Rachel Russell

In my professional roles, I work both in the NHS and here at the UEA.

In my NHS roles since qualifying, I feel priviledged to have worked with neurodivergent children and young people (CYP) and their families. I currently work with CYP with long-term conditions and their families, in an acute hospital setting. 

In my UEA role, I am passionate about contributing to the development of the future workforce and working within the EDI team on the programme.

Over the course of my career to date, I have developed interests in neurodevelopmental differences, attachment theory and developmental trauma, and long term conditions. I also have wider interests in the sustainability of the NHS clinical psychology workforce, particularly in viewing this through an EDI lens, and the use of co-production in the design and delivery of services. 

BSc (Hons) Psychology with Clinical Psychology with First Class Honours (University of Lincoln, 2013)

Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (University of East Anglia, 2021)

Training:

ADOS and ADI-R training (Beginning with A, 2022)

Since qualifying as a Clinical Psychologist I have worked clinically in a NHS children's neurodevelopmental service, supporting the assessment of neurodevelopmental differences, namely autism (Autism Spectrum Disorder) and ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder), and currently work with CYP with long-term conditions in an acute hospital setting.

I joined the team at the Doctoral Programme in Clinical Psychology as a Lecturer in Clinical Psychology in 2022, where I work within the EDI team as well as supporting with the teaching, assessment, and advising elements of the course. 

During my clinical training, my doctoral thesis research focused on the role of co-production in the design and delivery of services and on the role of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) for self-management in long term conditions.

Since qualifying, my main research activities have been in supervising Trainee Clinical Psychologists' thesis research.

My main research interests currently are in the areas of:

- Neurodevelopmental differences

- Sustainability of the NHS clinical psychology workforce, including through an EDI lens

Research Output:

Russell, R., Chester, V., Watson, J., Nyakunuwa, C., Child, L., McDermott, M., & Alexander, R. T. (2018). The prevalence of overweight and obesity levels among forensic inpatients with a learning disability. British Journal of Learning Disabilities, 46(2), 101–108.