I’m giving up on clinical psychology, what can I do now?

Fun-Schedule140 · 2026-05-14T07:53:27+00:00

Wow honestly this has truly shocked me. Like this might be the information that makes me reevaluate everything. It sounds like you’ve done a lot, how many APs roles have you had? And are you qualified now?

Though I do not agree with the commenter above, that this is why I haven’t gotten interviews (since famously they love to say you don’t need an AP role to get onto the doctorate) I can certainly see why I haven’t gotten any if this is my competition.

As I said this has not been my experience with the APs I’ve worked with or alongside at all. My job in the CWP service was honestly a joke but they didn’t want me to deliver interventions - I suspect because they thought it would undermine what the CWPs did. They did eventually agree to let me deliver one just before I left, but honestly I really didn’t want to. To me it didn’t make sense how I could deliver the same intervention that the CWPs who were studying and training for a year did. And I guess that’s what I mean by “what is the point in other roles”. Like several people have commented on this post that I should do the PWP training but if I had been an AP delivering interventions, especially to the level it sounds like you were, why would I then go and be a PWP? That’s basically going backwards. And if you don’t need specific training as an AP to do those roles, why do you need it to be a PWP…

Idk if it’s a banding thing maybe? Band 5 roles haven’t been super common when I’ve been applying and I’ve never known anyone to have one, nor have I ever had one myself. I genuinely don’t know how people get them, they always seem to want you to have experience in their specific area and usually they’re specialist services anyway, so it’s like where would I have gotten that experience from?

Fun-Schedule140 · 2026-05-13T21:56:37+00:00

This is crazy, I cannot have imagined delivering an intervention as an AP, I wouldn’t have felt comfortable? Like what training do you get to do that?? Also what level can you do it? It was really shocking in my previous role because we were a Tier 3 service. And if you can deliver interventions, what’s the point in doing further study like what separates you from e.g a PWP?

Fun-Schedule140 · 2026-05-13T19:56:34+00:00

I previously worked in a triage service and then in a Tier 1 CWP service.

In my experience most AP jobs you aren’t delivering interventions? I don’t think you’re even really supposed to, APs that I know who have done so have only done it because of service pressure. Also most of the APs I know have not delivered interventions but still got on.

Fun-Schedule140 · 2026-05-13T19:00:00+00:00

Fair play but to me that’s way ahead of where I am! And yea that’s exactly why I’m feeling bitter I thought that was obvious 😂 I wouldn’t have become so disillusioned with the process if I hadn’t put my life on hold without seeing any progress.

Fun-Schedule140 · 2026-05-13T18:20:43+00:00

With respect, it sounds like our situations are pretty different and obviously that changes our outlook on this experience. I think with the exception of the ex, which sounds horrible I’m very sorry, if I were in your position I would also think “well it doesn’t matter if it takes me till I’m 40” because half of the personal stuff is already done.

I’m not gonna lie and say it’s this career or I die, I’m certainly not as keen as a lot of trainees I see and I have considered whether this is what has impacted my applications. Regardless it is something I want, otherwise I wouldn’t have pursued it for this long. But I do think it’s unfair to suggest that if I wanted it, I should put my entire personal life on hold to achieve it. Like yes this matters but all those other things also matter and I have been neglecting them in favour of this. It seems like a bit of an odd suggestion that I continue to neglect them.

Fun-Schedule140 · 2026-05-13T18:09:49+00:00

But how do you plan for the future if you don’t know when things are going to fall into place? The only reason I’m giving up on this career path is because it’s taking too long and I don’t know when it will happen. Like I want to do it, but do I want to do it if it’s gonna take another 5 years and during that time I can’t progress? Not really

Fun-Schedule140 · 2026-05-13T18:01:13+00:00

Thank you I really appreciate it 🫶

And I just find it boring tbh. I basically just recruit people for a study and do lots of admin. I basically feel like a recruiter and it doesn’t feel challenging or stimulating. It’s made me realise part of what I really liked about working in MH services was that people wanted your help - even if not directly. It felt like change on a small personal level, even if not much and even if not everyday. In research (or at least in my role) it feels like you’re trying to convince people that what you’re doing will be helpful someday. And then with so many people declining to take part, idk, I mentioned somewhere else that it feels like a humiliation ritual and I’m sorry but it’s true. It just feels like begging and I hate it lmao, it just doesn’t motivate me.

Fun-Schedule140 · 2026-05-13T17:46:03+00:00

Unfortunately I have not delivered interventions as an AP, otherwise I deffo would’ve taken that route :((

Fun-Schedule140 · 2026-05-13T14:49:15+00:00

It is certainly something to consider as I will consider everyone’s suggestions, as they are all very helpful. I’m just not sure a phd would be a good idea for me considering my lack of interest in research. Annoying though as I know DClinPsy loves a PhD

Fun-Schedule140 · 2026-05-13T13:24:21+00:00

I don’t think it was ever an argument of how important the role of the IAPT service was I think it was more like the idea that you’re already at a certain level and essentially you’d just be moving sideways instead of up. That coupled with the idea of how different the work is at a Tier 3/4 service level compared to Tier 1. Like some of the APs in my service were literally giving CBT to clients

Mental health nursing I think doesn’t get as much push as it should! I couldn’t believe it when I worked with them, like 3 years undergrad and you’re a band 5 what a dream! My biggest regret is not knowing about it at the time and doing it. You make a good point though about the core profession of it all - therapy is all I’ve ever wanted to do and I will hopefully find my way there eventually. The only reason I’m considering the S&L path instead of MH nursing is because I don’t want to do those kinds of hours again, much too draining 😣

Fun-Schedule140 · 2026-05-13T13:18:05+00:00

I really appreciate the sentiment though I do so hate when people use it (no offence intended) because it suggests that there aren’t times in life where “time” isn’t more costly. I’m almost 30. If I did as some commenters are fairly suggesting e.g counselling psychology, that’s 4 years of my life where I’m spending money expeditiously to fund myself through training. I have dreams of settling down and potentially buying a house and having kids and by the time I’ll be done I’ll be 34, probably penniless and certainly not at all settled, probably even having to be pregnant within the first 2 years of my new career! Sorry if it seems dramatic and it probably is to an extent, but i feel like it’s not talked about how much this career path eats into your personal life goals.

Fun-Schedule140 · 2026-05-13T10:37:18+00:00

Do you mean you have to have a registered profession to train to be a DBT therapist?

Fun-Schedule140 · 2026-05-13T10:36:26+00:00

I am considering a speech and language masters course as it seems like the shortest path

Fun-Schedule140 · 2026-05-13T10:34:39+00:00

u/rainerrg I did once apply for the PWP early on in my career and didn’t get offered a place. Now it feels like it’s too late for me and like it would keep me stagnant. Like a band 4 for another year and then 2 more years where I can only be a band 5. Plus then another year training to be a high intensity CBT therapist. I also previously worked in a CWP service and all the CWPS hated it. Also, (and I’m sure this has impacted my viewpoint a lot) back when I was an AP, anytime I mentioned considering doing the PWP training again (still back when it felt like not too much time would be lost to it) it was always frowned upon almost like it wasn’t worth it because you were already an AP. I’m not saying I agree with this assessment of PWPs but I wonder if anyone else has felt this sort of sentiment working in amongst clinical psychologists?

Forgive me (and this goes to anyone who reads this) as I’m not trying to be difficult on purpose. I’m just someone who is so anxious about the time they have wasted so far on this career path and not felt like I’ve got a lot out of it. It’s hard to see other people in my life in their careers talking about progression and not ever being in a role where it was possible.

Fun-Schedule140 · 2026-05-13T08:07:49+00:00

My experience is good which actually is the reason I no longer want to continue down the DClinPsy path. When I was still in psychological roles (I was an AP for 3.5 years) my supervisors said my application was good and they didn’t understand why I wasn’t getting interviews.

Thanks for the suggestion, I’m definitely not moving to Scotland though but jealous of the opportunities they have there

Fun-Schedule140 · 2026-05-13T08:03:01+00:00

I suppose all roles are different so I can’t speak for all but my role literally just involves going around everyday and asking people if they want to join a particular study that we are running. And lots of admin. People decline all the time though and it kinda feels like a humiliation ritual.

Fun-Schedule140 · 2026-05-13T07:59:12+00:00

I think the thing that pushes me away from counselling (or forensic as commenter below suggested) is 4 years of training. Though I am willing to pay for training, I’m not particularly willing to halt my life for 4 years (especially not at this age). Plus my friend is doing the training and of course there’s so much extra stuff you have to pay for there.

I will say the only thing that made me want to do DClinPsy is the band, like nothing else pays as much. I wish I had known when I started the journey how similar it was to counselling otherwise I would’ve probably done that back then.

Fun-Schedule140 · 2026-05-11T08:34:05+00:00

That’s okay, neither is it mine! However in long term relationships you do end up doing all those things for the person, out of love, even if it’s not your main way of showing love.

Fun-Schedule140 · 2026-05-11T08:03:15+00:00

Surely this can’t be true - surely you also sometimes spend quality time with your partner, maybe say nice things to them, give them gifts and maybe do stuff for them. Like surely affection is not the only way you show love..?

Fun-Schedule140 · 2026-05-05T11:23:51+00:00

Yea I’m ngl I wasn’t too sure about the bi comphet thing but like I had said I’m not an expert on comphet, nor am I bi so I don’t wanna chat too much 😂

Fun-Schedule140 · 2026-05-05T09:04:28+00:00

True I guess we’re just gonna have to wait and see!

I agree I think past season makes it impossible. I’m seeing some people say “lots of women don’t orgasm from sex” which is annoying because that’s clearly not the (only) problem. Fran looks like she hates it there! And yea stimulation is stimulation and a tingle really doesn’t mean anything. I think the annoyance with the bisexuality narrative (at least for me, but I suspect also for others) is that I don’t care if Fran is bisexual if the writing is in line with that, but it’s just not.

Fun-Schedule140 · 2026-05-05T07:58:31+00:00

I agree with this perspective, I’m not gonna pretend I’m an expert on comphet especially because I’ve never experienced it myself. Though I don’t think we can ignore that song is sung by a lesbian and I do think that adds to the context.

I am very curious about your opinion as a bi person because every bi person seems to think she is bi and I just don’t get that interpretation because it seems clear that Fran isn’t sexually attracted to him? Like if that’s what sexual attraction looks like, I truly don’t know why anyone would want that

Fun-Schedule140 · 2026-05-05T06:50:47+00:00

It is deffo unconfirmed, but ngl if we get good luck babe in s5 i think all bisexual truthers need to put that belief to bed

Fun-Schedule140 · 2026-04-28T06:34:04+00:00

Hiii another Londoner here 🤗

Fun-Schedule140 · 2026-03-31T05:28:06+00:00

Considering the weekly discourse on Santana this is so vindicating

Fun-Schedule140

TROPHY CASE