“I came to Bangor in 2004 and although my initial reason for choosing the University was specifically because of its amazing reputation in relation to Psychology, I can honestly say it has shaped every area of my life.
I commenced my undergraduate degree in Psychology with Clinical and Health Psychology and loved the course and immediately settled into enjoying lectures, in the gorgeous Main Arts building. Alongside amazing support, tackling statistics and learning how to use the computers in the Mac Lab in Wheldon Building.
However, I also recognised I was a long way from home, knowing no-one, and wanted to make the most of the full University experience, I searched for a club or society to join in fresher’s week…
A one-off attempt at fencing led to meeting a true friend, who has supported me through all sorts (academically and personally) ever since. He was the one who made sure I turned up early one morning to a walk arranged by the University Mountain Walking Club, where I developed a lifelong love of walking, and later Bangor University Mountaineering Society (early testing of being outside of my comfort zone!)
I also joined the Volunteering Society, where I was specifically involved in developing and working on a project working with the local psychiatric unit and their Occupational Therapy team – an amazing opportunity and experience.
Volunteering and subsequently gaining paid work on the wards at the hospital, helped me gain early and valuable experience for my future career but also led me to meeting my now husband, who was also working there, and would not otherwise have met, he was a student on an entirely different course.
After graduating with a good 2:1 and combined with the other opportunities being in Bangor had afforded me, I was provided with the perfect springboard for my first jobs within my psychological professions career.
I quickly gain early positions as an Assistant Psychologist, followed by a post as a Graduate Mental Health Worker and then moved to a role as a Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner (PWP) as the Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) initiative gained momentum.
IAPT, now NHS Talking Therapies (TT), was where I really discovered my passion for Low Intensity Intervention and the value that this can bring to the system and to patients.
When I took my first PWP role, in 2009, career development opportunities were limited; however, over the last 16 years the psychological professions landscape has changed and developed. I have been fortunate to have developed with it, taking Senior PWP roles, followed by a number of NHS TT clinical and operational roles.
A leadership development role with the Psychological Professions Network (PPN) North West, allowed me to develop a greater understanding of the wider system, psychological professions roles, particularly the other Practitioner roles and leadership. These opportunities have culminated in me gaining my current role as a Supervision Lead in NHS Mersey Care TT.
As an undergraduate at Bangor I was unsure where my enjoyment of the subject of psychology would lead, at that time I had a limited understanding of my options and struggled to identify clear next steps or how to achieve them; therefore, I was delighted to be asked recently to undertake a project undergraduate me would never have anticipated having the knowledge or experience for.
I have co-authored a book for the new British Psychological Society (BPS) Pathways in Psychology series – ‘Building a Career as a Psychological Practitioner’. I hope that this is a useful and accessible guide introducing the reader to the Psychological Practitioner roles and offering practical advice for those looking to pursue a career. I hope it will inspire the next generation (of Bangor Psychology graduates!) to consider the Psychological Practitioner roles for their future careers.”
Building a Career as a Psychological Practitioner - 1st Edition - Elsp
Navigating your career as a Psychological Practitioner | BPS (free to access article)