Research output per year
Research output per year
0.28 Medical School
I have a longstanding interest in clinical psychology. I completed my undergraduate degree in Psychology at the University of Sheffield from 1989 to 1992 then was awarded a scholarship by the Centre for Human Nutrition at the University of Sheffield to undertake a PhD in functional medical disorders from 1992 to 1995. Following this I immediately gained entry to clinical psychology training and was awarded my Doctorate in Clinical Psychology in 1998 from the University of East Anglia Doctoral Programme in Clinical Psychology.
Once qualified I initially worked in Child and Adolescent mental health services in Cambridge, working first in an inpatient adolescent eating disorders service, before moving to an outpatient Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service. I then returned to a research role as a Postdoctoral Research Clinical Psychologist at the University of Cambridge Institute of Public Health. There I worked with internationally renowned Health Psychologists to develop behaviour change interventions for chronic health conditions, including diabetes and smoking cessation. Concurrently I maintained clinical practice during, working first in a Diabetes Clinic and then a Smoking Cessation service, to link directly research and theory to practice. This experience led to an on-going interest in the field of Clinical Health Psychology, theory and practice, and enabled me to gained Chartered Health Psychologist status as well as Chartered Clinical Psychologist status.
I have been continued to combine my clinical my research expertise since moving to UEA. I joined the UEA Doctoral Programme in Clinical Psychology as a Clinical Tutor/Clinical Lecturer in 2004, becoming a Clinical Associate Professor in 2016. I am currently the Deparmental and Programme Wellbeing lead, overseeing pastoral support systems for staff and trainees in the Department, as I am passionate about supporting the wellbeing of our trainees and of the staff delivering training. I strongly believe this is a fundamental aspect of Programme and Departmental provision. In the department I have also held roles as Admissions Lead from 2011 to 2018 with lead responsibility for selection procedures, Lead for trainee Personal and Professional Development, and Lead for organisation and administration of the Programme OSCEs . I oversee and coordinate provision of the PPD and pastoral support systems for trainees during the course, engaging with external supervisors to ensure robust support systems to enhance the trainee learning experience and promote resilience throughout the duration of training. I continue to work clinically, working part time in clinical practice in Norwich with adults.
I am an accredited Cognitive Behavioural Therapist, registered with the British Association of Cognitive and Behavioural Psychotherapists, recognising expertise in Cognitive Behaviour Therapy.
Departmental Roles
Enterprise and Engagement Activities
Educational and Professional Qualifications:
Currently my main research interests are on trainee wellbeing and related issues. I am interested in the impact of shared disclosure of mental health concerns whilst on training, both by trainees and course staff, and the facilitative experience of this on training. More broadly I am interested in self disclosure by professionals working in therapeutic settings or in training for these professions. I am also involved in research exploring the experiences of forced migrants and professionals working with them. I have retained an interest in Clinical Health psychology, particularly gastrointestinal conditions and diabetes. I have broader interests informed by her dual experience in Clinical and Health Psychology, researching the interface between Clinical Psychology and Health Psychology, particularly in using therapeutic tools from each to inform practice in the other.
Research Words: Trainee wellbeing; Self disclosure; Refugee and migrant psychological health and wellbeing; Clinical Health Psychology; Behaviour change interventions
The majority of the teaching I do is on the Doctoral Programme in Clinical Psychology, though I also contribute to workshops for placement providers and supervisors to the programme delivered regionally, to the University of Essex Clinical Psychology training programme and have been a consultant to and provider of workshops to the Young Mind’s charity as part of their Mental Health First Aiders training.
I am particularly interested in how trainees can use knowledge of the “self” in their clinical work and in the interface between the personal and professional in working with clients, which is related to my role as Lead for the provision of Personal and Professional Development (PPD) systems for the Programme. I am also passionate about creating awareness of impliciat biases and priviledges, and the impact and influence of these on the therapeutic processes, and on issues of power and boundaries in clinical work.
She is an advisor to Trainee Clinical Psychologists and supervisors trainee doctoral research theses, and PhD and Masters students in the Medical School and Social Work.
Teaching on PPD and Core Clinical Psychology modules
Personal Professional Skills and Values Case Discussion/Peer Supervision Group lead
Year Tutor
Academic advisor and research supervisor
Organisation and facilitation of supervisor training workshops for regional placement providers
I also have an interest in widening participation in Clinical Psychology at the level of GCSE and A level students, informed by my previous work as Admissions Lead for the Programme. I am a member of the BPS Directory of Career’s Service Volunteers, an outreach programme to schools, and was a member of the Health Education East steering committee for Health Ambassadors, which works with FE institutes to promote careers in the NHS. I have contributed to UEA Summer Schools, and Outreach events, given careers presentations to local schools, was involved with the Young Minds charity to promote careers in mental health and have delivered careers presentations to undergraduates in the Department of Psychology at UEA.
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
Research output: Other contribution
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Imogen Rushworth (Director / Co-Director of Training)
Activity: Membership › Network, Working Group or Professional Association
Imogen Rushworth (Member)
Activity: Membership › Network, Working Group or Professional Association
Imogen Rushworth (Member)
Activity: Membership › Network, Working Group or Professional Association
Imogen Rushworth (Secretary)
Activity: Membership › Network, Working Group or Professional Association
Imogen Rushworth (Member)
Activity: Membership › Network, Working Group or Professional Association