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Clinical Psychology FAQ

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Well, if it helps in some way then that's great. I've had mixed opinions on whether it counts as experience but I've thought about how I could use it in the hypothetical situation I had an interview :P because even though it's not psychology related, it's still technically clinical experience. Though I suppose it can be applied a little since I dispense multiple prescriptions for SSRIs a day, I would even say SSRIs are the most prescribed drugs.

No doubt it would be great experience in general, you're working with other professionals, you have knowledge over drugs and their distribution, and obviously have communication skills. Yes, SSRI's are definitely up there as they are the most prescribed antidepressant! Good luck anyway

Reply 81

gemstheledge

If your end goal is to become a private practice therapist is there any advantage qualifying as a clinical psychologist as opposed to qualifying as a councillor/psychotherapist? Thanks.

Reply 82

Noodlzzz

Original post by gemstheledge

If your end goal is to become a private practice therapist is there any advantage qualifying as a clinical psychologist as opposed to qualifying as a councillor/psychotherapist? Thanks.

Not really. As a clinical psychologist you can be a private practice therapist (as well as a multitude of other roles) but not vice versa.

Depends if you have the money, time, commitment and experience/grades to get into clin psych AND there is a chance you will want to do something else alongside, instead of or after being a private practice therapist.*

Reply 83

CookieInOrange

Original post by f12

I really want to become a clinical psychologist but does anyone know what uni is best to do the bsc at. As its so competitive i assume i need to go to one of the top ten unis for psychology but i'm not sure

I'd only use university rankings as a very rough guide, and mostly for the research quality scores and maybe student satisfaction. Depends on what matters to you. Go somewhere you'll enjoy yourself, take a course that interests you with lecturers who can inspire you to do well.

The uni you go to is such a tiny thing in comparison to all the other things that distinguish between candidates, it's very unlikely anyone will care.

Reply 84

not-interested

Original post by f12

I guess it depends on what route you want to take and how good you are academically. If you wish to get into a postgrad course as soon as possible, there are two universities in the U.K. (Hull for sure, and York I believe) that have their own admission system, which basically means that the top 5-10 BSc students each year have the opportunity to do a doctorate in clinical psychology right after their BSc, which is certainly worth considering.

Reply 85

~Tara~

Particularly as funding is not confirmed post 18/19 intake. It is likely that the dclinpsy will go onto loan. Then it really makes no sense to get into 100k worth of debt when you can qualify as a therapist, working with the same outpatient level of clients, for less than £10K.

The main practical differences are obviously not being on a ward and not diagnosing - but the latter is likely to become obsolete in its current form anyway.

Reply 86

A8tyw

Hi, so i've just started my undergrad degree in Psyhology and I realy do want to go into Clinical Psychology and am perfectly prepared to put all the time and work in, but i'm just wondering if i really have a chance? All i ever hear about is how competetive it is and i'm not a genius or anything and don't want to waste so much time and effort just to be rejected in the end. Is it worth me going in to Clinical Psychology or should I look for a different career path?

Reply 87

22CuriousTOKnow

Does a clinical psychologist need A-level science? Is there a way to avoid it somehow? I am nearly taking my gcse exams in 5 months time I want to do a level English literature,psycholog and maybe biology or sociology but I am worried that might not be able to do biology.
Help?

Reply 88

22CuriousTOKnow

To be a clinical psychologist do you have to have science a level? Can I not just choose psychology, english literature and sociology. I would to be a clinical psychologist but I am doubting to do science a level what should I do? I am in year 11 by the way 5 months away from my gcse

Reply 89

username1884577

Original post by 22CuriousTOKnow

You don’t need a level science. However, psychology is a science, and clinical even more so. If you don’t enjoy science or aren’t good at it, then clinical psychology may not be the best option.

Reply 90

-Eirlys-

Debate & Current Affairs Helper

How difficult is the DClinPsy? I have never considered a doctorate but finding the NHS fully funded one seems more geared to me - a PhD wouldn't be for me. I like the idea of working on the job and being paid whilst doing a qualification! But I worry that I may not be clever enough. :frown:

I live in Cardiff, would I be able to train in my local university hospital or will I have to travel to where they are?

Their site says they only pay attention to your bachelors and want 12 months experience. I've worked as a carer/support worker for three years and volunteered online for 3 years. Would those things be beneficial? I am also studying with the OU, so I am working and studying at the same time anyway currently for my bachelors - would that be seen as a strong point to them, considering the doctorate works around employment?

Would you recommend doing a masters before applying? Do you think a masters degree in Psychology on it's own is enough to allow for a good psychology career in general, more so than just a bachelors? It probably sounds ridiculous, but I don't fancy being a counsellor, sitting down talking to people 1 on 1 in a therapy session etc. I fancy more professional, hands on treatment and possibly discovering new things in psychology!

Could you share what a typical work day is like for you? As I can't say I'm 100% sure of what the job entails!

Thanks for posting this too, it's really helpful!

@Lord Asriel

(edited 6 years ago)

Reply 91

~Tara~

Original post by hannxm

given that the fact it is funded appears to be a big influencer - you should be aware that funding is likely to be pulled in the near future. It has only been guaranteed for the 2018 intake so far.

As for masters options, it is worth chatting to people at the unis you want to apply for. Some place higher favour to taught and others to research masters

You perhaps need to do some research on the counselling profession too. Its true that a CP does more than provide 1-2-1 interventions but counsellors can and often do work with similar populations outside of hospital settings. The training is grounded in much of the same areas. The differences are more diagnostic or managerial - heading up serious case reviews, appearing in court or coroner's court, supervising the team you work with, managing a high intensity case load - usually at various sites. In addition to providing one to one counselling to patients and group work.

Though there are also some overlaps in these tasks for counsellors too. Many are also supervisors, can be called to court, deal with safeguarding issues, can run services and therefore be in charge of case reviews. Its just more of a given for CP

(edited 6 years ago)

Reply 92

~Tara~

courses are currently highly competitive and there are applicants who have done a phd before applying. It is very unusual to be selected during your first application attempt. Id focus on getting good degree and good masters for now and see where everything is by time you have gotten to that point.

Reply 93

username3433134

I've watched this thread for a while and I think you're right that funded learning won't be around forever... especially considering the new PhD loans the government is introducing this year onwards. Quite disheartening really as I'm five years away from the point of DClinPsy application. (Could be three if I took a year MA conversion course in instead of BSc followed by w/e but at the moment I can't afford the MA without loan but I don't really understand 6% repayments...)

I wanted to ask, new PhD loan repayments are at 6% of income above ?? (groups together with Masters loans) - will that 6% be on top of current 9% for UG loans? So overall 15%? For me that seems impossible when one considers public sector pension contributions etc. so hopefully these new loans won't pass over to medical PhDs.

Reply 94

Lord Asriel

Original post by hannxm

How difficult is the DClinPsy?

Depends on student to student. I came from a PhD, and compared to that it was relatively straightforward, but found the jump from undergrad to doctorate quite hard.

Original post by hannxm

I live in Cardiff, would I be able to train in my local university hospital or will I have to travel to where they are?

There is a course in Cardiff University, and you are allowed to apply for four courses in each yearly cycle.

Original post by hannxm

Their site says they only pay attention to your bachelors and want 12 months experience. I've worked as a carer/support worker for three years and volunteered online for 3 years. Would those things be beneficial? I am also studying with the OU, so I am working and studying at the same time anyway currently for my bachelors - would that be seen as a strong point to them, considering the doctorate works around employment?

Courses are different, and many do take into consideration postgraduate qualifications. Most trainees will have far more than 12 months, and will have worked in specific mental health, research or specialist services. Where you studied is not really relevant. Courses look for potential and how you compare to the others applying. Most trainees are very bright, highly motivated and are about 26-30 years of age.

Would you recommend doing a masters before applying? Do you think a masters degree in Psychology on it's own is enough to allow for a good psychology career in general, more so than just a bachelors? It probably sounds ridiculous, but I don't fancy being a counsellor, sitting down talking to people 1 on 1 in a therapy session etc. I fancy more professional, hands on treatment and possibly discovering new things in psychology!

Could you share what a typical work day is like for you? As I can't say I'm 100% sure of what the job entails!

l

Many do a masters but it's not compulsory. You can't really do any meaningful work in psychology without a doctorate nowadays whether clinical, educational etc.

Typical work day for me varies. Today I saw two people for therapy (Self harm/ suicidal and one person who has severe depression), ran a group around CBT and supervised a group of medics. I also wrote up a few letters and prepared for my clinic tomorrow. Some days are more patient focussed, others more management and research. It's far more than 1 to 1 work.

Reply 95

ria2

After doing three years of a bachelors, do I spend a year doing a masters or just go into DClinPsy? I'm kind of confused, sorry. I want to be a child psychologist, so it's okay if I do this, right?

Reply 96

Noodlzzz

Original post by ria2

After doing three years of a bachelors, do I spend a year doing a masters or just go into DClinPsy? I'm kind of confused, sorry. I want to be a child psychologist, so it's okay if I do this, right?

You don't necessarily need a masters, though it may help. But you can't just go onto the doctorate, you need at least 2 years full time relevant work experience.

Reply 97

Interrobang

Original post by ria2

After doing three years of a bachelors, do I spend a year doing a masters or just go into DClinPsy? I'm kind of confused, sorry. I want to be a child psychologist, so it's okay if I do this, right?

In addition to the above post, you have to do (at least initially) training across the age span

Reply 98

MissPsychology19

What do you think offered you more value when applying for your DClinPsy course?

•Trying to get a job working in a clinical setting and not applying / completing a masters

•Doing a masters with a clinical placement/Research component

•Completing a masters that offered no placement but securing voluntary work along side your studies

TIA xx

Reply 99