Dr Yvonne Melia

• Steering Group Member, West Midlands Therapy Network
• External Examiner, University of Southampton Doctorate in Clinical Psychology January 2019 -
• Ad hoc DClinPsych viva examiner (University of Bath, 2019; Teeside University, 2020).
• Secretary of the Academic Subgroup of the Group of Trainers in Clinical Psychology (GTiCP)
• Member of the College of Reviewers, Staffordshire University

• BSc (hons) Applied Psychology, Liverpool John Moores University, 1996
• PgDip Clinical Neuroscience, University of Surrey, 1998
• PgDip Psychological Research Methods, Open University, 2004
• Doctorate in Clinical Psychology, University of Sheffield, 2007
• PgDip Psychoanalytic Observational Studies, University of East London (completed at the Tavistock Centre, London), 2016
• PgCert Higher Professional Education, Staffordshire University, 2017

My main research interests relate to attachment relationships, developmental trauma, applications of clinical psychology in social care contexts and psychological issues pertaining to Looked After Children and adopted children. I am also keen to consider how research can enhance clinical practice in respect to these service users including; improving the screening of mental health difficulties and psychological outcomes, developing relevant measures to assess coping and parenting in carers, issues of inappropriate diagnosis and trauma in sibling relationships. More broadly, I am interested in complex mental health difficulties in young people, including self-harm, Eating Disorders, personality difficulties; psychiatric symptom fabrication; gender identity issues in young people with personality difficulties. Finally, I am interested in how identity issues influence recovery and change in respect to mental health and the role of possible peer identification and group processes on emotional well-being.

My own doctoral research examined the impact of social contagion on self-harm in adolescents.

Postgraduate

Module Lead for two modules on the Professional Doctorate in Clinical Psychology; Assessment, Formulation, Intervention and Evaluation 1 (AFIE1) and Personal and Professional Values and Skills (PPVS) and for the Introduction to Applied Therapeutic and Clinical Skills module on the MSc Foundations in Clinical Psychology. Lead for Personal and Professional Development on the Professional Doctorate in Clinical Psychology.

I also deliver teaching on undergraduate and postgraduate psychology and social work courses.

Journal publications

Wormald, C. & Melia, Y. (2021). How effective are interventions for enhancing empathy in service users with an Intellectual Disability who engage in sexually abusive behaviour? A Review of the Literature. Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities. Accepted for publication on 3rd March 2021.

Balmain, N. Melia, Y. John, C. Dent, H. & Smith, K. (2021). Experiences of receiving Cognitive Analytic Therapy for those with complex secondary care mental health difficulties. Psychology and Psychotherapy: Theory, Research and Practice (in press)

Vandewalle, K. & Melia, Y. (2020). Psychosocial and behavioural factors associated with self injurious behaviour (SIB) in individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, (in press), to be published in Volume 81, March 2021

Balmain, N. Melia, Y. Dent, H. & Smith, K. A systematic review of service user’s experience of Cognitive Analytic Therapy (CAT). Psychology and Psychotherapy: Theory, Research and Practice. Accepted for publication on 12^th August 2020.

Woodward, K. Melia, Y. & Combes, H. (2020). Exploring Carers’ Experiences and Perceptions of Special Guardianship Orders (SGOs) over Time, from the Point of Applying to Now. The British Journal of Social Work, published 4^th August. https://doi.org/10.1093/bjsw/bcaa086

Carlson, L. Hutton, S. Priest, H. & Melia, Y. (2020). Reunification of looked-after children with their birth parents in the United Kingdom: A literature review and thematic synthesis. Child & Family Social Work, 25(1), 192-205. First published 27^th June 2019. https://doi.org/10.1111/cfs.12663

Melia, Y. (2016). Feminine and masculine personality traits: reflections on opportunities and challenges to a career in clinical psychology, Clinical Psychology Forum, 285, 20-24.

Worthington, A. Matthews, S. Melia, Y. and Oddy, M. (2006) Cost-benefits associated with social outcome from neurobehavioural rehabilitation. Brain Injury. 20(9) 947-57.

Worthington, A. and Melia, Y. (2006) Rehabilitation is compromised by arousal and sleep disorders: Results of a survey of rehabilitation centres. Brain Injury. 20(3), 327-32.

Research papers

Contributoring author to:
Brain and Spine Foundation (2004). Headstrong. All about brain tumours. London: Brain and Spine Foundation.

Melia, Y. (2001). Research and consultation with children and young people. Considerations for good practice in projects involving children with brain tumours. London: Brain and Spine Foundation.

Conference papers

Workshop presentation: Children and Mental Health Nursing Conference, 16^th August 2019, Staffordshire University ‘Working with hard-to-engage young people: insights from Attachment Theory’

Panel member, Special Event: Fostering Focus “Team Parenting for Children in Foster Care: A Model for Integrated Therapeutic Care by Jeanette Caw & Judy Sebba” An exploration of this book and the issues raised. Northern LAC Forum, Leeds, 23rd May 2014.

Melia, Y. & Nattrass, A. Routine Evaluation and Research in Practice: experiences in a LAC CAMHS Service, Northern LAC Forum, Leeds, 15th February 2013.

Melia, Y. & Eaden, T. ‘Preventing Placement Breakdown among Looked After Children with Complex Mental Health Needs,’ Looked After Children Matter. Delivering Excellent Services for Children in Care, 3rd July 2012, ICO Conference Centre, London.

Melia, Y. & Nattrass, A. ‘Case study: Improving Mental Health Services for Looked After Children – Developing a New Model of Care,’ Inside Government Conference: Looked After Children: Improving the Outcomes for Young People in Care, 14th March 2012, 1 Wimpole Street, London.

Posters

Callaghan, A. Melia, Y. Rutterford, N. Hussain, I. and Worthington, A. (2003) Ascertaining needs and levels of psychological symptoms of family members of brain injured individuals in a residential setting: implications for service development (conference poster), Brain Injury – the Quality Agenda, The Jury’s Inn, Birmingham, 27-28 February 2003.