Professional Issues in Clinical Psychology: Developing a Professional Identity through Training and Beyond offers insights from a range of trainee, recently qualified and experienced clinical psychologists as they reflect on the process of developing their professional identity through consideration of dilemmas and issues they experienced through clinical psychology training. Reflecting the breadth of the profession and the range of services in which clinical psychologists work, the chapters highlight the different types of roles that clinical psychologists are expected to undertake throughout training and post-qualification. The book provides practical clinical recommendations that can be applied in work settings in line with contemporary research, policy and guidance, as well as personal reflections from the authors on how managing professional issues has shaped their practice as a developing clinical psychologist. Developing a professional identity as a clinical psychologist is vital in learning to navigate these challenges. The process by which a professional identity develops is an individual journey. However, Professional Issues in Clinical Psychology offers aspiring, trainee or qualified clinical psychologists - and other healthcare professionals - with a contemporary resource around professional issues which might be encountered within clinical psychology practice. Reviews
"The clinical training path is quite opaque for aspiring psychologists, and the opportunity for reflecting on aspects of professional development vary considerably between courses, so it is great to see a book to fill that gap. I think this book is relevant to psychology graduates seeking a career in clinical psychology, as well as trainees and recently qualified clinical psychologists. This is a career path in which we continue learning and reflecting on our practice and what we bring to the role throughout our career, and the varied topics covered mean there is something to offer even for those of us who have been in the role a while." - Dr Miriam Silver, Consultant Clinical Psychologist and Founder/Administrator of www.clinpsy.org.uk, the website for aspiring clinical psychologists "This significant and timely publication is sure to become a trusted guide for individuals attempting to make their way along the intricate pathway of professional and ethical practice. Originally conceived as a text for aspiring to newly qualified clinical psychologists, the depth of consideration of the complexities of developing a professional identity while maintaining a critically reflective stance will be of utility to practitioners from an array of professional backgrounds and a range of experience. The book contains deft and frank explorations of issues such as risk, trauma, power and boundaries, how they unfold and the challenges of managing them within an ever-changing social and political context." - Dr Anna Daiches, Clinical Director, Doctorate in Clinical Psychology programme at Lancaster University Table of Contents Preface - Dr Will Curvis (Clinical Psychologist & Clinical Tutor) Foreword: Introduction to Professional Issues in Clinical Psychology – Dr Richard Slinger (Clinical Psychologist & Clinical Tutor) Part One: Challenges in learning to deliver psychological therapy through clinical psychology training. 1. Managing and Using Countertransference Emotions Within Therapy - Dr Roisin Turner (Clinical Psychologist) 2. The Power of Touch: Considering touch and physical contact within a therapeutic relationship - Dr Melanie Hugill (Clinical Psychologist) 3. Working in Secure Settings: How has this influenced the development of a professional identity? - Dr Laura Cramond (Clinical Psychologist), Dr Ailsa Lord (Clinical Psychologist) 4. Prescribed Endings in Therapy During Clinical Psychology Training – Dr Sarah Savekar (Clinical Psychologist) Part Two: Understanding the broader role of clinical psychology; Professional issues across areas of practice. 1. The Identity and Contribution of Clinical Psychology in CAMHS
– Dr Graham Simpson-Adkins (Clinical Psychologist) 2. Thinking About Risk: Developing my identity as a clinical psychologist through experiences of risk assessment and management
– Dr Bethan Roberts (Clinical Psychologist) 3. Professional Issues in Neuropsychological Assessment – Lindsay Prescott (Trainee Clinical Psychologist), John Timney (Trainee Clinical Psychologist), Thomas Rozwaha (Trainee Clinical Psychologist) 4. Clinical Psychologists and the Welfare Benefits System – Dr Rebecca Hutton (Clinical Psychologist) 5. Supervision: The professional and ethical issues facing trainee clinical psychologists – Dr Nicola Edwards (Clinical Psychologist), Helena Coleman (Trainee Clinical Psychologist), Javier Malda-Castillo (Trainee Clinical Psychologist) 6. Should Clinical Psychologists be Political? – Dr Masuma Rahim (Clinical Psychologist), Dr Anne Cooke (Clinical Psychologist) Part Three: Developing a professional identity as a clinical psychologist; Integrating the personal and professional. 1. A Trainee’s Evolving Experience of Working Collaboratively – Dr Helen Walls (Clinical Psychologist) 2. Self-disclosure as a Therapeutic Tool: Ethical and practical considerations – Dr Sarah Davidson (Clinical Psychologist) 3. Through the Looking Glass: Reflections on the transition from a trainee to a qualified clinical psychologist - Dr Liam Gilligan (Clinical Psychologist) and Dr Denise Herron (Consultant Clinical Psychologist) 4. Professional and Personal Identities as Clinical Psychologists: Being human – Dr Hayley Higson (Clinical Psychologist), Sophie Allan (Trainee Clinical Psychologist) About the Editor: Will Curvis is a clinical psychologist in the NHS, working mainly in acute inpatient physical health and neuropsychology services with people with long-term physical health problems, pain problems or neurological conditions. He also works as a clinical tutor for the Doctorate in Clinical Psychology programme at Lancaster University. | 
