‘Find your neurodivergent tribe’

What spurred you to pursue a career in psychology?

Living life as an undiagnosed autistic child saw me scrambling for ways to cope without even knowing what I was trying to cope with. Unfortunately, as a teenager, this led to me being under the care of eating disorder services and sitting opposite a Clinical Psychologist. I was someone who struggled to even identify feelings, let alone describe them, so every sentence the psychologist spoke felt like a revelation. I valued my time in therapy, and when I dropped out of my London drama school at 18, setting my sights on a mental health career seemed natural. I worked several healthcare jobs to gain a sense of what I wanted to do, and I chose psychology.

Why clinical psychology?

I already knew that I wanted to be a Clinical Psychologist when I started my degree. I knew that my values aligned with the profession, and I had shadowed sessions and psychological formulations. I admired the way Clinical Psychologists made sense of things. I find that my strengths align well with the profession. I have strong formulation skills too, as my autistic brain likes to piece the details together and be curious… read: nosy! I enjoy working with people in the broadest sense, forming therapeutic relationships and working with clients, families and teams.  

I would also class myself as a 'lifelong learner', so I appreciate personal and professional development never having an end point. I find joy in acquiring new knowledge and applying it to help others. My worst nightmare would be to work in a job where I feel overly comfortable and know everything there is to know. With Clinical Psychology, that will thankfully never happen. It's probably a very un-autistic thing to say, but I don't want every day to be the same! I like to be challenged.

You're currently completing your doctoral training in clinical psychology. Tell me about your journey getting onto training, and what your experience of training has been like thus far?

I've always had this belief that, come hell or high water, I would get onto the DClinPsy someday. It's the sort of stupidly blind invincibility that comes with being knocked down a lot but never staying down. When I set my sights on something, I go after it with absolutely everything I've got. So, since I didn't know any Clinical Psychologists, my journey started with finding them. My undergraduate course leader once joked, 'Nikita has been in the inbox of every local psychologist', and they weren't far wrong! I wanted to know what I needed to do, and if someone had told me to sell my soul, I'd likely have considered it. 

Luckily, no soul selling was required; I simply continued with my NHS role, took on research assistant work and focussed on making my future application a strong one. After graduating, I worked as an Assistant Psychologist and applied for the doctorate. I tried to convince myself 'it's just a practice', but it became very real when interview invites started rolling in. I started training in 2023 and, so far, it's been… rocky?

You mean in terms of navigating both training and a career in psychology as an autistic individual?

Navigating the career in itself has been brilliant. Psychology is my special interest, so I can never get enough of it. My knowledge grows rapidly, and it energises me. However, I've learned that it needs to be on my own terms. Trying to force myself to be interested in something when I'm exhausted is like walking through treacle, so the intensity of training has been difficult. I noticed some burnout warning signs around Christmas last year and asked for reasonable adjustments. In hindsight, however, I don't think people recognised how much I was struggling, and I can't blame others for not being mind-readers. I tend to look completely fine right up until the moment I crash. Therefore, seeking support largely relied on my ability to self-advocate, which was near impossible whilst burning out. Eventually, this resulted in me taking a 10-month career break.

What do you think needs to change?

Uh… I'd love to see trainees only working the hours that they're paid for, but that feels like such a pipe dream. I think there's a belief that burnout is inevitable and, although I don't think it should be the case for neurotypical trainees, it's particularly risky for autistic trainees. Autistic burnout can be debilitating; it involves all the usual burnout symptoms, plus increased sensory sensitivities, decreased executive function and, in some cases, skill regression. For me, it looked like weeks of being unable to open my curtains or tolerate any sensory input. I couldn't move unless it was to meet basic needs, and I couldn't speak verbally. It was hell. So, if burnout is inevitable for trainees, I can't put myself through that again.

Tell me about your new book, An Autistic Anthology: Neuro-Narratives of Mental Health Professionals.

After I received my diagnosis, I turned to the experiences of other autistic mental health professionals to guide me. However, there was little to nothing out there! So, I asked Dr Vicky Jervis and Dr Marianne Trent to create a book with me. An Autistic Anthology: Neuro-Narratives of Mental Health Professionals features 25 peoples' stories. They're stories of strength, tenacity, barriers and challenges. The message behind the book is like the quote says, 'If you can't see it, you can't be it'. We hope that both aspiring and qualified autistic professionals find representation. We also hope that those who might be curious about our experiences gain insight into this. Really, this book is for everyone! 

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

Gosh, so many! If I had to choose just one, I'd say Dr Nick Walker's blog post. It's such a comprehensive summary of neurodiversity, neuro-affirming language and why it matters. It shaped my approach to practice, for sure.

What advice would you give to other autistic aspiring psychologists who may be interested in pursuing a career in psychology?

Do it… but don't do it like me. Remember that it's okay to look after yourself and enjoy life. If you can, find your neurodivergent tribe; they are an invaluable support. Overall, this job really is a privilege. Know that you are needed, you have a lot to bring to the profession, and your input will make a difference!