Anthony Lo (BSc Psychology 2023) – developing resilience and overcoming barriers as a psychological wellbeing practitioner

When Anthony successfully landed a voluntary role in Maggie’s, West London – a specialist cancer support centre – he was presented with new opportunities to learn but the experience was not without its challenges.

“My work experience at Maggie’s was wonderful. I developed my interpersonal skills and my ability to empathise with my clients’ situation,” said Anthony.

“Due to the nature of the work, some days could be difficult. But the experience taught me how important is to develop your resilience and put boundaries in place to protect yourself,” he added.

While unpaid placements are commonplace in the sector, they can bring difficulties for many students. Anthony sought part-time work to help cover travel costs towards the end of his placement.

“I think the need to gain experience through unpaid placements can become a barrier for some students. Especially for prospective clinicians who want to work in the realm of mental health. I think it is unfortunate, but the reality of the situation is that in the real world you need to venture out into other forms of work.

“Finances can be something you start thinking about constantly,” said Anthony. “It can become quite a challenge. But having a part-time job helped me develop other skills that I use in my role as a psychological wellbeing practitioner today.

Commenting on the transferable skills he gained through hospitality work, he said:

“I was working as a barista in a busy chain coffee shop and that built upon my ability to interact with people from different walks of life.

“The job improved my conversational skills, and those busy shifts taught me how to deal with difficult situations. In many ways, my job at the cafe and my work at Maggie’s prepared me to become a clinician.”

After completing the demanding yet rewarding placement at Maggie’s, Anthony gained experience as a support worker in the NHS, as advised by the Careers team, and completed his studies in Psychology.

He then secured his current role as a trainee psychological wellbeing practitioner and he is four months away from completing his training year.

The role often attracts Psychology graduates as, once selected, they are paid to complete a postgraduate certificate in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy while working four days a week in the NHS with low- to medium-risk clients with anxiety, depression or related issues.

On his future plans, Anthony said he will need to spend up to four years as a qualified psychological wellbeing practitioner before he can progress to a more senior role such as a high-intensity therapist.

Supporting people with their mental health in an NHS setting has been a transformative experience, Anthony explained.

“The one thing that has changed about me is my character. I’m able to appreciate the extent of what people are going through. I’ve learnt the importance of remaining non-judgemental and I’ve developed the ability to communicate and help others express what they are going through. I understand the importance of boundaries for myself and for my colleagues and clients.”