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Hi, my name is Yasmine, I am a HCPC registered clinical psychologist. From the age of 16, I was always curious about others, and knew I wanted to enter the helping professions in some way.

At that age I didn’t know what a clinical psychologist was, until I heard about the role for the first time whilst at university. A profession that integrates the science of psychology to support the understanding and treatment of complex human problems and that offers a range of both research and clinical experiences? Sign me up!

I subsequently completed my undergraduate psychology degree at university before doing an MSc then going on to complete the doctorate in clinical psychology at Teesside University in 2020. During my second year of doctoral training, I decided I wanted to work in adult mental health.

Following qualification, I gained a position within the primary care psychology team in North Tyneside and I continue to remain a part of that team, alongside a lecturing position I hold at Teesside University.

A typical working day often includes psychological assessment, formulation and delivering therapy with adults who have experienced significant trauma or abuse, often in childhood.

Like others in the team, I often utilise an integrative way of working, drawing upon a range of evidence-based therapies, such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT), and Cognitive Analytic Therapy (CAT).

I particularly enjoy using CAT as it aligns well with the complex psychological difficulties we see in the psychology team. I am currently undertaking my CAT practitioner training which will finish in 2025.

The psychology team also offer courses for complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) cases and intensive 6-session formulation work with patients, which is aimed at helping patients develop an understanding of their psychological difficulties, which we find helps patients feel more in control of their difficulties.

However, the clinical psychologist role is not just about delivering therapy. As part of my role within the team, I also offer supervision to other qualified staff, undertake audits, and there are also opportunities to undertake research.

I am also currently part of a working group developing a pathway to improve equity of access for people from ethnically minoritised backgrounds. As a person from an ethnic minority myself, I have a particular passion for working with marginalised groups; especially those from asylum seeker and refugee backgrounds who have experienced significant trauma before and after coming to the UK.

Each working day within the team varies, which is one of my favourite aspects of the role. I also feel extremely lucky to be part of such a passionate and supportive psychology team and am grateful to work in a job that I love and am always learning from!