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 2013Jun 2017

Award Date: 27 Jul 2018

Post Graduate Certificate in Primary Mental Healthcare, Teesside University

Feb 2013Dec 2013

Award Date: 16 Jan 2014

Master, Developmental Psychopathology, Durham University

Oct 2010Sept 2011

Award Date: 13 Jan 2012

Bachelor, Psychology, Durham University

Oct 2005Jun 2008

Award Date: 24 Jun 2008

External positions

External Examiner , University College Cork

Oct 2024Sept 2027

Psychotherapist, NHS Practitioner Health

2024 → …

External Examiner, University of Southampton

28 Oct 202330 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

20212024

Chartered Psychologist & Associate Fellow, The British Psychological Society

2019 → …

Fellow, Higher Education Academy

2018 → …

Senior Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner , Rethink Mental Illness

Mar 2015Feb 2022

Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner , Tees Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust

Jan 2013Mar 2015

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