Should I attempt to get into clinical psychology?

Hi just came across this thread searching for something else and hope I can shed some light as I have worked as an assistant psychologist with 3 different client groups, have applied to clinical psychology (and failed), am now doing an MSc and considering whether to apply again.

So firstly I guess the question is why cp? Do you have experience of cps? Working in psych teams with cps is an eye opener. Not gonna lie, I have loved my work, and the CPs inspired me. However, I also got a window into the world of how the profession is evolving and personally, I'm not loving it. CPs are being trained more and more for leadership. This means less time with clients. In practice what this boils down to was my managers (2 consultant cps and one senior cp) spend their time recruiting, in multiple discussions with HR, meeting with management etc to discuss funding, providing supervision and very VERY little time with clients. That was extremely unappealing to me. The bottom line is currently if you want to progress much beyond band 8a you're expected do do less therapy and more tedious managment stuff. If you like that kind of admin/leadership, go for it. Personally I want to work with clients so not sure the profession is for me now (unless I stick to a lower pay grade).

The teams I worked in were split - half clinical psychologists, half counselling psychologists. That's pretty normal The counselling psychs were great and cleverly seemed to fly under the management responsibility radar. There is very little that distinguishes the two professions now. Counselling psych was borne out of the problems with clin psych and focuses more on therapeutic alliance, which research suggests is one of the greatest predictors of improved outcomes.

Someone mentioned above the sad fact that there are more self-funded cp places and how funding for CP might be pulled. Truth is I can't see it not being pulled at some point and personally I think this is a good thing. I don't see how CP as a profession can defend this level of funding in light of services being cut (these are often services for seriously disadvantaged people who CPs work with). I believe CP should be funded in the way other health care professionals should ie a bit but you have to contribute yourself, perhaps with bursaries for those who are socio-economically disadvantaged. Because the sad fact is CPs tend to be white middle class females. People who have little exp in this field often want to be clin psychs and the reason I've frequently come across is the funded doctorate. If it wasn't fully funded I believe it would not hold the same appeal. I also know quite a few people who went into CP and then came out the other end and didn't continue. That is a serious loss as the govt pays well over £100,000 per trainee.

Many people apply again and again to get on that doctorate - it is a very anxiety provoking process which usually involves rejection. A lecturer on a clin psych course said they may as well throw the applications in the air and select the first 20 that hit the ground - it is THAT arbitrary. And having been through the process myself (and have many friends who have) I can confirm it is. If you check out the clin psych forum (mentioned above) you will see the calibre of people - it's pretty scary.

I studied PPP at Oxford Uni, (didn't get a high 2:1 - had I known I wanted to work in MH would I have worked harder?...). It is pretty important that you get a high 2:1 or first. For that reason I would definitely NOT suggest going to a highly competitive/Russell Group uni (CP doesn't differentiate between unis in the application process). But I loved my uni experience so wouldn't change a thing. Or do something you love, get a high undergrad grade and then do a conversion. I have several good friends who have done it/are doing it - they have confirmed they're pretty easy. At UEL you get an exam of (I seem to remember one) essay at the end of each module (and the lecturer told the class what would be in it!!!!!! talk about bringing down the standards). Anyhow my plan was work, do an MSc and then apply (I applied prior to that for practice but knew I wouldn't get far as I'm very bad at selling myself which is what you have to do in interview, and was busy having my family). I'm not sure I will apply again. I've applied for counselling psych this year at a very well respected course. It costs but you start straightaway (with CP you never know if you'll get on so can waste years) have much more flexibility during the course, you focus on the therapeutic alliance and you won't be bugged to give up your client work to do boring admin when you qualify. I have quite a few friends doing it - and love it. Have you considered child and adolescent and ed psych - this is a very interesting path and this profession is changing a lot. I wouldn't advise going down CP if you want to work with children. In my experience, specialist child services tend to prefer people who're specially trained eg child psychotherapists, child/ed psychs, which makes more sense. There are some excellent funded doctorates in child psychotherapy but you have to do a masters first. Another option is to consider fast track medicine after uni. (If I'd pursued that route I'd be very far down the psychiatric route - which CAN be entirely therapy based.) But if you're hell bent on the cp route - go get yourself experience - it really does count.

To the poster who above wondering about other careers, after uni when I wasn't sure what I wanted to do, a job at a big hedge fund came up on our careers website. I contacted them and said you're prob not interested but just wondered. The guy said come in to chat. I went in, he said the best person he'd ever recruited was a psych grad from Oxford, said unfortuately I can't hire you as there are so many out of work financiers with loads of exp that would be more suitable but wanted to help and gave me great advice. For the first six months out of uni I got an amazing job at a big London regeneration company as the CEO's exec assistant - so running projects, representing him, writing reports, working/lobbying govt on national and local level. Psychology opens up a lot of fields.

I bashed this out as I have to revise. I hope it helps. Any qus I'm happy to answer.