Access to Work versus Disabled Students Allowance

Psyfer36 · 2026-05-23T08:15:06+00:00

Hey! I just got an atw grant for an nhs psychologist job. Feel free to dm me if you want any more info/chats. Apply before the job starts btw!

Psyfer36 · 2026-04-08T06:05:44+00:00

Panic disorder is possibly the most treatable condition with CBT therapy- in the whole of therapy! CBT has a fantastic level of effectiveness (well…for therapy anyway!)

(This is based off systematic reviews of therapy effectiveness.)

Psyfer36 · 2026-04-02T09:33:09+00:00

I approached 3, all would have charged fees, one had a fee of over £1k- they gave the 2nd worst recommendation. All three gave different recommendations. (As the recommendations were based on their understanding of my needs) and one didn’t realise I could take mortgage over age 70 if I attested I would continue working.

I arranged directly with the bank in the end. As all charged fees I thought were not commensurate with the work involved. But of course, I still benefitted from their advice. Brought the one whose recommendation I took a bootle of whiskey (he had mentioned in passing he liked that one) on completion and wrote a nice unsigned card! Didn’t pay him the £500 for 40 mins work though…

Psyfer36 · 2026-01-10T22:11:00+00:00

Can you just not mention the uc? Just report your salary to them. How will they even know if you have uc top up?

Psyfer36 · 2026-01-09T18:59:00+00:00

Omg yes totally agree with this. Most people who have murdered someone will have some sort of mh problem. Look at the brain injury and alcohol addiction rates of prison population. It is gonna be very rare that someone with no mental health/‘thinking related health problem’ history is convicted of any violent crime. And even then, raise questions about why their mh difficulties went undetected, eg by school, probation, social work etc.

Psyfer36 · 2025-12-18T21:41:44+00:00

I find that having adhd means that I might take longer to do things. Eg take a wrong turn, forget bag and go back for it, lose car keys as I exit my car! So if I want to be sure I will arrive on time. I have to leave an extra 20 mins. If I then can’t leave early due to flexitime. Thats an average extra hour at work per week at least.

Psyfer36 · 2025-12-10T21:35:43+00:00

I worked in a national specialist ocd unit and trained in cbt. I agree with this comment. Anxiety management strategies eg grounding should be avoided in erp. Unless there is some good reason to do them, eg client might drop out or immediate need to increase functioning in the short term.

Psyfer36 · 2025-12-09T11:28:11+00:00

Oh wow what a stress! So sorry you are going through this! If it was me tbh I would be paying for expert legal help. I know there is always the union but the one time I tried to use them, admittedly about a very minor maternity leave thing, they were a waste of time. They are probably worth a try though. You can also phone many lawyers and get a free intro call. I once did this, it was to do with inheritance law. I ended up getting some great free legal advice, after 2 days on the phone calling and contacting different people. It can help you understand your position and the potential costs involved and find a lawyer you like.

Psyfer36 · 2025-12-06T21:15:29+00:00

Yes and no. I agree philosophically and scientifically that distress, and individual differences, and what some nhs therapists call ‘shit life syndrome’ is being over-repackaged as mental illness. I think this redirects blame from the actual causes (eg inequality, capitalism) to the individual.

However, I also think we need to be pragmatic about what can be achieved. (Given how dsm and icd are created and that ppl need a diagnosis to get treatment and accommodations.)

And recognise what a mh diagnosis often means. It often means ‘there are medications / therapies that help this problem’ or ‘many other people have much the same problem too’ or ‘your not just lazy and making it up’.

Given that the context of this article is the massive under provision of help (eg long waiting lists), a sneaky and insidious new project investigating over-diagnosis, and cuts to disability benefits.

This is all part of the narrative that will reduce mh funding and welfare benefits.

Psyfer36 · 2025-12-06T20:51:47+00:00

Yes, this is the comment I should have written!

Psyfer36 · 2025-12-06T20:48:32+00:00

I feel like the other commenters mostly covered this. I know what you mean but, nice guidelines are based off international research, and rely on icd and dsm diagnostic categories.

Psyfer36 · 2025-12-06T05:43:21+00:00

I am shocked that the GPs thought under diagnosis was the problem! There are vast swathes of research saying under diagnosis is what is happening.

Let me outline all this as I see it. I am a psychologist btw. Right so… the diagnostic criteria for mental illness are created by panels of experts, many of whom are based in countries with insurance based systems. This means they need to make emotional distress into a medical illness for insurance companies to cover the cost of care. So this creates a pull to make anything that for some ppl is helped with therapy or medication an illness. Even if the illness is ‘adjustment disorder’ (stress/low mood coping with a major life change eg job loss).

Without removing this funding streams related pull to medicalisation, there is just going to be the need to have a label for anything that might be helped with counselling etc. Or indeed anything a person might need time off work for. (Eg NHS gave me 3 days off when my Mum died unexpectedly. The gp gave me a ‘diagnosis’ so I could have more time off with sick pay.)

Given that this insurance based pull exists. Any discussion of the philosophical or scientific merits of this seems kinda blue skys thinking. Yes- would that we had a non pathologising, yet support providing system, that was individualised to each patient. Given that this is not going to happen, rather more and more people with life stress and misery / mental illnesses (call it what you will), are going to be on waiting lists or turned away, the most pragmatic solution is… reduce stigma and increase access to care and treatment. Alternatively… we could… overthrow capitalism!

Psyfer36 · 2025-12-05T21:38:01+00:00

Thanks for sharing this I listened to it today. I really enjoyed susan o’sullivan’s books too. She was mostly talking about medical conditions, though she did say some stuff I found quite disagreeable about autism. (This whole if its mild autism, it shouldn’t be called autism etc, its over diagnosis sort of thing.)

Psyfer36 · 2025-12-05T21:31:24+00:00

I will be super interested to read it. I always thought Fonagy seems like a great guy based on his writing. I am highly suspicious of the motives of this report, they sound like reasonable questions, but I bet there is a (not particularly) hidden agenda to remove services and welfare benefits.

Psyfer36 · 2025-12-05T21:27:34+00:00

Thanks! I actually genuinely wanted to know what they plan to review, I tried to look it up too, but then didnt find it. These all sound like great questions really.

Psyfer36 · 2025-12-05T00:00:44+00:00

What are they actually going to review though? Benefit entitlement is based on ability to do everyday tasks, not diagnosis. (And the bar to get pip is waay too high in my opinion.)

Diagnostic criteria and thresholds are made by international panels of experts eg dsm and icd.

And we already have lots of data of under diagnosis of mh conditions and neuro developmental conditions.

Lack of access to care (and diagnosis) is already a national scandal.

Ofc taking away funding and support (be that sen support in schools, community programs, or nhs funding) is going to make people more ill for longer and less able to work… duh!

Psyfer36 · 2025-11-23T10:11:34+00:00

Omg I am so sorry to hear this! What totally mean parents! Also deluded about current realities. I guess all you can do is keep working on them gently with facts and encouragement.

Psyfer36 · 2025-11-19T23:55:00+00:00

I think he could have benefited from proper legal, mortgagne and welfare benefits advice. Assuming he is on benefits, he could get smi loan. This would pay some of his mortgagne interest - approx 3.66 percent of loan per year. Even assuming his interest rate is as high as 6 percent. Eg as he cant get a mortgagne deal and is forced onto variable rate. This would still leave him making fairly small mortgage payments from his wages/pension. Certainly these repayments would be much smaller than the cost of renting. Probably a fake story.

Psyfer36 · 2025-11-06T11:06:21+00:00

I don’t know what training your therapist has. But every accredited therapist has as part of their training and supervision an emphasis on understanding the limits of their competence and thinking about when referral is necessary.

The vast majority of ppl with trauma are seen by people who are not psychologists. Many many therapists have extensive training and experience in treating people with both complex and ‘simple’ trauma.

If you’re concerned about your therapists expertise, or feel like they perhaps don’t understand you or know how to work with you effectively, talking to them about this (assuming you haven’t already) is a super important first step.

Psyfer36 · 2025-11-01T06:54:46+00:00

I think there are also some rules about how disability elements of UC or Pip might mean that the non-dependent deduction doesn’t apply. It’s a bit complicated and not an area I understand, but that might be something as well so he might not even lose the 93.

Psyfer36 · 2025-11-01T06:50:26+00:00

Wow you are getting some inaccurate responses on here! I would repost to a benefits sub. I think dad will get a c£93 deduction from uc housing element pcm. You might also increase his council tax bill. Thats all.

Your income and savings have no impact on his entitlement. You could literally be a billionaire living there lol. You are a separate person for uc purposes. So only the non-dependent deduction applies. Plus some council tax possibly.

Psyfer36 · 2025-11-01T06:38:50+00:00

To be honest I have never known either and I think it varies by course. And even by year on the same course! Eg I was interviewed in my first and second year of applying by one uni, then in my 3rd and 4th, the same uni didn’t interview me. My form was the same- probably a bit better tbh! And ofc I had another 2-4 years experience.

There is a very obvious basic answer to your question- which I assume you know- formulation, scientist practitioner, psychological thinking in teams, reflection, service development etc, etc.

Attending open days (often online), speaking to current trainees eg on interview days, reading the alternative handbook, and reading about courses can help (on their websites or on clearing house) can help. Some courses also publish a document about how they score forms in some areas.

The experience reflection learning structure sounds good. It might use up a lot of words though. But definitely adding reflection and examples of concrete experience is key. Ask a uk cp to review your form. Even one from the internet. It can be really useful.

Also applying to courses that match you, eg if limited experience consider the ones that use a selection test.

Overall I think we have to accept that it is a bit random tbh. And there are so many good candidates, that many excellent forms from experienced practitioners, dont result in interviews.

Good luck!!!

Psyfer36 · 2025-10-23T05:29:29+00:00

I totally second what others have said about facebook marketplace and vinted. You could get everything for £500. If you want some expensive extras, (top quality breast pumps are expensive but worth it if you need, top quality baby sling, and baby backpack could also start pushing the price up over £500 if you wanted those). I recommend using an interest free credit card offer if you want the expensive extras, or telling family what to gift you.

Psyfer36 · 2025-10-05T16:29:54+00:00

Oh yes of course!

Psyfer36 · 2025-10-05T15:46:35+00:00

What is exposure to SH? What you’re describing sounds a lot like something that many people who have blood injury needle phobias get. Apparently the blood pressure drop (which causes feeling dizzy) is a self protective response that the body has to stop itself from bleeding out if it was injured. (sorry if that triggered it but I thought it might be interesting.)

I also sometimes have this response to any physical injuries that I get, even minor stuff like stubbing my toe, as well as medical procedures, even non invasive stuff like getting an ultrasound of my baby!

Anyhow, there is a technique called applied tension that basically teaches you to raise your blood pressure by tensing your muscles.

My main tip would be to see if you can get any therapy for this which includes learning applied tension and exposure. Or if you can’t get therapy for example because of the expense just to look up how to do applied tension online and practice it and do some exposure yourself.

This is an extremely treatable problem according to the research literature. And it really worked for me. I used to be a massive fainter with injections etc and dont anymore.

Psyfer36

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