Clinical Training in Psychology

mc-panda

As every psychology student/graduate well knows, the area of clinical psychology is a very difficult area to get into. With only four recognised training courses in the Republic of Ireland, the future appears bleak for us all. Furthermore, each of these institutions offers on average about nine places every year, and recieves about 150 applications. To make matters even worse, colleges will often have fallow years (such as UCD this year) further depleting anyone's chances of being selected.

A brief look over many of the threads here indicates that this is an issue many people are concerned about. Indeed, I am too. However, there are a lot of myths about what you need to do to become a clinical psychologist.

With this in mind, I've started this thread to try and get people to share their experiences and knowledge. To begin with, here is an excellent article:

Roth, T. (1998). Getting on clinical training courses. The Psychologist, 11, 589-592.

Link:

http://www.ucl.ac.uk/clinical-health-psychology/rtfFiles/Psychologist1998.rtf

Valmont

That's a great idea. There was a website called psyclick.co.uk or something a while ago that was full of great information. I think the actual address is in one of the stickies

mc-panda

Thank you Valmont.

Semele

V. interesting article. I'm doing a MSc in forensic mental health research at the minute in London with the intention of trying to get an assistant psychologist or research assistant job for a year and then applying to Clinical courses. By far the best resourse I've discovered is www.clinpsy.org.uk. It has advice on absolutely anything you might want to know! Definitely worth checking out.

psych

interesting article. im currently an aba tutor (to get experience) wit a high honours degree in psychology (graduated 2007) and still very confused on what to do next! leaning towards clinical but love aba

Soon2bExStudent

Great idea to look into this issue. I too had heart set on clinical..started working as an aba tutor, now half way through masters in aba. Clinical still in my head though but don't know now if my experience would be too restricted to even get me an interview! This has to be one of the most difficult careers to get into...

m4j

Great idea for a forum, in Dublin people are in trouble ifthey have to work but want a career in the Clinical Fields. Clinical Psychology if you get it is for limited HSE funding for two -three years, Counselling Psychology has no funding but is also full time. This now limits mature expereienced students who have to work full time from entering the professions at clinical level.

I would love to see pressure being brought on those who can make changes to offer part time or distance courses at Post Grad level in Psychology, with PSI recognition (much like the OU) In this way experienced women and men who work in the area extensivly can start to fill the gaps that are causing so much problems within these valuable services here in Irealand, without having to move home with mum and dad Ha Ha. ( I would need more than therapeutic intervention if myself and my wife had to move home with my parents) Ha Ha (They may need it as well)

eth0_

Maybe this is something that should be given media attention?
There's been lots in the media recently about the appalling level of funding for mental health in Ireland, perhaps the public should know about the paltry amount of training places available?

I'm sure, for instance, parents of children with learning difficulties, autism, ADHD etc would get behind such a move. It must take absolutely ages for them to get a diagnosis and support!

m4j

I think you are dead right it does need media exposure. Currently the lack of OTS and Speech Therapists means children on the Autisitc Spectrum, and the 13 other Disability Categories the Departmnent oF Education has are left without such intervention, or limited intervention. To counteract this the government set up MSc Courses in both therapisies invoiting anyone with a BSc to come and do two years training to be one of either therapists, this was great until those who came out of college could not be hired by the HSE firstly as there is an imbargo on in employing anyone and secondly you need two years working experience to work for the HSE in this profession, but you can't get the experience without the job, Catch 22....Another Government fiasco.

From the Clinical Psychology and Counselling Psychology positions both of which have equal importance, currently in ASD support service for children in school there are several position vacant, now this does not sound bad until you realise that there were never enough to begin with, meaning prior to this positions becoming vacant there was a two year wait for assessment, I can only imagine how long it is now.

Now this means that those in the profession are highly regarded some of which earn this by doing exceptional work, others are dreadful and make those in need worse yet they can walk around like Gods knowing no one can or will challenge them, recent case of senior Prof in Dublin comes to mind who will assess ever child he see's with Autism/ADHD etc. Half of which turn out in Multi Diciplinary assessment to not be within the spectrum.

This elite way of training etc these professionals is clearly leading to problems, some are young coming straight from college and well financed backgrounds to work with people and sub cultures they have never experienced.

Time for change I think........

spinandscribble

whats the story if you're trained in the states? i've got an psychology intership in america that could open doors to its phd and clinical programme. but if that did happen could i come back to ireland again and work or would i need to pass exams ect?

eth0_

What do you mean by an internship? Do you have a primary degree in psychology already?
If so, and you've worked in a mental health role, that would stand you in very good stead for getting into a Phd!

spinandscribble

yes i have a BA with psychology but have to get the conversion under my belt when i come back in a year and a half. its an intership with devereux. I'l work for them and they'll fund me to do additional training and education while im there. just got the offer the other day after a few months of applications, video interviews ect.
basic plan is to do that, come back for my conversion course of a year then do a masters in art therapy in scotland but i wanted to check out my options for clinical.
Really excited about the internship cant wait to get some real hands on experience.

eth0_

Why are you going to do a conversion? Is your BA not recognised by the BPS?

Well done getting the internship, i'm jealous

spinandscribble

BA with psychology AND classics lol in nuig. Sorry that how my mates put it if you're in arts. i think the one year conversion to be accredited after arts.
everyone keeps telling me it'll be a step back after america but i need to get it over with. hopefully my time over in ther states will help me come up with a good research project. was going to wait to apply for this next year once i had a conversion over with but i needed a break from daily life. cant wait.

eth0_

hardly a step back, you'll be severely limited with job opportunities and postgraduate study opportunities without doing that conversion course. It's only a year sure!

spinandscribble

i think they mean it in the sense i'l be learning about things i've already done by that stage lol. hopefully it'll make things easier just a quick question, if i was to work in art therapy in a few years and realise it wasnt for me and then tried to apply for clinical would i be unlikely to be accepted due to the art therapy?

The Black Oil

Have a look at some of the slides from the presentations that took place at the PSI/BPS careers event in February http://www.psihq.ie/members_studentNews.asp

Yazfoal

I don't know why I decided that the ONLY thing I wanted to do with my psychology degree was Clinical, ah well, aim for the stars and all that.
Does anyone know of anywhere that offers clinically relevant experience for undergrads? I've e-mailed a load of charitable organisations but wondered if I could get something in a more medical/hospital setting...
Any fellow undergrads on this thread?

spinandscribble

Im a undergrad, at least until i get the conversion course out of the way.