A Day in the Life of a Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner (PWP)
Working in mental health services can be both challenging and deeply rewarding. Today, we’re shining a spotlight on the role of a Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner (PWP), a crucial part of the support network for people experiencing common mental health difficulties.
Meet Our PWP
We sat down with Hannah, one of our dedicated Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners, to learn more about what the role involves, what a typical day looks like, and why they love what they do.
Can you tell us a bit about your role as a Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner (PWP)?
“My role as a PWP involves the assessment, safety planning and treatment of depression and anxiety disorders. I use evidence based low intensity interventions to treat a range of presenting problems such as OCD, Generalised Anxiety Disorder and Depression. Some of the interventions I use include Graded Exposure, Cognitive Restructuring and Behavioural Activation, amongst many more.
As a PWP I have also had the opportunity to further my knowledge and skills by completing the Supervision for PWP’s course, and deliver weekly case management supervision to other PWP’s, and I have also completed the Approaches to Long Term Conditions (LTC) course which enables me to adapt core interventions to meet the needs of people experiencing LTC’s which may be impacting or interacting with their mental health. I have always felt really supported to further my skills and the team are amazing!
What does a typical working day look like for you?
“Every day is different, but my work often includes completing a mixture of low intensity treatment sessions or initial assessments. However, the team support you in having variation, so I also support our clinical care coordinator team and complete case management supervisions”
What types of support or interventions do you offer to clients?
” We offer guided self-help sessions and low intensity evidence-based interventions for mild-moderate mental health conditions. This can be delivered via group sessions or 1:1 which includes face to face, telephone and teams modalities. Some of the main interventions we deliver would be graded exposure, cognitive restructuring, worry management, behavioural activation and problem solving – amongst others! There is a strong emphasis on psycho education which helps to support client understanding and inform treatment protocol.
What do you find most rewarding about your job?
“Empowering people to take control of their wellbeing! A lot of the skills and tools we support the clients to develop are simple and easy to implement, which makes change easily possible for everyone.”
How do you take care of your own wellbeing in this role?
“I use clinical and case management supervision to help navigate emotional reactions to client work and seek support from my line manager or clinical care coordination team, who are all very helpful. I also ensure that I manage my time effectively and prioritise. Outside of work, I make sure to do the things I enjoy.”
What advice would you give to someone thinking about becoming a PWP?
“Do it! Being a PWP is an amazing experience, you will develop skills in assessment and the delivery of low intensity interventions, and it is an extremely rewarding job. There are so many opportunities within the role of a PWP, and services are great at supporting your personal and professional growth. Continued professional development is strongly encouraged and factored into your work plans to ensure your skills and knowledge are up to date.”
If you could describe being a PWP in three words, what would they be?
” Rewarding, empowering and adaptive.”
Final Thoughts
Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners play a vital role in empowering people to take charge of their mental health and wellbeing. It’s a role that calls for skill, compassion, and resilience, and as Hannah’s experience shows, it’s also one filled with meaning and purpose.
If you’d like to learn more about the role of a PWP, join us at Teesside University on Wednesday 10th September, where our team will be on hand to share insights and answer all your questions.
