Dr Deborah Wright

Biography

Deborah Wright, PGCHEP FHEA, D.Psychodyn.Psych. is a Senior Lecturer, academic, psychotherapist and artist with current PPS Leadership roles: PPS Director of Education (2025 to on-going) PPS Director of Undergraduate Studies (2022 to on-going) Programme Director for the Professional Doctorate Programmes: (2021 to on-going) Doctorate in Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy Doctorate in Psychodynamic Psychotherapy Doctorate in Analytical Psychology Doctorate in Psychodynamic Counselling Director/Convenor of the PPS Psychosocial and Psychoanalytic Studies Clinical Research Group (2022 to on-going) Honorary Secretary of the PPS EDI (Equality Diversity Inclusion) Committee (2020 to on-going) Organiser and Facilitator of the PA123 Student enrichment Club (2020 to on-going) Forthcoming Series Editor for the ‘Psychoanalytic Clinical Research Book Series’ with Routledge (2025 to on-going) With additional Academic Roles: Editorial Board, ‘New Associations’ Journal, BPC (British Psychoanalytic Council) (2022-2023, 2024 to on-going) External Examiner for ‘MPhil in Psychoanalytic Studies’ course, Trinity College Dublin (2025 to on-going) Member of the American Friends of the Sigmund Freud Museum Committee, Vienna (2025 to on-going) Leadership: I am in the PPS Senior Management Team, I am the Director of Education, including chairing the Education committees. I am Director of UG Studies, I complete UG ARC and Chair PPS UG Directors group and UG SVG. I was Director of BA Psychodynamic Practice (2021). I am the Programme Director for the Professional Doctorates (2021 onward), I co-complete PGR ARC. I am Director of PPS Clinical Research Group, PPS EDI Committee secretary (2020 onwards), was DDLO (2020 to 2023). I was on PPS 30th Anniversary Task and finish group. I worked with ‘Learning Development’ to create a Moodle video to support University of Essex wide Personal tutors to support tutees via zoom. I develop/deliver MA Psychodynamic Counselling and Psychotherapy Summer school yearly. I am PPS Student Conference co-ordinator 2024 and 2025, Director of the PPS PA123 (student enrichment) club (2020 onward). I am a Peer reviewer for well-known academic publishers such as Routledge and Journals such as ‘Psychodynamic Practice’. I externally examine PhD theses and I am external examiner for the 'MPhil in Psychoanalytic Studies' programme, Trinity College Dublin. I have leadership roles in professional body and academic societies: On the editorial Board of the BPC ‘New Associations’ Journal (2002-2023, 2025 ongoing), Freud Museum Vienna organising Committee, Created/Set up/Co-ordinated WPF/FPC Therapy Research Steering Committee (2021) Conference Organiser for The APS (2021:‘Psychosocial Bodies’), Co-Director of BACP West London Regional Meeting (2014-2016), Director of FPC Members ‘Clinical meeting/Scientific meetings’ (2012-13), Co-Director of West London/Middlesex Psychotherapy FPC group (2011-2015), The FPC Training Committee Co-ordinator (2005-7). I collaborate with Psychotherapy provider organisations, schools and NHS for student placements for the clinical training (MAPCP) and research for the Professional Doctorates. I co-organised the Conference ‘History and Psychoanalysis: Inter-Disciplinary Dialogues on Methods of Enquiry’ (16 &17/11/25) with Professor Karl Figlio, including being chair of the interview panel for funded ‘Editorial Assistant’ for the project position, hosting internationally renowned Psychoanalysts/Historians/Researchers. Education: I have leadership roles across UG, PGT and PGR, leading/developing academic standards in my subject area: Director of UG studies, MA Psychodynamic Counselling and Psychotherapy: Director of year 3 (Final Year) 2021 to 2024 and Director of ‘Readiness to Practice Clinically’ (2024 , ongoing) I am Director of The Professional Doctorate Programmes, sharing PGR Director role (‘Professional Doctorates’), co-writing/organising PGR ARC and PGR activities/PGR conference. My roles as creator/director of PPS Clinical Research Group, DDLO, creator/director of PA123 (student enrichment) Club and my commitment to personal tutoring, wellbeing, inclusivity, and excellent PGR supervision has enabled me to give wide support to students and staff across the department. In the modules I have been supervisor of/teach Including in MA Psychodynamic Counselling and Psychotherapy, MA Childhood studies and BA Psychodynamic Practice; PA142, PA216, PA239, PA700, PA804, PA805, PA806, PA808, PA800, PA966, teach on; PA256, PA967, PA968, PA966, PA215, PA221. I designed the Professional Doctorate Programs Curriculums leading/developing standards/quality assurance with innovative approaches to course delivery in the field of Clinical research, creating the modules/teaching content/teaching schedules, including use of zoom and ‘Active learning’ (Mortiboys, 2005)* pedagogy and creating Handbook, Module outlines, and assessments. I was nominated for ‘Teaching Excellence Awards’ in 2022, 2023 and Post Graduate Research Award (Supervisor of the year) 2024. I am committed to Educations and Research CPD in relation to education/reflective learning and to supporting students through every stage of their learning journey with innovative, high-quality education with maximum impact. I have continually undertaken subject specific CPD since qualifying as a Psychodynamic Psychotherapist in line with FPC, BPC, BACP requirements whilst I work in Private Practice as a Psychodynamic Psychotherapist. In DUG role, I meet regularly with UG course Directors, overseeing design/development of UG curricula. I created UG Website material and co-created and co-run yearly UG Optional Module Fair (2024 onward) for UG students to talk to module supervisors about suitable modules to enhance their learning experience/journey, with refreshments/advice/discussion and I created a UG Module brochure. Scholarship/Research: My international scholarship impact and education/pedagogical practice is rooted in decades working in the field as a Psychodynamic Psychotherapist, Care manager/support provider and Artist, including; Leading Researcher/Artist in Environmental Research Project on Changes in the Environment in Oban Hills, Nigeria (1994-1995). I have an established reputation/expertise and I have senior/strategic leadership in professional/regulatory bodies/associations at regional/international level. I contribute to clinical practice/psychosocial fields, nationally and internationally such as my book chapter (2024) in ‘Tiempo y espacio. Perspectivas desde el psicoanalisis y el arte’. My theoretical/conceptual contributions to the field at national/international level are theoretical constructs; ‘Room-transference’ (2018), ‘Room Spatialisation’ (2019), ‘Room-object spatial matrix’ (2022); art-based research methodology (2022); ‘In-dwelling’ spaces (2023) and ‘Home-objects’ (2025). I have incorporated subject research/scholarship, including my own texts, in relation to my pedagogical methods of teaching clinical research methodologies, and my own conceptual theoretical contribution to the field as ‘essential reading’ in UG teaching and Professional Doctorates, evidencing my commitment to research-led teaching. My created pedagogical teaching of Clinical Research methodology practices are incorporated into the Professional Doctorate programs and in my forthcoming 'Psychoanalytic Clinical Book Series', I will develop further literature on these for international usage. I conduct pedagogical research on the ‘Higher Education Teaching Room Space’ informing teaching on reflective-practice modules and ‘Art-making Research Methodologies’ (2022); 17/6/24 ‘Methodological Use Of Art Work As A Psychosocial And Psychoanalytic Methodology, As Well As The Higher Education Teaching And Learning Context’ (St Mary’s University), 17/6/23, ‘Digital pedagogical creativity: an online Higher Education Student enrichment club model to support students’ (University of Oslo), 14/5/2021 ‘Spatialising playfulness in the time of COVID 19 in the psychotherapy and higher education virtual/on-line room spaces; clinical and pedagogical vicissitudes’ (CLE 2021), Social Sciences inter-disciplinary workshop, 11/5/2020. As Director of PPS Clinical research group, I host PPS/University/public events on-line. I promote integrated/inclusive research approaches for all PPS students (UG/PGT/PGR) at PPS Student Research Conferences, with ‘Abstract Workshops’ to support creating presentations/abstracts/posters and UG/PGT/PGR students presenting at conferences. My latest forthcoming book: (2026) 'Psychoanalytic Spaces and the Anatomy of Home' Routledge British Psychoanalytic Council (B.P.C.) 'Scholars' Network Spotlight: Dr Deborah Wright' : https://www.bpc.org.uk/professionals/bpc-memberships/scholars-network/scholars-spotlights/scholars-network-spotlight-dr-deborah-wright/ Registered member of: British Psychoanalytic Council (B.P.C.) The Foundation for Psychotherapy & Counselling (F.P.C.) Registered Member, Member British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (M.B.A.C.P.) Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (F.H.E.A.) Member of the Association for Psychosocial Studies (A.P.S.) Member of the Association for Psychoanalysis of Culture and Society (A.P.C.S.) BPC Scholars Network - In the 'Clinician Scholar' category of the Scholars Network for existing clinical BPC (British Psychoanalytic Council) registrant. Member of Cultural Literacy Everywhere (C.L.E.)

Qualifications

• Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education Practice (PGCHEP) University of Essex, (2022)

• Doctorate in Psychodynamic Psychotherapy University of Essex,

• Fellowship of the Higher Education Teaching Academy (FHEA) University of Essex, (2020)

• Postgraduate Diploma in Psychodynamic studies/WPF Qualification in Psychodynamic Psychotherapy University of Roehampton,

• BA (Hons) in Visual Communication Edinburgh College of Art and Design,

• Art Psychotherapy Foundation Certificate Goldsmiths University of London,

• Certificate in Counselling Skills & Attitudes Westminster Pastoral Foundation (WPF),

• Skills for Clinical & Case Supervision The Skills Development Service,

• Certificate in Supervision Level 2 (Intermediate) Norman Mark Training,

• Understanding Organisational Dynamics Westminster Pastoral Foundation (WPF),

• Certificate in Delivering Training at Foundation Level (N.V.Q.) in a Care Setting Malvern Partnership,

• Child Protection and Safeguarding London Borough of Hounslow,

• Understanding Early Years Outcomes London Borough of Hounslow,

Appointments

University of Essex

• Programme Director for the Professional Doctorate Programmes: Doctorate in Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy, Doctorate in Psychodynamic Psychotherapy, Doctorate in Analytical Psychology, Doctorate in Psychodynamic Counselling, Lecturer, MA Psychodynamic Counselling Programme, Department Disability Liaison Officer (DDLO), Department of Psychosocial and Psychoanalytic Studies, University of Essex (1/9/2021 - present)

• Lecturer in Therapeutic Studies on BA Psyhcodynamic Practice (Therapeutic Care) and BA Childhood Studies Programmes, Department of Psychosocial and Psychoanalytic Studies, University of Essex (1/8/2019 - 1/10/2023)

• Assistant Lecturer (G T A)), Department of Psychosocial and Psychoanalytic Studies, University of Essex (1/10/2016 - 31/7/2019)

• Senior Lecturer, Department of Psychosocial and Psychoanalytic Studies, University Of Essex (1/10/2023 - present)