Who am I?

Dr Sarah Parry is a Senior Clinical Lecturer and Programme Lead of the Psychological Wellbeing Training Pathway at Manchester Metropolitan University. Sarah works as a HCPC registered Clinical Psychologist within children's services and private practice. Sarah’s research interests include therapeutic uses of formulation and the therapeutic utility of compassion for clients and practitioners alike. Sarah and her colleagues also explore how interpersonal trauma can impact aspects of people’s lives, and how adults and young people develop coping strategies in response to traumatic experiences. Sarah’s research has been published in a range of peer reviewed journals, including the Journal of Children’s Services, the Journal of Child Sexual Abuse, and the Journal of Trauma and Dissociation.

Academic and professional qualifications

Psychology BSc (Hons), School of Psychological Sciences - University of Manchester

Mental Health and Practice MSc, School of Medicine - University of Manchester

Doctorate in Clinical Psychology, Faculty of Health and Medicine - University of Lancaster 

Other academic service (administration and management)

Applied Psychology and Well-being Research Group, MMU

Child Health Research Network, University of Manchester

Principal Investigator of the Young Voices Study https://www2.mmu.ac.uk/hpsc/research/featured-projects/the-young-voices-study.php 

Why study ?

Postgraduate teaching

Programme Lead for the Psychological Wellbeing Training Pathway:

1. MSc Psychological Wellbeing in Clinical Practice (BPS CPD approved)

2. MSc Clinical Skills in Integrative Psychotherapy 

3. MSc Childhood Development and Wellbeing in Practice

Unit Lead: Clinical Skills, Psychological Wellbeing in Practice, Childhood and Early Interventions, Developmental Stages and Challenges

MSc dissertation and PhD supervisor 

Postgraduate supervision (completed/in progress)

I am keen to supervise postgraduate research that focuses upon:

• interventions/services promoting psychological wellbeing for children, young people and their families/carers
• exploring and developing responsive trauma-informed interventions for survivors of abuse
• creative and collaborative uses for psychological formulation with clients of services and staff teams
• less typical multisensory experiences (e.g. voices/visoins) for young people 
• multiplicity and dissociation as a coping mechanism 
• the role of compassionate growth in developing resilience and hope

External examiner roles

Leeds Beckett University - Academy of Play and Child Psychotherapy:

• PG Cert in Therapeutic Play Skills
• PG Dip Play Therapy
• MA Practice Based Play Therapy
• Adv Dip Counselling for Children and Young People using Creative Arts

Research expertise

My interest areas relate to psychological wellbeing, particularly responses to interpersonal traumas and the intrapersonal healing that can develop through the therapeutic alliance, trauma-informed services and collaborative formulation that informs intervention design.

Publications

• Featured Works

  S. Parry, J. Simpson (2016). How Do Adult Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse Experience Formally Delivered Talking Therapy? A Systematic Review. Journal of Child Sexual Abuse. 25(7), pp.793-812.

  S. Parry, M. Lloyd, J. Simpson Experiences of therapeutic relationships on hospital wards, dissociation, and making connections. Journal of Trauma & Dissociation. pp.1-15.

• Books (authored/edited/special issues)

  S. Parry (2019). The Handbook of Brief Therapies: A practical guide. S. Parry. SAGE.

  S. Parry (2017). Effective Self-Care and Resilience in Clinical Practice Dealing with Stress, Compassion Fatigue, and Burnout.

• Journal articles

  C. Atkinson, G. Thomas, S. Parry (2019). Using concept mapping to understand motivational interviewing practice. Qualitative Research Journal. ahead-of-print(ahead-of-print),

  H. Brennan, J. Westbrook, S. Parry “An understanding, a way of life”: An exploration of learning disability professionals’ experiences of compassion. British Journal of Learning Disabilities.

  H. Brennan, J. Westbrook "An understanding, a way of life”: An Exploration of Learning Disability Professionals’ Experiences of Compassion. British Journal of Learning Disabilities.

  SE. Cooper, S. Parry, M. Livanou, D. Sculthorpe (2019). Exploring men's attitudes to mental fitness through sportspeople's lived experience. British Journal of Mental Health Nursing. 8(4), pp.175-180.

  S. Parry, R. Djabaeva, F. Varese (2018). Engaging Young People Who Hear Voices in Online Mixed-Methods Research. SAGE Research Methods Cases.

  S. Parry, M. Lloyd, J. Simpson (2018). “It's not like you have PSTD with a touch of dissociation”: Understanding dissociative identity disorder through first person accounts. European Journal of Trauma & Dissociation. 2(1), pp.31-38.

  A. Jacobs (2017). Talkshow im eigenen Kopf. Neue Zürcher Zeitung am Sonntag. pp.56-56.

  SL. Parry, Z. Malpus (2017). Reconnecting the Mind and Body: A Pilot Study of Developing Compassion for Persistent Pain. Patient Experience Journal. 4(1), pp.145-153.

  SL. Parry, M. Lloyd (2017). Towards reconnecting: creative formulation and understanding dissociation. Mental Health Review Journal. 22(1), pp.28-39.

  S. Parry, J. Simpson (2016). How Do Adult Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse Experience Formally Delivered Talking Therapy? A Systematic Review. Journal of Child Sexual Abuse. 25(7), pp.793-812.

  S. Parry, M. Lloyd, J. Simpson Experiences of therapeutic relationships on hospital wards, dissociation, and making connections. Journal of Trauma & Dissociation. pp.1-15.

  S. Parry, S. Weatherhead (2014). A critical review of qualitative research into the experiences of young adults leaving foster care services. Journal of Children's Services. 9(4), pp.263-279.

• Chapters in books

  S. Parry (2019). Motivational Interviewing. In: The Handbook of Brief Therapies A practical guide. SAGE,

  S. Parry, N. Andriopoulou (2019). Solution Focused Brief Therapy. In: The Handbook of Brief Therapies A practical guide. SAGE,

  S. Parry (2019). Integrative Brief Therapies. In: The Handbook of Brief Therapies A practical guide. SAGE,

  C. Davies, S. Zeedyk, S. Walls, N. Betts, S. Parry (2008). Using Imitation to Establish Channels of Communication with Institutionalised Children in Romania: Bridging the Gap. In: Promoting Social Interaction for Individuals with Communicative Impairments Making Contact. Jessica Kingsley Publishers,

• Conferences

  E. Craig, S. Parry, J. Keenan “I’m a Person Not a Disorder.” A Phenomenological Analysis Exploring How Employees with Bipolar Stay Well at Work. Manchester, 10/7/2019.

  E. Craig, S. Parry, J. Keenan “I’m a Person Not a Disorder.” A Phenomenological Analysis Exploring How Employees with Bipolar Stay Well at Work. Cardiff, 3/7/2019.

Invited roundtable discussions

March 2019: 'Oh It's Just a Job'; Ugh No It Isn't - Keynote - Developing Together SWTP Emotional Resilience and Wellbeing in Social Work Conference, London 

Sept 2018: Practitioner Wellbeing & Self-care in Practice - Doctors In Deprivation: Reversing The Inverse Care Law, Manchester 

April 2018: Nurturing Resilience Sharing Stories from the Inside - Invited Chair - 4th International Conference on Mental Health & Human Resilience, Rome

2016: Healing From Childhood Trauma – A Multisystemic Approach, International Conference on Adolescent Medicine and Child Psychology, London

2015: Poster: What Are The Experiences of Therapeutic Relationships on Hospital Wards
of People Who Experience Dissociation?Annual Research and Development Conference, West Cheshire
Clinical Commissioning Group, Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation
Trust

2015: Poster: Compassion in Pain Management, British Pain Society Annual Conference

2004 to 2009: Annual guest lecturer, Challenges to Child Development, Nottingham
University

2009: Intensive Interaction in Romania, Intensive Interaction Annual Conference

Conference organisation

2018: Practitioner Wellbeing and Self-Care Conference 2018, Manchester Metropolitan University 

2002 to 2006: Foundation training courses for medical and psychology students in the UK.

2005 to 2009: Annual multidisciplinary training conferences for practitioners working with children in care overseas.

Grants

2019-2023: White Rose Doctoral Training Partnership 1+3 PhD Studentship, (Lead Supervisor): My Friends, My Voices and Me: A Mixed-methods Investigation Exploring Commonalities and Differences of Sensory Hallucinations and Imaginary Companions with Children and Young People

2018 – 2022: White Rose Doctoral Training Partnership 1+3 PhD Studentship, (Lead Supervisor): Developing a Novel Assessment and Communication Tool for Childhood Auditory, Visual and Sensory Hallucinations 

2016 - Principal Investigator – Health Accelerator Award 2016-2018 - Young Voices Study 

2017 - Co-Investigator – University of Manchester, Faculty of Humanities, Strategic Investment Fund - Motivational Interviewing Network 

2017 - Co-Investigator - University of Manchester SEED Rapid Response Impact Fund - Motivational Interviewing Network

In Previous Employment 
2007-2008 - Unilever Partnership
2008 - Northwest Regional Development Fund 
2009 - Big Lottery Awards for All 
2010 - Big Lottery Awards for All 

Projects and initiatives

Psychological Wellbeing Training Pathway

The Pathway aims to develop:

• Critical awareness of issues relating to promoting psychological wellbeing
• Further understanding of the theoretical frameworks underlying evidence-based practice
• Innovative and inclusive approaches to promoting psychological wellbeing
• Research knowledge in practice
• Reflective practice and practitioner wellbeing

Consultancy and advisory roles

Associate at Cheshire Psychology 

Practitioner roles

Clinical Psychologist 

Media appearances or involvement

Mad In America: "Ten Tips for Parents" Resource Series: https://www.madinamerica.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Ten-Tips-for-Parents-of-Children-Who-Hear-Voices.pdf

iam1in4: Somewhere between “a great friend”, “scary” and “hard to explain” https://iam1in4.com/2017/07/somewhere-between-a-great-friend-scary-and-hard-to-explain/

Parents, don’t panic if your child hears voices, it’s actually quite common - The Conversation https://theconversation.com/parents-dont-panic-if-your-child-hears-voices-its-actually-quite-common-78964 

How to talk to children about terrorism - The Conversation https://theconversation.com/how-to-talk-to-children-about-terrorism-78290 

NHS staff are burning out – here's how to make it stop - The Conversation https://theconversation.com/nhs-staff-are-burning-out-heres-how-to-make-it-stop-84746 

A range of small BBC features associated with young people's mental health, for example, the Victoria Derbyshire show in relation to our Young Voices Study: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PkmZCo6fb0M 

Prizes and awards

Shortlisted for the Times Higher Education Awards 2018 - Research Project of the Year: Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences - The Young Voices Study https://www2.mmu.ac.uk/hpsc/research/featured-projects/the-young-voices-study.php 

Membership of professional associations

Practitioner Psychologist - Health Care Professions Council

Chartered Member of the British Psychological Society