Our Success Stories
We are incrediably proud of all the mentees that have taken part in our mentor scheme. With the help, support and guidance of our mentors, a number of our mentees have been successfully accepted onto clinical doctoral programmes across England. Here, we share some of their stories...
Samawa Zayat
Trainee Clinical Psychologist (1st Year)
University of Bath
Mentee: 2021/2022
Samawa Zayat
I am reminded of the transformative conversations with my mentor. These discussions enlightened my aspirations and guided me towards pursuing the Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (DClin). The mentor scheme definitely broadened my horizons regarding opportunities for ethnic minorities in the field, and reinforced my commitment to promoting inclusivity in mental health services.
In the early stages of my professional career, before having joined the mentor scheme, I witnessed first-hand the disparities faced by individuals from diverse backgrounds within healthcare systems. For example, I encountered instances where individuals from marginalized communities struggled to navigate the complex healthcare system, often facing language barriers, lack of representation, and limited understanding of their unique cultural needs. Witnessing these disparities fuelled my determination to address systemic issues and advocate for change. The mentor scheme was the exact place where I could reflect on such experiences!
Joining the scheme was a turning point for me. The program’s focus on supporting underrepresented individuals in psychology resonated deeply, providing me with inspiration through its emphasis on cultural sensitivity and tailored resources such as being put in direct contact with both a trainee and a qualified clinical psychologist within the region. This helped me make meaningful connections.
I am currently immersed in the doctoral program at University of Bath and am grateful for the opportunities and connections that the mentor scheme has provided me. This includes help with my application, making the process less daunting.
The DClin is without a doubt hard work (lots of plates spinning – you will hear this phrase a lot – you have been warned!). However, it equips me with a comprehensive understanding of psychological theory and therapeutic interventions, highlighting the importance of cultural competency. Collaborating with diverse fellow students broadens my perspectives, enriching my understanding of mental health's multifaceted nature.
Through the scheme and the DClin program, I have found purpose, inspiration, and the drive to create positive change within the mental health landscape.
Georgia Zavitsanou
I moved to England in September 2020 to complete my masters in Applied Clinical Psychology at the University of Bath. While I was studying, everyone was speaking about the Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (DClin). Having had no clinical experience in the UK, and no knowledge about how the NHS works, everything felt overwhelming to me.
The support I received from the mentor scheme was fundamental in helping me to think about my future and help me build my confidence when applying to various jobs roles. I successfully managed to secure my first job as an Assistant Psychologist in a Psychiatric Unit. My mentors helped me to prepare for the interviews by practicing with me and believing in my abilities and knowledge. I will forever be grateful for the time, guidance, and support I received from them.
Since the beginning of my psychology journey in England, I applied for the DClin course for the first time and was delighted to receive three interviews which led to two offers and a reserve list. I have accepted the DClin programme at Univeristy College London (UCL) due to start in September 2023. UCL had always been my biggest dream due to its pluralistic ethos and my psychoanalytic background. I am excited to meet and work with people from all over the world.
My personal advice to you would be to try and find meaning and purpose in every step of your journey. I had two amazing years working as an Assistant Psychologist and chose not to apply straight after my Masters because I simply did not feel ready. I focused on finding a job that made me want to go to work every morning and connect with people who made me feel valued and inspired to become a better person and clinician.
Don’t let anyone “stop” you from pursuing your dreams. It might feel a distant dream or an “impossible” goal, but I am here to tell you that it’s closer than you think!
Georgia Zavitsanou
Trainee Clinical Psychologist (Pending)
University College London
Mentee: 2021/2022
Matilda George
Trainee Clinical Psychologist (Pending)
University College London
Research Assistant: 2021/2022
Matilda George
Whilst I was not a mentee, I worked alongside the mentor scheme leads to carry out an evaluation of the programme as part of my final year studies as the University of Bath. This research has been now been submitted for publication. I am very passionate about making the psychological workforce more diverse, and for me it was very rewarding to be a part of a scheme that ultimately aims to achieve this. Working on the research project was a positive experience for me as we worked well together and maintained regular contact throughout.
After my studies, I decided to pursue a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (DClin). Through this process, the word that comes to mind is “all-consuming”. That’s because you’re constantly anticipating an update regarding the application process over several months. In the end, two courses invited me for an interview, and both offered me a place for clinical training.
I decided to accept the offer from University College London (UCL) and will be starting my training in September 2023, which feels very surreal! I feel the training is going to be demanding and intense, but I also know I am going to love learning the course content and all the different services I get to work with.
Whilst I am not too sure what service or population group I would like to specialise in, I hope that the training programme will make me a well-rounded practitioner and give me the confidence and competence needed to be able to adapt to any setting this journey takes me on.
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For future mentees, my top tip would be - communication! Letting your mentor know when and how often you’d like to meet and what you would like help is so important. I would also advise to practice your interview with your mentor and record yourself when doing this. It’s so helpful hearing back how you come across and being able to work on your delivery for interviews.
Wafa Arman
I joined the MSc in Applied clinical Psychology in 2019/2020. Coming from a refugee background from war-torn countries with historic stains of genocide and deprivation, I developed an interest in how socio-cultural factors and traumatic events such as war can affect psychological well-being. As such, I have been drawn to Clinical Psychology as a tool to understand and support people with such experiences. I quickly noticed however the additional barriers and underrepresentation of people from minoritised backgrounds within the field. The scheme therefore provided an opportunity for me to access additional support on my journey to becoming a clinical psychologist and address some of the barriers.
The most refreshing part of being part of the scheme for me was having a mentor who owned her social graces, was aware of her privileges and was open about issues surrounding race and inequalities. My mentor was supportive through my time on the MSc up to now during my third year of working as an Assistant Psychologist. She supported me through the different cycles of applications for the DClin, including facilitating a mock interview for me prior to my successful interview at the South Wales (Cardiff) doctorate where I will be starting clinical training this Autumn.
I am expecting the doctorate to be a challenge but equally as rewarding. I am most excited to be in a position where I can make contributions to influencing systems particularly on issues surrounding inclusion and anti-racism. I would also love to work with individuals with refugee and asylum seeker backgrounds.
I think my tips for mentees would be to make full use of the scheme, mentorship has been one of the most valuable tools in my journey. I’d also say embrace your individuality when applying for the doctorate or any other roles. You all have something unique and wonderful to bring to the field, and that is yourselves!
Wafa Arman
Trainee Clinical Psychologist (Pending)
University of Cardiff
Mentee: 2019/2020
Have you partaken in the mentor scheme and been accepted onto a DClin programme? If so, we would love to hear from you and share your journey with others. Please get in touch at BAME@bath.ac.uk
“As a mentor, I gained so many skills in terms of developing supervision skills and developing relationships with supervisees. We also talked a lot about diversity… and that was great to learn about from (my mentee)”
(Trainee Mentor)
“I found the scheme really helpful in supporting me with my next steps as an MSc psychology student. My mentor laid out potential options (psychology related) that I could pursue after the course with my mentor encouraging/supporting me with my applications. I really believe the scheme was achieving what it set out to do - to encourage diversity within psychology”
(Mentee)
