This page explores my academic interests and journey so far, perhaps inspiring some of you looking to take a similar path, and enabling me to connect with academic peers. I hold a BSc (hons) 2:1 Open social science degree, studied on a MA Community Psychology course and have been working to find funding for my PhD proposal.
I have been on this journey for a while and recently (2023) had some bad experiences within the academic sector, which made me question if this path is right for me. I’m keen to spend my time having a practical impact, going back to my creative entrepreneurial roots, rather than fitting into a system and gathering qualifications. It would be great to have my skills and experience recognised too, and I do hope to complete a PhD one day.
Research Interests
My lived experience, previous professional background and academic studies have inspired a strong academic interest in:
- Complex childhood trauma
- Childhood sexual abuse
- Misdiagnosis of trauma within the mental health system
- Intersection of trauma with e.g. homelessness, addiction, suicide, gender
- Abolition of mental illness ‘disorder’ inc. ‘personality disorder’
- Lived experience & co-created research
- Peer support models
- Innovative digital & social media research methods
Research Networks
I was previously a member of the Lived Experience Advisory Group at the Violence and Abuse Mental Health Network, hosted by the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience at King’s College London. Read more about my involvement here.
I am also a member of the following research networks, and often find new opportunities to be involved in research through them. I would recommend joining these networks if you’re interested in complex trauma, mental health and neurodiversity, whether from a lived experience or academic background.
- NSUN – National Survivor User Network
- Survivor Researcher Network
- SVRI Exchange
- The McPin Foundation
- Autistica Network
Research Involvement
Through my work as a lived experience advisor and consultant, I am involved in a range of academic research projects and focus groups. I wrote a blog post about taking part in a lived experience workshop for research into dental & mental health in young people.
PhD Proposal
Since 2018 I have been working on a PhD proposal. I aim to explore lived experiences of complex trauma in a mental health context, using innovative digital & social media research methods. I’m interested in connecting with other researchers and people with lived experience also working in this field.
I was inspired to write my proposal by independent research and reading I did around complex trauma, related to my personal experiences. I successfully gained the support of two supervisors at King’s College London, experts in their fields related to trauma and women’s mental health.
I spent 3 years seeking funding for my PhD proposal, with the support of my supervisors. Thinking I would be ‘3rd time lucky’, instead a glitch meant my application wasn’t received. A negative sequence of events followed, and I have been traumatised by this experience and disillusioned with the academic system. I am taking a break on the PhD goals for now, but hope to find funding for my life’s work one day.
MA Community Psychology
In 2020 I was excited to begin a MA Community Psychology at the University of Brighton. This course challenges mainstream psychology views, and is the only community psychology master’s programme in the UK. Unfortunately I did not have a good experience for many reasons. I chose not to finish the course and hope the feedback I gave can be used to improve for future students.
Meanwhile, I walk away with new skills and experience I have already put to practical use., I completed most of the course modules including a successful placement with a third sector community organisation, Home-Start East Sussex (HSES). I undertook an independent research project, successfully working with HSES to help them win funding for a new peer support service. Read more here about my work with HSES.
BSc Open (Social Science) (hons) 2:1
I hold a BSc (hons) 2:1 Open social science degree, which I studied across 7 years at The Open University, alongside other work and volunteering. This included remote study combined with 6-weekly face-to-face tutorials with peer groups and lecturers. Before that, I left school at 14 to become autonomously home educated; self-directed learning has always been a joy for me. My experience with The Open University was a very good one and I was awarded a very high 2:1 honour’s degree.
I studied modules which included: the uses of social science; research with children & young people; exploring depression & anxiety; making social worlds; recognising informal learning. My early essays, exploring the positives & negatives of mental health diagnoses as part of a mental health module exploring fear and sadness, lit a spark which has inspired my journey today. I highly recommend the Open University.
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