Professor of Psychology

As one of the developers of functional imagery training (FIT), I am interested in the psychological processes underpinning human motivation. My research has shown the importance of mental imagery for desire, from problematic drug and food cravings to motivation for healthy behaviours. FIT builds on this research by combining motivational interviewing with multisensory mental imagery training to create desire for behavioural steps towards a goal. Our weight loss trial (Sobrig et al, 2019) showed that FIT is five times more effective than motivational interviewing. Participants who received 4 hours of FIT loss an average of 6kg in 12 months. My current projects are testing FIT for managing anxiety, building resilience at work (with Despina Djama), and supporting healthy sexual relationships (with Lou Crichton).

I am also interested in psychological aspects of anaesthesia. 

I talk about my research on anaesthesia and weight loss here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFTywtZBdNc

Elected Fellow, Academy of Social Sciences
Experimental Psychology Society
Senior Fellow, Higher Education Academy

Motivational interviewing and functional imagery training

Motivation

Imagery

Health behaviour change

Joana Galvao Gomes da Silva Creative technologies for behaviour change

Jonathan Rhodes Functional Imagery Training to increase resilience in athletes

Sophie Homer Social anxiety and paranoia: A mixed methods investigation

Linda Solbrig: Functional Imagery Training, a novel, theory-based motivational intervention for weight-loss 

Annegret Schneider: The psychological cycle of dental anxiety 

Jessica Skorka-Brown: Cognitive processes in craving: from the laboratory to the real world (2010-2014) 

Sophie Pettit: Cognitive effects of Hormone Replacement Therapy (part-time, 2008-2013)

Christine Boomsma: Role of mental imagery in motivation for sustainable behaviours (2009-2012)

Helen Batey: Intrusive thoughts and mindfulness in deliberate self-harm (2007-2010)

Joanna Blackburn: Craving in eating disorders (2005-2009)

Lisa-Marie Berry : Cognition and craving (2004-2008) 

Steven Lilley: Eye movements and traumatic recollections (DClinPsy, 2002-2005)

Lynne Barker : Implicit cognition following frontal brain injury 

Catherine Deeprose: Learning during anaesthesia (1999-2002)

Nathalie Panabokke: Role of visual imagery in cigarette craving (2001-2004)         

Michael Bywaters: The role of affect in vividness of imagery (1999-2003)

Harshada Patel: Children’s memory for colour 

Yuet Yee Yim: Visuo-spatial working memory 

Alison Rowlands: Effect of eye movements on vividness of traumatic imagery (DClinPsy)