Psychology Matters: “Ultimately, psychology matters because it helps individuals and societies function better, leading to a healthier, more informed, and more compassionate world.”

Tell us why you think Psychology Matters 

Psychology matters because it helps us understand human behaviour, emotions, and thought processes, which influence every aspect of life. '

Here are some key reasons why I believe psychology matters:

It's fundamental to improving mental health and well-being - Psychology provides insights into the understanding, assessment and treatment of mental health conditions including anxiety, depression, and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), leading to better treatments, therapies, and coping strategies.

Psychology enhances relationships and communication - Understanding psychological principles improves personal and professional relationships. It fosters empathy, emotional intelligence, and effective communication, which is of fundamental importance across society.

It encourages positive behaviour change - Psychology helps in promoting healthier lifestyles, reducing harmful behaviours (e.g., smoking, substance abuse), and improving decision-making.

Psychology helps shape public policies - Psychological research influences policies related to healthcare, education, crime prevention, and social justice, to name just a few. It helps to create fairer and more effective systems within society.

It enables us to understand and address social issues - Psychological studies shed light on issues like discrimination, inequality, and group behaviour, helping societies address many of the systemic challenges we face.

Psychology has a say in advancing technology and artificial intelligence – The human factors introduced by psychology contributes to designing better user experiences, making technology more intuitive and accessible.

It boosts performance and productivity - In education, sports, and the workplace, psychology helps optimise motivation, learning, and productivity, by understanding how people think and work best.

Psychology builds resilience and coping skills - Psychology teaches strategies to manage stress, adapt to change, and develop resilience in challenging situations - needed in contemporary society.

Ultimately, psychology matters because it helps individuals and societies function better, leading to a healthier, more informed, and more compassionate world.

Tell us about the impact of your own work in psychology

I have pursued my career committed to advancing psychological services, particularly for individuals with learning disabilities and autism - providing direct psychological support to individuals, as well as working indirectly with families and carers. 

I have also been involved in teaching and staff training in this area, with my research focusing on quality-of-life measures for adults with intellectual disabilities. 

One of my significant achievements included leading the development of an award-winning app in collaboration with NHS England, and co-produced with people with learning disabilities, to enable people with learning disabilities to provide feedback on the healthcare they receive. 

The My Health My Say app was designed to support people to complete the NHS Friends and Family Test in an accessible and interesting way.  Providing people with an accessible way of delivering their feedback has empowered people who were often 'not heard' to have a say in the healthcare that they receive. I have built on this work to co-produce accessible and widely used patient experience and outcome measures for people with learning disabilities, such as the Mini-MANS-LD.

Providing people with an accessible way of delivering their feedback has empowered people who were often 'not heard' to have a say in the healthcare that they receive. 

In addition to my clinical work, I have been actively involved in professional leadership within the British Psychological Society, for many years. My roles have included Chair of the London Branch of the Division of Clinical Psychology (DCP), DCP England Lead, and Chair of DCP UK. 

These positions culminated in my election as BPS President-Elect in 2023, in recognition of my commitment to the profession and my leadership shaping the future of the psychology profession.

Our profession is built on empathy, ethics, and the desire to help others, and we put equality, diversity, and inclusion at the heart of that.

What makes you proud about working in psychology?

Being a psychologist is something of which I am incredibly proud. As psychologists we can help individuals cope with challenges, heal from trauma, and improve their mental well-being. Knowing that my work positively impacts lives is deeply fulfilling.

As psychologists, we also empower others and equip people with the skills and tools they need to manage their emotions, relationships, and personal growth, fostering resilience and independence. Our unique skill set and ability to understand human behaviour, emotions, and cognitions is valuable in a wide variety of settings, from therapy rooms to schools, and workplaces to whole communities.

I'm particularly proud that psychology has its foundations in compassion. Our profession is built on empathy, ethics, and the desire to help others, and we put equality, diversity, and inclusion at the heart of that. Our work also helps to tackle stigma - as psychologists we contribute to changing perceptions about mental health, and advocate for awareness, and promote acceptance.

Psychology's commitment to continuous learning, professional development and research means it's always an evolving field, and as psychologists, we never stop learning and contributing to the body of knowledge. This keeps our work intellectually stimulating and meaningful. We have so much to be proud of. 

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