What is your role and what does it involve?
I currently hold multiple teaching roles at UCL and Birkbeck, University of London. These include Module Lead for two UCL Summer School modules (ISSU0046: Mental Health and the Mind, and ISSU0138: Mental Disorder and Psychological Treatment), and Module Co-Lead for Multiple Perspectives in Developmental Psychopathology I, II, and III (PSYC0117) and Quantitative and Qualitative Research Methods 2 (IEHC0021).I am also Senior Course Tutor and Research Tutor at UCL - Anna Freud Postgraduate Studies, where I lead the Academic Skills Seminar Series and supervise MSc dissertations. Additionally, I work as an Associate Lecturer at Birkbeck, University of London, teaching Psychological and Developmental Issues in Childhood (SCPS031H5).
At the undergraduate level, I support BSc Psychology at the Division of Psychology and Language Sciences by supervising a Year four BSc Psychology exchange student (PSYC0041) and 20 Year two students on their research projects (PSYC0012).
How long have you been at UCL and what was your previous role?
I began my doctoral studies in 2019 in the Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology department at the Division of Psychology and Language Sciences, UCL. During my PhD, I undertook a scholar exchange at Yale University’s Department of Psychology in 2022. I completed my PhD research in August 2023 and had my viva in January 2024. I was awarded my PhD in Developmental Psychopathology and Psychotherapy with no corrections.What working achievement or initiative are you most proud of?
It’s hard to choose just one, as I take pride in being able to integrate and contribute meaningfully to both research and teaching - and I’m proud to have received awards in both areas. Rather than having to choose between one or the other, I’ve found ways to develop each strand of work and let them inform each other.In teaching, I’m especially proud of my work as Senior Course Tutor at UCL - Anna Freud Postgraduate Studies, where I designed a new structure for the Academic Skills Seminar Series across three MSc programmes. These seminars fill in what students often miss in lectures - including practical academic skills, research themes not covered in the core curriculum, and professional development sessions such as how to apply for a PhD or become a clinical or child psychotherapist. I’m deeply grateful to Rachel and Niko, Co-Heads of Postgraduate Studies, and to Nafisa, Head of Operations, for their support in developing this initiative. I was recently informed that I’ve received a Faculty Education Award 2025 and have been shortlisted for the UCL Provost’s Education Award - in recognition of this work, which means a great deal to me.
On the research front, to continue and expand my PhD work on epistemic trust and mistrust - particularly in relation to alliance ruptures in dissatisfied dropout cases in psychotherapy - I secured a £27,448 research grant from the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). I have also received individual awards and grants from the Society for the Advancement of Psychotherapy (APA Division 29), the International Psychoanalytical Association (IPA), and several UK charities.
My personal enthusiasm and pride lie in my close collaboration with the San Francisco Psychotherapy Research Group (SFPRG), where we explore how patients "test" or "coach" therapists in ways that help disconfirm their pathogenic beliefs and move toward personal goals. It’s a fascinating and often under-recognised perspective that foregrounds patient agency in therapy.
Tell us about a project you are working on now which is top of your to-do list
I have multiple teaching and research commitments, but the most immediate is preparing for UCL Summer School , which runs from July to August.Last summer, I taught Mental Health and the Mind, which will run again this July. This year, I’ve also designed a new, more advanced course called Mental Disorders and Psychological Treatment, to be delivered in August.
I created the new module after noticing the diverse academic backgrounds of Summer School students. Last year’s cohort included final-year BSc Psychology students and a few MSc students, who occasionally found the content too familiar. At the same time, some junior BSc students from outside psychology struggled with more advanced concepts. Recognising this, I designed the new module to better accommodate a wider range of academic levels while still challenging and engaging students. I’m really excited to teach it - and I’m especially grateful to Rhod, Head of UCL Summer School, for supporting its development.
What is your favourite album, film and novel?
I love the music of Daft Punk and Lana Del Rey. I don’t have a single favourite film, but I really enjoyed Labour Day (starring Kate Winslet) and Miss Sloane (starring Jessica Chastain), both of which I watched during a time when I was particularly drawn to cinema.For novels, anything by Jane Austen - timeless and elegant. George Orwell shaped my worldview when I was a child and teen, and I still appreciate the insight. More broadly, I enjoy reading psychoanalytic literature - it’s consistently rich and thought-provoking.
What is your favourite joke (pre-watershed)?
I don’t have a go-to joke - I prefer spontaneous ones that emerge from personal conversations and small banters. Those always make me laugh the most.Who would be your dream dinner guests?
Maybe Donald Winnicott?In real life, I really enjoy dinner with my SFPRG gang - our next one will take place this June in Kraków.
But honestly, in day-to-day life, I enjoy having dinner by myself the most. It’s my way of switching off and truly relaxing. This might sound strange to some people, but I’ve never quite mastered the art of eating and talking at the same time. I want to enjoy good conversation and good food - they don’t have to happen together!
What advice would you give your younger self?
You’ve already played the cards you were dealt with as much courage and care as you could - and that’s enough. It’s okay to make the wrong decisions or invest in the wrong experiences - they’ll still help you understand yourself and the world more deeply.What would it surprise people to know about you?
Although I can socialise well at work and in other settings, I’m actually quite introverted. I enjoy my own company the most - that’s when I feel most at ease.What is your favourite place?
I’m happiest in silent, quiet places, and I love my bathtub.- University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT (0) 20 7679 2000
