Alumni

Andrew Kemp

Career Path: Owner & Cognitive Behavioural Therapist, Clear Mind CBT
Location: Harrogate, UK

My undergrad in Psychology at Northumbria helped me to see that my passion lay in better understanding and helping people with their mental health. I completed further postgraduate courses and then trained as a Cognitive Behavioural Therapist, working for the NHS for 10 years.

What are you doing now?

I now have my own therapy service, Clear Mind CBT, offering private counselling, therapy, CBT and EMDR for adults and children in Harrogate and online.

What was it about Northumbria that made you decide to study here?

Having visited Newcastle and having friends already studying at Northumbria, I was able to see what a wonderful, welcoming place it was. The course looked great and I was able to see the campus first hand and what it had to offer.

What was it like studying at Northumbria?

I loved it. We had a great mix of lectures, seminars and self-directed learning. We conducted experiments based around psychology which helped us to test out theory in a more practical, engaging way.

How connected was your course with industry?

A number of our lecturers were working in the field, both in research positions but also in more practical positions. This allowed great insight into what a career in psychology could look like and how to achieve that.

What was the best thing about your course?:

The people. From the lecturers, tutors and support staff, down to the brilliant friends I made. The support was brilliant and I have made friends for life. It was a great decision to study at Northumbria.

How did studying at Northumbria help you achieve your career goals / give your career an edge?

My course at Northumbria gave me the grounding and starting point that my whole career is based on. It gave me the knowledge and understanding to push myself and achieve my goal of having my own business as a successful therapy provider in Yorkshire. Without Northumbria I would not be where I am now.

Which skills/knowledge did you learn on your course that you use most now/throughout your career?

My course provided me with the foundations of my career path. It helped me to understand different forms of psychological therapy and choose to learn more about CBT, the area which I found most helpful and fascinating. Northumbria helped me to build my confidence and presentation skills which has been invaluable at different stages in my career.

What did you enjoy most about your time at Northumbria University?

It's impossible to pick out one thing as there are so many, but my three years at Northumbria and three years living in Newcastle were some of the happiest in my life and the time that I was able to learn and push myself the most.