Clinical Psychologist (in Training)

As part of the placement module, I was placed with Axiom Law, supporting a team to implement and evaluate the firm’s internal training and incident management system. This role involved a lot of survey development, implementation, and analysis, meaning I relied heavily on many of the research and methodology skills developed through my undergraduate degree. The experience allowed me to reflect on career paths outside of psychology while also developing many of the practical employability skills (time management, working within a team, and managing competing organisational demands) that would serve me in future roles.

During my second and third-year summers, I also worked as a research assistant with the Music in Mind project at the School of Nursing and Midwifery. This further shaped my interest in research and I went on to pursue a PhD under the supervision of Dr Mark Linden. The project examined traumatic brain injury among offending populations and so many of the theories, psychological approaches, and (most importantly!) stats lectures from my undergraduate were key again in helping inform the work.

Following this I took a short (and much-needed) break from psychology, before returning to work as an assistant psychologist with a young adult service in the UK. I have since progressed on to the Doctorate in Clinical Psychology at University College Cork where my thesis looks at stress and burnout among physicians. 

Reflecting on my studies I found Queen’s to be a highly welcoming and supportive place for students, with great opportunities for both research and placement experiences that will stand to you when applying for roles after you graduate.

I was also lucky to have very supportive supervisors in both the School of Psychology and the School of Nursing and Midwifery whose input and guidance helped direct not only my academic work but my broader career progression.

Clinical psychology remains a long and highly competitive road and so my advice for undergraduates would be to seek out supportive lecturers and supervisors who can mentor you early on and try to avail of the opportunities and experiences afforded through both the School and the university more broadly.  

Profile submitted April 2023.