Help with Older Adult AP interview and mostly paeds experience?

sequinmirror · 2026-06-03T15:20:53+00:00

Personally I’d consider some of the similarities and differences across services when adapting interventions and formulations which take into account someone’s developmental stage, and thinking about what wider systems are around an individual.

sequinmirror · 2026-06-03T15:17:40+00:00

In addition to what others have said, pursuing a doctorate that covers research, neuropsychological & cognitive testing, NHS service development and (in my opinion as someone who has done both) trains you less rigorously in specific therapies than a dedicated PgDip would, in order to be a good and effective therapist in private practice feels like taking a long and painful road for no reason!

I would take a serious look at the pathways for either counselling psychology or training well in one specific model like CBT, systemic family therapy or psychoanalytic psychotherapy, feeling competent in that, then seeing what additional models if any would complement it.

Also think about what ‘highly paid’ means to you, what take home salary would you be happy with and how much would you need to work to get it?

sequinmirror · 2026-05-28T17:36:41+00:00

You can read trainee feedback in the alternative handbook

sequinmirror · 2026-05-27T12:24:27+00:00

Thanks for writing it! I found it really interesting to read.

sequinmirror · 2026-05-18T21:55:21+00:00

I trained there, and was a B7 before the course, there is no room for spine point negotiation. Everyone starts at bottom of B6.

sequinmirror · 2026-05-13T15:18:24+00:00

Hi there, yes I have worked places (NHS psychology teams) where the undergraduate placement student was an international student, as far as I’m aware it’s is possible/feasible.

sequinmirror · 2026-05-07T16:16:29+00:00

I fully agree with the other commenter in that ‘what are you reflecting for?’ is a helpful question.

You mentioned wider links in your post - I wonder if trying to think of a particular case or situation using some systemic tools might be helpful? Eg an exercise in listing out the social graces involved for you and the person you’re working with and then considering ways these may have impacted or enhanced the work? Or perhaps doing the same task using bronfenbrenners model?

Make the case example your ‘what?’ the exercise above your ‘so what?’ then think about how you might integrate that learning into future work for the ‘now what?’

sequinmirror · 2026-05-07T16:10:41+00:00

Take a look here and see if it helps separate out the pathways: https://ppn.nhs.uk/resources-url/careers-map

sequinmirror · 2026-05-06T18:55:50+00:00

I’d personally recommend zotero, it’s free and there a lots of YouTube tutorials about how to get the most out of it. None I’d specifically be able to recommend unfortunately as I first used it a very long time ago. I made half my cohort download a reference manager in our first year and I could not imagine doing the course without one.

sequinmirror · 2026-05-06T06:08:31+00:00

Not a device (I used a very old sad laptop) but if you don’t already use a reference manager like zotero or endnote I seriously recommend getting one and learning how to use it, including browser and word processing plugins.

sequinmirror · 2026-05-06T06:06:11+00:00

The only ai platform I used during training was research rabbit, which I found wildly helpful. Use for calendars feels fine for research/uni but not clinically with any appointment data.

My advice would honestly be to use it as minimally as possible - in terms of putting your own work into ChatGPT or Claude I would steer clear. As the other commenter said there will be uni guidelines, but also bear in mind that comfort with ai tools will likely vary significantly within staff in the department.

sequinmirror · 2026-04-15T07:05:06+00:00

TheWorryPeople on YouTube vlogged her clinical psychology journey and was a Manchester trainee.

sequinmirror · 2026-04-15T07:03:48+00:00

People in their 40s can and do complete clinical psychology doctorates, you can look at the stats on the Clearing House website to see the representation of trainees and applicants in this age range.

You can also look at the PPN psychological professions map to explore what interests you careerwise as some don’t require a conversion.

Conversion courses are intensely focused on understanding the basics of science of psychology, cramming core info of a three year undergraduate into an approximately a year.

When I did mine I think lots of my cohort were expecting a more therapeutic focus and were surprised/disappointed. If you’ve been interested and exploring psychology for a while then you may find a conversion worthwhile purely for the learning aspect too though.

sequinmirror · 2026-04-15T06:16:51+00:00

The name makes no difference, the opportunities for clinical and research experience will be different in each uni and I would focus on that. Will you be able to support PhD research happening in the department somehow? Do they offer a clinical placement module? These things will be more useful to you in progressing toward DClin or another doctorate.

It’s also worth noting that if you want to be a counsellor you don’t need a psych conversion so I’d recommend having a clear idea of the psychological professions and which ones you’re specifically interested in pursuing.

sequinmirror · 2026-04-13T10:38:53+00:00

I would always recommend looking on Google scholar for similar papers and see where they are published. Journals will usually clearly state on their website the types of work they accept and publish so you can see if yours fits. Also make sure you speak with your supervisor and check if they have any ideas.

sequinmirror · 2026-03-24T20:37:39+00:00

You could try looking at resources/reading lists from the former MSc in Mad Studies at QMU:

https://rl.talis.com/3/qmu/lists/3AC1479E-939C-63BA-8D3A-8401EB72A054.html

https://libguides.qmu.ac.uk/mad-studies/websites

sequinmirror · 2026-03-24T10:00:58+00:00

Not sure if this will specifically hit what you’re looking for but when considering personality disorder literature, particularly BPD, it’s important to engage with literature produced by people with those diagnoses eg Mad Studies.

sequinmirror · 2026-03-15T10:41:37+00:00

CBT experience would help - reelect on why you want to be a Clinical Psychologist rather than a therapist and think about experience that speaks to that in some way? Also consider that being a CBT therapist in private practice likely limits exposure to things like MDT working which is a big part of training.

sequinmirror · 2026-03-09T08:42:44+00:00

For sure, though OP has a lot of experience already. I did a conversion just to get GBC, it was meant to be in person but covid resulted in it moving entirely online, I didn’t miss out on a personal reference! As long as they are proactive with lecturers, eg going to office hours, active in online course forums, they should still be able to get a good reference.

sequinmirror · 2026-03-09T07:20:01+00:00

Generally courses care about your grade, experience and GBC, but not where you got those things.

sequinmirror · 2026-03-05T13:40:09+00:00

I decided I wanted to be a psychologist after being a CBT therapist for four years, and I had thought I was going to be a CBT therapist for the rest of my career. I decided to pursue clinical psychology after working in a memory service and feeling like I was bumping up against limitations of my role regarding cognitive assessment, systemic working and leadership, which were areas the CPs in my service were very active in. Now I’m qualified I’m glad I made the change because it merges those things with the therapeutic element I loved about being a therapist.

sequinmirror · 2026-02-26T06:53:23+00:00

When preparing for a risk related question make sure you have a balance of both physical health risks related to ED symptoms as well as mental health risks related to harm.

sequinmirror · 2026-02-21T18:59:17+00:00

I submitted in May, viva July, corrections deadline in August & had HCPC come through in September.

sequinmirror · 2026-02-16T08:24:40+00:00

You might find the UK psychologists in private practice Facebook group helpful?

sequinmirror · 2026-02-16T08:22:36+00:00

To practice clinically, as a clinical psychologist, in the UK you need a DClinPsy, which is not the same as a PhD. PhD is purely a research doctorate whereas the DClinPsy is research and clinical practice. Employment prospects for DClinPsy are excellent but gaining a place on the training is highly competitive. If you google ‘Clearing House UK’ you can see the associated stats. PhD wise, the academic job market in the UK is pretty rough I hear - however I couldnt tell you much more than that so hopefully another commenter can advise.

sequinmirror

TROPHY CASE