What I learnt (about myself) whilst doing a Masters in Psychological Wellbeing
- Will Davies
- 3d
- 4 min read
Updated: 14h
It’s fair to say I haven’t kept up with posting blogs on my website. The last one, written way back in February 2022 about Leicester Vaughan College and the benefits of adult learning, feels like a lifetime ago, back when post‑lockdown life was just finding its feet.
Crossing the finishing line
In my defence though, I have been busy, taking a piece of my own advice and embarking upon a three-year, part-time, distance learning MSc in Psychological Wellbeing, which, ironically, took place only 5 minutes up the road at De Montfort University. The course was all-consuming, rewarding and exhausting in equal measure but I graduated last month with a distinction and even received the best dissertation award for my research into how humour can influence the outcome of therapy, an area that has always fascinated me.
A time to reflect
While studying, I was able to fold much of the learning directly into my professional practice, whether that was through understanding NHS mental health frameworks more deeply or weaving elements of positive psychology and cognitive behavioural techniques into client work.
Now that the dust has settled though, I’ve been reflecting not just on what I learnt academically, but also what my personal takeaways are from the whole experience, things I may have already known about myself but that were brought into focus through this period of adult learning.
1) Face the fear of not being perfect and read that damn feedback!
For every piece of coursework submitted, I received detailed and constructive feedback, which I then put off reading for days, lest it not be piled high with superlatives and praise. Receiving feedback has always been a challenge for me, dating back to childhood and based on a perception that I am only acceptable if I am perfect.
Reminding myself that I don’t have to be perfect to pass the course became a key part of my study process and, with time, I learned to master the dread, clamber down from the perfection pedestal and read assignment feedback upon receipt.
In doing so, I discovered enormous value in those comments. They helped me develop, adapt, and ultimately improve my work far more than praise alone ever could.
2) Gift yourself the chance to enjoy it
The first semester in the first year was brutal. Returning to formal study after years away whilst at the same time running my private practice, teaching at the University of Warwick and managing all my other responsibilities, was seriously testing. I even pulled an all-nighter in the library the day before an assignment deadline. So, whilst I got through it, the tension, stress and anxiety made it hugely unenjoyable and the prospect of simply ‘getting through it’ and paying for the privilege felt completely misaligned with the course’s core message of wellbeing.
So, I vowed to learn how to learn better, dared myself to ask for help (see point 3) and made changes to other aspects of my life. Gradually, with each semester that went by, things improved and I became more confident in my handling of academic challenges, to the point that preparing, researching and completing my dissertation happened without a hitch and no late night/early morning trips to the library.
3) Say ‘yes’ when help is offered
A part of me thinks that someone somewhere is giving out awards to people who did it all themselves, whether it be life, relationships, work or a Masters in Psychological Wellbeing. Thankfully, another part of me was able to persuade this part of me that that was not a sound basis for studying and that I should accept help wherever offered.
Consequently, I met with my course tutor, dissertation supervisor and the library team at various stages of the process. Without a doubt, the advice and support they offered me contributed to my distinction, but not only that, they made my learning journey a lot less lonely and intimidating.
Asking for help is never a sign of weakness and the part that thinks it is, could do with a little help itself.
Looking ahead
So, coming to the end of the study journey (for now), I am still a devout believer in the benefits of adult learning and would encourage anyone considering taking the plunge to give it a go, not only to grow as a learner but as an adult too.
In future blogs, I’ll be exploring some of the topics that inspired me, including:
How aggressive and benign types of humour such as banter, sarcasm and self-deprecation influence the relationship between counsellors and clients
How sleep difficulties impact wellbeing and and the strategies that can promote better rest
The influence of ageism and sexual stigma on the mental health of LGBTQIA+ individuals as they grow older and ways to foster greater inclusion and resilience
How unemployment affects individuals and families, and what can help sustain wellbeing during career transitions
Look out for them over the course of the year.
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