I have a professional background in nursing and currently registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) as a Registered Adult Nurse (RN(A)). I have over 10 years clinical nursing experience in both primary (community) and secondary (hospital) care.
In 2008 I embarked upon a career change and decided to read Psychology at Staffordshire University. I graduated with BSc (Hons) Psychology in 2011 and proceeded to the MSc in Health Psychology, where I graduated in 2012. In September 2012, I enrolled onto the Professional Doctorate in Health Psychology (DHealthPsy) as a trainee health psychologist and anticipate to complete training by 2016.
I currently work as a Research Associate to Prof. Wilf McSherry, Dr. Peter Kevern, and Dr. Steve Suckling, working on two research evaluations. I have also worked with Prof. Sarah Grogan and Keira Flett project examining implementation intentions of young people towards smoking. I also have research collaboration with Dr. Liz Boath, Prof. Tony Stewart, and Prof. David Clark-Carter, having undertaken a systematic review into the efficacy of Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) and Thought Field Therapy (TFT) for anxiety. Finally, I have worked in a voluntary capacity for Manchester Metropolitan University undertaking transcription and qualitative analysis on paranormal phenomena.
Professional memberships and activities
British Association for the Study of Spirituality (BASS).
British Psychological Society (BPS) Graduate Member (MBPsS).
British Psychological Society (BPS) Division of Health Psychology (DHP) Member.
British Wheel of Yoga (BWY).
Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC).
Academic qualifications
Professional Doctorate Health Psychology (DHealthPsy) (expected 2016), Staffordshire University.
MSc Health Psychology (Distinction) (2012), Staffordshire University.
BSc (Hons) Psychology (First-Class Honours, 1:1) (2011), Staffordshire University.
British Wheel of Yoga Teacher’s Diploma.
Diploma in Nursing (Adult Branch), Keele University (2004).
Expertise
I have expertise across a broad range of health and well-being disciplines. My nursing expertise is mainly focused within community nursing of which I demonstrate proficiency in advanced wound care, end-of-life care, urological care, diabetes care, and long-term conditions. I also have previous expertise in critical care, including advanced airway management, vital observations, and acute pain management.
In psychology my expertise is in the area of health psychology, specifically applications of mindfulness-based approaches to health and well-being and non-mainstream techniques to improve health and well-being. This encompasses studies on spirituality related to health outcomes. I also have interests in long-term conditions, healthcare communication and quality, behavioural medicine, and psychoneuroendocrinology. I have experience of advanced quantitative and qualitative research methods, having experience of conducting multivariate analyses (using SPSS) and using phenomenological methods (incorporating NVivo).
Research interests
My research interests are eclectic but focus on various applications of health psychology to health and well-being. I have primary interest in how different forms of meditation are used to reduce perceived stress and promote well-being. This interest has led to research work focusing on the notion of spirituality as applied to dementia, and primary care chaplaincy. I also developed an interest in sleep studies whilst undertaking my MSc.
Enterprise and commercial interests
August 2013 – 2014: Working with Prof. Wilf McSherry and Dr. Steve Suckling to evaluate dementia education provided within Shropshire, assessing whether dementia education enables a competency framework for dementia leadership.
September 2013 – 2014: Working with Prof. Wilf McSherry and Dr. Peter Kevern to evaluate the efficacy of primary care chaplaincy on patient health and well-being.
July 2014: Updating a systematic review for Dr. Liz Boath, Prof. Tony Stewart, and Angela Carryer on Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) for a range of physical and psychological problems.
Teaching
Level 4
Foundations in Psychology.
Growing and Changing.
Introduction to Public Health.
Introduction to Research Methods.
Perspectives in Psychology.
Level 5
Biological Basis of Behaviour.
Introduction to Public Health.
Psychopathology and Health.
Level 6
Postgraduate
Level 7
Publications
Papers
Boughey, A. J., Boath, E. H., Stewart, A., & Clark-Carter, D. (2014). Efficacy of Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) or Thought Field Therapy (TFT) for anxiety: A narrative systematic review. Submitted and accepted for publication to Energy Psychology Journal (subject to revisions).
Presentations
24/09/13: Presentation of Dr. Peter Kevern’s quantitative research (‘Chaplains for Wellbeing’ in primary care: Results of a retrospective study) to the College of Healthcare Chaplaincy (CHCC). CHCC Annual Conference, Swanwick, Derbyshire, UK.
31/10/13: Poster presentation of the Chaplains for Wellbeing research to the Centre for Psychological Therapies in Primary Care (CPTPC) (University of Chester) Conference. Shropshire Education and Conference Centre, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK.
03/06/14: Poster (and presentation) of the Chaplains for Wellbeing research (entire process) to the Whole Person Health Network (Faith in Health and Healing Conference). University of Birmingham Medical School, Birmingham, UK.
19-21/05/14: Presentation of the Chaplains for Wellbeing research (entire process) to the British Association for the Study of Spirituality (BASS) International Conference. Ashridge House, Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, UK.