Emma Clark

Clinical Fellow

Contact details

Address

Street

The University of Edinburgh
School of Health in Social Science
24 Buccleuch Place

City
Edinburgh
Post code
EH8 9LN

Availability

  • Working Hours: Mon 8-530pm, Tuesday 8-5pm, Wed 8-7pm, Thursday 8-1pm (and one Friday a month)

Biography

Background

I am a Senior Mental Health Nurse and Psychological Therapist, with almost 25 years of experience working in Child and Adolescent Services in the N.H.S., having worked in a variety of clinical, development and managerial roles.  I am currently a Clinical Fellow at the University of Edinburgh and part of a small clinical team working to support clinical work and placement management at the Centre for Psychological Therapies, and a course organiser, lecturer and Academic Cohort Lead on the MSc Psychological Therapies Programme.

I am an experienced clinician, working with depression, anxiety disorders, eating disorder, phobia, O.C.D., trauma, and attachment presentations, including assessment and supporting change in the early years. I am experienced in complex assessment and formulation, including assessment and therapeutic work with neurodiverse children and young people.  I am trained in a variety of therapeutic group intervention, including post diagnostic groups for children, teens and parenting groups.

I am an experienced managerial, clinical, C.B.T.  and student nurse supervisor, with experience in facilitation of individual and group C.B.T. supervision and reflective practice groups. 

I am particularly interested in early intervention and  in understanding the role of families and care givers in supporting children's mental health.  I value inclusion of the patient/client and provider of health care voices, in informing health care change with my research focused predominantly on qualitative methodology.

Qualifications

1999 BSc Nursing Studies Hons. (Mental Health) - University of Edinburgh,

2021 MSc Psychological Therapies (Distinction) - University of Edinburgh

 

Professional registration:

Nursing and Midwifery Council (N.M.C.) (Registered Mental Health Nurse)

British Association of Behavioural and Cognitive Therapists (BABCP) (Accredited CBT Practitioner)

 

Further supervisory and management training in:

Generic and C.B.T. Clinical Supervision (N.E.S.)                                        

Student nurse mentorship module Napier Uni. (Pg Module)                                 

N.H.S.: Introduction to Management 

 

Further talking therapies qualification:

Family Based Therapist (F.B.T.) (for eating disorder),

CBT-E for eating disorder therapist, 

Trauma Focused-CBT                   

Introduction to Narrative therapy

Solution Focused Brief Therapy     

 

Parent and Parent/child intervention:

The Solihull Approach (also qualified trainer)

Autism Diagnostic Interview Revised (ADIR)           

The Dinosaur School Social Skills Programme

The Incredible Years Parenting Programme  

 The Parent-Child Game                        

  

Responsibilities & affiliations

Academic Cohort Lead MSc Psychological Therapies April 2023- present

Undergraduate teaching

none

Postgraduate teaching

Course organiser - Psychological Skills Placement (MSc Psychological Therapies)

Teach across a range of further courses on MSc Psychological Therapies Programme ( CBT with Children and Young People in Practice, CBT with Complex Presentations, Fundamentals of CBT with Children and Young People)

CBT placement 1 and CBT placement 2 - clinical supervisor (individual, dyad and group supervisor)

Open to PhD supervision enquiries?

No

Past PhD students supervised

-

 

Research summary

Being relatively new to my university career, I am continuing to develop my own areas of research interest.  By drawing on the experience of 25 years in the front line of health care and work alongside NHS community health colleagues, teachers, family support workers, social workers and youth workers, in provision of mental health preventative initiatives and early intervention for parents/care givers, children and adolescents, I understand the value of capturing their voices, as essential for implementation of evidence based health care and ongoing development of innovative intervention.

I am also particularly interested in prevention and early intervention and  in understanding the role of families and care givers in supporting children's mental health.  I value inclusion of the patient/client and provider of health care voices, in informing health care change with my research focused predominantly on qualitative methodology.  Having worked my whole career with children and young people I am also interested in the adaptation of therapy to support different stages of development, and alongside this further interest in the embedding of neuro-affirming approaches to assessment and psychological therapy delivery.

 

Current research interests

Early intervention in mental health, with particular focus on short and single session intervention for parents/care givers and CYP. Inclusion of client/patient, health care worker voice, including exploration of delivery by mental health trained and untrained professionals. Collaborating with N.E.S. on projects supporting young peoples anxiety and low mood. Ongoing involvement with project focused on FBT therapy and the experience of autistic youth and their families, following intervention for eating disorder.

Organiser

  • Planner and contributor:  Midlothian Early Years Conference, “A Common Goal”.  

Participant

  • Contributor:  Midlothian Early Years Conference, “A Common Goal”.  Workshop facilitator: Introducing the Solihull Approach (2006)
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