I am a Chartered Psychologist with over 25 years’ experience spanning academia, management, psychological therapy, training, and advisory work.
I am currently appointed Professor of Addictive Behaviours and Mental Health, and Dean of the School of Applied Sciences, at London South Bank University.
As a senior leader in both the higher education and mental health sectors I have accrued considerable experience and success in motivating and engaging large and complex teams to deliver on set goals, including two University business units with 30-90 staff and income of £5-£13m. I have a detailed understanding of governance frameworks in both higher education and mental health. In the latter area I co-led the establishment of an alcohol and drugs service (Community Alcohol and Drugs Service, Borough of Brent), co-led the reconfiguration of NHS CBT provision (North East London NHS Foundation Trust), and have over 20 years' experience as a clinical trainer and supervisor in psychological therapy.
I have also accrued extensive experience of advisory work, corporate training (in both the private and public sectors), and media engagement. This has included advising government on guidelines for psychological therapists in supporting their clients discontinue prescribed medication (APPG for Prescribed Drug Dependence), advising the corporate sector on setting up new mental health services/platforms (e.g., Addiction Aware, JAAQ, and Rehubs), and acting as a trustee for mental health charities (GambleAware and UK SMART Recovery). My corporate training work has focused on improving mental wellbeing for individuals and organisations (e.g., BBC Legal, CMS, Coller Capital, Mars, Herbert Smith, Linklaters, National Gas, NHS, Pepsico, Tait, Winkworth Sherwood).
As an academic and researcher, I have made a significant contribution to the field of psychological theory and therapy through the development of the field of metacognition in addictive behaviours (I am in the top 1% of globally cited scientists). Both the British Psychological Society and the British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies have awarded me a Fellowship (their highest designation) in recognition of my work.
For more than 25 years I have also been working, in both private practice and in community mental health settings, as a psychological therapist specialising in both Cognitive Behaviour Therapy and Metacognitive Therapy.
