What the Master of Clinical Psychology is REALLY like...

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Hey everyone! Semester 1 of year 1 is almost finished, so let's discuss what Masters is really like! In this video I talk about assignments, the culture, working with clients for the first time, self-care and more! Am hoping to add video chapters soon.
Do you have any questions or video ideas? Please leave them down below!
Chapters:
0:00 - 1:01: Introduction
1:02 - 3:40: Recap and some advice
3:41 - 4:46: The culture in my degree (it's okay to make mistakes!)
4:47 - 6:02: Workload and getting rid of grade stress
6:03 - 6:38: The nature of assignments
6:39 - 9:14: The research component (thesis stuff!) and the literature review obstacle
9:15 - 10:02: Clinical based coursework
10:03 - 12:30: Classes, working at the clinic, and my schedule
12:31 - 17:38: Developing clinical skills, a warning about role plays, and WORKING WITH CLIENTS! 17:39 - 21:34 : Current time management and prioritising what's important
12:35 - 22:17: You work things out as you go along
22:18 - 23:25: Being a psychologist is actually a bit abstract!
23:26 - 24: 28: Masters if to TEACH you how to be a psychologist
24:29 - 24:58 - Hard work pays off
24:59 - 27:50: Never follow the masses- in Masters you're finally with like-minded people!
27:50 - 28:40: Signing off

[@sambarta9865]

Was super keen for this! Excited to listen

[@brooke828]

Thanks for sharing Brooke, these videos are SUPER helpful! It's nice to hear someone who has recently completed honours explain what impression they have of clinical masters thus far. I'm third year, getting ready to apply for honours in August, and I am a little nervous about how intense fourth year will be. It's nice to hear someone else put into perspective a short-term 1-year grind during honours, as that's sort of how I picture it. Good luck with the remainder of your first year!

[@BubbleGumRox11]

Thanks for sharing your experience! I started the MPP this year and don’t start placement until next semester and have been so nervous, especially after not being very confident with my roleplays. It’s been so reassuring and encouraging to hear your experience with first time placement! I felt everything you explained about assignments and grades so much, it’s so validating to listen to your explanations :)

[@psychologywithbrooke]

Amazing!!! I'm so glad to hear MPP and MCP are similar! And regarding placement- just never forget that nerves show you care and want to do well. Placement is a massive deal, so it would probably be strange if you didn't feel anything! Thank you so much for the feedback as well

[@sambarta9865]

What is the MPP like? Where are you studying?

[@BubbleGumRox11]

@@sambarta9865 Hey! I’m studying at La Trobe uni and the course is online (apart from placement). At La Trobe the MPP is exactly the same as the first year of the clinical course and you do all the same subjects as MCP students except the MCP is in person and MCP students have an internal placement at Latrobe semester one where as MPP students don’t have have placement until semester 2 and it will be external and in a regional/rural area. Hope that helps! :)

[@catherinesee]

Thanks so much for the all the helpful tips and advice from your experience! I find your channel really useful.

[@psychologywithbrooke]

Thank you!! I do plan on making more videos, life just gotten hectic! If you ever have questions or want to know more about the psych pathway please leave a suggestion :)

[@putiaurira]

Hi Brooke, I love your insight and the way you speak is so soothing! I'm sure you'll be an excellent clinician! Since I'm not an Australian but still very interested to study there, I wonder what's the situation like for international students in MCP? Anyways, I'm really grateful for your content. Best of luck for your degree!! :D

[@victoriakregas7145]

Great video. As a current 4th year psych student, I enjoyed hearing about your Masters experience to date. Thanks for the content! 😊

[@psychologywithbrooke]

Thank you!! Good luck with fourth year and your journey beyond!

[@charliemana5126]

Great video Brooke! Im just about halfway through my honours year so I am glad that things become more balanced when going into Masters as right now it feels like hell 😅 Good luck with your placement and thesis x

[@psychologywithbrooke]

Thank you! Things must be getting hectic at the moment in honours. Hang in there it will all be over soon!!! All the best!

[@roronoazoe]

Hi Brooke I am also doing MCP, I had the EXACT same revelation as you, I am almost a quarter done w my masters! 😲. Interesting you start thesis first year, for mine its second year and yes to the lit review video.. regardless of grade!

[@Ninaaa186]

Hi I'm so glad that I came across your channel. ♥ I'm a current Graduate Diploma of Psych student and am debating whether I should go for MPP or honours and then endorsement. Would love to know what is your experience and the differences between the MPP vs Clinical Psych programs. And do you have time for a part-time or full-time job while doing your master's? Thank you for the great content! 🥰

[@noorasyed1698]

Thanks for the videos! congratulations on acceptance into the clinical program. Which university are you in if you don't mind sharing?

[@Mel-sp1mz]

Thanks for the video Brooke! I was just wondering if there were any international students in your cohort, and if so, how many? xx

[@psychologywithbrooke]

There are a few but to my knowledge the number of international students varies every year :) All the best with applications!

[@esrakaraata8623]

Hello, what university are you studying your masters at ? Thank you!

[@sambarta9865]

I needed this video. A ew questions- how do you feel about the age gap with your adult clients? How do they feel about it? Also, does it bring you down to be talking about very serious topics all of the time?

[@psychologywithbrooke]

Oh gosh I actually cannot believe I forgot to mention the age gap concerns! I was VERY worried about this. In reality it has not been an issue so far. Just remember that not one single person has experienced everything in life, so it's unrealistic to measure your ability in terms of age. Your role as psychologist is to be an expert in interventions and counselling skills, which can be applied across a range of problems. It is your client who brings the knowledge of their challenges to therapy, and they help you understand what they're going through. You are not supposed to be an expert on your client's life. And just remember people come to therapy because they want help and want someone to talk to. Regarding sensitive topics, whilst people speak about heavy things in therapy, you are also focusing on goal setting and making positive changes. It's really awesome to have a role where you are assisting people. I think the positives outweigh the negatives you're exposed to. However, I should probably revisit this towards the end of the year, after I've had way more exposure and experience. As a psychologist you also have the right to now work with certain types of clients. I've met psychologists who don't work abusers etc. You have room to set your own boundaries :) Thanks for the questions and so glad you enjoyed it!

[@sambarta9865]

@@psychologywithbrooke Thanks for your the response, that's really good to read. Some video ideas I would be interested in - Clinical placements: Expectations vs reality or a Q&A on clinical placements? I'm interested to hear about what a day on placement is like- how many clients you see, what you do in your off time, how supervision works etc. Thanks!

[@psychologywithbrooke]

Thank you for the suggestion!! I'll definitely put this one together, cheers :)

[@aashichhatiawala6968]

I really appreciate you for making this video! ❤ As far as Im aware, these placements are unpaid. Pls correct ne if In wrong. The uni websites also recommend not working for more than 8 hrs. How do you manage your paid work (if at all) with placements, study, assignments, self time.

[@psychologywithbrooke]

Hey! Correct, placements are unpaid unfortunately. I am not currently working but so far in semester 1 you could probably get away with working one day a week. I do have classmates who are working but I'm unsure how many hours they're doing. If they are doing more than 1-2 days a week though then I have no idea how they're juggling it all. This can also depend on the type of person you are. Some people definitely have more energy than others and can tackle assignments super quickly. Others may look at working as their 'break' from uni, and count it as self-care time. I actually quit my job halfway through January, but realistically I could have kept working probably up until March, just because things didn't actually get hectic with university until April. I don't think there's any harm in trying to work when you start and then just making adjustments depending how it goes (if you're lucky enough to have a flexible job). Thanks for the feedback, so glad it was helpful!

[@aashichhatiawala6968]

@@psychologywithbrooke Thanks Brooke! Hope to figure it out when I get there....

[@roronoazoe]

@@aashichhatiawala6968 Hey Aashi, working part time and doing full time masters is quite tough. I know the people who work in my course are either working less or dropping to part time at uni. Seems like the most they can work is 1 day during the week (excluding weekends)

[@aashichhatiawala6968]

@@roronoazoe Oh wow! Thanks for sharing!

[@VintageSP]

I wanna study psych in Australia too. Are there many PoC in your program?

[@psychologywithbrooke]

It's probably best to contact the universities to discuss this, as to my knowledge the number of international spots varies between them :)