Thread for new/soon-to-be HIWs

baa · Wiki-keeper Joined: 01 Jul 2008 Posts: 784

I am stealing this idea from photojonny and widening it out to all new/soon-to-be HIWs.

I'm going to be one! (agh). Starting in April.

RIGHT: Tell me things; What's your general background? (I like that IAPT brings in all sorts of people) What are you most nervous of? What are you looking forward to?

I'm currently a Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner after yeeears of being an Assistant Psych. Worked in IAPT for a year and a half.

I am most nervous of actually having to do a proper training course, with essays and recordings of sessions (I hate listening to my own voice on tape, though this seems to be something I'll have to deal with sooner or later!)

I am looking forward to:
- A proper training course! One that teaches you something! One where people know what my role is without me having to tell them all again and again!
- Formulation driven sessions rather than self-help guide driven sessions, I hope this will give me some more flexibility.
- Clients with slightly more complex problems than the ones I see now, I don't like stepping people up when I want to be able to work with them.
- A pay rise, I'm not sure 80 pairs of shoes are enough for one person.
- Not applying for Clin Psych again Cool

If all goes to plan, I won't need to!

photojonny · Joined: 06 Feb 2010 Posts: 13

Well, seeing as you stole my idea (and from my first post!), I better be the first to reply!

I'm starting the Hi Intensity course at York in April. I'm an RMN by background - qualified 2 years with a post-grad diploma. I have a BA and MA in Philosophy prior to that. Have been working for 2 years on a specialist inpatient Liaison Psychiatry ward.

I suppose the thing I'm most nervous about is that fact that it is a new service being set up, so lots of strategic and logistical things have to be in place that are out of our control. I'm just hopeful that the practical practice side of things run smoothly so that I can focus on applying my new learning to practice.

I'm looking forward to practicing CBT more formally. I have been doing it on the ward for 2 years with supervision, but a busy ward enviroment can bring distractions. I'm also looking forward to hopefully embarking on a long career as a psychotherapist. And having to buy a new car for all the travelling!

Where abouts are you Baa?

baa · Wiki-keeper Joined: 01 Jul 2008 Posts: 784

Hello! Sorry about stealing it! I'm not in Yorkshire, so thought I'd widen it out. I'm in East Anglia.

I'm also looking forward to having a sensible job title that people understand Very Happy

photojonny · Joined: 06 Feb 2010 Posts: 13

No problem! It's a good idea!

I think I'm just going to tell clients (and other people) that I'm a trainee therapist - seems simple enough. I don't imagine 'high-intensity worker' means much to a lay person, and the suggestion of 'highly intensive' therapy may be daunting for some.

baa · Wiki-keeper Joined: 01 Jul 2008 Posts: 784

It sounds better than Low Intensity Worker, they just sound lazy Laughing

My Trust call us Psychological Therapists, so that sounds fine to me!

CBTer · Joined: 15 Jul 2008 Posts: 45

I went from being a GMHW to a HI therapist and call myself "Cognitive behaviour therapist in primary care" because I think it sounds better than HI worker or therapist. I think High Intensity can sound daunting to a patient plus it sounds like you are going to do something miraculous to them!! Like some sought of Psychological operation!

Baa - don't worry about the training and tapes etc. You have a good background in CBT and what is taught on the course is probably pretty similar to what you are already doing - that is what I found anyway.
It is just called 'formulation driven' instead! Plus like you say you will be seeing more complex clients

baa · Wiki-keeper Joined: 01 Jul 2008 Posts: 784

Milka · Joined: 17 Apr 2007 Posts: 58

I started the HI post in January after 4 years as a Primary Care Mental Health Worker (pre-cursor to PWP/low-intensity worker). The course so far is really good but sadly I am yet to see a single client!

photojonny · Joined: 06 Feb 2010 Posts: 13

What are you doing on your three days in practice?

baa · Wiki-keeper Joined: 01 Jul 2008 Posts: 784

I know some places are waiting until the workers have done the appropriate module on their course, though we made ours see people almost as soon as they started Twisted Evil

I'd be getting impatient in your position Milka!

photojonny · Joined: 06 Feb 2010 Posts: 13

I'd heard some places were making people wait a while before seeing clients, I was just wondering what they are doing with their 22.5hs practice time if they are not doing therapy?

CBTer · Joined: 15 Jul 2008 Posts: 45

New folders is what it is all about! Exciting times. I started with one or two clients and this gradually increased over the 1st and 2nd terms. I was mainly reading during the time in between and doing step 2 work in the surgeries. By the 3rd term I was seeing 15 step 3 clients in the three days in work and now I am fully qualified it is now more like 25!!

Milka · Joined: 17 Apr 2007 Posts: 58

I've not been told not to see clients but am waiting for the referrals to gradually trickle through & am a bit limited in when and where i can see clients. It is getting frustrating & i'm finding it deskilling but fingers crossed i'll be seeing my first 4 clients next week Smile

Milka · Joined: 17 Apr 2007 Posts: 58

I'm doing lots of reading/photocopying!

baa · Wiki-keeper Joined: 01 Jul 2008 Posts: 784

make the most of the free study time! Our lot have been using evenings/weekends/annual leave for that, so do as much reading now as you can.

Get started on your portfolio is the main tip Very Happy