I trained as a mental health nurse, completed a course in Cognitive Behavior Therapy and then worked in various clinical NHS positions. I completed a BA, MSc and PhD part time and in 1998 moved from London to Manchester and commenced work at the University of Manchester as a lecturer. I am past president of the BABCP, fellow of EANs and a patron of the National Phobic Society

My main research interests are:
1. Development, evaluation and testing of new accessible, effective and acceptable ways of delivering psychological interventions for common mental health problems

2. Developing, testing and evaluating innovative approaches to service delivery and organisation of Primary mental health care.

Both strands are driven by national mental health policy priorities and our group has been highly successful in obtaining a number of externally funded grants. This area of work is evidenced by systematic reviews, pilot work, RCTs and qualitative research with people experiencing anxiety and depression in primary care contexts. Currently the group is conducting research across the entire age spectrum from children and adolescents, working age adults and the older person. A number of important publications have been produced by our group that have been highly influential in contributing to the evidence base for and development of national policy on primary mental health care. The beneficial outcomes of this research have been and will continue to be the enhancement of primary mental health care provision through the implementation of more accessible and co-ordinated ways of delivering mental health services for common mental health problems particularly anxiety and depression.
 

Mixed methods, RCTs