Generative AI has a huge amount of potential within NHS mental health and psychological

services. However, its utility is dependent on clinicians’ willingness to use the tools. This

thesis aims to understand psychology professionals’ perceptions and experiences of using

generative AI within their clinical roles in order to promote ethical and effective adoption

into NHS services. Part A of this thesis presents a thematic analysis of interviews with NHS

psychologists and therapists who were asked about their experiences of using generative AI

as a psychological formulation assistant. Four themes were generated. Themes highlighted

that clinicians found generative AI helpful in expanding and structuring their formulation

thinking. However, they also found that using the tool created epistemic uncertainty around

trusting the AI's outputs and tensions around what introducing generative AI might mean for

clinicians’ professional identity and the therapeutic relationship. Part B presents a crosssectional

survey study using the Technology Acceptance Model to examine whether identity

threat acts as a barrier to psychology professionals adopting generative AI. Findings highlight

that perceptions of AI as a threat to professional roles and identity influence clinicians'

willingness to use these tools. Taken together, the thesis provides complementary

perspectives on the same question: what shapes psychology professionals’ readiness to adopt

generative AI technologies into their clinical work.