‘Providing NHS staff with external support is deeply rewarding’

My mum, Dr Jo Jordan, is a consultant clinical psychologist and clinical lead of the Humber, Coast and Vale Resilience Hub. She has worked in Clinical Psychology for more than 20 years, and her areas of specialist interest are staff wellbeing and physical health psychology; in particular; chronic pain, gastro-psychology and neuropsychology. 

She established her career within the Psychological Medicine Department in York, specialising in chronic pain, where she was clinical psychology lead for more than 10 years. Her NHS roles have also integrated a position as a Teaching Fellow and Module Manager within the Department of Psychology at the University of York, delivering advanced modules in clinical psychology – an internal and integral pathway to Hull University's Doctorate in Clinical Psychology.

Whilst also seeing individual therapy patients in her private clinic over the last 15 years, she has developed emotional wellbeing solutions within the private school arena. Using reflective practice and clinical supervision frameworks, integral to clinical psychology, she has tailored teaching and training packages to support senior management and pastoral staff in schools over the last decade.

I'm studying Psychology at Archbishop Holgate's School, and I spoke with my mum about her journey in psychology, how her career has interacted with wider elements of her life, and what I might expect in my own journey…

What was your motivation and reasoning for choosing a career in psychology?

I would probably say there were a few interacting factors. The first, which I have only reflected on latterly in my career, is that my mum suffered from quite severe mental health issues as I was growing up. I think that witnessing the struggles she faced with bipolar disorder unconsciously drew me to think about helping those who experience similar struggles. 

I guess the other reason from a practical point of view is that initially in sixth form, A-level Psychology was not an option. Almost fortunately, I failed my 3 A-levels when I was in sixth form, which led me to go to night school at a college at 18. There, I found Psychology and chose to take it as an A-level. This was almost fate taking its course – I found a subject I loved and one that I seemed naturally quite good at. 

What where the steps between that and where you are now?

Well, I guess the first thing obviously was to apply to an undergraduate course, which I did, and I went to the University of York to study Psychology for three years. It was close to home and offered one of the best courses at the time. I thoroughly enjoyed my degree and the challenge in it being much more scientific than A- level Psychology. 

During my three years, I accumulated as much experience as I could. I worked as a care assistant in a local care home as well as volunteering in the undergraduate department. I supported and helped organise the test library as well as doing some voluntary research assistant work in the department over the summer. Gaining this experience was very helpful. 

When I completed my degree, I did look into completing an academic PhD. And I guess again, fate took its course as the funding stream was pulled… I would have had to self-finance a PhD. This caused me to look at applied Psychology and over summer I applied for a research assistants post in a local child and adolescent mental health unit. I was fortunate enough to get the job. Over the year in this role, I assisted in running two projects: one in chronic fatigue syndrome and another in emotional recognition and autism. I then applied after a year for clinical training and was accepted onto a doctoral programme in Clinical Psychology in Teesside. I guess I haven't looked back since.

Do you recall one or more major challenges that you have faced within your profession as a Clinical Psychologist? 

Oh, wow that is a difficult question! There have been so many, but most have been enjoyable challenges. 

I think that one of the major challenges is deciding what I enjoyed doing. I have discovered that every part of psychology is fascinating, and as a trainee every placement that I did I enjoyed and thought 'wow I could definitely work here' So, I really struggled in what to go into – that is why I have enjoyed doing numerous different roles within Clinical Psychology. 

However, due to my final specialist placement in my doctorate being on physical health I migrated towards physical health and its interaction to Psychology. As well as this, due to the changing nature of the NHS I believe it has been a challenge for Clinical Psychologists and Psychologists in general to find their place and utilise their unique and specialist knowledge into the workforce. I think it is a challenge for Clinical Psychologists to find a way to have a greater voice so we can create greater change as science practitioners; clinicians but also as leaders. I think that is why it is really important that we have professional bodies such as the British Psychological Society and the Association or Psychologists, who can support us and guide us as professionals. 

How has your career progression changed and fluctuated throughout your time as a Clinical Psychologist?

As I say, earlier on in my career, I found myself focused on physical health. However, in this period I did find myself drawn into adolescent mental health because of my initial research experience and from working with such inspiring and amazing clinicians in the past. So, at this time I decided to set up a private practice with a great colleague of mine and that enabled me to keep my foot in working within the NHS as well as my private practice where I worked with children, young people as well as teachers and pastoral teams thinking about psychological safety and generating environments that allow children the best opportunities. 

In natural fluctuations I started out in neuropsychology, and made a fairly big move from that into chronic pain. This allowed me to move from one-on-one sessions with clients to working with a multidisciplinary team of occupational therapists, anaesthetists and physiotherapists, which was super exciting for me. 

I was then fortunate to get a teaching fellow position at the University of York for third year students teaching clinical psychology prior to them applying for a doctorate. This allowed me to give back to such a great subject and see the next generation of psychologists. 

Around 20 years into my career I had an opportunity to have a clinical leadership role within a staff wellbeing resilience hub, which was a post-Covid initiative to provide support to NHS staff. It has been great engaging stakeholders, being flexible… I believe psychologists have a lot to give within these frameworks.

Within those roles what would you say has been your greatest achievement?

Actually, my current role as clinical lead of the resilience hub has been the most rewarding yet challenging of my entire career! It has been such a unique opportunity for me and has allowed me to work with such amazing people. Providing NHS staff with external support is deeply rewarding, as they spend their life supporting others. So, I think that has been my greatest achievement – but it's the achievement of my whole team. I have been lucky to lead the that team in conjunction with my colleague Holly Walker to make a difference.

When you look back, how do you think your career in Psychology had an effect on your parenting?

Oh, wow that is a good question! I think that on one level I have applied my knowledge of developmental Psychology as I have watched you and your brother grow up. However, has it really had much of an impact on how I have parented? I think that as a psychologist it is easy to overthink things… it is much better to turn your psychological brain off when it comes to your children, most of the time! Parenting is really tough for everybody and it doesn't come with a secret manual. As a psychologist you're the same as any other parent and I would say in bringing up children I have focused on being a good mum not a good psychologist.

Linking to that, how has the subject of Psychology impacted who you are as a person?

I would like to say that I am more well-rounded… however, I am still human. Being a psychologist hasn't removed the inevitability of anger, frustration, sadness, which all of us will experience. I guess what it has done is make me much more reflective of who I am as a person and my own personal experiences, as well as become better in the sense of developing my compassion, empathy and patience in relation to those around me.

What would be your advice to those wanting to enter Psychology?

Have that confidence and self-belief – that will drive you forward. I was very lucky to have such great support and I have met such inspiring professionals along my journey. I hope that other individuals can do the same and receive the same opportunities that I have had. 

I think that many people believe a career in Clinical Psychology or other areas to be unattainable and competitive. Whilst there is competition, there are many myths in becoming a psychologist which put people off. I think that if you are motivated and enthused you can 100 per cent go down a career pathway in Psychology. I would advise individuals to gain as much experience as possible and just throw your hat into the ring! 

What do you hope for in the future of Psychology?

Another good question! I hope that psychology continues to develop, as we are a profession that has a lot to give. We should carry on promoting ourselves. I hope that psychology continues to gain representation as it holds a skill base that can span so many disciplines. I think that the diversity and usefulness of psychology is applicable to all of its branches, such as educational and occupational psychology. I hope that more people join psychology as a profession and so we can apply it more where it is very much needed. I would love to see Psychology move even more into the NHS, especially in roles of leadership… in the NHS, we need more psychological reflection and awareness.

• Read more about the British Psychological Society's award-winning campaign around the NHS staff mental health and wellbeing hubs.