ABOUT

So what do you actually do?

I assess and treat people from the age of 17 onwards who experience mental health difficulties (e.g. OCD, PTSD, social anxiety, body dysmorphia and trichotillomania).

I work with individuals using Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Eye Movement Desentisation Reprocessing (EMDR), and I run Behavioural Couples' Therapy.

A large part of my role also involves supervising other members of staff, which usually entails providing support for their clinical work.

What has your career path been?

Once I realised that I wasn't going to be the next Ronaldinho, I opted to study a degree in Psychology, a subject that always intrigued me. Following my degree, I chose to specialise in an area that sparked by interest, so went on to study a Masters in Forensic Psychology. Although, as fascinating as the subject was, I discovered that it was not the path for me.

So, once I completed my Masters, I decided to pursue a slightly different specialism and went onto work in a Medium Secure Unit as an Assistant Psychologist, which is an establishment that supports people who have been sectioned.  

After about a year in my role as an Assistant Psychologist, I spotted an opportunity to return to university to train as a Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner (PWP), which was always a goal of mine.

I was really excited to get onto the course and it proved to be instrumental to my career. I learned how to interact with clients, about the correct vocabulary to use and really developed skills in the art of how to listen to people.

After completing my studies, I gained a job as a qualified PWP within the NHS. After a year and a half in that role, I thought, why not go back to university again. I then took up a training contract with the NHS to become a High Intensity CBT Therapist. 

I currently work as a Psychotherapist within the NHS, which has opened up further training opportunities for me to specialise in other forms of therapy, such as EMDR and Couples' Therapy. 

What is the best part of your job?

Okay, this is not easy as my list could go on for a while!

Firstly, it is great to see people's growth over the course of therapy and to watch their self-belief levels rise with their depressive symptoms being replaced by happiness and optimism as goals are achieved. For some, goal attainment might mean conquering social fears to confidently deliver presentations at university. However, for others it might be overcoming past traumas that manifest through flashbacks. 

Another highlight of my role is that I am not restricted to the office and no one day is ever the same. One day you could be in a supermarket re-enacting a client's worst fears, to demonstrate that they can cope. Whereas, on other days you could be watching videos or even hunting for spiders in a park (not my favourite thing to do!) with clients to overcome arachnophobia. 

Why do you do your job?

Because the values of a therapist aligned well with who I am as a person. When I am doing my job, it feels like I am just being myself. 

More broadly, I am passionate about making psychological services more accessible to black and ethnic minority groups. I also want to reduce the stigma of mental health within these groups. 

One piece of advice for someone starting in your role?

Shadow, shadow, shadow.

Observe therapy sessions to see if this is something you can envision yourself doing. I found observing more experienced therapists invaluable when I was starting out as it prepared me to handle difficulties that later came up in my own sessions.  

To sneakily add a second piece of advice, once you begin practicing, don’t internalise things when therapy does not go well. There are always several factors that will impact a client's progress over the course of therapy and the Therapist usually isn't the common denominator. 

DAY IN THE LIFE

I usually get up between 07:00 and 07:30, depending on how I feel. This is a stark contrast to pre-lockdown when I was in the gym by 06:00 every weekday. Nevertheless, I still get a workout in which gives me the best start to my day. Then, it is the scramble to get ready for in time for a 09:00 start. 

My work timetable does tend to vary on a day-to-day basis, and you can usually structure it to meet your own needs.

From 09:00 until lunchtime, I currently treat and assess clients virtually. On days where I am in the office, I see clients face to face within GP practices or hospitals. The great thing about working from home is that I get to spend a bit more time with my fiancé. I can go downstairs, grab a snack and see her in the blink of an eye! I have also enjoyed lunch time walks with her too. 

After lunch, I typically run a skills group for my supervisees or provide individual supervision. I usually finish around 17:00, which would give me some time to relax and catch up with my fiancé, and a couple of days a week.

I also run private therapy work which typically involves seeing a couple of clients before having some dinner, watching a show and then hitting bed.