Michelle Wilson

Michelle is a Clinical Psychologist, senior lecturer and researcher specialising in compassion informed approaches and enhancing wellbeing in organisations. She works at Royal Holloway University of London on the Doctorate in Clinical Psychology programme where she is the Deputy Clinical Director of the programme and trains people to be clinical psychologists. Prior to this she worked on the University College London (UCL) Clinical Psychology Doctorate programme as a Senior clinical tutor and senior admissions tutor, as well as in a number of NHS services.

In her career in clinical psychology training delivery she has led on a number of major projects developing effective processes for assessing competence and selection procedures, to ensure the highest quality of training is delivered, In addition, she worked on developing and establishing a reflective practice programme on the UCL DClinPsy programme, supporting trainees and facilitators developing skills to manage and learn from the complex environments they work in, to enhance practice.

Michelle teaches on several mental health professional training courses across the country and has delivered talks and training in a number of organisations.

Michelle's research interests are broadly in the following areas:

• Physical health: experiences of physical health conditions, factors that might impact on management of physical health conditions, engagement with health care teams and treatment and the relationship people have with themselves and their lives within the context of their physical health condition.
• Social media: it’s impact on wellbeing and mental health and how we can engage with social media in more helpful ways.
• Concepts of self-compassion, self-criticism, shame and psychological flexibility
• Interventions informed by compassion focused (including compassionate mind training) and acceptance and commitment therapy ideas and principles, and how these can support wellbeing and valued living for individuals. This includes for people with physical health conditions, health care staff (including trainee mental health professionals like DClinPsy trainees), and social media use. She is currently leading a programme of research focused on embedding compassion into professional training courses, aimed at enhancing wellbeing, reducing stress and improving engagement in assessments and skills development. 

Michelle has over 12 years of experience working in a number of NHS services, including those which focus on the links between mental health and physical health. These include Adult Mental Health, Obesity, Specialist Wound Care and Lymphoedema, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Dermatology and Child and Adolescent Mental Health Eating Disorders Services. She has a special interest in Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).