ProfessorVirginia McIntosh

I joined the Department of Psychology in 2017 after working in a clinical research team, conducting clinical trials for serious mental disorders. I teach in the clinical psychology training programme and lead a programme that trains health professionals in cognitive behaviour therapy. My research focuses on improving the outcome of psychotherapies for psychological disorders - eating disorders, depression, and anxiety, studying specific therapies and broader process mechanisms of change. I have also conducted research investigating the effects of the Canterbury earthquakes - how best to treat large numbers of people affected by a community-wide natural disaster and understanding how some people remain resilient and even experience post-traumatic growth despite high exposure to earthquakes. My research uses both statistical and qualitative methodologies.