The School’s Clinical Psychology Doctorate programme team recently hosted the 2016 National Group of trainers conference which was held in Stratford over three days.

The November conference was in collaboration with the Coventry and Warwick Clinical Psychology course, on the theme of Innovative practice. Keynote speakers included Dr Esther Cohen-Tovee who is the new Chair of the Division of Clinical Psychology, Alice Roberts who is Professor of Public Engagement in Science at the University of Birmingham and Dr Paula Byrne, who has just been made a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. Dr Byrne talked about poetry for mental health and wellbeing as well as a user and carer subgroup. Her talk also included an appearance from 'Smiffy', a rapper who writes songs about his own mental health experiences.  

Topics covered within the workshops included supporting male applicants in clinical psychology, women in leadership in the profession of Clinical Psychology and teaching decolonising white psychology. There was also a range of workshops looking at the different ways that courses have been implementing the changes to the BPS accreditation criteria. 

More than 160 delegates attended the conference across the three days and feedback was excellent. Comments included:

• “This was a well organised and excellent conference”
• “Programme was brilliant”
• “Best organisation of the group of trainers so far”
• “Thank you for a very varied and stimulating conference”
• “Thank you for an excellent three days; it has given me a lot of food for thought in terms of further developments in practice.”  

(Michelle Fisher with the user voice keynote panel, pictured below right)