1. The Route to Clinical
Psychology?
Dr Kathryn Greenwood
(EIPS Sussex, Sussex University and Institute
of Psychiatry)

2. A Cognitive Behavioural
Approach?
• My route into clinical
psychology
• Some tips on the way

3. Triggers

4. Help!!
What now?
What shall I
do?
Triggers

5. Help!!
What
now?
What
shall I
do?
Triggers
Panic

6. Panic
Help!!
What now?
What shall I
do?
Triggers
Research Clinical

7. Behaviour
Mood
Thoughts
Triggers

8. Action
• Clinical Experience as a bank nurse
• Exam focus
• Application for and place obtained for a
PhD in a clinically relevant area
(Memory and Attention in Schizophrenia)

9. StrongStrong
academicacademic
research profileresearch profile
RationaleRationale
Relevant experienceRelevant experience
(clinical and research)(clinical and research)
For selfFor self
Access to and supportAccess to and support
from clinical psychologistsfrom clinical psychologists

10. Help!!
What now?
What shall I
do?
Triggers

11. Action
Voluntary Experience
• under clinical psychologist on ward
medication education programme
• Observation of specialist assessments of
children
• Observation of therapy for child depression
• Evaluation of trauma following children’s
admission to intensive care

12. Meaning
• Insight into illness models and relation to
intervention and outcome in psychosis
• Value of in depth multi-disciplinary assessment
• Application of adapted CBT for a younger
developmental stage, flexibility in models and
approaches (imagery)
• Understanding of role of stress and appraisals in
evolution of problems

13. What about the rest of life?
Ensure you maintain other aspects of life as
may take time and can gain from experience
e.g. Baby daughter one year into PhD
Learning and Meaning
• Time management, multi-tasking
• Managing role transitions
• Value of mental health and well-being in

14. And the outcome
• University of Sussex 1992-1995
• PhD – Institute of Psychiatry 1995-1999
• Daughter 1996,
• DClinPsy – Institute of Psychiatry 1999-2002
• Son 2001
• National Psychosis Unit 2002-2008
• Early intervention in psychosis 2008-
• Holistic recovery/remission focus in research
• Clinical Research Fellow 2010-

15. Important elements
Strong academic
profile
Meaning and
learning taken from
experiences
Able to communicate &
apply what learntStand out for
right reasons
Presentation
ReferencesMaintain a life

16. Things that you will need
• At least a 2:1 with GBR at University,
although a 1st
will make you stand out.
• Additional qualifications will help
• At least 12 months clinical experience, (e.g.
psychology or research assistant), ideally
clinical psychologist supervisor and referee
• More than one area of clinical work an
advantage
• Evidence of commitment (e.g. relevant
work incl. voluntary) over time

17. Thank you