This is a highly rewarding position as a Support Practitioner, in which I am supporting individuals with learning disabilities, neurological disorders, and physical disabilities. I provide support with everyday tasks, such as eating, drinking, bathing, dressing, and personal care, as well as support with social activities by helping to meet family and friends and go out for fun activities. I am responsible for administering medication, and I have proudly taken on the additional responsibilities of acting as a Key Worker and Medication Champion. Overall, this is a wonderful role in which I am learning a great deal about providing supportive care, working as part of a health and social a care team, communicating with other healthcare professionals, record keeping, and offering the best of myself to help people in need.

I am volunteering with Triumph Over Phobia UK (TOP UK), a leading charity providing mental health support to people who experience phobia, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), and other anxiety-related mental health challenges. I will soon be working with another Support Group Co-facilitator to lead online weekly support groups to up to six people at a time. The support we provide is founded on the principles and methods of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Exposure Response and Prevention (ERP) therapy, in line with recommended evidence-based treatment guidelines from the NHS and NICE. I will work with group members to plan and review weekly exposure-based behavioural homework tasks, and I will discuss, understand, and challenge the thinking/cognitions that perpetuate the emotional and behavioural symptoms that characterise phobia and OCD. I will also contribute to the collection of data to assess progress in key symptoms, with the aim of continually improving the effectiveness of the support provided by TOP UK. Overall, this is a charity to whose work in improving the lives of people who experience symptoms of phobia, OCD, and anxiety I am deeply excited to contribute. Finally, since both my mum and myself have lifelong experience of living with specific phobias, I can truly empathise with and understand some of the challenges of the people I will be helping. I am excited to apply the skills in providing a supportive relationship that I learned in my recently completed Counselling Skills Certificate to the important work of this charity.

A hospitality role featuring food and drink service and receptionist responsibilities. Large amount of customer interaction on a daily basis. Excellent for developing my people skills and team working abilities.

This was a volunteer position made possible through my MSc Psychology degree at the University of Stirling. I created a 7000-word literature review on the topic of psychotherapeutic treatment options for complex trauma.

Varied role including food service, food preparation, and room housekeeping.

I was awarded this position funded by the School of Life Sciences on a stipend worth £2000. I performed a three-month research project in the field of epigenetics with the Prof. Tom Owen-Hughes research lab, based in the Centre for Gene Regulation and Expression.

A support role in a busy, high quality hair salon in Perth city centre. Involved regular client interaction and team work.