ThinkTank Talk Delves into Clinical Psychology

Last Thursday 10 October pupils were treated to a talk from clinical psychologist Dr William Durward, which was very engaging and interesting. His discussion of specific legal cases and the role of medical testimony in court provided a fascinating illustration of the intersection between clinical psychology and the broader criminal justice system. 

The insights gained from Dr Durward's talk highlighted how clinical psychologists not only contribute to interdisciplinary fields, but also derive conclusions about human behaviour, particularly in the context of criminal activity, through the close analysis of their patients. The girls enjoyed that he mentioned both the personal side of himself and the clients alongside that application to the law. It was also very interesting to hear that Dr Durward prefers to gather information personally, from scratch, about his clients with a ‘skeletal outline' of who they are, rather than following what the paperwork says about them, in order to create his opinions for a judgement.

This talk deepened the girls' understanding of the key role psychology plays within the legal world and everyday situations. It was fascinating for them to learn of the long and dedicated journey it takes a person to be able to enter this profession and achieve this level of expertise. It was also interesting hearing about real examples of psychology cases Dr Durward had dealt with, as it gave a sense of how psychology is applied in the real world.