Projects per year
Personal profile
Academic Biography
I am a Chartered Psychologist and Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society, and sit on the Register of Applied Psychology Practice Supervisors. I am also a Fellow of Advanced HE (formally Higher Education Academy), and an accredited psychological therapist.
I joined Teesside University in December 2016 as a Senior Lecturer in Mental Health, after 12 years of working in a range of clinical roles with individuals with a vast array of mental health difficulties. I remain clinically active, and am currently accredited in the following therapies:
- Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT)
- CBT-Based Interventions
- Acceptance and Committment Therapy (ACT)
- Motivational Interviewing
- Dialectic Behavior Therapy (DBT)
My principle teaching and course responsibilities within the University are on postgraduate mental health programmes and continued professional development courses, including:
- PgC/UCAPD Psychological Wellbeing Practice
- UCPPD Supervision for Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners (module leader)
- UCPD Integrating Cognitive Behavioral Theory and Interventions in Mental Health Practice (module leader)
- UCAPD Dialectic Behavior Therapy
- UCPPD Trauma Sensitive Approaches to Psychological Wellbeing Practice
- UCPPD Approaches to Long Term Conditions for Psychological Wellbeing Practice
My academic background is within Psychology, with a specific interest in Developmental Psychology/Psychopathology, mental health, and psychological interventions. I completed my degree in Psychology and Masters degree in Developmental Psychopathology at the University of Durham, whilst also working within the field of mental health. I have also completed a Postgraduate Certificate in Primary Mental Health Care at Teesside University, before undertaking a PhD in Psychology at the University of York. Since commencing at Teesside, I have completed a PgC in Learning and Teaching in Higher Education.
I continue to work clinically and provide national clinical supervision for qualified psychological practitioners, alongside working in academia.
Summary of Research Interests
My research interests are relatively diverse; my primary research interest is in the quality of the parent-child relationship, specifically parental mind-mindedness, and its role in predicting children's developmental outcomes, including children's social cognition. I am particularly interested in non-normative groups such as adoptive parents/foster carers/blended families, and families that differ from the typical 'nuclear' set-up.
I am also interested more broadly in mental health and wellbeing, and am involved in several streams of research in the field of mental health and suicide prevention.
Research Projects & External Funding
Projects
A Predisposition for Perfectionism: Are Trainee Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners Well Beings? (2021-2023)
Funding Body: Unfunded
Role: Principle Investigator
A Mixed-Methods Study Using Co-Production to Explore Food Insecurity in Adults with Severe Mental Illness Living in Northern England (2021 - 2023)
Funding Body: NIHR Research for Patient Benefit
Role: Steering Group member
Co-production of an Evidence-Based Framework and Related Guidance for Practitioners on Personalised Risk Management and Safety Planning for Adults Experiencing Suicidality (2021 - 2022)
Funding Body: NIHR Applied Research Collaboration North East & North Cumbria
Role: Researcher
Thinking about Parenting - Exploring Parent-Child Relationships and Emotional Wellbeing with Biological Parents and Stepparents (2021-22)
Funding Body: Unfunded
Role: Principle Investigator
Parents' Experience of Children's Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties (2021-22)
Funding Body: Unfunded
Role: Co-Investigator
Developing an Audit Tool for Suicide Prevention Training Across North East and North Cumbria (2021)
Funding Body: North East and North Cumbria Suicide Prevention Network.
Role: Lead researcher
Rapid Scoping Review of Evidence-Based Best Practice in the Design and Delivery of Self-Harm and Suicide Prevention Training (2021)
Funding Body: North East and North Cumbria Suicide Prevention Network.
Role: Researcher
NHS 111 Mental Health Support Team Service Evaluation (2020)
Funding Body: North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care System (NENC ICS), Mental Health (MH) workstream
Role: Researcher
University Mental Health Charter; Student Minds (2019)
Funding Body: UPP Foundation and the Office for Students
Role: Recruited as part of an academic research team to collect and analyse the evidence that informed the University Mental Health Charter.
Mind-Mindedness in Research and Practice (2013 - 2017)
Funding Body: Economic and Social Research Council
Role: PhD Researcher
Tees Valley Baby Study (2011 - 2013)
Funding Body: Economic and Social Research Council
Role: Volunteer Research Assistant
External Roles and Professional Activities
British Psychological Society (244957):
- Chartered Psychologist (CPsychol)
- Associate Fellow (AFBPsS)
- Register of Applied Psychology Practice Supervisors (RAPPS)
British Association of Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies (1010888):
- CBT Register: Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner
IPT UK (2021014):
- Accredited IPT Practitioner
Advanced HE (RP156431):
- Fellow (FHEA)
External Examiner, University of Southampton:
Programmes: PGCert/GradCert Low Intensity CBT with IAPT Status
External Examiner, University College Cork:
Programmes: MA in Applied Psychology, MA in Applied Psychology (Mental Health)
North East and Yorkshire Psychological Practitioner Community of Practice
- Research Fellow
Learning and Teaching Interests and Activities
- Mental Health and Wellbeing
- Psychological Therapies
- Low Intensity Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
- Dialectic Behaviour Therapy
- Acceptance and Committment Therapy
- Motivational Interviewing
- Clinical and Case Management Supervision
- Delivering Psychological Therapies to 'Hard to Reach' Groups
- Forensic Mental Health
Education/Academic qualification
Post Graduate Certificate in Learning and Teaching in Higher Education, Teesside University
Award Date: 23 Oct 2018
PhD, Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology, University of York
Sept 2013 → Jun 2017
Award Date: 27 Jul 2018
Post Graduate Certificate in Primary Mental Healthcare, Teesside University
Feb 2013 → Dec 2013
Award Date: 16 Jan 2014
Master, Developmental Psychopathology, Durham University
Oct 2010 → Sept 2011
Award Date: 13 Jan 2012
Bachelor, Psychology, Durham University
Oct 2005 → Jun 2008
Award Date: 24 Jun 2008
External positions
External Examiner , University College Cork
Oct 2024 → Sept 2027
Psychotherapist, NHS Practitioner Health
2024 → …
External Examiner, University of Southampton
28 Oct 2023 → 30 Sept 2027
National Clinical Supervisor, Rethink Mental Illness
Feb 2022 → …
Research Fellow, North East and North Yorkshire Psychological Practitioner Community of Practice
2022 → …
External Examiner, University of East Anglia
2021 → 2024
Chartered Psychologist & Associate Fellow, The British Psychological Society
2019 → …
Fellow, Higher Education Academy
2018 → …
Senior Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner , Rethink Mental Illness
Mar 2015 → Feb 2022
Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner , Tees Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust
Jan 2013 → Mar 2015
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- 1 Similar Profiles
Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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The Dream Completion Technique: Addressing Traumatic Dreams at Step 2
Thompson, P. (PI), Fishburn, S. (CoI) & Havens, J. (CoI)
1/12/23 → 31/01/26
Project: Research
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PANB: An evaluation of the feasibility and acceptability of the Preventing Adult Not Brought (PANB) Strategy in primary care across the NENC ICB.
Barker, J. (PI), Hodgson, J. (CoI), Harrison, B. (RA), Stubbs-Masters, E. (CoI), Fishburn, S. (CoI) & Giles, E. (PI)
1/12/23 → 29/02/24
Project: Other
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PANB: Prevention of Adult Not Brought (PANB)
Barker, J. (PI), Giles, E. (CoI), Hodgson, J. (CoI), Stubbs-Masters, E. (CoI), Kanmodi, K. (RA), Egbedina, E. A. (RA), Fishburn, S. (CoI) & Harrison, B. (RA)
3/04/23 → 27/02/24
Project: Research
File -
Developing an audit tool for mapping training for suicide and self-harm
Giles, E. (CoI), Barker, J. (PI), Ramtohul, A. (CoI), Fishburn, S. (CoI), Robinson, J. (CoI) & Hodgson, J. (CoI)
1/03/21 → 30/06/21
Project: Research
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Weight management interventions for adults living with overweight or obesity and severe mental illness: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Stevens, H. (RA), Smith, J. (CoI), Walker, L. (CoI), Innerd, A. (CoI), McGeechan, G. (CoI), Fishburn, S. (CoI) & Giles, E. (PI)
1/02/21 → 30/06/22
Project: Research
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A Predisposition for Perfectionism: Are Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners Well Beings?
Fishburn, S. & Thompson, P., 12 Jul 2023.Research output: Contribution to conference › Poster
Open AccessFile458 Downloads (Pure) -
Developing a Quality Assurance Framework for Self-harm & Suicide Prevention and Awareness Training Across the North East & North Cumbria. Work Package 3: Piloting and Testing Phase
Barker, J., Fishburn, S., Ramtohul, A., Thompson, P. & Watson, P., 9 Aug 2022, Teesside University. 42 p.Research output: Book/Report › Commissioned report
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Weight management interventions for adults living with overweight or obesity and severe mental illness: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Stevens, H., Smith, J., Bussey, L., Innerd, A., McGeechan, G., Fishburn, S. & Giles, E., 3 Nov 2022, In: British Journal of Nutrition. 60 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile41 Downloads (Pure) -
Explaining the Relation between Early Mind-Mindedness and Children’s Mentalizing Abilities: The Development of an Observational Preschool Assessment
Fishburn, S., Meins, E., Fernyhough, C., Munoz Centifanti , L. & Larkin, F., 20 Dec 2021, In: Developmental Psychology. 58, 1, p. 17-31Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile333 Downloads (Pure) -
Rapid scoping review of evidence of best practice in the design and delivery of self-harm and suicide prevention training
Barker, J., Giles, E., Byrnes, K., Lilley, R., Fishburn, S., Ramtohul, A., McGeechan, G., Thompson, P., Robinson, J. & Hodgson, J., 19 Feb 2021, 97 p.Research output: Book/Report › Commissioned report
Open AccessFile574 Downloads (Pure)