Preparing Master of Clinical Psychology students for the workforce: a qualitative investigation of the benefits of a youth dialectic behavioural therapy placement
Creators: name: Naylor, Annaleise
name: Buckmaster, Dean
name: Watsford, Clare
name: McIntyre, Emily
name: Rickwood, Debra
Publisher: name: Taylor & Francis
Year: 2023
Subjects: subject: Medicine
subject: Sociology
subject: FOS: Sociology
subject: Biological Sciences not elsewhere classified

description: Clinical psychology master’s degree students require intern placements that support them to attain work-ready competencies. With the growing focus in Australia on addressing rising youth mental health issues, dealing with complexity, suicidality and self-harm are critical workforce skills. Yet, students are often not exposed to such presentations during their practicums. This study examined students’ experience of such exposure through a youth dialectic behaviour therapy placement. Participants were 11 clinical master’s degree students who completed a youth dialectic behaviour therapy practicum placement and participated in semi-structured interviews reflecting on their placement experiences. Interviews were transcribed and thematically analysed. Five themes were identified: a community working as a community; beyond the training manual; confidence to work with complexity and risk; enhanced personal development; and acknowledging and overcoming stigma. The results clearly demonstrated that a highly supported, collaborative, learning experience with high-risk and complex clients, and their families, could provide clinical students with the skills and confidence to work with this client group. The five themes revealed key learning supports and opportunities that enabled clinical psychology students to gain experience and confidence working with high-risk young people, a much-needed mental health workforce capability. Other practicum experiences may benefit from considering these approaches to learning. <b>What is already known about this topic:</b>(1) There is a need for highly skilled, confident psychologists to work with high-risk and complex clients.(2) Graduate training programs offer limited training and exposure to risk and complex clients.(3) Psychologists, especially early career psychologists, are not confident or well-skilled to work with complex client presentations, including self-harm. (1) There is a need for highly skilled, confident psychologists to work with high-risk and complex clients. (2) Graduate training programs offer limited training and exposure to risk and complex clients. (3) Psychologists, especially early career psychologists, are not confident or well-skilled to work with complex client presentations, including self-harm. <b>What this topic adds:</b>(1) A highly supportive learning community that includes peers and supervisors is highly valued by clinical master’s degree students and enables them to work with high-risk clients.(2) The interaction of a supportive learning community, exposure to high-risk presentations, and appropriate resources facilitate both professional and personal development for clinical students.(3) Well-supported practicum training and exposure to high-risk and complex clients ensures clinical graduates are confident and prepared to work with complex client presentations in the future. (1) A highly supportive learning community that includes peers and supervisors is highly valued by clinical master’s degree students and enables them to work with high-risk clients. (2) The interaction of a supportive learning community, exposure to high-risk presentations, and appropriate resources facilitate both professional and personal development for clinical students. (3) Well-supported practicum training and exposure to high-risk and complex clients ensures clinical graduates are confident and prepared to work with complex client presentations in the future.