Researchers and young people collaborate on research centre’s flagship study
10 February 2025
The Skills for Adolescent Wellbeing Study (SWELL) team recently hosted an engaging and informative session with the Wolfson Centre Youth Advisory Group (YPAG).
The SWELL study aims to test whether an online group cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) programme for young people can help protect against depression and improve the quality of life for adolescents.
The YPAG has played an invaluable role in shaping the plans of the centre’s current research. This collaborative session included further conversation and discussion between researchers and young people. It was also an opportunity for the research team to share with the youth advisors the impact their views had on the study plans and offer advice for those interested in moving into clinical careers in the future.
The event began with a mini "career clinic" led by Dr Jac Airdrie and Emily Barnacle, who shared their diverse journeys into clinical psychology.
"A massive thank you to Jac and Emily for kicking off the involvement year in style! Their contributions not only provided valuable career insights but also reinforced the importance of young people’s involvement in shaping mental health research."
With two budding psychologists in the group, the session provided interesting insight, sparking thoughtful questions from the young people in attendance. The discussion covered a range of pathways into clinical psychology, highlighting both academic and clinical experiences as key stepping stones to the profession.
Following the career clinic, Jac and Emily updated the YPAG on how their feedback has shaped the development of the online group cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) intervention within the SWELL study. The YPAG members appreciated seeing their contributions in action, with one participant commenting, "It's so nice to see the progress of the research to this point."
A young person from the YPAG shared their perspective on the event:
"As an aspiring clinical psychologist, the YPAG meeting with the SWELL team offered me valuable networking opportunities and a greater understanding of different avenues to progress towards a career in psychology.
The researchers provided insight into the different paths they have taken into clinical psychology, with some focusing more on academics and research and others emphasising clinical experience. I found the meeting to be particularly insightful, and it encouraged me to explore research roles within the Wolfson Centre at Cardiff University that I had not considered previously.
I enjoyed having the opportunity to ask questions during and after the meeting and have been able to provide feedback about future career clinics I would like to see organised."
“Hosting my first YPAG session was a pleasure. It was great to meet such an engaged group, whose insightful questions helped us consider how to best support all young people and shape future research.”
Learn more about how the Wolfson Centre incorporates public involvement, ensuring young people’s voices remain at the heart of their research.