Rebecca

School: Sawtry Village Academy

Employer: Northamptonshire Healthcare Foundation Trust NHS

Job Title: Senior Assistant Psychologist and Trainee CBT Therapist.

Qualifications:

• Undergraduate BSc Honours in Educational and Developmental Psychology (2:1)
• Currently just finished my masters in Cognitive Behavioural Therapist (just waiting results November 2023) This will allow me to be a qualified CBT therapist and psychotherapist.

Profile

2013-2016 attended Northampton University undertaking an undergraduate degree in BSc Honours Educational Psychology. Awarded a high 2:1.

Whilst at university I worked at the students union part time as a receptionist whilst studying. Whilst studying I also volunteered as a reading champion going into community schools supporting children with their reading.

2016 Worked at St Andrews Hospital as a healthcare Assistant. I worked on a low secure inpatient ward for those with a diagnosis of personality disorder. My role would involve supporting the patients with day to day tasks, monitoring risk and keeping patients safe, supporting them in accessing therapy with the MDT team.

2017-2019 Worked at Christchurch group Neurological Rehabilitation as an Assistant Psychologist. I would work alongside the psychologist to asses new clients that would come to rehab. In the assessment stage we would conduct psychological tests and then carry out a treatment plan for the clients to return home or to improve quality of life. These clients would be diagnosed with a brain injury or those with long term neurological conditions such as Parkinson's. I would also run groups in the morning such as memory group, orientation and relaxation sessions.

2019 (6 months) Assistant Psychologist at IAPT (now known as NHS Talking Therapies). I would undertake 5 telephone assessments a day to assess clients who would self refer to the service for mental health difficulties such as depression, anxiety and trauma and we would then book them into the correct treatments.

2019- current day. Senior Assistant Psychologist with NHS Talking Therapies. Working with clients in GP surgeries within the treatment side. Undertaking guided self help Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) for 6 sessions on a fortnightly basis. This is the step 2 approach in the stepped mental health guide. I would also run community groups to support those with anxiety and depression and work alongside the third sector such as substance misuse services. I have continued to do this to current day.

But alongside my full time job above, I am now Trainee CBT therapist. I know work at step 3 alongside by step 2 work. I Now treat clients with more severe mental health problems that can't be treated at step 2 such as trauma, PTSD, OCD and specific phobia such as Emetophobia.

Advice to students

To ensure the career you take is something you enjoy and passionate about, but it is really important especially if you take a Psychology career because it is a long journey and can be exhausting at times when you are listening to others problem. Therefore my other advice would be self care it is really important you have time for yourself outside of work whether this is a hobby or simply making time to enjoy your favourite film.

Additional Resources