Pathways to Psychology, a journey with many possibilities at your fingertips

 Hi everyone and welcome to the next instalment of the Pathways to Psychology blog. We invite trainees and registered practitioner colleagues to write about their experiences, to inspire and support the next generation of colleagues contemplating a career in the Psychology field. Todat we hear from Dr Grace  Trundle, Principal Forensic Psychologist. Grace suggests her journey was uneventful and straightforward, but when you read the blog you will see the authenticity and effort shining through, propelling her to the successful career she has built.  Dr Grace Trundle Principal Forensic Psychologist Staying true to yourself  When I was thinking about what I could share with aspiring psychologists for this blog, I realised my pathway is not something particularly moving or inspiring. If anything, it’s about as straight forward of a route as you could take: a degree with placement year, doctorate, then into working life. I did a Psychology BSc at Aston University with my...

Hi everyone and welcome to the next instalment of the Pathways to Psychology blog. Today we hear from Lucy Garrow, Trainee Health Psychologist (DHealthPsych). It is lovely to read about the work Lucy is doing in supporting people living with long-term health conditions. Working in the area of long-term health brings together the medical- and the psychological fields. As people face so many changes in their mental wellbeing alongside their physical symptoms, having psychological support is invaluable. Lucy brings a passion and compassion to her role, and we hope she can inspire others to follow in this specialist field.  Lucy Garrow Trainee Health Psychologist (DHealthPsych) My journey into Health Psychology (while it has felt uncertain and prolonged at times) has been unexpectedly linear.  During my final year of secondary school, I remained uncertain about which career path to pursue. I explored a wide range of possibilities—including veterinary medicine, marine biology, phar...

 Hello everyone and welcome to the next instalment of the Pathways to Psychology blog. Today we hear from Dr Suzy Klein, HCPC (health and care professions council) Registered Counselling Psychologist, GMBPsS (graduate membership of the British Psychological Society). Suzy recently qualified as a Counselling Psychologist and we want to start off with a massive "Congratulations!" as completing Doctorate studies is no mean feat. Suzy followed a circuitous route to becoming a Counselling Psychologist, and all her life experience seems to feed into her strength as a qualified colleague. We hope reading about Suzy will inspire you to consider a role in the psychology profession as well.  https://www.linkedin.com/in/susan-klein https://www.lavenderpsychology.co.uk/ My path to becoming a Counselling Psychologist has been very non-linear. This path starts in the US, where I first began exploring my career options when I was about sixteen years old. I knew that I wanted to pursue a hel...

 Hi everyone and welcome to our next instalment of the Pathways to Psychology blog. Today we hear from Joanna Bieszczad, a UK-accredited CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy) therapist and EMDR (eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing) practitioner who has specialised in trauma for over 15 years. She holds four university degrees in Psychology, Counselling, CBT, and Sport Psychology, bringing both depth and breadth to her clinical expertise.  Over the years, Joanna has developed her own highly effective approach to treating trauma, blending CBT and EMDR techniques. She is passionate about supporting the next generation of therapists and is launching a training programme designed to give practitioners practical, confidence-building tools for trauma work. Find out more and join the waiting list here: www.traumatrainingacademy.com/waitlist  We hope reading about Joanna will inspire you on your own journey to a successful career in Psychology.  Joanna Bie...

 HI everyone Welcome to the next instalment of our blog, focusing on trailblazers in the Psychology field. Today we hear from Justine Sheedy, Trainee Counselling Psychologist. Justine writes about humble beginnings and the role community and connection continue to play as she moves ever closer to qualifying. Justine's road to becoming a Psychologist is winding and multi-faceted, but she shows the determination and grit so evident in Psychology colleagues. We hope reading about Justine will tweak your curiosity in learning more about the variety of Psychology careers, and how you could pursue your own.   Justine Sheedy Trainee Counselling Psychologist https://www.linkedin.com/in/ justine-s-1b54ba218 From Young Mum to Doctorate 🎓: Finding My Path in Psychology If you’re considering psychology, I want you to know this: there’s no single “right” path. Some journeys are straight, others winding — and often, it’s the winding ones that shape us the most. Early life and motivati...

 Hi everyone and welcome to the next instalment of the Pathways to Psychology blog. We meet very many talented and dedicated colleagues for the blog, and today is no exception. Rea Powell, Counselling Psychologist (pending registration) shares a journey full of twists and turns, and ultimately she found a pathway that resonated with her values and skills. Happy reading! Rea Powell Counselling Psychologist (pending registration) https://www.linkedin.com/in/ rea-powell-31227a134 I never set out to become a psychologist. It wasn’t a childhood dream or something I’d carefully planned. The truth is, it happened by accident. When I left school, I didn’t have two GCSEs (general certificate of secondary education) to rub together. University felt like another world entirely. Psychology wasn’t even on my radar. I fell into selling double glazing, windows, doors, conservatories. I wasn’t particularly good at it. Half the time, I’d find myself on the phone talking people through breakups, gri...