After finishing my master’s degree in clinical psychology, I knew I wanted to pursue neuropsychology, but was torn between starting work or studying further.
Seeing as most of my classmates were already seeking employment, I decided to take a break and not do anything. I volunteered with a friend’s NGO and a couple months in, I saw a forward for a job vacancy at Synapsium, a clinic primarily focusing on neuropsychological services. I applied for the job and my journey into the field of psychology began, one that would shape not just my professional but also my personal life.
Synapsium offered a unique and dynamic workspace. It wasn’t a traditional set-up where I had to do what I was told. I was valued and allowed to give my opinion. I was asked to take initiative and do things by myself. Throughout this process I learned several things about the profession as well as myself.
The uniqueness of this workplace meant that we didn’t stick to the regular run of the mill assessments or therapy. We broadened our horizons and worked on research, workshop and awareness programs. This meant not just conducting our own research, but also having lengthy discussions on new things we had read or learned about. There was a lot of work done on building awareness not just among us but also trying to educate our clients, their families and reach out to as many as we could from the community.
Learning was a big part of being at Synapsium, so naturally attending conferences, seminars and workshops was encouraged. The best part was that it was not just the attending of these but applying what we had learned from other professionals to our clinical work. The reward of this was when we would display our learnings in the form of posters at these conferences when we returned.
The application and practicing teachings we recommended to our clients was also big. “Practice what you preach” was emphasized and it was reflected in our daily mindfulness sessions. It was mandate to set 20 minutes aside in our calendar to practice mindfulness together. This practice helped me be calmer, focused and more in-tune with my own emotions and reactions.
Working at Syanpsium made me feel valued, I was making actual contributions in the lives of people by working with them as well as learning more about my own self and improving every day. Receiving feedbacks, which were critical but given in a constructive manner also helped catalyst my growth.
While working at Synapsium for almost three years I have learned several other things. Working in a psychological clinic is bound to make you feel grateful for all you have, help you become more empathetic and hone values that can help you grow as a therapist. The environment you work in however is always understated. For me and being a part of Synapsium, is the work environment what pushed me to work more. It is not just your work that brings you satisfaction it is also the place where you work.
At Synapsium I was an independent therapist who was a part of a team or as I’d like to call it a family. It was my second home. You attitude towards your workplace and how you see it or treat it also defines how you turn out as a professional. A workplace that treats you like a family member and makes you feel valued, is bound to push you to do your best every day and that is exactly what happened. I was challenged to step-up and take more responsibility, be more assertive and as a reward I gained more experience and more confident in my own self and my abilities. There were several moments when I was allowed to be myself and express myself freely; team bonding sessions helped bring everyone closer without any sense of animosity or feelings of competitiveness.
Synapsium has been an incredible force in my journey as a psychologist and I am grateful for all the opportunities and learning it has given me. The three years spent there were the best career beginning I could have ever asked for.
Author: Rowena Sait