Psychology, The Fight For A Career

Psychology to me feels like one of the very few careers where a degree doesn't lead to a career unless followed by a wealth of experience or additional study.

For a while now I’ve been tormented with the fact that had I done a mental health nursing degree instead of a psychology one I could be in a band 5 role straight out of university, with career progression opportunities. In psychology, career profession feels like a pipe dream unless you can secure a trainee therapist role or secure a sacred place on the doctorate.

Yes, admittedly it is possible to get a training role and progress from trainee psychological well-being practitioner (PWP) to qualified PWP, senior PWP, trainee high intensity therapist (HIT)…for example. However, for those unable to secure a place or for those of us like me who find IAPT doesn’t fit with their therapy style, we need to look to other roles.

Most psychology jobs that catch the eye of graduates are Assistant psychologist roles. In theory there are band 4 assistant psychologist and band 5 senior/higher assistant psychologist roles, meaning progression is somewhat possible. In practice however, my experience has taught me that band 5 roles are like gold dust. After all why would the NHS pay a band 5 when an eager band 4 assistant psychologist can do it? Although I am one such eager band 4 and happy with my role, the prospect of raising a child on a band 4 wage with uncertainty on if I could progress to a band 5 is a scary one (especially given the current cost of living).