The one thing I’ve always known is that I wanted to work in mental healthcare. I was diagnosed with panic disorder, a type of anxiety disorder, when I was 13 and received Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), beginning my own mental health journey and creating a deeper passion for working in the field due to being personally affected. CBT taught me invaluable coping mechanisms and methods of managing my own anxieties that I never expected; from my early experiences, I feel fortunate to have a personal understanding of what mental health conditions can look like and can emphasise with others on a deeper level. Professionally, I was fortunate enough to have completed a 42-week placement with the LPT CAMHS Eating Disorder team throughout my third year of undergraduate study. This experience far exceeded my expectations, allowing me to develop both personally and professionally to indescribable degrees, and solidified my desire to work in mental healthcare. Alongside my fourth year of undergraduate study I work as a bank Senior Healthcare Support Worker, based in CAMHS and adults mental health, within LPT, completing regular supportive and physical observations, therapeutic activities, clinical contact, and more. I’m working towards becoming a Clinical Psychologist, but my underlying passion is to work to bring down NHS waiting lists for those struggling with their mental health; after waiting for 2 and a half years myself for treatment, I know how crucial access to treatment is to daily functioning. I want to have the kind of impact on others that my therapist had on me and help young people and adults to manage their mental health conditions, and I’m so grateful to already have professional experience that will help me to deliver the best patient care I can.