Growing Into Forensic Psychology: Finding My Place in the Field-Emma's journey to an Msc in Forensic Psychology

Hi everyone and welcome to the next instalment of the Pathways to Psychology blog. This week we hear from Emma Nottage, Msc Forensic Psychology student. Emma highlights the twists and turns that informed her psychology journey, and the rich learning she has gained as a result. Happy reading!

                 Emma Nottage

Msc Forensic Psychology student

Growing Into Forensic Psychology: Finding My Place in the Field

If you had asked me at the start of my BSc where I was heading, I would have confidently said Clinical Psychology. That felt like the obvious path — familiar, well defined, and widely discussed. But as I moved through my degree, especially the forensic modules I chose out of interest, my focus began to shift. I found myself drawn to the way Forensic Psychology deals with behaviour in context: how risk, relationships, and systems interact in ways that aren’t always straightforward. It felt practical and relevant, and by the time I graduated, I knew this was the direction I wanted to pursue.

Stepping Away to Step Forward

After finishing my BSc, I decided to take some time away from education. I worked at a car finance company — not the most predictable step for someone aiming for a career in Forensic Psychology, but it offered something important. I wanted experience outside of university, space to reset, and a chance to understand people in a different environment. Those two years helped me see psychology in everyday situations: in decision making, pressures, and interactions that don’t appear in textbooks. When I returned to university to begin my MSc, I felt clearer about why I was choosing this field and what I hoped to contribute.

My MSc: Developing as a Researcher

I’m now completing my MSc in Forensic Psychology. It has been demanding, but it has also helped me develop a more focused understanding of the field. My thesis looks at public attitudes toward child-to-parent abuse, which is still a relatively new and under-researched area. Working on it has highlighted how important it is to understand not only the behaviour itself, but also the assumptions and beliefs that shape how people interpret it.

Research has shown me how to sit with uncertainty and how evidence can influence practice. It has also made clear how much more work is needed to ensure emerging issues like child-to-parent abuse are understood properly.

Learning Through Practice

Alongside my studies, I’ve gained experience in real forensic settings. I currently volunteer as an Appropriate Adult with West Midlands Police, supporting vulnerable individuals during interviews and custody procedures. It’s a role that has grounded a lot of what I’ve learned academically. Being present in those situations — when someone is unsure, distressed, or overwhelmed — has reinforced the importance of fairness, clarity, and dignity in forensic work.

I’m also working as a Research Assistant with some of my lecturers on a project examining how Police interact with older adults. This has provided a clearer understanding of how age shapes people’s experiences within the criminal justice system. It has also highlighted how easily certain groups — particularly older adults — can be overlooked in both research and practice. This work has strengthened my interest in evidence-based approaches and in research that focuses on areas that don’t always receive attention.

What I’ve Learned About Myself

If this journey has taught me anything, it’s that a path doesn’t need to be linear to be meaningful. Mine hasn’t been. I changed direction, took time out, questioned myself, and returned with a clearer sense of where I wanted to go.

I’ve learned that:

▪️Changing your mind is normal.

▪️Real-world experience is just as valuable as academic work.

▪️Research matters, especially when it focuses on under-explored areas.

▪️Forensic Psychology is ultimately about people, not just theory.

Most of all, I’ve learned that progress often happens quietly, while you’re simply trying to figure things out.

Looking Ahead

As I move toward completing my MSc, I’m thinking more about what comes next. I hope to continue working at the intersection of research and practice — whether that’s through forensic mental health services, policing research, rehabilitation work, or community-based interventions. I want to contribute to evidence-based practice and support people whose experiences are often misunderstood or overlooked.

In the future, I hope to secure a Trainee Forensic Psychologist role and work toward becoming a fully qualified and registered Forensic Psychologist. The more experience I gain, the more certain I am that this is the direction I want to grow in. I want to be part of work that contributes to safer communities, fairer systems, and a more informed understanding of behaviour.

I don’t know exactly where my path will lead, but I feel I’m moving in the right direction — and that’s enough for now.

Thank you Emma for shedding light on areas of psychology which can so easily be missed. Your focus on people across the lifespan reiterates the importance of support and understanding every person was entitled to, especially when feeling vulnerable.

Perhaps Emma's words have got you thinking about your own career path and how you came to be where you are. Get in touch to add your own blog entry.

Kind regards,

The Pathways Team.