Conversations with mental health practitioners from working class backgrounds working in children’s mental health services

Social class is an often neglected component of a clinical psychologist's multicultural competence, and there have been calls for more research and commentary on how personal social class identities impact upon clinical practice. This article presents the conversations of four working class mental health practitioners reflecting on the process of training and working in NHS children's mental health in the UK. Throughout the paper we will include both academic research about various parts of the pathway, and also share some of our lived experience, captured from our conversations. We make recommendations for improving the experiences of psychologists from working class backgrounds, and making the most of their unique strengths and experiences.