Gaining work experience

jokettle

Hi all,
I'm looking for ways to gain work experience with clinical populations, but I'm not sure where else to look.
I have my BA in Psychology and I'm in the middle of a PhD, but I'd love to get some proper clinical experience. I've checked out some volunteering websites and I have done bits here and there, including a year as a part time assistant neuropsychologist. I'm just wondering if anyone would have any suggestions where I could find some relevant work, voluntarily if necessary?
Unfortunately my PhD is full time so I can't apply for a 9-5 type of position, but any suggestions would be greatly appreciated

Cinful

Have you contacted your psychology faculty for leads?

jokettle

I have, but unfortunately I'm enrolled in the Dept of Psychiatry for my research (because that's where my grant comes from afaik) and Psychology tend to help their own students first-which is fair enough, I can't begrudge them that.
I'm really wondering if anyone has been in a similar position, and what have you done to get experience? ISPCC, helplines, care workers, that kind of thing?

Odysseus

Another option worth considering would be any community based addiction treatment/rehab facilities, most of them are feeling the pinch around funding so you may get something there.

jokettle

That's not a bad idea, thanks a lot of voluntary-based websites haven't helped too much so it seems going to organisations directly might be the best bet.
It's a shame there aren't more experience opportunities put to psychology graduates in Ireland; this is the main reason most of my class have moved away from the field since graduating...