Samantha Holt
Lecturer in Counselling Psychology
School of Psychology
Department of Violence Prevention, Trauma and Criminology
email: s.holt@worc.ac.uk
Samantha is in her final year of training as a registered Counselling Psychologist and works clinically with individuals suffering with complex mental health issues in addition to addictions in drugs, alcohol, and gambling. Samantha joined University of Worcester as an Associate Lecturer in 2021 following successfully delivering the first pilot scheme of providing domestic violence victims advocacy in Family Court proceedings. In addition, Samantha has provided advocacy and support to victims of crime in the Criminal Courts. Samantha has also provided support to patients in the NHS and end-of-life care in addition to military patients following conflict overseas. Samantha has also been trained in Creative Arts Therapy.
Samantha’s research interests include: trauma and complex mental health, and how an individual experiences this. She is also interested in how government structures influence and impact mental health and her current thesis seeks to explore how defendants experience a criminal trial. She has collaborated with non-academic partners within the areas of Criminal Justice and Barristers in addition to their Judiciary partners.
Qualifications
- BSc Psychology
- MSc Forensic Psychology
- Certificate in Counselling & Therapeutic Skills
- Certificate in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
- Certificate in Teaching, Assessment & Learning
- Doctorate in Counselling Psychology & Psychotherapy by Professional Studies (final year)
Teaching Interests
- Co-Course Leader Counselling MSc
- Module Leader MCOU4113 - Psychology of Mental Health
- Severe Complex Mental Health
- Engaging & Assessing People with Complex Mental Health Problems
- Samantha supervises both Undergraduate & Postgraduate research projects
Research Interests
- Complex Mental Health
- Trauma & Trauma-Informed Practice
- Criminal Proceedings & Criminal Justice
- Forensic Psychology
- Samantha’s thesis seeks to explore the experiences of defendants in a criminal trial
Membership of Professional Bodies
British Psychology Society
Division of Counselling Psychology
UK Council for Psychotherapy
External Roles
Addictions Practitioner