Lucy Tofield
Current Employer/Organisation Name
Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust
What have you been doing since leaving Exeter, and what are you doing now?
Since graduating I have worked in numerous roles for different organisations including as a mental health support worker, in leadership development, travel, learning and development, and management positions in charities in the UK and New Zealand. I have also completed a MSc in Health Psychology and have now relocated back to the UK to work for the NHS.
Why did you choose this career? And what do you enjoy most about your work?
I have begun training as a Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner to progress my career in health psychology. The training is intense but I am enjoying learning so much about mental health, risk assessment, CBT and more. I also chose this position to work with people who have health conditions alongside mental health difficulties.
Please tell us if you were a member of any societies, groups or sports clubs?
Swimming club.
What did you enjoy most about your programme and what was the biggest highlight?
I enjoyed the variety of learning and being involved with a study which was investigated mindfulness for depression.
What did you most enjoy about studying here?
I loved the campus and the overall feel of Exeter. I have great memories of my time at Exeter.
Why did you choose to study at Exeter?
I loved the location and campus and it was one of the top universities for Psychology.
What skills and experiences have been most useful for your career?
It has helped me gain my current position and opened doors for me in different areas of work. It also meant I had a great foundation for my MSc, especially for my dissertation.
What advice would you give to a current student who wishes to pursue your career?
Gain experience in mental health, but also in other areas if possible. Working with risk and in health and safety would be helpful, as well as working with a variety of different people. The PWP role is highly competitive and the training is intense so be prepared!
What are your plans for the future?
To qualify as a PWP and build my career in the NHS. I am interested in studying Health Psychology further once I have gained more clinical experience.
