This page explores my academic interests and journey so far, hopefully inspiring some of you looking to take a similar path, and enabling me to connect with academic peers.
I’m currently studying for a Community Psychology MA at the University of Brighton, and seeking funding for a PhD proposal at King’s College London. I have a BSc (hons) Open social science degree, which I studied over 7 years at The Open University. Before that, I left school at 14 to become autonomously home educated; self-directed learning has always been a joy for me.
My lived experiences, previous professional background and academic studies to-date have inspired a strong academic interest in:
- Childhood sexual abuse
- Complex childhood trauma
- Misdiagnosis of the above within the mental health system
- Abolition of mental illness ‘disorder’ diagnoses, particularly ‘personality disorder’
- Lived experience research
- Peer support interventions
- Innovative digital & social media research methods
Research Networks
I am 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 in this group 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, whether from a lived experience or academic background.
- NSUN – National Survivor User Network
- TRIUMPH Network – Transdisciplinary Research for the Improvement of Youth Mental Public Health
- MARCH Network – social, cultural & community assets & mental health
- NIHR SPHR Public Mental Health Network
Research Involvement
Through my work as a lived experience advisor and expert, I am involved in a range of academic research projects and focus groups. I wrote a recent blog post about taking part in a lived experience workshop for research into dental & mental health in young people.
PhD Proposal
I am inspired to undertake a PhD researching the misdiagnosis of complex trauma. With the support of two supervisors at the the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, I am currently seeking funding for my 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.
MA Community Psychology
I am a current student on the Community Psychology MA programme at the University of Brighton, England, UK. This course challenges many mainstream psychology views, and is the only community psychology master’s programme in the UK.
In 2021 I began an independent research project with a third sector community organisation, Home-Start East Sussex (HSES), relevant to my research interests. Read more here about my work with HSES.
BSc Open (Social Science) (hons) 2:1
Over the course of 7 years, alongside other work and volunteering, I studied independently for a bachelor of science degree with The Open University. I was awarded a very high 2:1 honour’s degree.
I chose 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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