Exploring the Experiences of Trainee Clinical Psychologists Who Identify as Living with a Disability: A Qualitative Study

Abstract

People with disabilities continue to be underrepresented within the profession of clinical psychology, with attrition rates thought to be one factor contributing to this. There is a striking lack of literature regarding the experiences of disabled trainee psychologists, with the research that does exist indicating that disabled trainees encounter numerous challenges including structural inequalities and discrimination. However, no studies to date have considered the in-depth experiences of disabled trainees. This research aimed to qualitatively explore the lived experience of disabled trainees through the use of semi-structured interviews with six trainee clinical psychologists who self-identified as disabled. Transcripts were analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis, following which three superordinate themes were developed: “”Everyday Battles”, “Identity” and “Silence and Speaking”. These themes spoke to the numerous challenges described by participants, many of which arose from a system which appeared to be aimed at those in healthy bodies. Participants frequently made sense of their experiences by drawing on dominant narratives surrounding disability and situated their experiences within the wider sociocultural context. Findings are discussed in relation to existing literature and a number of recommendations are offered for future research and clinical practice.