Allied Health Professionals
Real life stories - Consultant Clinical Psychologist
Name: Louise Fountain
Job title: consultant clinical psychologist, Salisbury community forensic service
Entry route: Postgraduate study in clinical psychology
I have spent all my working life in psychology because I am fascinated by people and by understanding the reasons for their behaviour.
After completing a BSc in psychology, I began my career by working for two years as a mental health social work assistant. I then undertook clinical training, completing an MSc in clinical psychology. After that I moved through different psychology services around the country when I had to move for family reasons.
One of the great advantages about working as a psychologist in the NHS is that you can usually find job opportunities wherever you go, particularly if you are prepared to be flexible. Another is that you never stop learning and keeping up to date with advances in practice.
I now work as part of a team, including social workers and doctors, that offers assessment and therapy to people who have committed offences and who have psychological difficulties linked to their offending. I also work with people with difficulties such as acute depression, severe anxiety or personality disorders.
Over a series of sessions I aim to understand a person’s difficulties and then to find ways of overcoming the problems. I get great satisfaction when therapy ‘works’ and clients grasp ideas or ways of doing things that they find helpful.
The NHS makes it possible to continue my learning. I’m currently completing a doctorate in clinical psychology, researching how clinicians assess the risk of violence. I also enjoy teaching. I feel I have really understood something when I can pass what I have learned on to others.
