Again, if I am being completely honest, I spent the first two years of this degree still feeling unsure what exactly I planned to do with a degree in Psychology. However, as part of this particular degree, we were required to complete a placement year. I opted to spend this time working as an honorary assistant psychologist at the Berkshire Child Anxiety Clinic – a specialist clinic for the treatment of anxiety in children based at the University of Reading. This placement was my equivalent of a lightbulb moment. I loved the work and I was surrounded by a passionate, dedicated, hard-working and supportive team. It was during this year that I quickly realised I wanted to pursue a career specifically in clinical psychology. This was then set in stone after I was kindly offered the opportunity to spend three months volunteering as a psychology assistant at an older people’s mental health service in Hampshire.


As some people will already know, psychology is a broad “umbrella” term which refers to the scientific study of human mind and behaviour and there are in fact several different areas of psychology. These include: forensic psychology; sport & exercise psychology; neuropsychology; counselling psychology; occupational psychology; academia, research & teaching; educational psychology; health psychology and (saving the best until last!) clinical psychology. Clinical psychology involves working to combine science, theory and clinical knowledge for the purpose of understanding, preventing and relieving psychological distress or dysfunction and promoting psychological wellbeing. This means working with individuals, couples and families presenting with mild to severe and enduring difficulties. A clinical psychologist will often work in medical settings, private practice or in academic positions at Universities and colleges and can work with individuals across the lifespan and those with learning disabilities. They can deal with mental and physical health problems including anxiety, depression, relationship problems, addictions and relationships.


In order to become a clinical psychologist in the UK, you must complete a doctorate level degree in clinical psychology through programmes sponsored by the NHS. These degrees are generally very competitive and are focused on research and practice. The requirements for securing a place on one of these degrees involves: achieving good A Level results, gaining a bachelor’s degree in Psychology to 1st class or high 2:1 standard (or also having to complete a Masters or PhD) and 1+ years of work experience before, during or after the bachelor’s degree.


With this in mind, I then spent the two years after completing my Psychology BSc working as a research assistant on a variety of research trials based at the University of Reading, University of Sussex and the Michael Rutter Centre at the Maudsley Hospital. These research trials were all focused on different aspects of child and adolescent anxiety disorders and involved working with individuals experiencing difficulties associated with generalised anxiety disorder, separation anxiety, social phobia, specific phobias, body dysmorphic disorder and much more.


The Old Cornelian SUMMER 2017


However, it is 100% what I want to be doing and I largely attribute my achievements to the opportunities and the education that I received back at my prep school and at Mayfield.


After making my second application to the doctoral level degree in


clinical psychology, I successfully secured a place at the University of Surrey in September 2014. Since then I have completed four ‘core’ work placements working with children and adolescents, working- age adults, older adults and people with learning disabilities and I am currently completing my specialist work placement. In addition to work placement, I have completed case reports, coursework and a major research project looking at personal trainers’ experiences of having a client sharing personal issues during a PT session.


All being well, I will be qualifying to become Dr Hughes, Clinical Psychologist, at the end of this year. It’s been a long journey to this point and there have been some tough times along the way. However, it is 100% what I want to be doing and I largely attribute my achievements to the opportunities and the education that I received back at my prep school and at Mayfield.


Thank you! OC


Zoe Hughes Class of 2006


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