‘Although you stand out as different, this space not only exists for you, it needs you’

Can you tell me a bit about your background and what ultimately spurred you to pursue a career in psychology?

I'm a British Pakistani Muslim woman in my late 20s. I was born in Karachi, spent most of my life in the UK, but went to secondary school in the Middle East. I studied Psychology at university simply because it was the A-level I enjoyed most at the time! 

During my undergraduate degree at the University of Bath, I did a placement year at the Woodfield Trauma Service in London, which is a specialist NHS service for refugees and asylum seekers with PTSD. I was immediately captivated by the interplay between psychology, mental health, culture, language, and politics. I had my own caseload and jointly ran groups; my supervisors were compassionate, curious, and highly skilled. I knew from this point that I wanted to be a clinical psychologist. 

Tell me about your work experiences prior to getting onto the doctorate.

I really felt the pressure to get onto training early – I come from a cultural background in which women are expected to get married in their early 20s and start a family soon after. I was conscious of these time pressures and as a result, I seized every volunteering opportunity I could. I gained a variety of clinical and research experience with a range of client groups during my undergraduate degree: I volunteered at a needle exchange at a drug and alcohol service, at an educational service for young adults with learning disabilities, and at a charity which provides emotional support to those who volunteer with refugees in Calais. I also held an honorary research assistant role to a PhD student, and during my placement year I was a part-time research assistant on an Imagery Rescripting research trial. Alongside this I worked as tutor to primary school aged children. After I graduated, I was a senior support worker in mental health and substance misuse team in a men's prison and I published my undergraduate dissertation during this time. 

You completed your clinical psychology doctoral training not too long ago, what was your experience of training like, both in general and as a visibly Muslim woman?

Most trainees will agree that training is tough, no matter your background: the demands of the course and the demands of life don't always fit neatly together. During training I lost a grandparent, got married, and moved house three times – I also made new friends, and had the real joy of living in Oxford.

As a Muslim woman, I had to proactively advocate for my needs: these were met with mixed responses. For example, I was supported to take extended annual leave to go for Hajj (pilgrimage), but at the same time came up against policies which made it harder for me to take time off during Ramadan/Eid during each year of training. 

Culture, race, and religion were often forgotten about in lectures and as these are facets central to my own identity, I was left wondering how clients may feel when we forget or avoid talking about these topics in therapy. At the same time, I was lucky to find pockets of support and allies in other trainees, staff, and supervisors. These are the people who lent me strength to keep challenging the system.

And what are you doing now as a newly qualified clinical psychologist?

I work in a community perinatal mental health team which is a specialist service for women with complex and enduring mental health problems from pregnancy to one year post-partum. It's a real honour to be alongside families during these key transition in life. I've trained in couple therapy for depression as well as EMDR and am enjoying putting these skills to use! 

Are you still involved in research now? 

I have been fortunate to publish my doctoral service improvement project and my main research project and am still working on getting my systematic literature review and another qualitative paper published. I am an external supervisor to three DClinPsy students and am planning a new paper on working with Muslim clients in therapy! I recently presented at a neonatal conference and look forward to learning from my colleagues at other conferences. I'm conscious that academic writing is not the only way to disseminate information and have also led a community workshop on attachment theory, and am doing a radio interview on why minoritised groups have poorer therapy outcomes. 

What has your experience of navigating a career as a clinical psychologist, both pre and post qualification, in a predominantly white profession been like?

Navigating a space in which I am often the only ethnic minority – or visible Muslim – in the room isn't easy. There is always a choice to expend energy in challenging a microaggression or stereotype, and I've learnt that sometimes it's okay to keep this energy for something else. 

Support wise, I have benefited from having excellent supervisors who have encouraged me to talk about race, ethnicity, and religion through structured exercises such as genograms, but also more casually over hot drinks.

I have also sought out others in similar situations: myself and another Muslim trainee set up a WhatsApp group for Muslim trainees across the country and I have delighted in seeing this group grow and flourish. 

What advice would you give to other aspiring psychologists from minoritised backgrounds?

The advice that was given to me was that although you stand out as different, this space not only exists for you, it needs you. 

There are plenty of non-minoritised psychologists who are willing to be brave, to oppose the status quo, to use their power to mobilise change. No doubt there is much work to be done, and not only by those from minoritised backgrounds, but if you are willing to be part of the change, there are allies and support out there.