One on One with YouTuber and Clinical Psychologist Dr Miranda Justo-Nunez

Tell me about your background and what brought you into psychology?

I am a Londoner, with Argentinian heritage. Outside of the more obvious altruistic motivations, psychology for me has always felt like the perfect blend between science and art. Also, being a practitioner gives me the opportunity to routinely have incredibly interesting conversations about things that really matter – a huge draw for someone like me, who has a particular aversion to small-talk! 

You recently completed your Doctorate in Clinical Psychology, what was the experience like for you?

It was mixed, which perhaps comes as no surprise seeing as it is a demanding, three-year course which, for me, happened to coincide with a pandemic. With that said (at the risk of sounding nauseating), I did leave the course feeling like a completely different person, and it is not often in life that you have experiences which turn you inside-out in such a way. Growth can be painful at points, but it is hard to resent the process when so much good comes out of it. 

How did you navigate clinical training during the pandemic?

Clumsily, but probably as best as I could given the circumstances. It was such a strange (sometimes dream-like, sometimes nightmarish) time, and I think we were all trying to find our footing in a landscape that was constantly changing and completely unfamiliar.

I remember points of feeling very detached from the course, as I had moved back to my home city during the first lockdown, and we were all suddenly plunged into remote working and learning. My cohort were a real lifeline during the pandemic – our WhatsApp group was meme and "WTF"-central… it was unbelievably helpful to have a group of people who instinctively knew exactly how you were feeling and could help you find a giggle in all the uncertainty.

You worked in an Intensive Care Unit during the pandemic, tell me about this?

Where to start! Aspects of it were really shocking – I had never really spent time with people who were so physically unwell, and people were dying at what felt like an inconceivable rate. This placement without a doubt had the most impact on me as a person; it led to enormous shifts in how I approach my work and life generally. I have gone from someone who constantly delayed gratification to meet a bigger goal, to someone who is actively prioritising joy, excitement, and satisfaction in the present.

Now that you have completed your clinical training, what are you doing?

I am working in a Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT) service for individuals who meet the criteria for a personality disorder and are actively self-harming/at risk of suicide. I don't want to jinx it, but I am really happy so far. The client group feels like a great fit for me, and my team are a group of very down-to-earth, very funny, people. 

Can you share a piece of research or work that has really changed or shaped your practice?

DBT (the therapeutic approach I am currently being trained in) incorporates many principles of Zen Buddhism, and I have been reading a lot around the concept of radical acceptance. Recognising that there is nothing that anybody can do or say to change the past can be an incredibly painful truth to process.

At the same time, I've found that this has been instrumental in helping people to let go of the shame, resentment, and despair which often keeps us so emotionally tied to past events. It is – without a doubt – a concept that must be thoughtfully and sensitively introduced to therapy, but when this is achieved, it can lead to some remarkable emotional shifts.

You're well known for your YouTube channel 'The Worry People'. What inspired you to create this channel, and what have you learnt through it?

I had a brilliant supervisor who did some values-based work with me when I was on placement. This helped me connect with the fact that creativity was important to me, but something that I often avoid because putting myself "out there" gives me a frankly disproportionate and unreasonable amount of anxiety.

So, the gentle and logical next step to overcome this fear was to get myself on camera! I also really wanted to share information about the doctorate as I did not know any trainees before I applied, which had made the process feel even more intimidating.

My learning from creating the channel: nobody cares! I had so many worries that people would think I was cringe or stupid for making videos, but in reality, the vast majority of people simply are not invested enough in what you are doing to be that critical.

The feedback I got was overwhelmingly positive and if anybody did have those thoughts about me, they were kind enough to keep them to themselves. It was a good lesson that your imagination usually creates eventualities which are much more frightening than real life.

Social media use is growing amongst psychologists as a medium for disseminating knowledge; what advice would you give to psychologists that are interested in starting a YouTube channel?

Take care that this does not become another stick to beat yourself with. Clinical Psychology tends to attract "strivers" and I certainly found that at points I put pressure on myself to churn out videos/posts at a rate that ultimately was not sustainable. The job can be demanding enough, so make sure that the content-making feels enjoyable and isn't detracting from your downtime. 

Author Bio

Fauzia Khan is an Assistant Psychologist currently working within the NHS, whilst completing her Doctorate in Counselling Psychology.
On Twitter: Fauzia and Miranda
On YouTube: Miranda