Psychology Support

Our psychology pilot project is carried out in partnership with NHS Lothian, the City of Edinburgh Council and London based charity, St Martins in-the-field. This project offers vital psychological support to individuals who would otherwise struggle to access such a resource.

This initiative takes a holistic approach, working closely with both residents and staff to create psychologically informed environments. Rather than focusing solely on one-to-one therapy, the project integrates psychological principles into everyday care, ensuring long-term, meaningful support.

We sat down with NHS Clinical Psychologist Sarah Philips to find out more…

What inspired you to take part in this psychology pilot project with Rowan Alba, and how does it differ from your previous work within the NHS?

The project appealed to me as I recognised that the people I would be working with wouldn’t normally have access to psychology, would have complex histories and needs in which psychology could make a real difference too. The project also appealed to me as a large proportion of the project involves working with the staff teams to help develop more psychologically informed environments. In some respects the work isn’t very different as in previous roles I have worked in services which have involved working with both staff teams and individuals. However, the project is different from traditional psychology posts as it is not just about seeing individuals to deliver therapy, but taking a wholistic view of what is needed and working with the teams that support them.

Can you describe a typical day working within Rowan Alba’s services, and how you and your team integrate with the staff and clients?

A typical day involves going to one of the accommodations, checking in with the staff about what has been happening. Discussing any difficulties that have arisen with the residents, how they were supported and whether there need to be any changes to the support plans.
Depending on the accommodation and which residents are available, I might meet with a resident either to engage in an activity to build trust or complete an assessment or to do so individual therapy.

What are some of the most significant challenges you’ve encountered working with women who have experienced long-term violence and homelessness, and how do you approach these?

The challenges tend to be about building a trusting relationship, many of the residents have had difficult relationships with care providers in the past that has led to their needs not being met and feeling dismissed, so they can be cautious and suspicious of psychology. Meeting with the residents, having a cup of tea, playing a game and engaging in a conversation which focuses on them helps to start building a sense of safety and trust in myself and the assistant psychologist.

How have you seen trust grow between you, your team, and the clients at Stramullion and Thorntree Mill? Are there any moments that stand out?

The length of time that trust takes to build varies from resident to resident. Yes, one of the moments that stands out is when one of the longer term residents spoke to me about what had been playing on her mind over the last couple of weeks. This resident has had an extremely difficult history and a very complicated relationship with carer providers. She struggles to communicate with staff about her concerns and what I’ve noticed over time is that she will wait for me to visit the accommodation, ask to see me, spend time playing a game with me and we’ll casually discuss what she is worrying about. It opens up an opportunity for me to give her reassurance about what she is concerned about and strategies to cope.

What role do you think embedding NHS psychologists directly into services like these plays in improving mental health care for vulnerable women?

It plays an important role as it enables the residents to access the support that they need in the place that they are living, making it easier for them to engage with psychology. They are not having to cope with several bus journeys which can be extremely difficult for them when they are often in ‘threat’ mode (feeling threatened about being out in the world). It is also incredibly helpful for me as a psychologist to see the environment that they are living in to enable me to observe how they interact when they are less anxious.
Also, as an NHS Psychologist I am able to help link the residents into wider mental health services such as psychiatry, Thrive and group work. Being that link is not only helpful to the resident but also ensures that there is improved communication between the health professionals and the support team (Rowan Alba staff).

What are your hopes for the future of the project and its impact on women who are rebuilding their lives after trauma and homelessness?

Part of the project involves gathering data which I am hoping will demonstrate the benefit of embedding NHS Psychology into homelessness services on a long-term basis. Enabling people to access the psychological support that they need will help them to rebuild their lives more quickly and successfully.