About

In 2013, I was awarded my doctorate by the University of Leeds and my current aim is to further examine the effectiveness of WSEs with military veterans. Throughout my 8 years of education I have; been a member of voluntary community group committees (eg Edible York and York in Transition), volunteered with mental health services (e.g. Open Secret) and completed mental health training (ASSIST, MHFA and counselling skills).

I am a community-environmental psychologist, passionate about understanding: human-nature interrelationships and interaction; working with people to realise their potential and improve quality of life; and how natural environment experiences (and WSEs) might benefit people and engender more positive environmental attitudes, beliefs, behaviours, and stronger environmental identities. This research focus involves the examination of well-being, emotions, self-concept, identity, values, attitudes and behaviour, and the exploration how natural environments work as a therapeutic medium (Eco-therapy/Nature therapy/ Ecopsychology). I also research placemaking and wellbeing (drawing upon areas of health and cultural geography), exploring sense of place, the development of place attachment and community, and mapping place characteristics, meaning and their association with wellbeing. Although I'm predominantly a qualitative researcher, I also employ quantitative methodologies when appropriate.

I joined Sheffield Hallam University as an associate lecturer in 2013 and as a full-time lecturer in 2014.

Teaching

Sheffield Institute of Social Sciences

College of Social Sciences and Arts

Teaching Interests:

• Social Psychology;

• Introduction to Counselling and Psychotherapy;

• The Psychology of Development and Behaviour;

• Social Psychology and Qualitative Research Methods;

• Qualitative Research Methods;

• Clinical Psychology;

• Work Psychology Enhances Employability;

• Sports and Exercise Psychology;

• Academic Development and Personal Tuition.

Research

Expertise and Research Interests:

• Mental health/ wellbeing and the natural environment;

• Experience, meaning-making and human-nature interaction/ interrelationship;

• Placemaking and Wellbeing;

• Environmental Philosophy;

• Eco-therapy and Outdoor Therapies;

• Therapeutic Potential of Art.

Publications

Other activities

• I have been invited as a keynote to York St John University Undergraduate Research Conference (2014) and have reviewed articles for Counselling Psychology Quarterly.
• I have been invited to review research application for Rannis: The Icelandic Research Fund (2016);
• Founder and Chair of the Nationally based  Nature Connection Research Network (NCRN);
• Founder and Chair of the SHU based  Nature Connection & Well-being Research Group (NCW).

Professional Membership

• British Psychological Society (BPS)

• BPS Community Psychology Section

• Associate Fellow of Higher Education Academy (HEA)

• British Mountaineering Council (BMC)