Tom Kent

Before embarking on a career in psychology, I trained as a professional dancer at the Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary Dance. I undertook a short-term apprenticeship with Phoenix Dance Theatre and performed with Verve, a postgraduate dance company, supported by a Leverhulme Trust Scholarship.

My growing interest in social and clinical psychology prompted a shift in my career focus. I pursued a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology, followed by further qualifications, including a Diploma in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and a Master’s in Mental Health Sciences Research.

As a clinical psychologist, I worked within the NHS in the Forensic Intensive Psychological Treatment Service, Complex Depression, Anxiety and Trauma Service, and Talking Therapies for Anxiety and Depression. I later focused on student mental health, working at King’s College London in the Counselling and Mental Health Service.

Transitioning into academic and training roles, I served as Deputy Programme Director for the Counselling Psychology programme and as a Teaching Fellow on the Clinical Psychology Doctorate at the University of Surrey. Later, I became an academic tutor for the Professional Clinical Psychology Doctorate at the University of East London.

Most recently, I worked as a Clinical Research Associate at University College London’s Division of Psychiatry on an NIHR-funded randomised controlled trial investigating CBT for depression treatment via an online platform. I continued my involvement as a Visiting Researcher in the division. In February 2024, I joined Royal Holloway as a Lecturer in Clinical Psychology.

LGBQ Mental Health; Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; Psychological Therapy Outcomes and Experiences; and Critical Approaches to Psychology and Mental Health.