The workshop will focus on a variety of aspects to exam preparation.

Topics will include:

• Understanding Stress & Exam Anxiety Evidence‑based psychological approaches to recognising, managing, and reducing anxiety during high‑pressure periods. 
• Attention, Focus & Cognitive Efficiency Practical tools for sustaining concentration, managing cognitive overload, and working effectively with limited time and energy.
• Promoting Effective Self Management during exam preparation. Strategies for managing sleep, self care and emotional wellbeing while balancing revision with clinical duties.
• Effective Revision & Exam Strategy Core principles of exam preparation, including how to structure revision, optimise learning, and work with the realities of training.
• Thriving, Not Just Surviving Building resilience, self‑compassion, and psychological flexibility to support both exam performance and long‑term wellbeing.
• Practical Guidance for Time Management & Prioritisation Techniques for planning, pacing, and prioritising revision within the context of real world work life pressures.
• Context, Identity & Performance Reflecting on how professional identity, expectations, and systemic pressures shape the exam experience—and how to navigate these constructively.
• Peer Support & Shared Learning Facilitated discussion to reduce isolation, normalise challenges, and strengthen mutual support within the group.

Workshop particulars

Dr Emma Lishman 

Emma is the Clinical Director for Hammet Street Consultants and a Senior Clinical Psychologist at North Bristol NHS Trust. She leads psychological services for resident doctors across HEIW/NHSE. Emma has specialised in working with doctors for over 12 years, providing therapy, supervision, training and consultation both within the NHS and through Hammet Street. She has a deep understanding of medical training, the NHS environment, and the systemic pressures clinicians face.

Her clinical interests include Compassion Focused Therapy and the impact of psychological trauma on healthcare professionals. Her current work focuses on developing trauma‑informed, supportive environments and strengthening organisational approaches to staff wellbeing.

Dr Claire Illingworth

Claire is a Consultant Clinical Psychologist who has specialised in working with doctors for 10 years. Claire initially developed a two year project with the East of England Deanery aimed at mitigating the effects of secondary traumatic stress for paediatric trainees. This work was presented at the Royal College of Paediatric Child Health Conference and at the European Conference for Physical Health in Paris. Claire now works for Hammet Street Consultants where she provides therapy, training and consultation. Claire has also worked in the NHS for over 20 years across a wide range of services. She is now the Joint Head of Neuropsychology Department at Addenbrooke’s Hospital. She has a particular interest in Compassion Focused Therapy and working systemically to understand the challenges faced by patients, families and staff.  

Emma and Claire have been running exam‑focused workshops for more than eight years and brings a nuanced understanding of postgraduate medical exams, the challenges surrounding them, and the wider context in which doctors prepare, train and work.