1st Edition
Building a Career as a Psychological Practitioner
This useful and accessible guide introduces the reader to the psychological practitioner roles and offers practical advice for those looking to pursue a career in the wider psychological professions.
Demonstrating that psychology is not a ‘one‑size‑fits‑all’ profession, Ward and Drysdale guide readers through the options and pathways for a successful career as a psychological practitioner, including as a Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner (PWP), Mental Health Wellbeing Practitioner (MHWP), Children’ Wellbeing Practitioner (CWP), and Education Mental Health Practitioner (EMHP). This book covers the entire process from moving into the profession and being a trainee to mastering the job market and making the most of your career and next steps. Bringing together these four important roles, this book offers a comprehensive overview while also allowing you to dip in and out of the chapters to access needed information quickly and easily.
Supported by an acronym decoder and real‑ife, diverse case studies, this is an indispensable resource for anyone looking to understand the potential of psychologically informed careers and move into a psychological practitioner role.
Front matter – Acknowledgements
1. Introduction & How to Use this Book
1b. Acronym Decoder
2. Being a Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner
3. Being a Mental Health Wellbeing Practitioner
4. Being a Children’s Wellbeing Practitioner
5. Being an Education Mental Health Practitioner
6. Routes into the Profession
7. Transferable Skills
8. Being a Trainee
9. Professional Ethics
10. Mastering the Job Market
11. Starting Out
12. Making the Most of Your Career
13. Thinking About Next Steps
14. Related Roles
End matter – Final words.
Biography
Elspeth Ward is currently a supervision lead across NHS Talking Therapies Mersey Care, a registered PWP and co‑Chair of the Psychological Professions Network North West Psychological Practitioner Community of Practice.
Kirsty Drysdale is a specialist lecturer on the CWP and EMHP programmes at the Psychological Therapies Training Centre in Manchester, a clinically practicing CWP, and a co‑Chair of the PPN NW Psychological Practitioner Community of Practice.
'This book is an essential read for anyone considering, starting, or developing their career as a psychological practitioner. What sets this book apart is its inclusive approach. It is written by experienced practitioners who have ensured that they involved the very workforce they are representing which conveys a sense of authenticity from the outset. This book not only considers the journey of becoming a psychological practitioner, but it gives the reader a real sense of what it is like to work as psychological practitioner.'
Paul Thompson, Teesside University, UK
