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Degrees / Qualifications:	MA (Oxon), MSc, PhD, C.Psychol
Biography:	I am a post-doctoral Research Fellow in the Complementary Medicine Research Unit here at Southampton, and my background is academic health psychology. I completed my first degree (in Experimental Psychology) at the University of Oxford and I came to Southampton in 2000 to study Health Psychology. Staying at the School of Psychology I then completed my PhD under the supervision of Prof Lucy Yardley and Dr George Lewith and with funding from the ESRC and Boots plc (thesis title: Why do people (re)turn to complementary medicine? Understanding the relationships between beliefs, experiences and health care behaviours). Since completing my PhD in 2005 I have worked on a number of projects within both Health Psychology and CAM research, and I am currently based within the Complementary Medicine Research Unit. I am a registered BPS Chartered Health Psychologist and belong to a number of Psychology and CAM organisations. Outside of work my passions include rock climbing as well as more leisurely pursuits such as cinema and theatre.
Teaching Activities:	I have taught a range of courses in the past (including introductory and advanced research methods for both undergraduates and postgraduates, psychology practicals, 1st year key skills). My current role is research-focused, but I am also involved in the supervision of medical student projects. In 2006-7 I supervised or co-supervised 4 students using a range of methods (both qualitative and quantitative) looking at topics including acupuncture sensations and outcomes, ways of using CAM in relation to conventional medicine, and the attitudinal and demographic predictors of using Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Research Interests:	Psycho-social aspects of CAM use. I am interested in why people use CAM, how they use CAM and how they make decisions about CAM use. I have used psychological theories, in particular Leventhal’s self regulation theory, in my research to help improve understanding of CAM use. My PhD work focussed on adherence to a range of different types of CAM, including aromatherapy, osteopathy, chiropractic, medical herbalism, homeopathy, and reflexology. I am currently working on small studies examining how patients use different forms of CAM in relation to conventional medicine. Non-specific effects in acupuncture. I am currently working on a mixed methods study of the role of context in acupuncture outcomes. This work will help tease apart the different factors involved in acupuncture treatment that can contribute to patient outcomes. Again I believe that psychological theories can provide valuable insights in this area and offer well-grounded frameworks within which to study the role of psychological factors in patient outcomes from complementary and alternative medicine. Health and treatment beliefs. Health psychology theories emphasise the importance of people’s beliefs and attitudes as factors that can contribute towards health-related behaviours such as preventative behaviours, treatment-seeking and adherence to treatments. It is essential to determine which beliefs are relevant in a specific domain and to be able to measure them with acceptable reliability and validity. I am currently working on the development of two psychometrically sound measures: needling sensation in acupuncture and lay models of health. I have previously developed a measure of patients’ treatment beliefs relevant to CAM (the CAM Beliefs Inventory) and a measure of patients’ treatment appraisals (the Treatment Appraisal Questionnaire).
My Publications

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