Postgraduate Students & Stage II Trainees
JOINING THE DHP - CAN YOU AFFORD TO MISS OUT?
If you are engaged in Stage 1 or Stage 2 training in Health Psychology, you may want to consider In-Training membership of the DHP. The benefits that the Division offers include:
- Health Psychology Update - a quarterly publication that includes articles, book reviews, news, book reviews and a student page.
- Eligibility for Conference Bursaries
- Representation by the Postgraduate Sub-Committee of the DHP
- BREATHE - automatic membership of the postgraduate research training initiative (see below for further details).
For more details on DHP membership for postgraduate students in training please see this page.
POSTGRADUATE SUB-COMMITTEE
Who and what is the sub-committee?
- The sub-committee is a newly formed branch of the Division of Health Psychology with a remit to promote the interests of all Health Psychology postgraduates (i.e. MSc and PhD students, Stage 2 Trainees).
- Through its constituent members the sub-committee aims to provide improved peer support and guidance, relevant training and career resources and more effective communication between the DHP and Health Psychology postgraduates.
- The committee will meet 3-4 times a year.
Who is on the committee?
• Take trainee issues to the DHP and to disseminate training related issues to Health Psychology trainees (those undertaking both BPS and University routes) via a web-based discussion forum and the DHP website.
• Attend the DHP executive committee; DHP continuing professional development committee and postgraduate sub-committee meetings.
Jilly is a chartered health psychologist and is currently in the third year of studying for her PhD at the University of Sheffield. Jilly is running a behaviour change intervention within a local family planning clinic aiming to increase adherence to contraceptive methods in young people
Liaison Officer – Alice Forster
Her role is to:
• Identify reports for Health Psychology Update, update the Stage II handbook, assist in organizing training workshops and mini conferences for postgraduates, update the postgraduate pages on the DHP website, answer queries from postgraduates.
• Attend the sub-committee’s quarterly meetings
Alice is a PhD student in the Health Behaviour Research Centre, University College London, under the supervision of Professor Jane Wardle. Alice is examining the behavioural and attitudinal consequences of receiving the human papillomavirus vaccine in adolescent girls.
BREATHE representative – Clare Llewellyn
Her role is to:
•Organise training workshops on specific topics of interest for health psychology postgraduates and other postgraduates or early-career researchers working in related areas (see below for details).
• Identify training needs through attending sub-committee meetings and through direct contact with health psychology postgraduates.
Clare is a PhD student at the HealthBehaviourResearch Centre, University College London, under the supervision of Professor Jane Wardle. Clare is investigating the genetic and environmental determinants of childhood obesity using a sample of British twins born in 2007 and 2008.
PsyPag representative – Laura Ashley. PsyPAG is a national organisation that provides support and information for all Psychology postgraduates in the UK. PsyPAG also acts as a vehicle for communication for postgraduates via its regular publication (PsyPAG Quarterly), its website (www.psypag.co.uk) and its annual conference. Her role is to:
• Work co-operatively with the DHP to achieve the mutual goal of improving the experience of (health psychology) postgraduates through improved support and communication.
• Attend PSYPAG; PG&HPT and DHP committee meetings; attend PSYPAG conferences.
What have we been doing?
If you would like to see a summary of last year's activities, Attached is a copy of the Annual Report from the Postgraduate Representative, 2005
If you would like more information or if you would like to raise issues related to training please contact Jilly Martin.
BREATHE
(The British REsearch And Training in HEalth Psychology initiative)
What is BREATHE?
The British REsearch And Training in HEalthPsychology initiative (BREATHE) is allied with the BPS Division of Health Psychology, and sets out to promote training and collaboration for early career researchers in health psychology. Within the UK, BREATHE aims to play a significant role in attaining these goals through the organisation of annual workshops.
- Annual training workshops
BREATHE organises specialised workshops every year on specific topics of interest identified by early career researchers working in the field of health psychology. Prominent experts in the field of health psychology are invited to teach in these workshops. The structure and content of these workshops is determined by BREATHE in collaboration with the DHP and the expert teachers. The overall aim of these workshops is to develop the knowledge and skills of participants, and hence promote good practice. Topics include current issues in health psychology research, advances in health psychology theory, methodological issues, but also more practical issues such as writing research grant proposals. In addition to providing training, the workshops offer a unique opportunity for early career health psychologists and post-graduate students to get to know one another in an informal environment. Details of the current Breathe workshops are posted on the main Conferences and Workshops page.
• Health Psychology Update
Articles reviewing past BREATHE workshops are published in Update.
The Workshops
The first BREATHE workshop was held in September 2002, prior to the DHP conference in Sheffield. Teaching was carried out by Professor Stephen Sutton and Dr David French, and covered regression analysis, measurement issues in psychology, questionnaire design and factor analysis.
In September 2003 Professor John Weinman and Professor Marie Johnson led a workshop on practicing theory in health psychology which focused on how to apply psychological theories to real world research questions.
The September 2004 workshop was presented by Professor Lucy Yardley and Professor Kerry Chamberlain and called ‘Making the Most of Qualitative Research’. The workshop aimed to help participants develop a greater understanding of “how to do” qualitative research in practice.
In September 2005 Dr Paul Chadwick and Dr Susan Ayres led a workshop titled “The Road Less Travelled: Clinical Skills and the Health Psychologist”. The workshop aimed to address how health psychologists can develop a career in a clinically orientated setting.
The most recent BREATHE workshop took place at the University of Essex in September 2006. This workshop was led by Dr Sara Cox and addressed the area of ‘consultancy’ in health psychology.
Details of the current Breathe workshops are posted on the main Conferences and Workshops page.
Who is eligible for the workshops?
Priority and a discounted registration fee go to members of the BPS Division of Health Psychology. Priority is also given to UK residents, as CREATE (the equivalent organisation within the European Health Psychology Society) already provides training opportunities to those elsewhere in Europe.
The workshops are aimed at post-graduate students, research assistants, and early career post-doctoral researchers (i.e. those who have completed their PhD within the last 3 years).
Stage 2 trainees report on their experience
A questionnaire was recently sent out to all stage two trainees signed up to the mailing list HEALTHPSYCHTRAINING@JISCMAIL.AC.UK, a discussion forum exclusively for stage two trainees. Some of the responses from trainees have been collated - click here to download details. It is hoped that these will be of interest to those who are considering undertaking (as well as those already completing) the stage two qualification.
Discussion forums
There are two discussion forums available to postgraduates, which may be accessed via http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk. Follow the instructions on the website detailing how to join the lists. If you are a postgraduate working or studying in Health Psychology you may wish to join the ‘healthpsychologypostgraduatenet’ list. If you are a Stage II trainee you may like to join the ‘healthpsychtraining’ list. You must be registered on a Stage II training route to subscribe to this list.
Conferences and workshops
Recently the postgraduate subcommittee held a very successful conference at the University of Derby, please follow this link for a pdf full report of the conference and the powerpoint slides for the keynote speakers, Mark Forshaw, Alice Theadom, Emily Buckley, & Sasha Cain.
The subcommittee will be holding a mini workshop designed specifically for postgraduates and Stage II trainees before the DHP annual conference at Essex University this year. For further details please see flyer.
Details of the current Breathe workshops are posted on the main Conferences and Workshops page.
Health Psychology Update – postgraduate contributions
Health Psychology Update invites you to write an article for publication. This is a great opportunity to get your work published and disseminated to other Health Psychologists (it also looks good on your CV!) Articles may be related to a piece of work you have carried out for your masters qualification or as part of your employment or Stage II training. Articles relating to your personal experience of working, studying and training are also welcome.
Please see follow the link ‘Health Psychology Update’ on the home page for more details or contact the postgraduate sub editor at n.davies.s06@Cranfield.ac.uk if you would like more information or would like to submit an article.