Chloe Rice

Current Employer/Organisation Name

Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust

What have you been doing since leaving Exeter, and what are you doing now?

I worked as a Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner (PWP) for a short period of time after graduating from my MSci. However, I then moved on to work in a Category B Prison for nearly 5 years working as an Interventions Facilitator/Programmes Manager. This role involved delivering medium-high intensity group and 1:1 CBT-based programmes, which are aimed at reducing reoffending and substance use in a strengths based way. I am now in my first year of the DClinPsy at Lancaster University in partnership with LSCFT. I am also currently working on a research project with colleagues from the University of Exeter that I am very excited about.

Why did you choose this career? And what do you enjoy most about your work?

I enjoy supporting individuals to make long term and sustainable changes in their lives in a psychologically informed and evidence-based way, most of all through building ‘human’ and trusting therapeutic relationships. I am passionate about supporting and advocating for those in stigmatised groups by highlighting inequalities and intervention work to be done.

Please tell us if you were a member of any societies, groups or sports clubs?

I was in the Psychology Society and did intramural netball.

What did you enjoy most about your programme and what was the biggest highlight?

I felt very supported by the lecturers on the programme, both for my first three years and especially in my final year training as a PWP. I felt there was a broad range of expertise within the psychology department of Exeter and felt grateful to learn from everyone there. My biggest highlight was completing my dissertation; myself and my research partner were very hands on and cared a lot about the topic, and this has since been published!

What did you most enjoy about studying here?

Similar to the above, I loved the varied but deep knowledge amongst the psychology staff team and how open the staff were to supporting everyone. The psychology student cohort felt like a family and I have met friends for life.

Why did you choose to study at Exeter?

I love Devon itself as it is a beautiful county, Exeter is also a well regarded university generally but especially in psychology.

What skills and experiences have been most useful for your career?

Statistics at Exeter was incredibly thorough and has definitely helped my understanding of research and now conducting research, both from personal interest and part of the DClinPsy. I use my skills from PWP training everyday in my career, and my treatment style has been shaped by the ‘guided discovery’ and ‘self-efficacy building’ principles of the Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner role.

What advice would you give to a current student who wishes to pursue your career?

There is no set path to getting onto the DClinPsy. If you can’t get an Assistant Psychologist post or don’t want one – there are other ways!

What are your plans for the future?

To become a qualified Clinical Psychologist, conducting research and working in services to support individuals’ wellbeing.