Staff Profile
Dr Penn Smith
Associate Professor: Counselling, Programme Lead: BA Counselling and Mental Health, Course Lead: PG Dip in Humanistic Counselling
I am an Associate Professor in Counselling and Programme Lead for the BA in Counselling and Mental Health. I am also Course Lead for the PG Diploma in Humanistic Counselling, which is a BACP accredited training course. I am a Chartered Psychologist (CPsychol), a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA), and a registered member of the BACP (MBACP). My teaching covers both undergraduate and postgraduate courses. 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 creative training to professional coaches working with veterans on rehabilitation and recovery courses within the armed forces. Before joining academia, I worked as a graphic designer for over twenty years’ and owned my own freelance design business for eight years.
Qualifications
- Senior Fellow Higher Education Academy (2022)
- Post Graduate Certificate in Academic Practice (Leeds Beckett University, 2019)
- PhD in Psychology (University of Leeds, 2019)
- Post Graduate Diploma in Counselling & Psychotherapy (York St John University, 2015)
- BA (Hons) in Counselling Studies (York St John University, 2013)
- School – School of Education, Language and Psychology
- Email – p.smith2@yorksj.ac.uk
- Phone – 01904 876 539
- Research - View my work in RaY
Teaching
I teach on the BA in Counselling and Mental Health, as well as the Postgraduate Diploma in Humanistic Counselling. Previously to joining York St John University I was Course Lead for the PGDip in Counselling and Psychotherapy at Leeds Beckett University. I am experienced in delivering theory lectures, supporting students in skills practice and supervision, and facilitating personal and professional group work. I am also an experienced mental health trainer and have delivered bespoke creative training to professional coaches and mental health practitioners.
Research
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. My PhD research entitled ‘Photo elicitation study of a novel in-reach Rehabilitation and Recovery Service for people with severe and enduring mental health needs’ used photo-elicitation with a purposive sample of service users and staff to explore their experience of a new NHS mental health rehabilitation and recovery service. I am currently involved in research projects that explore the lived experiences of asylum seekers and refugees, and the use of creativity in service evaluation. I supervise a number of PhD students whose interests are in using participatory arts practice with veterans, exploring grief experiences of black Caribbean and black African people, and investigating the positive impact of outdoor therapy.
Publications
Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles
Smith, P., Thompson, A., & Madill, A. (2023). Staff experiences of a novel in‐reach rehabilitation and recovery service for people with profound and enduring mental health needs. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing.
Smith, P., Simpson, L., & Madill, A. (2021). Service user experiences of a novel in‐reach rehabilitation and recovery service for people with profound and enduring mental health needs. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing. 30(5), 1106-1116.
Book Chapters
Charura, D., & Smith, P. (2023). Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. In C., Feltham, T., Hanley & L. A., Winter (Eds). The SAGE Handbook of Counselling and Psychotherapy. (5th ed.). Sage Publications Ltd.
Smith, P., & Charura, D. (In Press). Working through relational trauma: An exploration of narratives of lived experiences of trauma and recovery. In Zoë Boden-Stuart & Michael Larkin (Eds). Relationships and Mental Health: Relational experience in distress and recovery. Palgrave MacMillian.
Newsletters
Smith, P. (2020). Photo Elicitation Study of a Novel In-reach R&R Service. Leeds & York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, Innovation Research and Development Newsletter, 38, 14-115.
Smith, P., & Madill, A. (2017). Photo Elicitation Study of a Novel In-reach Rehabilitation and Recovery Service. Leeds & York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, Innovation Research and Development Newsletter, 27, 10-11.
Commissioned Report
Smith, P., & Madill, A. (2019). Photo elicitation study of a novel in-reach Rehabilitation and Recovery Service for people with severe and enduring mental health needs. The University of Leeds, School of Psychology report to Leeds & York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust.
Professional Activities
Event organisation
Smith, P., Finlay, L., Charura, D., & Lago, C. (2022). Diverse relational encounters in counselling and psychotherapy. Book Launch. York St John University.
Charura, D., Smith, P., Spring, H., Howlett, F., & Parveen, R. (2022). We all share the same sky: Refugee and asylum seekers knowledge sharing event. York St John University.
Smith, P. (2018). ‘A picture of mental health’: Exhibition of photographs by service users and staff at an innovative Rehabilitation and Recovery Service. World Mental Health Day Event. University of Leeds.
Conference Presentations
Smith, P., & Charura, D. (2023). Working through relational trauma: An exploration of narratives of lived experiences of trauma and recovery. Qualitative Research on Mental Health Conference 2023, Budapest.
Smith, P., & Collyer, J. (2023). Working creatively to enhance student engagement, attendance, and wellbeing. Talking About Teaching 2023, York St John University.
Charura, D., Smith, P., Spring, H., Howlett, F., & Parveen, R. (2022). We all share the same sky. Healing through creativity, knowledge sharing, and conversations with refugees and asylum seekers. We all share the same sky: Refugee and asylum seekers knowledge sharing event. York St John University
Smith, P., & Madill, A. (2021). Framing recovery: A photo elicitation study of the experiences of service users within an in-reach Rehabilitation and Recovery Service. BACP Annual Conference 2021.
Smith, P., & Madill, A. (2021). Capturing mental health recovery: Photo elicitation study into service users’ experiences of a Rehabilitation and Recovery Service. Qualitative Research on Mental Health Conference 2021, Malta.
Smith, P., & Madill, A. (2019). Understanding staff and service user experience of a Rehabilitation and Recovery Service: A qualitative study. LYPFT Research and Development Committee.
Smith, P. (2018/12). ‘A picture of mental health recovery’. University of Leeds, Doctoral College Showcase.
Smith, P., & Madill, A. (2018). ‘A picture of mental health’: Capturing the experiences of service users and staff at an innovative Rehabilitation and Recovery Service. University of Leeds, PG Research Conference.
Smith, P., & Madill, A. (2018). Photo elicitation study of a mental health Rehabilitation and Recovery Service. University of Leeds, Mental Health Research Day.
Smith, P., & Madill, A. (2018). Using photo elicitation in research. Elliott Hudson College, Bringing Research into Schools.
Smith, P., & Madill, A. (2017). Staff experience of a novel in-reach mental health Rehabilitation and Recovery Service: A photo elicitation study. Royal College of Nursing, 23rd International MHNR Conference.
Smith, P., & Madill, A. (2017). Service user and staff experience of a novel in-reach mental health Rehabilitation and Recovery Service: A photo elicitation study. University of Leeds, Mental Health Research Day.
Smith, P., & Madill, A. (2016). Photo elicitation study of a novel in-reach Rehabilitation and Recovery Service for people with severe and enduring mental health needs: A pilot study. LYPFT Annual Research Forum.
Smith, P., & Madill, A. (2016). Photo elicitation study of staff experience of the Rehabilitation and Recovery Service. Rehabilitation and Recovery Service, Staff Project Launch.
Smith, P., & Madill, A. (2016). Photo elicitation study of a novel in-reach Rehabilitation and Recovery Service for people with severe and enduring mental health needs. University of Leeds, PG Research Conference.
Smith, P., & Madill, A. (2016). Photo elicitation study of the Leeds Rehabilitation and Recovery Service: for people with severe and enduring mental health needs: A pilot study. Leeds Care Group Clinical Governance Forum.
Smith, P., Gabriel, L., James, H., Britten, D., & Pendle, A. (2016). Developing critical reflexivity in the learning and teaching of core helping skills. Talking About Teaching 2016, York St John University.
Smith, P. (2014). Enhancing the development of helper skills in year one undergraduate counselling, coaching and mentoring students. Part I. Undergraduate Research Conference, York St John University.
Conference Posters
Smith, P., Charura, D., Spring, H., Howlett, F., & Parveen, R. (2022). We all share the same sky. Healing through creativity, knowledge sharing, and conversations with refugees and asylum seekers. We all share the same sky: Refugee and asylum seekers knowledge sharing event. York St John University.
Smith, P., & Madill, A. (2021). Because every picture has a story to tell: Photo elicitation study into staff and service users’ experiences of a Rehabilitation and Recovery Service. Qualitative Research on Mental Health Conference 2021, Malta.
Smith, P., & Madill, A. (2018). ‘A picture of mental health’: Exhibition of photographs by service users and staff at an innovative Rehabilitation and Recovery Service. LYPFT Annual Research Forum 2018.
Smith, P., & Madill, A. (2018). ‘A picture of mental health’: Exhibition of photographs by service users and staff at an innovative Rehabilitation and Recovery Service. University of Leeds, World Mental Health Day.
Smith, P., & Madill, A. (2018). ‘A picture of mental health’: Capturing the experiences of service users and staff at an innovative Rehabilitation and Recovery Service. Making a Difference’ - Faculty of Medicine and Health Postgraduate Research Conference.
Smith, P., & Madill, A. (2017). Staff experience of a mental health Rehabilitation and Recovery Service: A photo elicitation study. LYPFT Annual Research Forum 2017.
Smith, P., & Madill, A. (2017). Using photo elicitation to study a novel In-reach mental health Rehabilitation and Recovery Service. BPS Qualitative Methods in Psychology Section Conference 2017.
Smith, P. (2015). Enhancing the development of helper skills in year one undergraduate counselling, coaching and mentoring students. Part II. Undergraduate Research Conference, York St John University.
Professional activities
I am a Chartered Psychologist (CPsychol), a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA), and a Registered Member of the BACP (MBACP).
I am Deputy Chair for the York St John School of Education, Language and Psychology Ethics Committee, as well as a member of the Student Casework Team. I am on the British Psychological Society list of External/Viva Examiners and also a reviewer for the European Journal for Qualitative Research in Psychotherapy.
As Director of Partnerships for the York St John Communities Centre I sit on the Leadership and Advisory Board.
