Mindcare

I have been working in the health care professions since leaving school. I first trained as a Registered Nurse for people with Learning Disabilities (RNLD) in Derby from 1986-1989, having worked as a care assistant in a residential home for young people with profound learning disabilities. This is when my interest in psychology began.

 

I worked as a Staff Nurse in a community hospital for people with learning disabilities in Nottingham for nearly 5 years, during which time I completed a Bachelor degree in Human Psychology at Loughbrough University in 1993. 

 

I stayed on at Loughborough and gained a studentship to study for a Ph.D. I researched how the identities of people with profound learning disabilities, who cannot talk, are maintained across a transition from hospital to a community setting. As part of my research I introduced life story books to document stories about the person in order to maintain a sense of their identity. 

 

On completion of my Ph.D. in 1997, I combined motherhood with some part time nursing work and delivering training in life story work for healthcare professionals. I continue to integrate life story and narrative approaches to all aspects of my clinical and academic work, and have written articles and a book on the subject.

 

I entered the realm of nurse education at the University of Nottingham in 1998. Initially, this was on a part-time basis until I became a full-time lecturer in Mental Health and Social Care in 2006.

 

I craved to return to clinical work and was afforded the opportunity to train as a Cognitive Behavioural Therapist by my School, being part of the first cohort of the Postgraduate Diploma in CBT in 2009. The Head of School had the vision to grow me into the role of leading the course in the future. Happily, this is now the case and I am the Course Director of the Postgraduate Diploma and Master's programmes in CBT at the University of Nottingham, and actively contribute to the teaching and clinical supervision of the CBT trainees.

 

In addition to this role, I work one day a week on a voluntary contract for the local Mental Health Trust. Being so committed and passionate about CBT, Mind Care allows me to have a greater balance between my academic and clincial roles.