'Cancer wasn’t the end for me'
When Liam J. Williams received a devastating diagnosis as a teenager, he could never have imagined that a few years later he would be on a pathway to a fulfilling career as a psychologist…
08 January 2024
Receiving a leukaemia diagnosis on my 15th birthday changed everything for me. Not only did it have the potential to rob me of my life and those crucial, care-free teenage years, but it also disrupted my education as I criss-crossed between hospital and school.
I emerged with mediocre GCSE results and absolutely no idea what to do next. Who would have believed that now, at 24, I am a healthy father of one and I have secured a place in the MSc Psychology (Conversion) program at Cardiff University. I am now well on my way to achieving my goal of becoming a clinical psychologist.
Seeking support
Growing up in the Rhondda valleys, I didn't have much idea about what professional careers may be available to me. I'd always had an interest in psychology, I just didn't know how I could pursue a career in it. As well as my cancer diagnosis, I spent a lot of time during my childhood under CAMHS, awaiting potential diagnoses of ADHD and autism. The support of my local health board was limited, and I felt like I was left to navigate through school without the necessary help. Turning 18 marked the end of my eligibility for CAMHS services, leaving me in a state of limbo, struggling with my studies and seeking answers as to what came next.
After school, I experimented with various options, first studying carpentry at college, then later completing A-levels in law and applied science. I got brilliant results and that gave me a glimpse into the possibilities that further studies could unlock. However, I still didn't really know where these subjects were going to take me. Despite my academic results, a sense of loss persisted. I had a desire to reclaim the typical teenage experiences that my cancer diagnosis had robbed me of.
Slipping through the net
A friend suggested I apply for the role of a Special for South Wales Police. I gained valuable skills and completed various qualifications, including one in restorative justice. My initial expectation of being in the police was that it would be all flashing blue lights and fast driving! The reality wasn't anything like that. Working with the community in the South Wales valleys, I witnessed the link between mental health, vulnerability, and crime.
Being part of the neighbourhood policing team and engaging with community members facing homelessness, severe disability, and mental health challenges meant that I witnessed first-hand the struggles of those who, like me, had slipped through the support net.
For me, the connection between inadequate specialist support and becoming a frequent perpetrator or victim of crime became clear. In my role, I spent an incredible amount of time intervening in suicide attempts and severe self-harm cases. I even received an award for my efforts in saving the life of a woman who had gone missing and taken a lethal overdose.
Working with people who had absconded from local mental health units and sitting through countless crisis assessments with patients, solidified my commitment to helping those less fortunate than myself. This experience really fuelled my passion for psychology and my goal of becoming a clinical psychologist. Watching videos and podcasts about the profession cemented the idea of returning to education and I managed to secure a place at Swansea studying for a BSc in Applied Medical Science.
The course covered introductory and intermediate medical psychology, neuroscience, and neurology and included essential modules for future research, such as health data science, machine learning, and research techniques. I had an incredible dissertation supervisor, Dr Alice Hoon, whose passion for Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and other third-wave psychological therapies inspired me to volunteer as an active monitoring practitioner at Swansea Mind. The role involved delivering a CBT-based therapy, which really solidified my passion for CBT, ACT, and mindfulness. My undergraduate dissertation looking at the impact of brief, mindful breathing on the wellbeing of nurses provided me with my first real insight into psychology research. Supported by Dr Hoon and Dr Umakant Dave, this experience set the stage for my appreciation of the difference that research in psychology can make in society.
My next step
Graduating with a 2:1, I have now managed to secure a place in the MSc Psychology (Conversion) program at Cardiff University. This offers me more psychology-focused study and BPS accreditation, which will help me towards my goal of becoming a clinical psychologist.
One semester in, I am impressed by the course's design, particularly the 12-week psychology placement. For the course's research component, I was given the option of several novel research projects that some distinguished academics were running. Under the supervision of Professor Chris Chambers, I am now exploring whether the TOP guidelines he was instrumental in developing, work as intended; to improve the reliability and transparency of psychological research.
Future goals
By connecting with academics within Cardiff's School of Psychology, I have managed to secure a summer placement on a project run by Dr Catherine Jones at WARC and Gwent Integrated Autism Services. This project will examine the feasibility of a newly developed autism diagnostic questionnaire (RBQ-3), which will provide me with invaluable experience in clinical and research settings.
Looking ahead, I am determined to stay in the South Wales valleys, completing my DClin Psych and actively contributing to the local health board's frontline psychology services. However, my goals extend beyond the personal. I want to bring wider access to psychological services, particularly for individuals from the Rhondda valleys. I am passionate about representing and empowering my community. I aspire to guide others toward diverse and fulfilling careers in psychology who perhaps come from areas where it is rare to find such opportunities. I am proud of the challenges I have overcome to get to where I am today. Cancer wasn't the end for me, it has helped me become stronger, more resilient, and compassionate: all traits vital for a good psychologist.
