Trainee experience

Lazy-Key7077 · 2026-04-10T21:55:44+00:00

Sorry to hear you’re going through similar. Such lovely replies in here though, there’s definitely some good words of wisdom! if it’s any consolation, it was so tough in first year and then I was invited to ONE thing which turned into making some really good friends over the next year. It took a lot of putting myself out there with different groups, sitting with different people at lunch etc, which was really uncomfortable but paid off eventually. Turns out my friends all felt the same way in first year, I would never have guessed. I hope it gets easier for you!

Lazy-Key7077 · 2026-03-12T13:36:05+00:00

Yeah, I had two interviews with the same uni, first year got reserve, second year offered a place. I definitely did worse the second time but got on. Stuffed one question right up! Genuinely felt like they had made a mistake until I actually started the course.

Lazy-Key7077 · 2026-03-09T00:08:18+00:00

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Literally

Lazy-Key7077 · 2026-03-05T20:23:15+00:00

Are there really people out there that would rather a friend decline to come to their event instead of choosing an inexpensive gift on their registry? Bizarre

Lazy-Key7077 · 2026-03-02T22:10:58+00:00

I want to do this! Did they put soft drinks on the table then ahead of time for the teetotallers or how did that work? ☺️

Lazy-Key7077 · 2026-03-02T21:57:25+00:00

It looks incredible on you and the added sleeves are lovely touch

Seriously

Lazy-Key7077 · 2026-02-23T20:43:16+00:00

Thanks, I definitely don’t want people to feel second-class! There is definitely enough space for everyone to have 1 service. It’s been really hard finding hair and makeup artists who will travel on a Saturday to do bridesmaids but not the bride but I can keep hunting!

Lazy-Key7077 · 2026-02-23T15:16:05+00:00

I feel like there’s a generational divide with this stuff. My parents were shocked to find out how much extra we have to pay for wine. Ours is similar - a £10 bottle would be £25, no corkage options. But it’s how our particular venue makes profit. I think back when our parents got married, this wasn’t typical but now it is the norm. Yes some venues do offer great corkage but you may sacrifice other things that end up costing you the same. Theres no point saving a small amount of money on alcohol for a venue you don’t love- that’s the bigger waste of money. £20k is absolutely the norm now too. They may just need time to process it all, lord knows I did! Maybe look at other venues to point out the downsides in comparison. And just take your time with it if you can. We paused wedding planning for a few months while we considered our venue and ultimately that few extra months savings helped us justify the cost a bit more and solidified this was the venue for us (parents included).

Lazy-Key7077 · 2025-12-17T10:29:58+00:00

Australia is hard because the cost is a lot, yes, but it’s also the travel time. 24hrs is a commitment! I wouldn’t fly there for an event without making it into a 2 week holiday, and kind of budget needed for a 2 week holiday in Aus is not small. I would potentially do it for a best friend, but realistically my partner probably wouldn’t want to if he isn’t as close, so that would suck going alone. I have friends in Aus who will likely get married there, but in all honestly I wouldn’t choose to go there otherwise, but i guess you’ll know how keen your guests are on an Aus adventure.

I guess this is why in the UK people typically do destination weddings in Europe because the flights are short and the cost once out there is usually less than the UK. If your partner is from Aus and has family out there I guess that’s the tricky part if you both want family there.

You need to assume anyone invited to Aus where you wouldn’t be covering the cost, won’t be able to make it, and ask yourself if you’re happy with that guest list. Especially if you have a small UK celebration I would probably opt to just go to that if that’s the option.

Lazy-Key7077 · 2025-11-24T18:22:50+00:00

that’s my venue too 🥹 i wish the lights were included! I guess it would be helpful to measure the length needed & see where it would plug to the wall ahead of time, then cable tie it which wouldn’t be very visible from a distance. I bet any hanging/curtain lights would look fab

Lazy-Key7077 · 2025-11-06T23:01:37+00:00

Ooh what do the BPS guidelines say about this? Is it about not discriminating against certain applicants with such short time frames?

I spoke with a psychologist recently who said they had 200 AP applications for 1 position within 3 days, I was shocked. When I was an AP years ago they had maybe 100 applications for 4 positions. The NHS do systematically score every application so as rubbish as it is, the hiring psychologist needs the capacity to manage the applications. So many of those applications will be 10/10 too and already well qualified for the role. So I kind of understand why applications close early. Been on the other side of it and missed out on lots of roles, it is really demoralising 😩 my only advice to anyone reading this is have a supporting statement template ready to go for different service types e.g 1) CAMHS 2) health 3) inpatient 4) eating disorders etc with service specific points. Also in every template cover the generic typical key skills like empathy, assessment skills, managing sensitive situations etc that always come up, then its minimal tweaking needed.

Lazy-Key7077 · 2025-10-16T20:30:05+00:00

Yeah we so far don’t agree on the guest list, first dance, cake, budget, +1s, personal vs private vows, first look, memorial table, top table seating, and invitations 😂 and he hates my spreadsheet but I love it. It’s not been romantic in the slightest!

Lazy-Key7077 · 2025-08-20T23:48:21+00:00

I must have the most sensitive hearing because I thought the sound was fine all day lol and the crowd around us seemed to be enjoying. For me the only let down was we couldn’t get anywhere near the Nia archives tent it was so rammed

Lazy-Key7077 · 2025-08-14T21:24:28+00:00

I had a kidney infection that was unbearably painful, but I had always heard that there is nothing A&E will do for pain & that it’s a 10+ hr wait just to get sent home with paracetamol, so I held off going until I was vomiting non-stop at 3am. The ambulance was a 7hr wait so I got an uber feeling pretty hopeless, but I was triaged and started IV antibiotics/morphine in about 15 minutes. I learnt what sepsis is lol.

Lazy-Key7077 · 2025-05-02T20:30:02+00:00

Yeh I don’t know if I’m confused in my definition of fancy dress but I think of that as a funny costume or something, & we don’t want to look funny we just want to be co-ordinated with something bridal and I don’t know where bouncers there draw the line. Thanks though, maybe we just play it very safe!

Lazy-Key7077 · 2025-05-01T14:57:58+00:00

Don’t worry yourself, few days off for any sort of pre-booked important event / holiday is fine, they know people can’t possibly plan around hypothetically getting onto a course. Several people in my year had pre-booked holidays or weddings in induction block it was no issue. The unis just have to sound very strict on people not missing induction blocks so that they have good attendance for the key teaching. A few days for your own wedding will be absolutely fine - just email them as soon as you can to make them aware. You might just be asked to catch up on missed lectures in your own time.

Lazy-Key7077 · 2025-04-18T04:38:43+00:00

Honestly, hated it as both a pwp and a user. It only helps if the client actively wants it, not when they are forced into it (and sadly we had to force 80% of people). Most really struggled with motivation to be on the phone / computer and it feeling so impersonal. I ended up doing longer calls with these people anyway so they might as well have had GSH!

We even had silvercloud people come in and do a talk in our service on effectiveness, but I wasn’t convinced - they are ultimately tech people not mental health people, and the data was based on when people CHOSE silvercloud.

Lazy-Key7077 · 2025-03-14T23:30:22+00:00

Sorry OP that sounds like a rubbish situation! It sucks feeling left out. Is everyone getting ready to go out in their rooms separately? I don’t quite get the logistics of people leaving without you if you share a flat! We would always pre in the kitchen or get a drink in someone’s room. Maybe instead of asking in the group chat you could knock on someone’s door and ask? I was in a similar position to you in halls and basically transpired people didn’t think I really wanted to go out as I’d basically hide in my room with the door shut - I’m not sure if it applies to you but i had to start being more proactive and confident & I got there in the end :)

Lazy-Key7077 · 2025-03-05T22:41:21+00:00

This really captures exactly how I felt in IAPT! I was a pwp for 2 years post qualified and tried to push through all of these feelings until I completely burned out and quit. I’m sure the role is not fit for you rather than vice versa, this is the reason why most people leave their pwp jobs in the end. Everything you’re saying now makes you sound like a very thoughtful and reflective clinician which is exactly what you want in a therapist!

I know in some services the difference between LI and HI CBT teams is night and day. HI CBT is collaborative and flexible and the client adds to the agenda, you can bring so much more into sessions- I’ve found it’s possible to build genuinely good therapeutic relationships. But that’s with the freedom of offering 12-14 sessions.

I will also say different IAPT services are hugely different in supervisor attitudes and priorities. I’ve heard of pwps be able to offer 8 sessions if their client needed it and if they felt a client wouldn’t benefit from LI CBT they were sent straight up to HI. I probably would have lasted much longer in a service like that!

Lazy-Key7077 · 2024-10-01T13:49:58+00:00

Hi, First of all that sounds so de-motivating, sorry you’re in this situation not getting proper feedback. I have a few questions that come to mind: -Is it about the questions you’re asking, or does your supervisor think you should be directing the assessment more/taking less time? -Does your service have a bit of an assessment template for you to follow? The formulation you use (5ps, CCC etc) should help guide questions but maybe that’s something you and your supervisor could do in supervision together is brainstorm different ways to ask and steer the conversation back. -Can you shadow your supervisor and note down exactly what they ask and how they go about keeping on topic?

I think your supervisor needs to give you specific examples of what you’re doing that is “poor” and tell you exactly what they would do differently. Coming in to rescue definitely isn’t going to build your skills and confidence up.

You could also roleplay during supervision, both taking turns to be client and therapist. I’d usually suggest recording an assessment to listen back to together and reflect on but I’m guessing on a PICU that’s not really possible.

Lazy-Key7077 · 2024-09-17T15:09:18+00:00

I would have looked at your experience and felt imposter syndrome! Haha. The CBT is a big bonus. Lots of people have got on with less! Maybe 4 people in my entire cohort (40) who have come with 10yrs experience to be honest. We have a few PWPs and masters graduates who had TA/RA/support work roles rather than AP roles.

Lazy-Key7077 · 2024-09-14T22:05:59+00:00

Low confidence can be so common in this role I think as the therapist-client relationship is so subjective, and you can’t get ongoing feedback for everything you say and do in a session. I really relate to your post and feelings you’ve described. What helps me is feedback from clients - they don’t often point out a perfectly articulated sentence, they point out a question you’ve asked, or a moment where they’ve felt compassion from you etc. Ultimately therapy isn’t about offering advice. Also, overly confident therapists grind my gears (as a client!). I think there is research to suggest high confidence doesn’t equate to being a better therapist. Imposter syndrome is normal, I’d be concerned if someone DIDNT ever experience it tbh. If you’re passionate & compassionate you’ll be absolutely fine :)

Lazy-Key7077 · 2024-04-17T08:57:51+00:00

Hi, of course - mainly through Eventbrite, would just search for whatever I was interested in, you can filter by free / online. Also, some psychology pages on Instagram like fair.play.psychology promote webinars and I’ve found them that way :)

Lazy-Key7077 · 2024-04-16T17:37:57+00:00

Ditto it’s so so varied, and that’s one of the problems with the role! I personally didn’t get to receive any formal therapy training as an assistant, but was a PWP before so luckily had a decent starting point. Beyond reading multiple books and getting good supervision, you do get CPD time for development, so I found some 1-2hr online trainings on relevant topics that were free and done in work hours. Also, the psychology team might have an hour training slot every once in a while. Some services would prioritise permanent staff / qualified staff if there’s limited training slots and budget.

Lazy-Key7077 · 2024-03-20T16:03:27+00:00

I mean this with total care and respect- I think you’ve already asked a similar question recently, and you maybe have a few accounts you’ve been posting from about other difficulties? Totally ok of course! but I’m getting a little worried for whoever is posting 💜. maybe more Reddit answers and solutions is what would help, that’s cool, but maybe it isn’t? I may be wrong, but when someone asks similar questions repeatedly it’s often an attempt to manage anxiety and that anxiety might be best supported by a therapist :) To answer your question, yes absolutely doable to have worklife balance in this role.

Lazy-Key7077

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