When it comes to clinical psychology, it is a very white, female, middle-class professional and I’ve spoken and written about the various reasons why this is the case and why this needs to change urgently. Diversity will always be critical within clinical psychology and related mental health professions, but a major reason why clinical psychology isn’t that diverse is because of barriers to the profession. For different groups of people, even including white men, there are different barriers that can limit access to the clinical psychology profession, but this doesn’t mean that all barriers are the same height. Therefore, in this psychology podcast episode, you’ll learn what these barriers are, why they aren’t always the same height and what we can do as profession to help flatten and hopefully outright eliminate some of these barriers. If you enjoy learning about careers in psychology, mental health professions and more then this is a great episode for you.
Today’s psychology podcast episode has been sponsored by Clinical Psychology Reflections Volume 5: Thoughts On Clinical Psychology, Mental Health and Psychotherapy. Available from all major eBook retailers and you can order the paperback and hardback copies from Amazon, your local bookstore and local library, if you request it. Also available as an AI-narrated audiobook from selected audiobook platforms and library systems. For example, Kobo, Spotify, Barnes and Noble, Google Play, Overdrive, Baker and Taylor and Bibliotheca.
Are All Barriers In Clinical Psychology The Same Height? (Extract From Clinical Psychology Reflections Volume 5)
When I was flicking through the December 2022 edition of The Psychologist Magazine, there was this article from a man talking about him feeling out of place and almost like an imposter on the UK’s NHS “Aspiring Clinical Psychologist” scheme.
It's a scheme designed to help people who cannot undertake a Masters nor undertake unpaid work experience to get work experience and a partial education towards becoming a fully qualified psychologist.
In the article, the man was talking about how much of a fraud he felt because he was white, wasn’t from an ethnic minority and he didn’t have any other characteristics that would disadvantage him. The only reason he was on the scheme was because he was from a poor background so he couldn’t undertake unpaid work experience or do a Masters degree.
And then the article went on to talk about how he realise he did belong on the scheme but it still made him think about his own privileges and that not all the barriers in clinical psychology are the same height. The barriers to the profession were a lot lower for him compared to a black person from a poor background.
Personally, this got me thinking about my own privileges and disadvantages, but firstly I want to mention that this man might have been white and he didn’t have any other disadvantages besides the fact that he was from a poor background. He still 100% deserved to be on this scheme because he met the criteria, he needed the help and it benefited all the future clients he was going to see.
He was suffering from self-doubt and imposter syndrome, which is understandable, but he shouldn’t have felt that way about himself.
Furthermore, I think the reason why this really got me thinking is because of my own appearance, status and disadvantages. Since I am a white male from a middle class family in a poor area. Those are my advantages and those have been very useful to me in my life.
Also, I am gay but you would never know from looking at me so I can hide that part of myself very well if needed. As well as I am part of the trans community as a non-binary person but again, you would never be able to tell.
Then finally, I have suffered really bad mental health and I had tons of lived experience of mental health difficulties behind me. You would think that would certainly be an advantage in clinical psychology and it very much can be, but people are still weary. And there are still unconscious biases at play during the recruitment process, even within clinical psychology.
Yet again, you would never know I have had horrific mental health in the past, because I hide it very well.
Therefore, what got me thinking about this article was that I definitely know how this man feels. Since there have been times I have wanted to apply for minority-focused bursaries, opportunities and more but I have stopped myself because I don’t feel disadvantaged at times.
Of course, I am perfectly aware that I am disadvantaged and there have been times when people in positions of power have made that perfectly clear to me in very non-subtle ways.
However, I keep telling myself the same lie over and over again about how I don’t need these things. Even though it would have helped me, my future and my career if I had applied for these things a few years ago.
It’s interesting that I try to convince myself that I am perfectly okay even now, but I am not because I am disadvantaged and I shouldn’t be scared to recognise it.
On the whole, when it comes to myself, in the future if there is an opportunity that comes up for minorities. Then I need to be more open and honest with myself about looking into it and allowing myself to apply if I think I meet the criteria.
For everyone else reading this, if there is an opportunity that you meet the criteria for, whether it’s aimed at minorities or not, you should go for it. Getting a job in psychology is hard enough for all of us, but it is even harder for other people that face more barriers than most.
Look for opportunities, exploit them and help yourself to build a Resume or the career that you want.
Don’t let self-doubt, imposter syndrome or anything else hold you back.
I really hope you enjoyed today’s forensic psychology podcast episode.
If you want to learn more, please check out:
Clinical Psychology Reflections Volume 5: Thoughts On Clinical Psychology, Mental Health and Psychotherapy. Available from all major eBook retailers and you can order the paperback and hardback copies from Amazon, your local bookstore and local library, if you request it. Also available as an AI-narrated audiobook from selected audiobook platforms and library systems. For example, Kobo, Spotify, Barnes and Noble, Google Play, Overdrive, Baker and Taylor and Bibliotheca.
Have a great day.
Clinical Psychology Reference
Whiteley, C. (2024) Clinical Psychology Reflections Volume 5: Thoughts On Clinical Psychology, Mental Health and Psychotherapy. CGD Publishing. England.
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