Paul Thompson

I joined Teesside University in December 2014 as a Senior Lecturer in Mental Health, after numerous years of working within a mental health setting. My principal teaching responsibilities within the university are to teach low intensity cognitive behavioural therapy to trainee psychological wellbeing practitioners. This includes: PgC/UCAPD Low Intensity Assessment and Intervention Skills for Psychological Wellbeing Practice, UCPPD Approaches to Long Term Conditions for Psychological Wellbeing Practice, UCPPD Supervision for Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners, UCPD Integrated Cognitive Behavioural Theory and Interventions in Mental Health Practice. Alongside the low intensity programmes I regular teach on PgDip CBT, nursing associates, and pre-registration nursing. I supervise BSc and MSc dissertation students and have experience in supervising systematic reviews, biopsychosocial aspects of mental health and forensic mental health including polysubstance use.

My academic background is within Psychology, with a specific interest in low intensity CBT interventions, and forensic mental health. I completed my degree in Psychology and Master’s degree in forensic psychology at the Teesside University, whilst also working within a prison setting. I have also completed a Postgraduate Certificate in Primary Mental Health Care at Teesside University, before undertaking a PgCert in Learning and teaching and a Doctorate in Education, also at Teesside University and I am a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. I continue to work clinically as a senior psychological wellbeing practitioner within a community IAPT service where I have been involved in many projects including: establishing primary mental health care support for students within regional universities, colleges and sixth form centres and the creation of veteran specific pathways within primary mental health.

My research interests include the impact and effectiveness of low intensity CBT in primary care, co-morbid mental health and long term physical health conditions, clinical supervision, forensic mental health, protocol analysis, cognitive psychology and information processing.

My doctoral thesis is investigating the use of audio visual recordings in the training of therapists. Based upon the principals of cognitive psychology, more specifically information processing models, cognitive affective theory of multimedia learning and the cognitive load model, I am investigating whether recorded role plays promote higher order thinking skills and aid with cognitive development as well as behavioural skills development.

Investigating the Impact of Audio-Visual Simulation on Trainee Psychological Wellbeing Pracitioners' Cogntive Processes

• Technology in Pegagogy
• Technological Innovation
• Mental Health 
• Assessment and Treatment of Common Mental Health Problems
• Psychological Therapies
• Clinical Supervision
• Low Intensity Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
• Co-Morbid Mental Health & Long Term Physical Health Conditions
• Forensic Mental Health