Essay Example on Having completed my undergraduate BSC in Cognitive Science

Through working in IAPT services I have developed a keen awareness of the evidence based approach in mental health often drawing on NICE guidelines to ensure patients receive the best treatment to reduce psychological distress I am passionate about continued research in mental health and the importance of adding to the evidence base particularly where research is currently limited I am able to use clinical skills supervision effectively to help develop areas of weaknesses and learn from peers on best practice I attend service in house training to develop knowledge and skills Of particular significance to me was one that looked at phobia it allowed us to implement evidence based strategies within the session to then reflect on I believe this helped my clinical work immensely as I was able to reflect upon this experience to ensure my delivery was accurate Illustrative examples Whist working as a PWP I was keen to develop insight to how Cognitive Behavioural Therapists work at step 3 I therefore asked to shadow a step 3 therapist in the treatment of needle phobia a sample that is outside the remit of step 2 suitability due to the in session behavioural experiments I believe this shows an enquiring mind where I was also able to learn which evidence based techniques would be used and how implemented within sessions 

A further example consists of my training practice and consequent teaching of step 2 evidence based ways of working with clients with long term conditions and medically unexplained symptoms Within the movement of IAPT it has been a requirement to adapt interventions to work with medical groups such as those with long term conditions I was put forward as a PWP to be taught specifically by health psychologists on how to adapt techniques I took part in a research study to test the effectiveness of such work by running a controlled group on wellbeing for Diabetes Since this I have been on various further training opportunities to further my knowledge on evidence based ways of working with this client group to which I have then been asked to run clinical skills groups for our service trainees