Masters in psychology at 40

[Mayhemmumma]

I don't know if this is just a pie in the sky wishful thinking or even affordable but I am considering doing a psychology masters and at the same time spending a year at home being available for my youngest who will be in his last year at primary school. This all sounds lovely in theory, I would be 40...

But, I did a part time BA in social work and completed it 13 years ago with very little education beyond training days since.

I want to re train to work in perinatal mental health. Is this the best route?

Im a strong reader and my strength is my writing ability but I'm unsure if I could cope with group work for example or presentations... I doubt myself and think I'm too old and it's too late.

Well, this board has plenty of proof that one is rarely too old or too late for academic study.

But I’d suggest the first thing to do is research career routes for perinatal mental health through the relevant academic websites. Then you’ll know exactly which qualification you need to gain.

Would you be thinking of doing it over two years?

Ideally one year as I couldn't not work for two and like the idea of having the luxury to study when not working (which I've never done before)

I assume you mean the accredited psychology conversion MSc that meets the British Psychological Society conditions for Graduate Basis for Chartered membership?

I just googled perinatal mental health careers. What do you want to be?

From a 2-minute Google I have learned that a perinatal mental health practitioner would need to be qualified and registered as a social worker, registered mental health nurse, registered general nurse, or occupational therapist, etc.

So what path are you aiming for? I'm not sure the degree you're considering is the right entry route for any of the above roles - they have their own degrees / conversion degrees.

Are you qualified as a social worker already? I'd have thought it'd make more sense to build on the foundation you already have, even if you need further training to be able to register with HCPC etc.

Yes qualified social worker working in child protection since 2010.

Have you considered applying for a trainee high intensity CBT practitioner position? Social work is classed as a core profession. You’d complete a years training which is a combo of uni and clinical work, you end up with a PGDip, then you can apply for accreditation as a cognitive behavioural therapist. This route is paid at B6 in the NHS and you can then pursue a career in a psychology field without needing to take a year out.
this is the route I took as I’m aware that the competition for clinical psych doctorates is fierce and even with the conversion course you are likely to need to work as an assistant psych or similar for a while before you’d get accepted onto the phd.

Oh that's really interesting thank you ATG...

I would definitely consider this route. The change from children's services to adult mental health in social work isn't easy even though I have a lot of transferable skills and worked primarily with pre birth and babies who's mums had complex mental health needs, I was the child's social worker. I'm finding that there is often a requirement of having worked in mental health services already for certain jobs so the route hasn't been straight forward without a big pay cut.

Hmmm ba in psychology might not help with your goal or it might just be a small stepping stone. What about doing a postgrad diploma in family therapy, cbt or something like that or volunteering with a local team to help with the experience? I’d think about what’s the end goal and what interests you and focus on that. Perinatal teams also hire OTs, social workers, nursery nurses, engagement workers, family therapists, CBTers and more. I would definietely focus on finding a postgrad course building on from the ba you did rather than starting from scratch. You could focus on trying to become a clin psychologist, but it is such a competitive field to get into, you’d need a conversion course in psychology and then trying to get experience as assistant psychologist or pwp trainee both not paid well and then try and get onto the doctorate course, which is v difficult. Good luck whatever you choose

Thank you - I was looking at an MA with view that it might expand my interests also, with a more overall knowledge.
I will keep my eyes peeled for trainee type roles and it's a good idea re CBT type skills.

Thank you

Don't do the CBT course if you want to work in perinatal! You won't be hired as a psychologist. But your background in social care with mums and babies will be absolutely brilliant for a band6/7 care coordinator role in a perinatal team. And the quality of work/life will be so much better. And they will train you in perinatal specific psychological interventions -- circle of security, VIG etc if you are interested in that. It is probably pretty obvious where I work!

If you want to do some additional training before going back to work have a look at the Tavistock M7 course which runs in London and various regional places.

OP, the Open Uni offers a conversion MSc in Psychology, it’s two year-long modules so designed to take two years as part-time study. I’m considering it for a few years’ time 🙂

Good luck with your research and studies!

I work in the field and we definietely hire cbt therapists in perinatal

My friend did it over 2 years, she had 3 kids younger than yours - it was hard work but doable. She is very organised and very driven but her background wasn’t health care related like yours. She started off on the one year programme but shifted to two years after a few weeks as her youngest were barely out of the toddler years at the time and it was too full on. She then spent a year or two doing related work and got a place on a PhD clinical psychology course - this was pretty brutal as she was living a long way from home Monday - Friday and her DCs were still at primary school. She said it focused her mind on getting her assignments in though, knowing she had to be back home on Friday evening in time to take the kids to their sports clubs! I did a masters in a year when the DCs were a bit younger than yours so I think that part is doable. I had to go away on a field trip with students half my age (bunk beds in a room of six!) which I found very hard - took me about 2 weeks to recover…

Joan thank you! I have done training in VIG so that's one more little tick.

Thank you all, lots to think about and really helpful thoughts.

You will be snapped up with your background and expertise!

Yes, @Denis44 In our trust at least, which may not be representative, CBT at secondary care perinatal is offered by clinical psychologists trained to doctoral level. The cases are complex. That is not where the op needs to go (unless she really wants to!) Possibly community perinatal services would need this? I guess the op could decide if she really wants to train in CBT and take it from there, but there are othe courses that I think would be a terrific compliment to the skills and experience she has already in this kind of work.

Anyway, good luck op!!

The prospect of a field trip and bunk beds would terrify me! Well done!

Signed myself up for info from Tavistock.

I think that is the best course in terms of content and also because you can take it at different levels, from one year up to the full doctoral training which would open up band 8 posts. But there is also the School of Infant Mental Health and IPCAPA / Anna Freud centre. Hope it is a great year or two!

Last additional thoughts! Some of our care cos train in motivational interviewing, or MBT (the Anna Freud course) and we train everyone in the PIIOS. They do these once with us though to expand their skill set, you don't need them to apply. I wondered if it was worth contacting your local perinatal team managers explaining your background and plan and asking what gaps they would suggest filling, if any. The fact you already are VIG trained is a huge asset and fwiw we have plenty of adult trained applicants for posts, we desperately need people who know how to think about babies and the Tavi course is perfect for that. But not everywhere is the same so perhaps have a chat with your local team

And good luck, I absolutely love this work (as you can probably tell!) and hope you will too

Thank you!

I need to be brave and write to the local team instead of just waiting to see the job advert I want.

I appreciate your advice on this.

Update I have had a first stage interview with a perinatal team for a job (temporary post for a year) completing the CYP IAPT post grad diploma in 0-5 infant mental health at the Anna Freud centre/UCL and working part time in the team.

Couldn't believe it when I saw the advert!

Ooh that's an exciting update, fingers crossed for good news!

That's brilliant! Hope it goes really well.