Why a forensic psychologist chooses locums contract work — and thinks you should too

Key takeaways

• Locums practice gave me flexibility and autonomy without compromising clinical impact
• Purpose-driven work has sustained my 25-year career in psychology
• Locums provides meaningful career options for psychologists seeking balance, flexibility or a new professional chapter
  
  

Finding purpose in practice

For more than 25 years, I have worked with individuals living with chronic mental illness, many of them involved in the forensic system. What has remained constant throughout my career is not just what I do, but why I do it. I am driven by a calling to help vulnerable people resolve their unfinished issues so they can function meaningfully for themselves and their communities.

According to research conducted by LocumTenens.com and Jackson Physician Search in their report, Is Medicine Still a Calling? Exploring Physician Attitudes About Purpose in Medicine, 88% of clinicians still find meaning in their work, despite system challenges.

For me, that meaning showed itself when I was 14. I watched the film To Sir, With Love and was deeply moved by the story of a West Indian teacher who bridged a cultural gap with his student to help him become the best version of himself. What stayed with me even more was the mutual transformation — the students grew, the teacher grew and I felt changed watching it. It showed me early on that when we help others become their best selves, we’re changed in the process, too. Being West Indian myself, I related heavily to the character and to that same desire to make an impact. It was then that I decided I wanted to help others manage and overcome their difficulties and struggles, so they could become the best versions of themselves. 

The unexpected rewards of practicing locums

Over the course of my career, much of my work has been in forensic and correctional settings, an area many clinicians hesitate to enter. While the population is complex, I have always found the work stimulating and deeply rewarding. Whether I am helping an incarcerated individual accept responsibility for their actions, understand the harm they caused or develop prosocial behaviors to avoid reoffending, I see real transformation happen. Watching someone commit to meaningful change, sometimes after decades of harm, is what keeps my sense of purpose alive.

That sense of purpose is vital in care. While 78% of clinicians say they would choose their profession again, many also feel the heavy weight of administrative burdens. Locums helps ease that strain by restoring flexibility and reinforcing a sense of purpose, two factors that are essential to sustaining a long, fulfilling career.

Taking the leap into locums

After 20 years of state service, locums work stood out as an opportunity to benefit both my career and quality of life. Practicing as a locum contractor gave me a renewed sense of professional and personal freedom: the ability to choose my path, focus on meaningful work, travel to new locations and answer only to myself. Taking that step brought a level of tranquility and control I hadn’t had before.

Sightseeing in Paris, France, after a presentation at the International Congress of Psychology.

As with every new opportunity or assignment, a level of anxiety comes with it. That is why I enthusiastically recommend LocumTenens.com. My recruiter and licensing specialist provided immense support, almost as if they were there in person with me. They were always available and took me step by step through the recruiting, onboarding and licensing process, making me feel as if I had known and worked with them for years. I was truly thankful for their support, as I was new to the locums community.

What locums could make possible for you

In my current work as a locums provider, I have been given the opportunity to work in state hospitals with patients who are both civilly committed and incompetent to stand trial. As in my previous work in prisons, I help prepare these patients for community re-entry by giving them the tools to be productive citizens once discharged. By doing locums work, I can continue one of my many passions — forensic work.

I view locums as a refreshing change of pace: short-term commitments, no overhead expenses and the freedom to work anywhere in the country.

With the employment of psychologists projected to grow 6% in the next ten years, locums is a fresh and creative way to grow your career and be financially rewarded in the process. Practicing as a locum allows you to experience new places without long-term obligation, making it an ideal option for clinicians in transition or those simply looking for greater balance. Over my two decades in the field, my experience with locums has deepened my appreciation for the work I do as a psychologist.

If you’re a psychologist seeking flexibility, autonomy, and purpose-driven work, locums could be the next chapter in your career. Connect with a dedicated LocumTenens.com recruiter to learn about current opportunities — and if you know a colleague who might be a good fit, ask about our $2,000 referral bonus for psychologists, therapists, counselors and social workers. Begin the conversation that could open the door to a more balanced and rewarding way to practice today.