Dr. Penny Priest
Clinical Psychologist
Bridgnorth CMHT

Qualifications
Bsc Hons Psychology, University of Manchester
PGCE, University of Manchester
MA in Education Management, The Open University
Doctorate in Clinical Psychology, Birmingham University

Ways I tend to work include: environmental consultation and modification; systemic consultation (including families, social groups and wider systems); behavioural strategies; cognitive analysis (such as narrative and life-story work); family/group work and psychodynamic approaches.

I have further advanced training in Applied Behavioural Analysis and Systemic Practice. I am a member of the West Midlands Critical and Community Psychology Interest Group, the UK Ecopsychology Network, the BPS Faculty for Eating Disorders, the Clinical Psychology Forum Editorial Collective and The Midlands Psychology Group, a collective of psychologists interested in social materialist psychology.

Research interests
Qualitative research, particularly ethnography;
Gathering the evidence base for a social-materialist psychology

· Currently conducting the following research:
Piloting a Systemic Practice Service in Adult Mental Health
Using writing to help people
Capturing the breadth of positive outcomes in CMHTs
Critical analysis of NICE guidelines

· Currently supervising the following research projects:
The effects on clinicians on working with people experiencing eating distress (doctoral research)
Follow-up of people who have been seen by CMHT primary care liaison service (doctoral research)
The effects of changing rooms on therapy (undergraduate service evaluation);
Exploring the connections and aetiology between not speaking (mutism) and not eating (anorexia);
Peer relation narratives of individuals currently experiencing an eating disorder
Audit of CMHTs by people who use them

Supervision and training offered
Specialist teaching and supervision on Eating Disorders
Systemic supervision across the life span and across teams
Systemic supervision for teams involved in day service/social inclusion work
Specialist placements (Systemic Practice in Eating Disorders) for ClinPsyD trainees from the 3 regional courses
Supervision, consultation and training on perspectives of Autistic Spectrum Disorders and ADHD outside of Learning Disability Services
Supervision, consultation and training on aspects of the physical health of people using mental health services

Influences
David Smail, Burrhus Skinner, John Bowlby, John Burnham

Publications
Crotty, S. (pseudonym) (2002) User Perspective. Journal of Critical Psychology, Counselling and Psychotherapy, 2 (1).
Fox, M. & Priest, P. (2004) Mike Fox and the Poverty Tourists. Clinical Psychology, 38.
Midlands Psychology Group (2007) Questioning the science and politics of happiness. The Psychologist, 20 (7).
Midlands Psychology Group (2006) Unhappiness is inevitable. The Guardian, 28.8.2006
Priest, P. (2007) The Healing Balm Effect: Using a walking group to feel better. Journal of Health Psychology, 12 (1), 36-52. See also programme on this research on Ramblings, BBC Radio 4, 11 March 2005:
Priest, P. (2006) That was then, this is now. Clinical Psychology Forum, 162, 25-28.
Priest, P. (2006) Walking Testimonies. Resurgence, 234.
Priest, P. (2006) Sex and Power and the Steigenberger Airport Hotel. Psychotherapy and Politics International, 4(1): 62-65
Priest, P. (2003) Don’t Look Down. Clinical Psychology, 29.
Priest, P., Wagner, H. & Waller, G. (1991) Psychological Characteristics of Anorexic and Bulimic Women Who Attend Self-Help Groups. British Review of Bulimia and Anorexia Nervosa, 5 (2).

Systemic Practice Service