fiona starr | Middlesex University (original) (raw)

Papers by fiona starr

Research paper thumbnail of Mental health and the pastor’s wife: how does the pastor’s wife manage life stressors and apply coping strategies to support her emotional well-being?

Mental Health, Religion & Culture

Research paper thumbnail of Who does what, where and how? A portrait of UK psychologists in the independent sector

Clinical Psychology Forum

Increasing numbers of UK clinical psychologists are moving into independent practice. The finding... more Increasing numbers of UK clinical psychologists are moving into independent practice. The findings from this national survey of British Psychological Society members in independent practice documents the details of how we are working and could be useful for the future of the profession.

Research paper thumbnail of A sanctuary of tranquillity in a ruptured world: Evaluating long-term counselling at a women’s community health centre

Feminism & Psychology, 2017

The longitudinal study described in this article evaluated long-term counselling provided at a wo... more The longitudinal study described in this article evaluated long-term counselling provided at a women’s health centre in the UK for service users on low incomes. The article focuses on the qualitative aspect of the study in which 59 women were interviewed individually before and/or after their counselling. The interviews explored how women make sense of long-term counselling in the context of their gendered experiences and complex needs. The data were analysed using thematic analysis informed by a feminist orientation and attachment theory. Four main themes emerged: “violence and loss in the context of female oppression”, “a sanctuary for women”, “non-medicalised long-term counselling in a safe setting”, and “benefits of the long view”. Participants attributed various benefits to receiving long-term counselling in a women-only environment. These included gaining employment; reduced suicidal ideation, anxiety and depression; improved physical health, improved confidence and being able...

Research paper thumbnail of The impact of personal psychotherapy and supervision on volunteer counsellors

Objectives: This paper will present findings from research-in-progress which is being carried out... more Objectives: This paper will present findings from research-in-progress which is being carried out at a dedicated women's health and counselling centre in north London. Its main objective will be to explore how volunteer counsellors' own supervision and psychotherapy inform ...

Research paper thumbnail of Women counsellors' experiences of personal therapy: A thematic analysis

Counselling and Psychotherapy Research, 2012

Research paper thumbnail of Special Issue: Archaeology of Confinement || Convict artefacts from the Civil Hospital privy on Norfolk Island

Research paper thumbnail of Book Reviews

Legal and Criminological Psychology, 2005

Research paper thumbnail of Research Report: Students' knowledge of abnormal psychology

Counselling Psychology Quarterly, 2003

The present study aims to compare whether final year psychology students (n= 26) could answer mor... more The present study aims to compare whether final year psychology students (n= 26) could answer more items on a multiple choice questionnaire (MCQ) correctly on abnormal psychology than prospective psychology candidates (n= 77) and final year engineering students (n= 26). The three groups of students completed MCQs in five different fields of abnormal psychology namely; eating disorders, schizophrenia, anxiety disorders and depression, sexual disorders, and personality and compulsive disorders, respectively. ...

Research paper thumbnail of Women counsellors' experiences of personal therapy: A thematic analysis

Counselling and Psychotherapy Research, 2012

Research paper thumbnail of Theoretical and ethical issues in conducting research at a women's health centre

… of Women Section …, 2004

This article will discuss research-in-progress designed to evaluate the counselling service at an... more This article will discuss research-in-progress designed to evaluate the counselling service at an all-women's centre, Women and Health. Women and Health was set up in 1986 in Camden Town, North London, following Ken Livingstone's authorisation of the donation of an old ...

Research paper thumbnail of Comfort and challenge: A thematic analysis of female clinicians' experiences of supervision

Psychology and Psychotherapy: Theory, Research and Practice, 2013

Research paper thumbnail of Evaluation of long-term counselling at a community health service for women who are on a low income

Counselling and Psychotherapy Research, 2014

ABSTRACT AimsGiven the lack of research evaluating long-term counselling, coupled with the lack o... more ABSTRACT AimsGiven the lack of research evaluating long-term counselling, coupled with the lack of women-only counselling services, the present study evaluated the long-term counselling service offered by a women-only community health centre.Method The research ascertained: (1) the characteristics of 155 service users pre-counselling, (2) the views and experiences of 75 service users post-counselling, and (3) pre–post-counselling clinical change in 98 service users via the Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation – Outcome Measure (CORE-OM).ResultsUnemployment, low income and reports of abuse were related to poorer mental health as measured by the CORE-OM. Content analysis of open-ended questions revealed that women felt supported, comfortable and gained insight through the counselling relationship. They also reported positive changes in their lives, relationships, health behaviours, and psychological wellbeing. Post-counselling improvements were found in CORE-OM scores.Conclusions Long-term counselling in a women-only environment for socially disempowered women may be beneficial. A research-informed approach to counselling and therapy evaluation, which acknowledges the social context of psychological distress, should be taken across institutions.

Research paper thumbnail of Research Report: Students' knowledge of abnormal psychology

Counselling Psychology Quarterly, Dec 1, 2003

The present study aims to compare whether final year psychology students (n= 26) could answer mor... more The present study aims to compare whether final year psychology students (n= 26) could answer more items on a multiple choice questionnaire (MCQ) correctly on abnormal psychology than prospective psychology candidates (n= 77) and final year engineering students (n= 26). The three groups of students completed MCQs in five different fields of abnormal psychology namely; eating disorders, schizophrenia, anxiety disorders and depression, sexual disorders, and personality and compulsive disorders, respectively. ...

Research paper thumbnail of Mental health and the pastor’s wife: how does the pastor’s wife manage life stressors and apply coping strategies to support her emotional well-being?

Mental Health, Religion & Culture

Research paper thumbnail of Who does what, where and how? A portrait of UK psychologists in the independent sector

Clinical Psychology Forum

Increasing numbers of UK clinical psychologists are moving into independent practice. The finding... more Increasing numbers of UK clinical psychologists are moving into independent practice. The findings from this national survey of British Psychological Society members in independent practice documents the details of how we are working and could be useful for the future of the profession.

Research paper thumbnail of A sanctuary of tranquillity in a ruptured world: Evaluating long-term counselling at a women’s community health centre

Feminism & Psychology, 2017

The longitudinal study described in this article evaluated long-term counselling provided at a wo... more The longitudinal study described in this article evaluated long-term counselling provided at a women’s health centre in the UK for service users on low incomes. The article focuses on the qualitative aspect of the study in which 59 women were interviewed individually before and/or after their counselling. The interviews explored how women make sense of long-term counselling in the context of their gendered experiences and complex needs. The data were analysed using thematic analysis informed by a feminist orientation and attachment theory. Four main themes emerged: “violence and loss in the context of female oppression”, “a sanctuary for women”, “non-medicalised long-term counselling in a safe setting”, and “benefits of the long view”. Participants attributed various benefits to receiving long-term counselling in a women-only environment. These included gaining employment; reduced suicidal ideation, anxiety and depression; improved physical health, improved confidence and being able...

Research paper thumbnail of The impact of personal psychotherapy and supervision on volunteer counsellors

Objectives: This paper will present findings from research-in-progress which is being carried out... more Objectives: This paper will present findings from research-in-progress which is being carried out at a dedicated women's health and counselling centre in north London. Its main objective will be to explore how volunteer counsellors' own supervision and psychotherapy inform ...

Research paper thumbnail of Women counsellors' experiences of personal therapy: A thematic analysis

Counselling and Psychotherapy Research, 2012

Research paper thumbnail of Special Issue: Archaeology of Confinement || Convict artefacts from the Civil Hospital privy on Norfolk Island

Research paper thumbnail of Book Reviews

Legal and Criminological Psychology, 2005

Research paper thumbnail of Research Report: Students' knowledge of abnormal psychology

Counselling Psychology Quarterly, 2003

The present study aims to compare whether final year psychology students (n= 26) could answer mor... more The present study aims to compare whether final year psychology students (n= 26) could answer more items on a multiple choice questionnaire (MCQ) correctly on abnormal psychology than prospective psychology candidates (n= 77) and final year engineering students (n= 26). The three groups of students completed MCQs in five different fields of abnormal psychology namely; eating disorders, schizophrenia, anxiety disorders and depression, sexual disorders, and personality and compulsive disorders, respectively. ...

Research paper thumbnail of Women counsellors' experiences of personal therapy: A thematic analysis

Counselling and Psychotherapy Research, 2012

Research paper thumbnail of Theoretical and ethical issues in conducting research at a women's health centre

… of Women Section …, 2004

This article will discuss research-in-progress designed to evaluate the counselling service at an... more This article will discuss research-in-progress designed to evaluate the counselling service at an all-women's centre, Women and Health. Women and Health was set up in 1986 in Camden Town, North London, following Ken Livingstone's authorisation of the donation of an old ...

Research paper thumbnail of Comfort and challenge: A thematic analysis of female clinicians' experiences of supervision

Psychology and Psychotherapy: Theory, Research and Practice, 2013

Research paper thumbnail of Evaluation of long-term counselling at a community health service for women who are on a low income

Counselling and Psychotherapy Research, 2014

ABSTRACT AimsGiven the lack of research evaluating long-term counselling, coupled with the lack o... more ABSTRACT AimsGiven the lack of research evaluating long-term counselling, coupled with the lack of women-only counselling services, the present study evaluated the long-term counselling service offered by a women-only community health centre.Method The research ascertained: (1) the characteristics of 155 service users pre-counselling, (2) the views and experiences of 75 service users post-counselling, and (3) pre–post-counselling clinical change in 98 service users via the Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation – Outcome Measure (CORE-OM).ResultsUnemployment, low income and reports of abuse were related to poorer mental health as measured by the CORE-OM. Content analysis of open-ended questions revealed that women felt supported, comfortable and gained insight through the counselling relationship. They also reported positive changes in their lives, relationships, health behaviours, and psychological wellbeing. Post-counselling improvements were found in CORE-OM scores.Conclusions Long-term counselling in a women-only environment for socially disempowered women may be beneficial. A research-informed approach to counselling and therapy evaluation, which acknowledges the social context of psychological distress, should be taken across institutions.

Research paper thumbnail of Research Report: Students' knowledge of abnormal psychology

Counselling Psychology Quarterly, Dec 1, 2003

The present study aims to compare whether final year psychology students (n= 26) could answer mor... more The present study aims to compare whether final year psychology students (n= 26) could answer more items on a multiple choice questionnaire (MCQ) correctly on abnormal psychology than prospective psychology candidates (n= 77) and final year engineering students (n= 26). The three groups of students completed MCQs in five different fields of abnormal psychology namely; eating disorders, schizophrenia, anxiety disorders and depression, sexual disorders, and personality and compulsive disorders, respectively. ...