The “Our Stories” Project:
Understanding the Needs, Experiences and Challenges of Trainee, Aspiring and Qualified Clinical Psychologists from Minoritised Backgrounds
The profession of clinical psychology in the UK is astonishingly homogeneous, with over 70% of candidates who accepted a place in 2021 identifying as white, female, heterosexual, able-bodied and non-religious (CHPCCP, 2022). There has been increasing recognition that clinical psychology is not representative of the diverse populations it serves, and consideration of how this may contribute to inequalities experienced by those from minoritised backgrounds when accessing healthcare. However, less attention has been paid to the experiences of those from minoritised backgrounds aspiring, training or working within the field of clinical psychology.
The “Our Stories” project was led by a group of trainee and newly qualified clinical psychologists, and ACP-UK members. It sought to better understand the experiences of aspiring, trainee and qualified clinical psychologists from a range of minoritised backgrounds in a series of focus groups. Five overarching themes were identified across the three groups. The themes captured: 1) the stories of how people navigated their own identity during their journey into clinical psychology; 2) the expressed difficulty of feeling othered; and/or 3) not belonging to the profession; 4) a tension between hope versus cynicism for the future; and 5) feelings of frustration with the status quo and different responses to this. These overarching themes emerged across participants at different stages in their careers. However, the aspiring group appeared to hold the most hope for the future, and this seemed to dissipate as participants progressed through their careers. A number of recommendations are made, which include changes to the selection and training of clinical psychologists, as well as greater support for those from minoritised backgrounds in training roles and beyond.
The “Our Stories” project was supported by the ACP-UK Board, as part of the organisation’s EDI strategy and aims. It is the first example of ACP-UK supporting its members to conduct research that addresses issues of equality, diversity and inclusion within the profession
