Life as a clinical psychologist : what is it really like?

Would you like to be a Clinical Psychologist? If so, this is the ideal book for you as it is a jargon-free introduction for anyone wanting to work in this demanding but rewarding mental health profession. This clear guide invites you to think critically about whether becoming a Clinical Psychologist is right for you, questioning and challenging your views and providing an honest perspective of life as a clinical psychologist.  Written from personal experience of over 10 years working in applied psychology, with a unique knowledge of the practice, theory, and application of Clinical Psychology, Paul Jenkins provides a first-hand perspective, blending anecdotes with factual advice on the clinical academic culture.

It is also packed with case studies which highlight a range of different career pathways (including in other mental health fields) and includes coverage of post-qualification life to gives the reader a sense of the career you can have after training. “This book offers a broad and realistic perspective on what it’s like to be a clinical psychologist, including an understanding of the diversity of the role beyond the therapy room, and in the current climate of the NHS.

Much to our happiness, the book is not a ‘how to’ guide for clinical psychology training but an honest and open reflection on the profession itself. The reader is frequently encouraged to explore their motivations to train in clinical psychology.

Reflections are prompted on both ‘do I want to be a clinical psychologist?’ and ‘what type of clinical psychologist do I want to be?’. We have each been through the interview process this year.

The book gave us a number of interesting points to discuss in preparation of and in our interviews.

For example, Jenkins considers the validity of evidence-based treatment, practitioners’ differing perspectives on this, and the limited number of clinical psychologists actively engaged in research. This is a balanced and comforting perspective on the route to clinical training.

It offers a space to ground yourself in what clinical psychology is and what it can be.

It will be helpful at any stage of the journey – we all need to come back to these reflections occasionally.” Reviewed by Katie Voss and Alice McNamara, Assistant Psychologists in The Psychologist magazine, September 2021