I am an Associate Professor and Programme Lead for the postgraduate courses in Counselling. I am a Chartered Psychologist (CPsychol), a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA), and a registered member of the BACP (MBACP). My research and therapeutic interests are in relational trauma, social justice, mental health rehabilitation and recovery, and developing the use of creativity in teaching, counselling, and research.
As a practitioner, I have worked therapeutically with vulnerable children, young people, and adults across the third sector and emergency services, as well as worked as an advocate for homeless young people and their families. My core therapeutic approach is integrative with an emphasis on humanistic philosophies and theory. I am also an experienced mental health trainer and have delivered bespoke trauma-informed, creative training to professional coaches and mental health practitioners.
As a member of the leadership team and advisory board for the York St John Communities Centre I am passionate about supporting the Centre and its inspirational work within the community. I am particularly interested in supporting the high-quality counselling placements on offer and the Centre's engagement with trauma-informed research.
Qualifications
- Senior Fellow Higher Education Academy (2022)
- Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice (Leeds Beckett University, 2019)
- PhD in Psychology (University of Leeds, 2019)
- Postgraduate Diploma in Counselling and Psychotherapy (York St John University, 2015)
- BA (Hons) in Counselling Studies (York St John University, 2013)
I lead and teach on the Postgraduate Diploma in Humanistic Counselling, which is a BACP accredited training course. I am experienced in delivering theory lectures, supporting students in skills practice and supervision, and facilitating personal and professional group work.
I have strong skills in qualitative research methods and a particular interest in relational trauma, social justice, mental health rehabilitation and recovery, and developing the use of creativity in teaching, counselling, and research.
I have a special interest and expertise in using creative research methods, in particular photo-elicitation and the use of creativity in service evaluation.
I supervise a number of doctoral and postgraduate students. My doctorate students interests are in using participatory arts practice with veterans and exploring grief experiences of black Caribbean and black African people.
Recent publications
I am a Chartered Psychologist (CPsychol), a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA), and a Registered Member of the BACP (MBACP).
I hold the position of Deputy Chair for the York St John School of Education, Language and Psychology Ethics Committee, and I am a member of the Student Casework team, and School Quality Panel.
I am on the British Psychological Society list of External/Viva Examiners and also external examiner for the MSc in Mental Health, Trauma, and Psychological Wellbeing at Nottingham Trent University.
I am a member of the Leadership team and Advisory Board for the York St John Communities Centre.
