Case studies

"I meet so many inspirational people in my work"

Psychology is the science of how people behave, think and feel. My role as a clinical psychologist working in health psychology is to provide psychological assessment and treatment for people who are experiencing psychological and emotional difficulties related to their health condition. Psychological theories and methods are applied to help people to think about why they are having difficulties, how they affect them and how they are maintained. Once the difficulties are identified, ways can be suggested to help.

Both HIV and cystic fibrosis are life-long conditions that require medical treatment. As well as working with problems such as depression and anxiety, I help people with issues around diagnosis, taking medication and end of life. I also offer support to family members and partners of clients who are affected by the person’s health condition.

My work also involves working with asylum seekers and with this work, can come complex psychological issues which often stem further than their health condition. Working with this client group can also involve liaising with the medical team, social services and solicitors, writing to the Home Office and preparing psychological reports for court as part of asylum appeals.

I work within multi-disciplinary teams and provide consultation to other staff members as well as conducting research, teaching, training and supervision for staff. The role also requires neuropsychology testing for those presenting with cognitive difficulties.

What do you love about your job?

I love the fact that no two days at work are the same. Some days are challenging, some bring tears, some bring joy and some bring all three. The clients I see are diverse in ethnicity, culture and in the way they present psychologically. I meet so many inspirational people in my work, both patients and staff, which impact on my own outlook and help me to value the good things in life.

Research into psychological theories and methods is forever expanding and my job allows time to continue to develop within my profession to ensure that we can offer the most effective treatments to our clients. I work with great people in my job which has a big impact on job satisfaction.

What has been your proudest moment so far?

Apart from having my son….

I can’t recall one particular ‘proudest moment’ in my career, but have many moments where I feel proud of the job I do. I feel proud of my profession when I see the positive contribution that psychology has made to people’s lives. It is a great feeling when clients leave therapy having developed new insights into their difficulties and new ways of revising unhelpful ways of relating, thinking, feelings and behaving.

Any tips for finding a job that you love?

My top tips are:

• You need to do what you love! Whether that is working outdoors or with animals, children, adults, computers, interiors or microorganisms. We are all different and different things make us happy. If you do something you love, work is less likely to become a chore.
• Learn about the life you want. If you have the opportunity, travel to different places and experience different cultures. Talk to people who are close to you and think about what really matters to you, what gives you a sense of purpose. Will your career fit with this?
• Try to get some experience in the field that you think you might be interested in and talk to as many people as you can. Applying for volunteer roles can help you to gain invaluable work experience.
• Work hard. There is undoubtedly a lot of competition in the job market so find out what qualifications and experience you need and put in the effort.
• Be confident - you have lots to offer.

Tell us about any travel opportunities in your job

I get to travel around the UK to Cystic Fibrosis conferences twice per year which allows the opportunity to keep up with current research and meet with other psychologists working in CF services. I will also have the opportunity to travel to Basel in Switzerland next year to present my research at the Cystic Fibrosis conference.

What qualifications do you need to be a Psychologist?

• BSc(Hons) Psychology (Grade 2.1 or above or Masters in Psychology if lower grade) or postgraduate diploma in Psychology. Must be BPS accredited courses.
• Experience working as an assistant/research psychologist (usually between 1-3 years)
• Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (three years)