Fast-forward a month and a half from the mental health careers panel talk, I was back at the University of Winchester once again. The nostalgia of coming back to a place I studied at for 3 years will never get old. This time, it was my turn to deliver a third year Psychology lecture to 50 students as part of their advanced clinical psychology module. I had now gone from student, to guest speaker, to lecturer…And what a journey it’s been!
Enriching minds
Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS). The four words alone are difficult to pronounce, never mind understand! Break it down though, and it can be explained as magnetic pulses that are used to stimulate the brain. My talk began by discussing the mental health conditions and addictions we treat at Smart TMS, before venturing into the science behind the treatment, it’s success rates, safety, longevity and international acceptance. By using a lot of pictures and diagrams, the audience were hopefully able to stay engaged and visualise exactly what rTMS is like and how it differs from other treatments.
Building a career
The second part of the lecture covered some tips about building a career once you have finished University. A fellow Psychology graduate of mine ended up working in a cinema, perhaps not the career path they had planned! Experience, whether paid or voluntary, no matter what field of work you are in, is key. Relevant experience can prove to future employers that you have the practical application as well as the knowledge.
Inspiring the next generation of TMS practitioners
After sharing my experience of working in mental health, I was hopefully able to inspire some of the students to want to follow a similar path. Being able to help others each day can give you the motivation to get out of bed every morning.
Mental health and psychology are wide areas of study. There are so many different career paths the students may choose to take. However, I enjoyed being able to share my passion for such an innovative treatment, which Smart TMS aims to develop into the “go-to” option for those with mental health conditions in the near future. Watch this space!
After several questions were asked by the students, my lecture received a round of applause. It was soon time to return to reality and the Havant clinic to treat my first patient of the day!