ABSTRACT
Learners of applied psychology, in many ways, are reflecting a similar challenge that service users face, which is the 'right to participate'. Although learners perhaps speak more from a position 'on the side lines looking in', rather than an 'outside looking in' position, learners are moving towards an 'in' position, which presumably is where they aspire to be. In the UK, an undergraduate degree in psychology and relevant work experience are required in order to gain a training place on a postgraduate course in clinical psychology. Within clinical psychology training, there is an increasing tension between focusing on ameliorative work, aimed at addressing personal suffering, and transformative work, aimed at preventing suffering in the first place by addressing the economic, social, political and environmental conditions that give rise to inequality, disadvantage, neglect, trauma and consequent distress. The vast majority of respondents reported feeling that it was a worthwhile and important perspective for clinical psychologists to understand.
