Taking the Long Way Round: Becoming a Research-Practitioner in Health Psychology, Natalie's story.

Hi everyone and welcome to the next instalment of the Pathways to psychology blog. Today we hear from Dr Natalie Gil, Research Fellow in Health inequalities. Natalie shares a pathway which was a little different from others, but ultimately it suited her needs and contributed to the excellent clinician and researcher she was today.

      Dr Natalie Gil, PhD, MSc, BSc                             (Hons)

Taking the Long Way Round: Becoming a Research-Practitioner in Health Psychology

For as long as I can remember, I have wanted to understand why people think, feel and behave as they do, but I also wanted to apply that understanding in ways that could improve people's lives. I have always been fascinated by the idea that psychology could both generate knowledge and create change. When I started my psychology degree, I already knew what I wanted to be. Not a researcher, not a practitioner, but a research-practitioner. The challenge was that wanting to become a psychologist and having a realistic route to becoming one were not necessarily the same thing.

As a first-generation university student, I financed my education through student loans and employment. At the time, postgraduate funding opportunities were much more limited than they are today. Master's loans and doctoral loans did not exist, and many professional psychology pathways required significant further study. Psychology can be a difficult profession to enter in the UK, particularly for those without financial support, professional networks, or family experience of higher education. Like many aspiring psychologists, I found myself taking the long route. 

After completing an undergraduate psychology degree that provided Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) with the BPS, l left education for over thirteen years of varied work experience. Finally, in 2020, I decided it was now or never, and I returned to academia to begin the MSc in Health Psychology (Stage 1), at University College London. Upon completion, I faced a decision familiar to many aspiring Health Psychologists: how to continue my training while also building a sustainable career.

There are several routes towards qualification, each with their own advantages and challenges. I knew that I wanted to develop as both a researcher and a practitioner. Although the Professional Doctorate route was an option, I was also keen to build an academic career and undertake doctoral research. Ultimately, I chose to complete the BPS Stage 2 Qualification via the independent route, alongside a funded PhD and research assistant position. On paper, the plan seemed straightforward. In reality, it involved a considerable amount of juggling! Alongside my PhD and Stage 2 portfolio, I continued working in research and, at times, undertook additional corporate contractor work to supplement my income. Like many postgraduate researchers and trainees, I became very familiar with competing deadlines, careful planning and making the most of evenings and weekends. Looking back, I am grateful for that. 

The years between my undergraduate degree and postgraduate training gave me time to think carefully about the kind of psychologist I wanted to become. While my interests evolved, one thing remained constant: I was drawn to the relationship between mind and body. For centuries, medicine and psychology largely treated the mind and body as separate entities. Today, we know that this distinction is far too simplistic. Our thoughts, emotions, behaviours, relationships, environments and social circumstances all influence physical health. Likewise, physical illness affects psychological wellbeing. This is what drew me towards h

Health Psychology.

Health Psychology sits at the intersection of biological, psychological and social influences on health. It asks not only why people become ill, but how they experience illness, how healthcare systems respond to them, and how we can support people to live healthier lives. It is a discipline concerned with prevention, behaviour change, adaptation, wellbeing, healthcare experiences and, increasingly, health inequalities. For me, it felt like the perfect intellectual home. Health psychology is also a relatively young profession. There is a sense that the field is still evolving, still defining itself, still finding new ways to contribute to healthcare. I found that exciting. Rather than stepping into a rigidly defined role, I felt I was entering a discipline with the flexibility to shape my own professional identity.

Today, I have just completed a PhD exploring inequalities in cancer care for people with learning disabilities, alongside the BPS Stage 2 Qualification in Health Psychology. People often ask me why I chose to do both. The answer is simple: neither felt complete on its own. My PhD has taught me how to ask important questions, and has developed my skills in research, critical thinking and evidence generation. Through qualitative research, evidence synthesis and quantitative analyses, I have spent years examining how healthcare systems can create or perpetuate inequalities for marginalised groups. But research alone was never my goal, I have always wanted to work directly with people and services, applying psychology in real-world settings rather than only writing about it. Stage 2 has allowed me to do exactly that.

Alongside my doctoral research, I have had opportunities to develop competencies in assessment, intervention, teaching, consultancy and professional practice. It has challenged me to think not only about what the evidence says, but how psychological knowledge can be translated into meaningful change. What has surprised me most is how strongly these two pathways complement one another. My research reminds me that health outcomes are shaped by far more than individual choices. People's experiences are influenced by poverty, stigma, discrimination, accessibility, relationships, communication and the systems that surround them. My practice reminds me that behind every dataset, every policy recommendation and every published paper is a person navigating those realities.

I have also been fortunate in the people who have supported me along the way. 

During my MSc, I was taught by both my PhD supervisor and my Stage 2 supervisor. They understood my ambition to develop as both a researcher and practitioner and have helped me navigate the inevitable challenges that come with pursuing both pathways simultaneously.

This experience has also highlighted the importance of professional networks. Psychology and academia are often presented as meritocracies, but relationships, mentorship and supportive supervisors matter enormously. As someone who did not grow up with access to academic or professional networks, I have come to appreciate how valuable these connections can be in helping aspiring psychologists identify opportunities and imagine possible futures.

Together, the PhD and Stage 2 have helped me become the kind of psychologist I hoped to be when I first began studying psychology all those years ago. Not solely an academic, not solely a practitioner, but someone committed to bringing research and practice together in pursuit of better health, and more equitable healthcare. For anyone considering a career in Health Psychology, my advice would be not to worry if your route looks different from someone else's. Psychology careers are rarely linear. Many of us take detours, pause our studies, work alongside training, or arrive at postgraduate education later than planned. What matters is finding a pathway that aligns with your values. For me, Health Psychology offered exactly that: a discipline concerned with health, behaviour, inequality and change. A profession that values both evidence and application, and a route that has allowed me to combine the two things that first drew me to psychology in the first place: understanding people and improving lives.

Thank you so much Natalie for writing about your passions, and reiterating how important individual pathways are. There is no one size fits all when it comes to psychology training.

Perhaps reading about Natalie made you reflect on your own career path. Get in touch to add your own blog post.

Kind regards,

The Pathways Team.