PhD (Wales), PGCE (Wales), MSc (University of Bath), BSc (Hons) Psychology (Wales)
Background
Post leaving a Politics degree in the early 1980s, I trained initially as a general nurse and then worked as a mental health nurse in various settings which included community mental health nurse in addictions. I ventured back into University in 1997 to study Psychology and since 2000 have actively pursued my specialist interest in health psychology. Throughout my career I have actively pursued and trained in a variety of psychological therapies to treat mental illness. My PhD was a multi centre randomised controlled trial delivering Motivational Interviewing in adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes which I completed in 2007 (awarded 2008). I have taught specifically mental health & health psychology as a lecturer & senior lecturer at Cardiff University, the University of Sydney and in Germany and held a temporary position as Senior Lecturer in Health Psychology at the University of West of England prior to commencement at the University of Gloucestershire in Jan 2012. I have accumulated a vast experience in teaching medical staff, allied professions, nursing staff and psychology at undergraduate and postgraduate levels and also a wide variety of teaching methods which include Problem Based Learning. I have experience in curriculum development, course validation, supervision of health care professionals, and have also worked as a lecturer-practitioner in post traumatic stress disorder.
I have delivered practice workshops in the UK and Australia to GPs, practice nurses and dieticians in Motivational Interviewing, CBT for emotional disorders and CBT in Psychosis.
Academic Qualifications
PhD (Cardiff University/Wales College of Medicine). Awarded 2008 Thesis: A multi centre randomised controlled trial of Motivational Interviewing in adolescents with Type 1 diabetes.
PGCE (Higher Education) (Cardiff University). Awarded 2007: Distinction and Award for outstanding achievement and merit.
MSc Health Psychology (University of Bath). Awarded 2001.
BSc (Hons) Psychology (University of Wales Institute Cardiff, Wales). Awarded 2000. 1st Class Honours
Professional Qualifications
Chartered Psychologist (British Psychological Society)
Motivational Interviewing (Trained and supervised by Professor Stephen Rollnick, 2001-2002)
Behaviour Change Counselling (supervised by Professor Stephen Rollnick, April – June 2001)
Certificate in Counselling (1991)
Certificate in Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (1993)
Registered Nurse (Mental Health) 1991
Registered Nurse (Adult) 1988
Academic leadership
Year 3: Module Leader: Issues in Clinical Psychology (PY310)
Year 2: Module Leader: Abnormal Psychology (PY214)
MSc Professional Practice: Module Leader in Evidence Based Practice (NS7303), Psychological Well Being (NS7301) and Understanding Mental Health and Illness (NS7302)
Further teaching roles
Year 3: Psychotherapeutic Approaches to Counselling (COU304; COU305)
Year 3: Neuropsychology (PY313)
Year 1: Introduction to Psychology (PY101)
MSc: Forensic Psychology (FPY405)
MSc: Occupational Psychology
Research interests
I am passionate about most aspects of health psychology and particularly how psychosocial interventions can help a person with chronic disease or mental distress. Whilst I am a quantitative researcher by background with experience in trial methods, questionnaire design and advanced statistical methods, I am seeking to extend my experience in qualitative methods. In my spare time I am a peer reviewer for a number of journals and books.
PhD degrees in progress
PhD due to complete in December 2015: David Onyekachi Prince.
Topic: Psychosomatic illnesses and relationships with mental health within a Nigerian mental health facility
PhD due to complete in December 2015: Marjorie Muvumbi-Kandini:
Topic: Health Status and Lifestyle Behaviours of Higher Education Students in Zimbabwe
PhD due to complete in December 2014: Al-Darwish.
Topic: Dental caries and the relationship with dental health knowledge, information, and lifestyle factors.
Selected Publications
McLoughen, A; Foster, K; Huws-Thomas, M.V; and Delgado, C (2012). Physical health and wellbeing of emerging and young adults with mental illness: A systematic review of international literature. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 21(3), 274-288.
Huws-Thomas, M.V., Hood, K., Rollnick, S., Channon, S. and Gregory, J.W. (Submitted to British Journal of Health Psychology).
A retrospective analysis of the relationship between quality of life and metabolic control in adolescents with type 1 diabetes.
Huws-Thomas, M.V. (2008). Review of Responses to Traumatized Children by Amer Hosin. Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing 15 (2) 170-171.
Davies J and Huws-Thomas, M.V. (2007) Promoting well being in child and adolescent mental health. Nursing Standard. 21 (51) 49-56.
Channon, S; Huws-Thomas, M.V; Hood, K; Channings-John, R; Rollnick, S and Gregory, J.W. (2007). A Multi Centre RCT delivering Motivational Interviewing with Teenagers with Diabetes. Diabetes Care.30: 1390-1395
Skinner, T.C; Murphy, H and Huws-Thomas, M.V (2005) Diabetes in adolescence. In Snoek, F.J and Skinner, T.Chas Skinner (Eds) Psychology in Diabetes Care, 2nd Edition. Wiley. Chichester. 27-44
Channon, S; Huws-Thomas, M.V; Gregory, J and Rollnick, S (2005) Motivational Interviewing with Teenagers with Diabetes. Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry 10(1), 43-51.
Channon, S; Huws-Thomas, M.V; Rollnick, S and Gregory, J.W (2005) Letter to Diabetes Medicine. The potential of motivational interviewing. 22, 353-357.
Lane, C; Huws-Thomas, M.V; Hood, K; Rollnick, S; Edwards, K and Robling, M. (2005) Measuring adaptations of motivational interviewing: the development and validation of the behaviour change counselling index (BECCI). Patient Education and Counselling. 166-173.
Rollnick, S, and Huws-Thomas M.V. (2002) Intervening through Primary Health Care. In Miller, W.R, and Weisner, C. (Eds) Changing Substance Abuse Through Health and Social Settings. London. Kluer Academic/Plenum pp. 49-60.
Selected Conference Presentations & Posters since 2006
Oral presentation: McLoughen, A; Foster, K; Huws-Thomas, M.V; and Delgado, C. A systematic review of the physical health and well being of young people with mental illness. Australian College of Mental Health Nurses Conference, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. September 2011
Key note speaker: Huws-Thomas, M.V. May 2011. Invited speaker on Assessment and Treatment of Depression. RGA Conference, Radisson Hotel, Sydney. Australia.
Presentation: Huws-Thomas MV. How best to transfer Motivational Interviewing from classroom to practice. PeRLs session at the Australian College of Mental Health Nurses Conference, Hobart, Tasmania. 31 August–2 September 2010.
Poster: Huws-Thomas MV, Hood K, Gregory JW, Rollnick S, Channon S. A retrospective analysis of metabolic control and quality of life in adolescents with Type 1 diabetes. To be presented at the Australian College of Mental Health Nurses Conference, Hobart, Tasmania. 31 August–2 September 2010.
Poster: Huws-Thomas MV, Hood K, Gregory JW, Rollnick S, Channon S. A retrospective analysis of metabolic control and quality of life in adolescents with Type 1 diabetes. Presented at the NPNR Conference, St Catherine's College, Oxford, UK. 22–23 September 2010.
Oral presentation: Channon, S and Huws-Thomas MV. Motivational Interviewing in diabetes. Presented at the International Conference for Motivational Interviewing (ICMI), Interlaken, Switzerland. June 2009
Oral presentation: Bracken R & Huws-Thomas MV. Exercise Psychology and Diabetes. Presented at the Diabetes Research Network, Swansea University, UK. July 2009.
Poster: Huws-Thomas MV, Bickerstaffe P, Bowring-Lossock E, Jones GH & Nute A (2009). A pilot study of the effectiveness of Problem Based Learning on decision making and self efficacy in newly registered mental health nurses. Presented at the NPNR Conference, St Catherine's College, Oxford. 24–25 September 2009.
Oral presentation: Huws-Thomas MV, Channon S, Rollnick S, Gregory JW, Hood K. Motivational Interviewing in adolescents with Type 1 diabetes: A multi centre randomised controlled trial. Presented at the Annual Spring Meeting Psychosocial Aspects of Diabetes (PSAD) Meeting, Florence, Italy. April 2006.
Poster: Huws-Thomas MV, Gregory JW, Channon S, Rollnick S. A multi centre randomised controlled trial delivering delivering Motivational Interviewing in adolescents with Type 1 diabetes. International Society of Paediatric and Adolescent Diabetes (ISPAD) conference, Singapore. November 2006.
Editorial and Reviewing Work
Reviewer for:
Journal of Substance Misuse
Journal of Diabetes and Long Term Complications
Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing
Journal of Advanced Nursing
Diabetes UK: peer reviewer for research
Book reviewer for: Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing
Consultancy
Over the past few years I held my own consultancy and specialised in trauma CBT, behaviour change and counselling approaches for emotional problems. Although a practising psychologist, I am not currently undertaking any client work.
Personal interests
When I am not working, I like to walk, get on my rusty Trek, be around nature and animals, and learn to horse ride. And also go back to the Australian bush!