I am a Senior Lecturer in autism and neurodiversity in the Strathclyde Institute 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 autism and neurodiversity in 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 Emotional State Estimation for Emotion-Focused Group Therapy for Autism Spectrum an interdisciplinary project funded by ESRC
• CI on 'Because we Care'  exploring the lived experiences of siblings of children with life limited conditions funded by the AHRC

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. 

Internal positions:

• 2025 - Director of Post Graduate Research (Progression) - This is a Co-Director role with a remit of student progression to completion. 
• 2025 - Leading an internal Faculty Equality, Diversity & Inclusion project Exploring staff and PGR experiences of neurodiversity-affirming practice within the university of Strathclyde.
• 2022/25 Development of a new Post Graduate Certificate (PgCert) / EdD specialist pathway in Neuro-Affirmative Creative-Relational Inquiry through participatory co-design
• 2019 - Lead for the EdD (Autism) and PhD in Applied Autism Research
• 2010 -2020: Course Leader for the MSc/MEd in Autism Studies

External positions:

• 2023 - 2025 NUI University of Galway: External Examiner for the DPsychSc Clinical Psychology
• 2020 – 2024 Liverpool John Moore University: External Examiner for the MA Counselling & Psychotherapy
• 2018 – 2022 University of Swansea: External Examiner for the MSc Autism & Related Condition
• Editorial Board Member: Journal of Autism & Developmental Disorders
• Committee Member: Scottish Autism Research Group (SARG)
• Associate Consultant: AT-Autism, International Autism Consultancy
• Research Associate: Centre for Practice Innovation, Scottish Autism

I am a member of the British Psychological Society, British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy, Society for Psychotherapy Research and the International Society for Emotion-Focused Therapy. 

Autism Practice: 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'.

• autism and neurodiversity
• emotional psychology
• emotion-focused-experiential psychotherapy, counselling and coaching
• trauma, healing & post-traumatic growth
• emotion-focused & compassion-focused practice: parents, teachers, practitioners 
• expressive/creative methods and affective technology

My teaching focus is around autism and neurodiversity, emotional psychology, factors that contribute to stigma, social exclusion, trauma and how to promote positive psychological growth. I predominantly teach Emotion-Focused Counselling Skills for Autism Spectrum and for other hard to reach populations. In 2024-2025 I am the academic lead for the new participatory co-design PgCert Neuro-Affirmative Creative-Relational Inquiry

I can offer inter-disciplinary PhD supervision where there is a focus on autism and neurodiversity. These include: PhD in Applied Autism Research/EdD Education (Autism); Counselling & Psychotherapy; & Psychology. I offer PGT Masters research projects that align with my own research interests: Emotion-Regulation; Emotion-Focused Counselling; Emotion-Focused Coaching Skills for parents of neurodivergent children; psychotherapy process and outcome research; pre-therapy; trauma,healing emotional injuries, and post traumatic growth; compassion focused practice; creative methods to support voice and self-expression. 

My research mainly focuses on autistic/neurodivergent process with a particular emphasis on exploring mental health and wellbeing. My research explores emotional processing, trauma-related experiences, psychological growth and compassionate practice. As a psychotherapy researcher, I have particular interest on process and outcome research for clients with autistic process, both in individual and group emotion-focused therapy. This includes neurodiversity-affirming counselling and psychotherapy and the use of expressive and creative art to explore emotional experiences, and trauma and healing. I am interested in giving voice to clients’ experiences and use creative methods and affective technology to aid those who have difficulties speaking, exploring non-verbal strategies of expression and narration. 

PGR Supervision: I supervise a range of PhD, EdD, Masters students in Applied Autism Research, Education, Counselling & Psychotherapy and Psychology.

Current areas of supervison include: Vicarious trauma in parents who witnessed victimization of their autistic child; empathy blocks in Emotion-Focused Therapy;  Person-Centred Counselling in adults with an ADHD process; authentic autistic play; relational connections between autistic gamers and their avatars; emotion responses to parenting an autistic child; autistic girls experiences of mainstream school; voice elicitation in autistic young people with complex communication needs; 'autism support' in mainstream secondary school; relationships between autistic daughters and their non-autistic mums

PhD/EdD Recruitment:

Please contact me if you would like to pursue a PhD in Applied Autism Research; Counselling & Psychotherapy; Psychology or PhD/EdD in Education, with focus on areas related to: 

• Promoting positive outcomes in the lives of autistic/neurodivergent people
• Trauma, healing and positive growth
• Trauma-Informed Practice & Compassion-Focused Practice;
• Therapeutic/creative/expressive methods to enhance relational connections; 
• Affective technology for supporting emotional healing and psychological growth