy based but I also supervise junior colleagues. There’s quite a bit of admin too. It can be hard when clients are very distressed or unwell, or if you’re working with someone who is aggressive towards you.
I try not to take work home with me but it’s hard sometimes, I try quite hard to take it easy and have a balance of relaxation and socialising etc.
Someof my clients do get better and it’s amazing to see. Others improve a bit. Sadly some people continue to struggle.

It’s very interesting, and very fulfilling, but it can be very hard and upsetting at times. Ultimately it depends what you want to do day to day, if it’s just about therapy CP isn’t the only way you could do this.

To add: I chose the career because of my own experiences of being in therapy and having a CP who I feel saved my life, similarly to a PP. it’s not what I thought it would be when I first started considering it as a career, but i wouldn’t change it.

I'm a clinical psychologist. Used to work in the nhs but am now in private practice, which I have to say I enjoy a lot more.

As pp have said( the route in is not a phd, you need a doctorate in clinical psychology. I also have an undergrad degree from Oxbridge, a postgrad conversion diploma to psychology and a masters degree. I was fortunate enough to get a place on a doctorate training course the first year I applied, but it is highly competitive and many good candidates just don't get accepted for years or at all.

My paid work is currently about 80% therapy, 20% assessment/consultation, and in private practice I see approx 20-25 clients a week, which is considerably more than I did in NHS as so much time has to be taken up with admin, meetings and so on. For me this is preferable, both in terms of why I care about and also financially, but being a CP is certainly not just about therapy. You are trained as a scientist practitioner and developing research skills are a big part of training. I continue to be involved in research and have co-authored various published articles in peer reviewed journals. I also do some media contribution and have written a couple of psychology books.

In terms of the emotional impact of the work, I have a high tolerance, good self care and my own life is very stable, which helps me to manage the impact of dealing with the distress of others on a daily basis. I also have a good supervisor I can discuss cases with.

And yes, my therapy clients mostly do experience meaningful improvement in their wellbeing. Not all, but most.

I'm a CP. 3 years undergrad, 3 years doctorate.

I work in adult mental health, specialising in complex trauma. Work 2 days NHS, 2 days private.

Do see an improvement overall, but it can be long and slow. Private people tend to be less complex and therefore see quicker recovery.

Whilst it is an interesting and fulfilling career, if I had my time over, I would make different choices.

To the CPs - may I ask what work experience you did prior to applying/getting accepted on the doctorate?

Whilst it is an interesting and fulfilling career, if I had my time over, I would make different choices.

Could I ask what you think you would have done rather, with hinsight?

To the CPs - may I ask what work experience you did prior to applying/getting accepted on the doctorate? it would be great to know what they look for in candidates. Would volunteering or placements abroad be a good idea?

One more question: what distinguishes a qualified psychotherapist from a CP in terms of day-to-day work and also therapy approaches? Is there a big difference? (sorry probably very ignorant question)

Bumping, hoping to learn more about the doctorate process as well as learning more about the profession.

Have a read of the Wiki's here for more information

Have a look here www.leeds.ac.uk/chpccp/ and Here at the alternative handbook ....

shop.bps.org.uk/the-alternative-handbook-2020-postgraduate-training-courses-in-clinical-psychology.html

You will have missed applications for 2020 intake but 2021 opens in Sept/Oct

OP do you have an undergraduate psych degree or graduate conversion? Because if you don't it's a long old slog getting qualified.

CmdrCressidaDuck I have a MSc in Global health promotion.
I am really disappointed in myself to not have chosen my career path more wisely. I reckon it is out of my reach now but psychology as a field would have suited me better than anything else I have done. Saying that, I wouldn't rule out doing a conversion course at some point.

Depending on what it is that appeals to you about the profession, it might well be possible to get that a different way.

I’m in my final year of psychology undergrad so I’m following this thread! Doubt I’ll become a CP though.

Well done MonstranceClock and good luck with your final year!

Doubt I’ll become a CP though What area of psychology would you like to get into?

@Elandra - clinical is a specific type of psychologist (usually working in mental health) chartered means they're registered with the British psychological society but could be as anything (research, occupational health, forensic)

There are other psychologists who do similar work--counselling psychologists... Still a doctorate but you usually have to self fund.

You would also have to have the equivalent of degree in psychology... So some kind of conversion course... Which are at least 2 years.
Then you would need enough work experience to be able to write a decent reflective application.

Also look at training to be an IAPT worker.

I’m not sure yet. I’d like to go into forensic psychology. But, I’ve been in education for ever now and I’m eager to get out for a few years so might get a graduate job in something unrelated for a few years

Sorry to derail but can I ask what kind of work you'd recommend after a psychology degree (accredited) and before the clinical doctorate as this is the route my son is taking, he's just finishing his undergraduate now.

@lostsoulsunited - in an ideal world assistant psychologist or research assistant but they're very very hard to get (example - 300 applicants per post) so I would recommend support worker posts to start getting mental health experience.

Thank you @partysong, that's what he's looking for so it's good to know he's got the right idea.