u/Mad_Matron

Hi all, I’m an RMN, 2 years qualified, currently on long‑term sick leave and exploring realistic ways to return to psychological therapy work once I’m able. I’ve recently started an online MSc Psychology to stay academically active while recovering and to support future progression into therapy roles.

I’m curious about the counselling psychology route and how people with nursing backgrounds have navigated the transition. For anyone who has moved from RMN → counselling training (Level 4/5/6, MSc, doctorate), how did you find the shift? Did your nursing experience help with applications or clinical work?

I’m also interested in hearing from mature students or people who started counselling psychology training while managing health challenges or returning after time out.

Not looking for medical advice, just hoping to hear from people who’ve taken similar routes or supervise/train individuals coming from nursing backgrounds.

Hi all, I’m a mature student currently on long‑term sick leave from my job as a mental health nurse. I’ve recently started an online MSc Psychology as a way to stay academically active while recovering and to support a future career shift into psychological therapy roles.

I’m wondering if anyone here has experience of doing a master’s while managing health challenges, or returning to academic work after time away. How did you pace yourself, manage workload, and stay motivated? Did studying help you feel more grounded or confident?

Not looking for medical advice, just hoping to hear from others who’ve balanced postgraduate study with recovery or big life transitions.

Hi all, I’m starting an online MSc Psychology while recovering from long‑term illness. I’m a mature student returning to study after a couple of years in full‑time work, and I’m trying to figure out how to pace myself, manage workload, and stay motivated.

I’ve seen lots of posts here about undergrad life, accommodation, clearing, etc., but I wondered if any postgrad students or mature students have experience balancing study with health challenges or returning to education after time away.

How did you manage the transition back into academic work? Anything you wish you’d known before starting?

Not looking for medical advice, just hoping to hear from others who’ve been through something similar.

Hi all, I’m a mature student currently on long‑term sick leave from my job as a mental health nurse. I’ve recently started an online MSc Psychology as a way to stay academically active while recovering and to explore a possible future shift into psychological therapy roles.

I’m wondering if anyone here has experience of returning to study after illness, or studying while navigating a career change and recovery. How did you manage the workload, pacing, and confidence side of things? Did studying help you feel more grounded or motivated?

Not looking for medical advice, just hoping to hear from people who’ve balanced study with health challenges or big career transitions.

I’m an RMN with two years’ post‑qualifying experience, currently on long‑term sick leave, and I’m thinking carefully about what a sustainable return to mental health work might look like. I’m exploring psychology‑based roles such as PWP and, later on, HI CBT, partly because they seem like a structured and manageable way to rebuild confidence and clinical skills.

I’m also studying an MSc Psychology, and I’m wondering how people with nursing backgrounds have navigated transitions into psychology roles more broadly. For anyone who has moved from RMN → AP/PWP → further psychology training, how did you find the shift? Did your nursing experience help when applying for psychology posts or when considering the DClinPsy later on?

I’d really appreciate hearing from people who’ve taken similar routes or who supervise/train individuals coming from nursing backgrounds.

I’m an RMN with 2 years’ post‑qualifying experience, currently on long‑term sick leave, and I’m exploring realistic ways to return to psychological therapy work once I’m able. HI CBT trainee roles feel too intensive for me at the moment, so I’m considering the PWP route as a structured, lower‑intensity step before progressing to HI CBT later on.

For anyone who has worked in IAPT/CBT services: how common is the RMN → PWP → HI CBT pathway, and does prior nursing experience tend to help or hinder when moving into CBT roles? I’m also starting an MSc Psychology and wondering whether that background is useful when transitioning into CBT training.

I’d appreciate experiences or insights from PWPs, HI CBT trainees, or supervisors familiar with this progression.

I’m an RMN, 2 years qualified, currently long‑term sick and looking at realistic ways to return to psychological work once I’m able. HI CBT trainee roles aren’t manageable for me yet due to the intensity and workload, so I’m considering the PWP route as a structured, lower‑intensity step while I recover.

I’ve recently started an online MSc Psychology. I’m not doing it to become a PWP (I know it isn’t required) — I’m doing it to keep academically active while off work, strengthen my psychology foundation, and support future progression into HI CBT or other therapy roles once I’m medically cleared.

Has anyone in the NHS moved from RMN → PWP → HI CBT or similar? Is PWP a sensible transitional role while recovering, or is there a better route back into psychological therapies for someone with an RMN background?

I’m an RMN, 2 years qualified, currently long‑term sick and looking at realistic ways to return to psychological work once I’m able. HI CBT trainee roles aren’t manageable for me yet due to the intensity and workload, so I’m considering the PWP route as a structured, lower‑intensity step while I recover.

I’ve recently started an online MSc Psychology. I’m not doing it to become a PWP (I know it isn’t required) — I’m doing it to keep academically active while off work, strengthen my psychology foundation, and support future progression into HI CBT or other therapy roles once I’m medically cleared.

Has anyone in the NHS moved from RMN → PWP → HI CBT or similar? Is PWP a sensible transitional role while recovering, or is there a better route back into psychological therapies for someone with an RMN background?

I’m a Mental Health Nurse (2 years qualified) and I’m starting an online MSc Psychology with Counselling this October. My long‑term goal is to apply for Trainee PWP roles in 2027 once I’m fully recovered and back to work.

I’m currently long‑term sick, so I’m planning ahead realistically while studying online.

I’d love advice on:

Best way to make myself competitive for PWP roles

How much clinical experience vs academic background matters

Tips from anyone who applied while managing health issues

What to focus on during the MSc to strengthen my application

My plan:

Focus on my online MSc and build a foundation in CBT + low‑intensity work

Once medically cleared, look for flexible mental health roles

Apply for Band 4 Trainee PWP posts in London in 2027

Use my nursing background + MSc + lived experience to strengthen my application

Any advice from PWPs, trainees, or NHS staff would be really appreciated.

Hi everyone,

I’ve been dealing with left‑sided sinus symptoms for over 6 months — constant blockage, facial pressure, headaches, eye pain, ear pressure, post‑nasal drip, nausea and fatigue. It gets worse when I lie down or bend forward, and at night my left nostril blocks completely so I struggle to breathe and keep waking up.

I’ve had multiple rounds of antibiotics since December, but they haven’t helped. ENT reviewed my CT scan this week and said my symptoms are structural, not infection. They found enlarged turbinates and a slight septal deviation, and told me to stop the long‑term antibiotics.

They’ve now referred me to Rhinology, saying a Rhinologist may need to straighten the septum and address the turbinate enlargement.

Because of the pain, pressure, dizziness, headaches and sleep disruption, it’s been affecting my day‑to‑day functioning and I’ve been signed off work long‑term. I’m wondering if anyone else has had to take time off work because of sinus or structural nasal issues too.

Has anyone been through:
• septoplasty
• turbinate reduction
• Rhinology referral
• structural sinus problems causing one‑sided blockage
• night‑time breathing issues
• or had symptoms severe enough to impact work?

Would really appreciate hearing your experiences — good or bad. It’s been a long few months and it helps to know I’m not the only one going through this.

Hi everyone,

I’ve been dealing with chronic sinus issues for a while. Last week I had a nasal endoscopy (camera up the nose) and the ENT consultant confirmed there’s a blockage in my left nasal cavity along with some structural displacement.

I had a CT scan last Wednesday to look into it further. Today the hospital called and asked me to come in this Wednesday to discuss the results, instead of waiting for my original follow‑up appointment next week.

Now my anxiety is kicking in a bit.
Has anyone else had their CT results appointment moved forward like this? Does it usually mean anything, or can it just be routine?

Any reassurance or similar experiences would be really appreciated.