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clinical psychology
Get all the support you need to get on a Clinical Psychology Doctorate Course
Introduction
If you are reading this page you probably belong to this group of psychology graduates who have gained necessary clinical experience and perhaps even managed to secure an AP job. These are wonderful achievements of which you ought to be proud!
If you are employed as an Assistant Psychologist you also have access to additional resources (clinical supervision, APs groups, etc.) that will help you expand your understanding of Clinical Psychology and prepare for overcoming the next hurdle in your career: getting onto a Doctorate Course.
Every year, thousands of psychology graduates apply for a limited number of places on Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (DClinPsy) courses — but only a small proportion succeed. Many apply multiple times before securing a place.
The selection process has a rigid structure that allows candidates to apply to a limited number of courses every year, and unsuccessful candidates have to wait another year before making a new attempt. This can be a very frustrating time with candidates often unsure why they fail to get more interviews, or why they do not seem to interview as well in the end.
What do I need to do to secure my place on a Course?
Candidates who are unsuccessful through the clearing process often spend a lot of time reflecting on their skills and experiences. They spend a lot of time wondering what else they need to do to be successful. Negative comparisons with other colleagues who do succeed can be heart-breaking.
So, what can you do to increase your chances of success?
1.
First of all, candidates need to be expertly familiar with the various components of the selection process (visit the Clearing House). They need to be aware of what skills and knowledge they need to demonstrate to: a) get an interview, and b) interview successfully.
This awareness includes an understanding of what the different courses have to offer, what criteria they apply during shortlisting applicants for interviews, and what their interview process consists of.
2.
Candidates need to have a good understanding of psychological theory and practice, as well as of concepts and processes relevant to working in the NHS. Such an understanding can be developed via:
a) investing time preparing for selection. This can be achieved via developing an individualised CPD plan, as well as a commitment to meet its objectives via undertaking relevant activities both within and outside your contracted working hours.
The development of such a plan typically involves identifying gaps in your knowledge, having a relevant reading list to address these gaps, and establishing a realistic time-frame to meet your learning goals.
b) high quality supervision and guidance. The majority of APs receive this already. Clinical Psychologists are aware of how difficult and competitive the selection process is. Therefore, in most cases they are willing to spend time helping APs they supervise to expand their understanding and skill set.
However, there are occasions that even APs receive the absolute minimum of supervision and guidance, and this can be detrimental both emotionally but also with regard to achieving their goals.
c) diverse opportunities to apply their knowledge relevant to clinical psychology theory and practice. The British Psychological Society has long issued guidance relevant to the experiences that APs need to gain, as well as the tasks they may be required to carry out.
Nevertheless, many AP posts do not offer all relevant opportunities, and when candidates go through the various interviewing panels this becomes evident sooner or later.
Candidates’ performance on the day of the interview may not reflect their actual skills and abilities. This is of course the same for every interviewing process, as nerves can get the better of everyone.
The first thing to remember is that a good preparation for the interview day may help increase your confidence in your ability to answer a range of questions. This confidence may increase your sense of control, which in turn may help reduce levels of anxiety.
In addition, candidates would benefit by having in place a range of emotional and cognitive strategies to manage the impact of going through the various panels, for example in being able to bounce back when they struggle to answer specific questions.
How APs Hub might help you
Our services are designed to: a) complement the guidance our members receive from their clinical supervisors, b) write up an immaculate application form, c) fully prepare for the interviewing day.
In addition, our plans and offers are designed to offer maximum flexibility to meet a variety of needs and budgets.
These products and services include:
-Mentoring: this is aimed at ensuring you are on the right path with regard to your reading and overall preparation for the various stages of the selection process.
By spending 1:1 time with our qualified Clinical Psychologists you can ask questions you may find hard to ask of your supervisor. In addition, genuine and direct feedback will be provided to you with regard to areas of personal strengths and weaknesses, as identified during these sessions. Finally, this is an opportunity to explore additional experiences you may need to get to increase your chances of success e.g, with regard to CPD, additional academic qualifications, or working in different areas of practice.
-Application Review. If you’ve drafted your personal statement or form, but want to make sure it truly stands out, our Application Review service can help.
A Clinical Psychologist with direct experience of selection will review your form and provide clear, constructive feedback to improve structure, clarity, and impact. We focus on helping you communicate your experiences effectively, align with course values, and demonstrate reflective thinking — all essential for a competitive application.
-Mock Interviews. Our Mock Interview service simulates the pressure and structure of a real DClinPsy panel. You’ll be asked realistic questions tailored to your chosen course, followed by targeted feedback from a Clinical Psychologist.
This process helps you refine your responses, increase self-awareness, and practise thinking under pressure. Many applicants find this the single most effective way to build confidence, reduce anxiety, and strengthen their performance on the day.
How does it work?
Our Products & Services include online mentoring, selection preparation and mock interview sessions. While mentoring sessions can be offered on individual basis, most of our services are offered via bundle deals at discounted prices.
3.
1. Choose your product
Visit our Shop and choose among a range of products and services. Accounts can be upgraded at any point in time.
2. Create your account
Fill in our membership form and complete payment to gain access to your members' only area.
3. Enjoy the benefits
Your account gets credited with access to videos / bookings corresponding to your chosen plan. Extra sessions can be booked at any time.