I am a Senior Lecturer in the School of Education. My research, teaching and knowledge exchange is in the field of education and psychology. I am a chartered psychologist specialising in psychotherapy. My research interests primarily relate to three areas: emotional psychology, an emotion-focused-experiential approach to psychotherapy, counselling and coaching, and trauma and post-traumatic growth. While these areas may be considered discretely, my work often demonstrates the overlap between these. My PhD Counselling & Psychotherapy: ‘Enhancing Emotional Processing in Emotion-Focused Therapy for Clients with Autistic Process’ received the Outstanding Research Award by The British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (2017). I welcome opportunities to discuss collaboration around areas that align with my research interests.
My current research projects are focused on exploring trauma, transformative emotional healing, human flourishing and compassionate practice:
- PI on Exploring how Emotion-Focused Therapy impacts mental health, trauma & healing and empathy & compassion in clients with autistic process
- PI on Creating Autistic Trauma Stories exploring the impact expressive & creative art has on trauma sense making and healing funded by The John & Lorna Wing Foundation
- PI on HEART (Healing Emotions and Relational Transformation) an Emotion-Focused Therapy workshop for parents of autistic children
- Academic lead for the new participatory co-design PgCert Neurodivergent-Affirmative Creative-Relational Inquiry
I have established and lead the TLC Network. This group brings together interdisciplinary practitioner researchers with an interest in understanding Trauma through lived experience, Love and Compassion focused practice. I’m also a member of the British Psychological Society, British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy, Society for Psychotherapy Research and the International Society for Emotion-Focused Therapy.
Prior to joining the University, I was the Head of Autism Expertise and Knowledge Exchange; Head of the Centre for Education & Training in Autism and the Autism Family Advisory & Consultancy Service for Scottish Autism. I was a member of the Senior Management Team responsible for the design of the first Autism School in Scotland (New Struan School: A Centre for Autism) and an author for the original ‘The Autism Toolbox: A Resource for Scottish Schools’.
My expertise is focused on:
- Emotional psychology
- Emotion-focused-experiential psychotherapy, counselling and coaching
- Trauma, healing and post-traumatic growth
- Counselling clients with autistic process
- Emotion-focused and compassion-focused practice: parents, teachers, practitioners
- Expressive/creative methods and affective technology
