A pro-bono clinic; For the public and professional good

The University of Hertfordshire’s vision was to support and run a range of student-led psychological advice clinics and training programmes co-produced with other stakeholders and service users to benefit the community whilst providing valuable real-world experience for clinical psychology trainees.

It was derived from the vision of Law clinics at the university that provide ‘pro bono’ services, a Latin term meaning “for the good of the public”. In the legal profession, it refers to the provision of legal services free of charge. However, within psychology and using community psychology theory, we can expand the meaning to suggest co-production and collaboration with professionals and public members to develop resources that can support those affected by mental health and their families.

Clinical Psychology trainees can be placed at the university clinic during their academic/service development placement to help further develop their interpersonal skills, psychological research, and service user care skills through systemic theory to strengthen their leadership and managerial proficiency.

We hope to use the teaching of community psychology to work and play with community and deliver high quality psychology minded resources, training facilitates and consultations that can cultivate a community of care and a commitment to each other’s health and wellbeing.