Doctoral Research with Military Veterans

I am undertaking a Professional Doctorate in Psychodynamic Counselling at the University of Essex. I am currently completing the second year of a three-year programme.

Area of research

My research involves military veterans and focuses on psychodynamic phenomena that manifest within the consulting room. It is concerned with what may emerge within the therapeutic relationship and how psychodynamic thinking can contribute to understanding clinical work with veterans.

Military service can involve distinctive cultures, relationships, responsibilities and experiences. The research does not assume that veterans are a single or uniform group, or that every veteran experiences psychological difficulty.

Clinical and research interests

My wider professional interests include the emotional impact of military service, transition from service to civilian life, trauma, identity, authority, belonging, loss and the ways in which experiences may be communicated consciously and unconsciously in therapy.

These interests inform my continuing development as a psychodynamic practitioner and researcher. They do not replace attention to the individual person, their history and the particular meaning of their experiences.

Ongoing doctoral work

The research is ongoing. This page does not present findings or claim conclusions that have not yet been reached. Any future discussion of the work will respect academic requirements, research ethics and participant confidentiality.

Information only

This page is provided for information about my professional and research interests. It is not a call for research participants and I am not recruiting through this website.

Professional practice

My doctoral research is separate from the counselling service offered through this website. Clients are not research participants, and engaging in counselling does not involve participation in the study.

More information about the Professional Doctorate in Psychodynamic Counselling is available from the University of Essex.