Article summary
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Placements are a pivotal, but often nerve-racking, milestone: APS member Peter reflects on the emotional mix of excitement and anxiety at the start of his placements, highlighting the steep learning curve of working with real clients.
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Diverse settings offer different learning opportunities: Students are encouraged to pursue varied placements – from schools to hospitals – to gain broad exposure.
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Preparation and openness are essential: Researching organisational culture, managing perfectionism and being honest about your limitations help students adapt, connect with clients, and make the most of supervision.
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Boundaries protect both clients and students: Students should recognise when tasks exceed their competence and seek guidance. Supervisors and university staff can help clarify what’s appropriate.
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Self-care isn’t optional: Practising what you preach – such as grounding techniques and connecting with peers – is vital for managing placement stress and sustaining wellbeing.
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Leverage APS resources: APS Student HQ – Central hub for student resources; APS Early Career HQ – Support for newly graduated psychologists; APS 2025–26 Pre-Budget Submission – Includes advocacy for extending Commonwealth Prac Payments to postgraduate psychology students.
Psychology placements can be daunting; you're exposed to new professional environments and expectations, as well as the prospect of complex cases. But with the right mindset and strategies, psychology students can navigate these challenges and make the most of this transformative experience.
When student psychologist Peter began his placement for his Master's program, his feelings could be summed up in one word: "finally."
"There was a lot of excitement. I was finally able to translate theory into practice by sitting down with clients," he says. "But there was a lot of nervousness around that too because it all felt very real."
Having finalised his studies, Peter is now an early career psychologist, completing the registrar program to become a clinical psychologist. Reflecting back, he realises how valuable his placement experience was.
The diverse placement environments he experienced – from a school to a university clinic and an Aboriginal cooperative – offered unique learning opportunities to work with a wide range of people.
"I was right to be nervous, but now I realise that was a good sign – it showed how important the work was to me."
Here are Peter’s tips on making the most of your placement.
1. Aim for a broad range of experience
From schools, community centres, youth services, hospitals, prisons, not-for-profits and private clinics, psychologists work in various settings.
Peter encourages students to consider their ideal work environment and reach out to places they're interested. He says his three placements offered very unique experiences.
"The school was a chance to share what I'd learned in my studies to help teachers and parents better support their students/children, while also respecting that they have their own expertise.
"In the university clinic, I was able to focus on one-on-one sessions with adult clients and refine my case conceptualisation and treatment planning," he says.
"At the Aboriginal cooperative, I was exposed to many elements of case management as well as working within a multidisciplinary team, and learning about Aboriginal ways of knowing, being and doing that can differ a lot from mainstream approaches."
2. Do your research beforehand
Each organisation has its own feel and culture – so gaining insight before your first day can be helpful.
"Research the organisation," says Peter. "How do they present and advertise themselves? Can you visit the clinic beforehand? Fitting in will help you build connections with your colleagues and, more importantly, your clients.”
However, each psychologist also brings something unique, he adds.
"There’s a balance between fitting in and making sure you contribute your own perspective and learnings. Diversity is a strength in any workplace."
3. Manage nerves and perfectionism
Most students feel nervous about going on placement. But it's important to remember that the goal is to learn, not impress, says Peter.
Supervision isn’t just for assessment, he says.
"Your supervisor is there to help you with what you don't know. Share any doubts, questions or discomforts.
"Your supervisor will probably remind you that we can't help everyone. It's a reality of these roles, and crucial to understand."
I was right to be nervous, but now I realise that was a good sign – it showed how important the work was to me. - Peter, early career psychologist
4. Seek opportunities to learn
Learn as much as you can during placement and don't be afraid to ask for shadow opportunities, says Peter.
"If you wish to observe live sessions, for example you're in a hospital and keen to watch the acute response team, just ask. The worst thing that might happen is that they say ‘no’, which is totally fine."
Peter was able to observe live sessions with a few willing clients, an experience he describes as "amazing".
"It helped confirm that I was doing a lot of things well in my own sessions. It really boosted my confidence."
Observing sessions at the Aboriginal cooperative was also a valuable learning opportunity.
"I was able to attend things like Men’s Group and Cultural Competency training, gain exposure to Narrative Therapy – which wasn’t included in the Masters program – and sit down with workers from other teams to understand more about their work – for example, family violence and MBC programs, kinship care programs and parenting programs."
5. Respect your boundaries
Maintaining boundaries is crucial for all psychologists, especially students in unfamiliar settings. This is because some organisations are not accustomed to having students on placement and, therefore, may demand too much from them.
"There have been instances where student provisional psychologists were expected to handle tasks suited for more experienced professionals," says Peter. "If you feel that something is out of scope for you, speak up."
This might look like confiding in your supervisor for advice or, if that doesn't feel appropriate, you could lean on your university placement coordinator for advice around how to proceed.
They will help you to delineate between what's a reasonable request designed to stretch your capabilities, versus what might be unreasonable at this stage in your career.
APS Student Members can lean on more seasoned psychologists for advice by signing into PsyCommunity and asking for advice.
6. Stay on top of your case notes
Placements can feel overwhelming when you need to juggle multiple tasks like observing, conducting sessions, risk and cognitive assessments, note taking, report writing and attending meetings.
Establishing effective habits around note-taking and professional boundaries early in your placement is important.
Not only will this support your clinical accuracy and efficiency, but it will also help preserve your energy and focus throughout the day. Developing a consistent working style is a foundational step in maintaining your wellbeing and upholding ethical standards.
Importantly, note-taking is a skill that evolves with practice. Just like any other core competency in psychology, you can – and should – seek guidance from your supervisor to strengthen your skills in writing clear, accurate and timely case notes.
7. Maintain your log book
Logbooks are a part of reflective practice, serving as a tool for you to jot down things you did well, when you felt uncomfortable or didn’t know what to say, and reflections on the way the client responded to you, and you responded to them.
"You want to go into your supervision session knowing what you want to ask," says Peter. "With so many pressures, you won't recall [all of your] experiences unless you document them."
Peter recommends a book, On Being a Supervisee: Creating Learning Partnerships by Michael Carroll, which empowers supervisees to take responsibility for their supervision and learning.
"It's a resource I wish I'd had at the start," he says.
Supervision sessions are also a chance to glean as much feedback as you can, he adds.
8. Learn self-care techniques that work for you
Placements can be intense and burnout is common, says Peter, so it's important to find self-care methods that work for you.
"It's crucial to disconnect from psychology. Find activities that allow you to do that, like immersing yourself in nature, reading, or volunteering.
"And talk to your fellow students for support. After all, you're all going through this together," he adds. "I also did a short APS course on self-care, which was very helpful." (This course is free for APS members).
9. Focus on the good stuff
While placements – and psychology in general – can be challenging, Peter reminds himself it's a privilege to share significant moments in people's lives. In that privilege comes incredible reward.
"When a client tells you that something you said resonated with them, it feels special," he says.
Peter suggests students on placement take time to reflect on these positive experiences.
10. Be honest about your experience
It's essential to be honest with clients and to have consent upfront to confirm that they are agreeable to working with a student psychologist.
"As a student, you're not expected to have all the answers. It's fine to say, 'I'm not sure how we address that, but I'd like to discuss it with my supervisor. Is that okay with you?”
Even now, he tells his clients he's an early career psychologist.
"We're trying to build a relationship of trust and openness.”
Over time, Peter has learned that experience can't be rushed.
"Even after 1,000 hours of placement, I still haven't figured out exactly who I am as a psychologist. That's going to take years – and that's okay."
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