FROM 11 to 15 November, the NHS in the North West is celebrating Psychological Professions Week, highlighting the essential work and diversity of psychological professions and encouraging people to think about careers in these roles in both mental health and physical health settings.

Phil Gooden, Psychological Professions Lead at NHS England – North West who also runs the Psychological Professions Network North West, said: “Psychological Professions Week is held every year to foster a sense of unity and shared identity among professionals.

"It is about celebrating the work that our psychological professionals do and highlighting how rewarding the role is.

"This year, we’re encouraging people to think about a career in the full range of psychological professions and signposting them to the Psychological Professions Network (PPN) Careers Map and support available on the NHS Health Careers website.”

Maxine Jones is a Cognitive Behavioural Therapist at Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust. A former service user, she used to work in education and now works for a Talking Therapies service after experiencing some mental health challenges.

Maxine, from Cheshire, said: “My partner was going through some difficulties with his employer which would eventually lead to redundancy. I had recently had a baby and was filled with worry about what I was going to do next. Panic attacks started to be a thing in my life. I’d never experienced them before and found them terrifying. I was feeling anxious, and I didn’t know it at the time – but I was also experiencing symptoms of depression. It felt as though my mind wasn’t working as it had been before and I didn’t feel able to work as well as I had been.”

Maxine went to see her GP who made her aware of talking therapies services or IAPT as they were known then. The next six months were life changing for her.

Maxine said: “Initially I was quite fearful. I felt like there was a stigma attached to what I was doing and was worried that I would face judgement for how I felt. I shouldn’t have worried. In talking therapies services everyone is treated as individual with their own thoughts and feelings. I wasn’t compared to anybody else.”

With support from the talking therapies service, Maxine’s health improved and she eventually underwent completed a postgraduate diploma in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, left teaching and joined Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust at the service that helped her.

She added: “I was successful and have since trained to be a cognitive behavioural therapist. It’s a wonderful job and I really like the feeling of helping people out and supporting their journey to better wellbeing. I can also really relate and empathise with the people who refer themselves into the service. I can see things from their perspective as I was once in their position.

“I understand how people may have difficulties communicating their thoughts and feelings. I’ve been there myself. It’s really rewarding to know I can use my experience to help someone get those feelings out – for their own benefit.”

Psychological Professions Week is organised by the Psychological Professions Network (PPN) and provides a platform for showcasing the various roles within Psychological Professions, from clinical psychologists and counsellors to psychological therapists, as well as psychological practitioners.