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:
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?
Who is on the committee?
Health Psychologist in training representative & chair –Melissa Wallace. Her role is to:
• 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.
Melissa is completing a PhD exploring adolescents’ experiences of conditions altering appearance at the University of the West of England, and working as a research fellow at UCL on a project exploring family communication of genetic test results.
Liaison Officer –Nicola Davies . 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.
Nicola is a PhD researcher at Cranfield University, where she is currently developing her own model of health and a subsequent health evaluations questionnaire, to be tested with breast and prostate cancer patients, leading to interventions aimed at enhancing patient choice and quality of life.BREATHE representative – Emily Power. 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.Emily is in the second year of her PhD at the Health Behaviour Unit, University College London under the supervision of Professor Jane Wardle. Her PhD is investigating uptake at colorectal screening.
PsyPag representative – Angel Chater. 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.
Angel is completing a PhD in the area of children’s health promotion at Roehampton University, looking specifically at factors influencing children’s health perceptions and health behaviours such as parental behaviour and cognitive beliefs.
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 either either Melissa Wallace(Stage 2 trainees) or Nicola Davies (MSc and PhD students).
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.
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.
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