From Rejection to Resilience: An RDP Success Story

After a disappointing rejection from the Doctorate in Clinical Psychology, I received feedback that I needed a deeper understanding of how to run a research project in real-world settings. Despite my academic background—including a psychology degree, dissertation, and a postgraduate diploma—I lacked the practical know-how to implement research meaningfully in a busy NHS service.

At my supervisor’s suggestion, I attended a Researcher Development Programme (RDP) event—and was met with supportive professionals who made research feel both achievable and relevant to full-time clinical work. A journal club session using the CASP framework immediately sparked my interest. I realised, along with two colleagues, that our service lacked a space to engage with and reflect on research.

So, we launched our own journal club. After an initial planning meeting, we shaped the group around our interests, format preferences, and time constraints. Over time, the club evolved beyond article discussions—we hosted speakers with lived experience and colleagues who shared insights from recent training, enriching the learning environment.

I also benefited from one-to-one coaching with Colin Barnes from the RDP. He offered practical tips to boost engagement—like using calendar invites and tracking attendance—and introduced me to a research network that provided CPD certificates for presenters, which encouraged wider participation.

With Colin’s support, I applied for the RDP internship to secure funding and protected time for a service evaluation project with our Acute Psychological Therapies Team. The successful bid allowed us to bring on an academic mentor, pay service users for their input, attend thematic analysis training, and give us protected time to focus on research despite our clinical workloads.

A fellow assistant psychologist joined the project, and we both attended RDP’s “Co-Production for Improvement” events. These sessions were pivotal in helping us collaborate meaningfully with service users—from refining our language to involving them in reviewing our thematic analysis findings. This transformed our project into something more inclusive, accessible, and impactful.

Throughout, I continued to receive coaching from Colin, who supported my growth as a researcher and later provided a reference for my doctorate application. This time, my application was much stronger—I secured two interviews and felt far more confident in the research components. When asked to design a quantitative study on the spot, I could draw directly from my hands-on experience, particularly in incorporating PPI (Patient and Public Involvement).

I'm proud to say I was offered a place on the doctorate. I truly believe the RDP was instrumental in that success. It not only helped me gain essential skills and confidence but also enabled me to contribute meaningfully to my service. The journal club and evaluation project are now being handed over to new aspiring trainees, ensuring the work continues—with ongoing RDP support.