Congratulations on getting your place on the Educational Psychology doctorate! After all the hard work you put into applications and interviews, finally receiving that offer can feel exciting and maybe even surreal. But once the initial excitement settles, many people are left wondering… so now what?
Part of our special series of articles on transitions
Starting EP training can feel far more complex than expected. Alongside the excitement often comes uncertainty, shifts in confidence, changes in identity, and navigating completely new relationships and expectations. This blog post is less about giving perfect advice and more about sharing reflections from our experiences of training so far.
Although the five of us TEPs study at different universities and came into training from very different professional backgrounds, many of our experiences have felt surprisingly universal. One thing that particularly stood out to us was how nurturing and psychologically safe training environments can feel, something that may not always match people’s expectations of starting a doctorate.
Here are our top five tips and reflections for navigating the transition from applicant to trainee on the Educational Psychology doctorate.
5 reflections
Be kind to yourself during training
Imposter syndrome is something many people experience, so try not to judge yourself or compare your progress to others. Everyone is on their own journey, and it is important to remember that your course wants you to succeed.
TEPs come into training from a wide range of backgrounds, roles, and experiences, meaning everyone brings different strengths to the course. Over time, the sense of competition fades as you realise everyone is learning and figuring things out together. Training is a continuous transition, so you will keep adapting, learning, and growing throughout the course.
Finding a way that works for you is an important part of training.
It’s easy to assume there is a single ‘right’ way to take notes or organise yourself, write assignments, or practise as a trainee on placement, but everyone gradually figures out their own system and rhythm.
Sharing approaches, resources and ideas with your cohort helps the process to feel collaborative. As you move through the course, you’ll begin to shape your own EP identity, grounded in your professional and personal values and professional standards, and this will continue to evolve as your confidence grows.
Relationships are central.
Training does not happen in isolation; the relationships you build throughout the doctorate can become one of your greatest sources of support. Nobody else will understand the academic and professional demands of your journey in the same way as your fellow TEPS. But remember, life continues alongside training, and there will be times when personal, academic, and placement demands feel challenging to balance.
It is absolutely okay to ask for help, and support can come from many places. Previous cohorts, supervisors, fellow TEPS, friends and family can all offer different perspectives and encouragement. These relationships also remind us that there is rarely one ‘right’ way to practice. Different EPs may approach assessment, consultation, or formulation in different ways. Staying curious, open-minded and reflective helps you learn from others while gradually developing your own professional identity and ways of working.
Self-care and Wellbeing
With deadlines, placement and university, it is tempting to prioritise these above everything else. However, as the saying goes, “you cannot pour from an empty cup”. Planning your diary can be overwhelming; it is important to plan in small breaks and annual leave. Making self-care lists can be a helpful way to have things to look forward to.
Self-care is not just about material things; be mindful of your boundaries and when you need to ask for support. When things feel busy, consider threading self-care approaches into your studying, whether this is giving yourself permission to slow down and read outside or take the laptop to a coffee shop!
Learning to tolerate uncertainty.
As a newbie, you may experience moments of uncertainty in your practice. For example, not knowing which assessments to use, which theories to draw upon or how confident to sound in your psychological formulations. While university lectures and placement activities can facilitate building knowledge and competence over time, supervision can be a powerful reflection tool to support sitting with the discomfort around various dilemmas and tolerating uncertainty when making professional and academic decisions.
Reassurance and guidance from more experienced EPs can help you to practice with greater confidence while still appreciating that being an EP is a lifelong journey.
Who you are at the start will be different from who you are at the end
The three years of training will fly by faster than you expect, and you’ll likely look back surprised by how much has shifted. It is a real privilege to have the time and space to think, learn, and grow into this role. The people you meet and the relationships you build will become central to your development, supporting you through the highs, challenges, and moments of uncertainty.
Training to be an EP is a journey, and who you are at the start will be different from who you are at the end. Your values deepen, your identity shifts, and your confidence in yourself as a professional strengthens. Through reflection, you learn to sit with both the difficult moments and the successes, gradually becoming a more grounded and thoughtful psychologist.
We hope you’ve found these reflections helpful as you begin your journey, and we wish you the very best of luck as you begin your training!
