By Aisha Riaz, ACPsych Guest Blogger
Confidence is often described as essential for success in clinical psychology. From assistant psychologist interviews to applying for the DClinPsy, we are repeatedly encouraged to “sound confident” and “present ourselves well”.
As an aspiring clinical psychologist, I took this advice seriously. Perhaps too seriously.
In one interview, my attempt to appear confident unravelled in ways I did not expect. What initially felt like a personal failure later became a valuable learning experience — not just about interviews, but about what confidence actually means in clinical psychology.
This blog reflects on that experience, what I learned from it, and why this matters for psychology graduates and early-career professionals working towards assistant psychologist roles or the clinical psychology doctorate.
When Confidence Becomes a Performance
On the day of the interview, I had done everything I thought was expected. I revised common questions, prepared examples, and practised my delivery. My goal was simple: appear calm, capable, and confident.
However, once the interview began, my attention shifted away from the questions themselves and towards how I was coming across. I became aware of my voice, my posture, and my responses in a way that felt rigid rather than reflective. When I made a small mistake in one answer, I panicked and tried to push through instead of pausing.
In trying to perform confidence, I lost flexibility.
This experience highlighted something important: confidence is often misunderstood as the absence of anxiety. In reality, anxiety is common in evaluative situations, particularly for early-career psychologists (Clark & Beck, 2010). Trying to hide it can make reflective thinking more difficult.
What the Evidence Tells Us About Anxiety and Performance
Research suggests that high levels of self-monitoring under pressure can reduce performance by increasing cognitive load (Eysenck et al., 2007). When we focus heavily on how we are being perceived, fewer mental resources are available for reasoning, reflection, and emotional awareness.
This is particularly relevant in clinical psychology interviews. These settings are not only assessing knowledge or experience. They are also assessing reflective capacity, psychological mindedness, and the ability to think when things do not go exactly as planned.
In hindsight, my mistake was assuming that confidence meant flawless delivery. In clinical psychology, confidence is more closely aligned with self-awareness, openness, and reflective ability.
What I Learned About ‘Real’ Confidence
The feedback I later received surprised me. While my nervousness had been noticeable, my willingness to reflect and acknowledge uncertainty was viewed positively.
This shifted my understanding of confidence in three key ways:
- Confidence does not mean feeling calm all the timeNervousness does not indicate a lack of competence or readiness.
- Reflection matters more than polishClinical psychology values how you think, not how perfectly you perform.
- Authenticity supports connectionBeing genuine allows others to engage with you as a person, not a performance.
These lessons have influenced how I approach interviews, supervision, and professional development more broadly.
Why This Matters for Aspiring Clinical Psychologists
Many psychology graduates feel pressure to appear “ready” before they feel ready. This can contribute to imposter feelings, harsh self-criticism, and burnout (Neff, 2011).
Reframing confidence as reflective rather than performative can be protective. It supports a developmental mindset and aligns closely with the values of the clinical psychology profession.
For those applying for assistant psychologist roles or preparing for the DClinPsy, this perspective can reduce unhelpful pressure. It allows space for learning, mistakes, and growth — all of which are expected at this stage.
Reflective Prompts for Aspiring Psycholgists
You may find it helpful to reflect on the following:
- When have I focused more on appearing confident than on engaging thoughtfully?
- How do I respond internally when I make mistakes under pressure?
- What would it mean to allow myself to be a learner rather than an expert?
These reflections are often more informative than perfect answers.
Final Thoughts
Trying to look confident and failing felt uncomfortable at the time. Yet it taught me something essential about myself and about clinical psychology.
Confidence is not about getting everything right. It is about staying curious, reflective, and compassionate — towards others and towards ourselves.
If you are navigating interviews, rejections, or moments of self-doubt, know that these experiences are part of becoming a clinical psychologist. They do not disqualify you. Often, they prepare you.
References
Clark, D. A., & Beck, A. T. (2010). Cognitive therapy of anxiety disorders. Guilford Press.
Eysenck, M. W., Derakshan, N., Santos, R., & Calvo, M. G. (2007). Anxiety and cognitive performance: Attentional control theory. Emotion, 7(2), 336–353. https://doi.org/10.1037/1528-3542.7.2.336
Neff, K. D. (2011). Self-compassion: The proven power of being kind to yourself. William Morrow.
