Show Notes for The Aspiring Psychologist Podcast Episode 148: What is an Assistant Psychologist and What do they do?

In this episode of the Aspiring Psychologist Podcast, Dr. Marianne Trent is joined by assistant psychologist Luke Meakin to discuss the often ambiguous role of an assistant psychologist. They dive deep into the responsibilities, expectations, and realities of the role, offering valuable guidance for aspiring psychologists. This episode covers the history of the assistant psychologist role, its original purpose, and how it has evolved over time. Luke shares his journey as an older applicant and the challenges of balancing diverse responsibilities within the role.

Whether you’re already working as an assistant psychologist or considering the path, this episode provides a clear understanding of what the role entails, how it fits within the broader field of psychology, and the importance of supportive supervision.

Key Takeaways:

• Understanding the true purpose and responsibilities of assistant psychologists.
• Navigating the complexities and expectations of the role in various settings.
• The importance of supportive supervision and creating a safe learning environment

The Highlights:

• 00:00 - Introduction and Overview of Assistant Psychologist Roles
• 00:21 - Host Welcome and Episode Introduction
• 01:34 - Introducing Guest: Assistant Psychologist Luke Meakin
• 02:33 - Discussing the Ambiguity of the Role
• 05:09 - The Original Purpose of Assistant Psychologists
• 07:08 - Why AP Roles Are Not Training Roles
• 09:01 - Balancing Supervision and Clinical Responsibility
• 10:01 - The Importance of Feeling Safe and Valued in the Role
• 12:25 - Luke’s Journey as an Older Applicant in Psychology
• 14:21 - The Ambiguity of Assistant Roles Across Different Services
• 15:29 - Historical Context: The Evolution of the Role
• 18:35 - Challenges of Unpaid and Honorary Assistant Roles
• 21:00 - Reflecting on Personal Development and Supervision Experiences
• 25:05 - Reducing Competition Among Assistants: Celebrating Others
• 28:36 - Navigating Burnout and Maintaining a Work-Life Balance

Links:

📲 Connect with Luke here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/luke-meakin/

🖥️ Check out my brand new short courses for aspiring psychologists and mental health professionals here: https://www.goodthinkingpsychology.co.uk/short-courses

🫶 To support me by donating to help cover my costs for the free resources I provide click here: https://the-aspiring-psychologist.captivate.fm/support

📚 To check out The Clinical Psychologist Collective Book: https://amzn.to/3jOplx0

📖 To check out The Aspiring Psychologist Collective Book: https://amzn.to/3CP2N97

💡 To check out or join the aspiring psychologist membership for just £30 per month head to: https://www.goodthinkingpsychology.co.uk/membership-interested

✍️ Get your Supervision Shaping Tool now: https://www.goodthinkingpsychology.co.uk/supervision

📱Connect socially with Marianne and check out ways to work with her, including the Aspiring Psychologist Book, Clinical Psychologist book and The Aspiring Psychologist Membership on her Link tree: https://linktr.ee/drmariannetrent

💬 To join my free Facebook group and discuss your thoughts on this episode and more: https://www.facebook.com/groups/aspiringpsychologistcommunity

Like, Comment, Subscribe & get involved:

If you enjoy the podcast, please do subscribe and rate and review episodes. If you'd like to learn how to record and submit your own audio testimonial to be included in future shows head to: https://www.goodthinkingpsychology.co.uk/podcast and click the blue request info button at the top of the page.

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