24: How to get started in research

What leads a psychotherapeutic professional into research? 

In this episode Helen Willingham, our head of content and engagement, talks to UKCP psychotherapist Melissa Cliffe.

Melissa had always felt drawn to the psychological profession, and after immersing herself in a career in the marketing, she felt it was time to exploring psychotherapeutic training.

In her professional journey, Melissa became deeply connected to her own experience of midlife and the profound existential questioning about her life. This inspired her to specialise in midlife, aging and appearance, with a specific focus on women. She responded to the gap in resources about this transitional period, which led her into research.

‘I’m looking at how physical appearance is addressed between female therapists and female clients because I’ve been looking for what’s missing in our literature, what hasn’t been addressed yet, and this seems to be an area that hasn’t had any attention.’

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