Overview

I am an early career clinical-researcher, with a clinical background in low-intensity CBT / IAPT ‘PWP’ practice. My work is currently funded by a competitively awarded NIHR pre-doc Fellowship award, within the Three Schools Mental Health scheme, in collaboration with the University of Bristol.

I'm passionate about building research and practice capacity in the mental health service 'gap' – particularly for individuals who continue to have unmet needs within existing mental health services; and those who may have been excluded from accessing support and hope to continue to build a joint clinical-academic career with this specific focus in mind. In particular I'm interested in building capacity for individuals who struggle to manage their emotions, relationship and sense of self, who may have been exposed to stressful or traumatic experiences in early life. This cluster of experiences is sometimes referred to as personality difficulties', a 'personality disorder', 'complex emotional difficulties' or 'complex trauma'.

My clinical interests include transdiagnostic, wellbeing-focused approaches - in particular those with a relational or behavioural focus. 

Research Keywords:

• personality difficulties, personality disorder, complex emotional needs, complex trauma
• Primary Care, IAPT, Improving Access to Psychological Therapies
• wellbeing
• intervention development
• mental health service "gap"

Current Work:

My current work focuses on intervention development and pilot and feasibility evaluation of brief Primary Care clinician (GPs and clinicians working in Improving Access to Psychological Therapies Services (IAPT)) training packages which aim to improve care and outcomes for individuals with complex emotional needs, who may have experienced 'complex trauma' and who's difficulties are sometimes referred to as 'personality difficulties' or a 'personality disorder'. 

I am based within the Mood Disorders Centre and also have strong links with the ADepT Programme (Augmented Depression Therapy). ADepT is a novel talking therapy for depression that aims to simultaneously reduce negativity and build positivity in an effort to keep people well in the long term. ADepT has been developed alongside service-users and NHS clinicians and we now aim to evaluate if the novel talking therapy for depression is better than current best practice in the NHS (Cognitive Behaviour Therapy) in reducing depression and in building wellbeing; and how we might ADepT for use in different contexts, for example for clients with a history of complex trauma or depression in young adults. 

Qualifications

Academic Qualifications:

BSc (Hons) Psychology, University of Nottingham, 2017 (1st class)

MSc Psychological Research Methods, University of Exeter, 2020 (Distinction; with Dean’s Commendation for Exceptional Performance)

Clinical Qualifications:

PGCert Psychological Therapies Practice (Low Intensity Cognitive Behavioural Therapy), University of Exeter, 2021 (Distinction)

Registered Wellbeing Practitioner with BABCP, 2021 onwards.

Links

• Fellowship Supervisor: Barney Dunn
• ADepT: A research study of Augmented Depression Therapy
• Fellowship Supervisor: Paul Moran

Research group links

• Clinical