Welsh Branch 2024 Annual Conference

Registration

Registration must be made online.

Register now

Please note: Registration will close at 12pm on Monday 23 September. 

Cost

Please note: all rates listed are inclusive of VAT at 20%.

How to register

Returning customers (members and non-members)

In order to register for the event you will need to sign in using your BPS website login details.

We have implemented a new Membership Database and if you haven't received your pre-registration email you will need to request your unique registration link.

Once you have the link, you can complete your registration on our portal.

Once you have registered on the portal please use your username and password to log in and register for the event.

If you have forgotten your login details, you can reset your username or password.

New customers (members and non-members)

If you are not a returning customer, you will need to create your BPS account on the portal. The process is straightforward and takes just a few minutes.

Once you have registered on the portal please use your username and password to log in and register for the event.

Submissions

Key submission dates

• March 2024: Online submission system opens
• 31 July 2024: The deadline for individual papers and poster submissions
• 19 August 2024: Notification of submission outcomes for all submissions

Please see below for further information on how to submit.

Authors are strongly advised to register on the on-line submission system and begin preparing their submissions well in advance of the following deadlines

If you wish to submit more than one abstract, please complete individual submissions for each.

How to submit

Please ensure you read the submission guidelines below before submitting, including the reviewer guidelines. These allow you to see how your submissions will be reviewed.

Submissions must be made via  the online application portal.

If this is your first time submitting you will need to create an account.

• Access the Submission Guidelines and Submit all submissions

If you any queries please contact us at [email protected].

Speakers

Professor Eleni Andreouli

I joined the Open University in 2013. Prior to that, I worked at the London School of Economics where I also completed my PhD. I completed my first degree in Psychology at the Panteion University in Athens, Greece.

My research is on the social psychology of citizenship as a practice. I am interested in how citizenship is constructed and performed from the perspectives of citizens themselves through everyday sense-making around politics. A particular focus of my work is understanding the psychosocial processes of the emergence of new political identities and ideologies in contexts of societal change. My research includes work on lay political sense-making around Brexit and European identities, Covid-19, and the rise of different kinds of populism. Another strand of my research explores policies of citizenship education in the UK comparing these with young people's everyday practice. Previous research includes work on identity transformation in border-crossing processes, particularly naturalisation and intra-European immigration.

I am a member of the Culture and Social Psychology research group (CuSP) of the Open Psychology Research Centre (OPRC).

Citizens in the making: Citizenship education in Wales and England

The paper outlines key principles of a critical social psychological perspective on citizenship alongside recent empirical data on citizenship education in the UK. Drawing on insights from citizenship studies, citizenship is conceptualised as a practice (rather than a status), which is shaped by given rights/duties and it is enacted in the everyday by citizens themselves. The paper focuses particularly on the dynamics and tensions of 'making citizens' through practices, policies and experiences of citizenship education in Wales and England. We present data from focus groups with Y7-8 students interviews with teachers in England and Wales as well as a UK-wide survey. Our initial analyses illustrate the disconnection between students' everyday relational understanding of citizenship and related concerns, on the one hand, and the stated aims of top-down citizenship education, on the other. Our research also identifies some of the key challenges faced by teachers in teaching citizenship, as well as some of opportunities presented by citizenship education. The paper concludes with recommendations for educational policy and practice.

Dr Trudi Macagnino

Dr Trudi Macagnino, is an academic in the school of psychology & Counselling at the Open University and co-author of a new OpenLearn course called 'Climate Psychology: Facing the Climate Crisis'.

Her recent PhD thesis drew on psychoanalytic ideas to explore the unconscious defences at play in psychotherapy and eco-activism when facing the climate and ecological crisis.

She has contributed a chapter 'Eco-anxiety in the Therapy Room: Affect, Defences and Implications for Practice' in the recently published book, Being a Therapist in a Time of Climate Breakdown (Routledge), and has also contributed to BBC productions and continues to be involved in research and teaching associated with climate emotions.

She has recently retired as a clinical practitioner to focus on her academic work. 

Therapy in a time of climate & ecological emergency: affect, defences and implications for practice'

Learning about the climate and ecological crisis can be very disturbing and overwhelming. We may feel a variety of different emotions often grouped under the umbrella label of eco-anxiety. But what is eco-anxiety and can we learn to live meaningfully with the reality of the crisis without falling apart?

Trudi will discuss the subject of eco-anxiety and draw on her PhD research with clients, therapists and eco-activists to elaborate on the many ways in which we defend personally, collectively and professionally against difficult climate emotions. She will argue that therapy needs to be re-visioned as a collective, eco-psycho-social endeavour rather than a purely individualistic one, focussing on implications for practice when supporting people experiencing climate-related distress. 

Schedule

11:35-11:40

• Turnaround

11:40-12:25

• Q&A: Being a clinical psychologist - featuring Lawrence Moulin, Roman Raczka and Liz Davies

  Join us for an engaging and insightful session led by Jack Griffiths, Pre-Qualified Representative for Wales, as he interviews three highly experienced and successful clinical psychologists.

  This 45-minute conversational style Q&A will delve into the exciting journeys of these professionals, exploring their fascinating careers, key lessons learned, and personal reflections.

  It's an invaluable opportunity for all pre-qualified psychologists eager to gain insider knowledge and inspiration as they embark on their own thrilling careers in clinical psychology.

12:25-13:10

• Networking - facilitated by Jack Griffiths

  Following the Q&A session, attendees will have the opportunity to participate in an engaging Speed Networking Workshop, exclusively designed for pre-qualified members. This session presents a valuable chance to connect with fellow professionals in a structured and time-efficient manner.

  Participants will be paired for one-on-one conversations, enabling discussions about their careers, interests, and areas of expertise with colleagues before rotating to the next individual.

  While the format may resemble speed dating, the emphasis is on creating meaningful, psychology-centred professional connections. This is an excellent opportunity to broaden your network and exchange insights within the community.

Speakers

Dr Liz Gregory

Dr Liz Gregory is a Consultant Clinical Psychologist with over 30 years experience in the NHS.

She was joint head of Child and Family Psychology in Aneurin Bevan until May 2022, and also lead the development of the NYTH/NEST Framework - a planning tool used by Welsh Government aimed at creating a whole system approach to children's mental health and wellbeing. 

She currently works for the Parent Infant Foundation as Wales Development Lead promoting the importance of parent infant relationships, and the development of specialist teams.

Dr Lawrence Moulin 

Dr Lawrence Moulin trained as a Clinical Psychologist in the 1980's, and the first part of his career was focused on Mental Health and Learning Disability services, working as a clinician, a service manager, and head of service. 

Lawrence then moved on to 'system wide' roles, working as a clinical advisor to mental health commissioners, led the implementation of the National Service Framework for Mental Health in the Department of Health during the early 2000's, and went on to work as the mental health lead at the West Midlands Strategic Health Authority.

Since retiring Lawrence has worked as Chair of the West Midlands Division of Clinical Psychology and is now co-chair of the BPS West Midlands Branch.

Dr Roman Raczka BSc MSc DClinPsy AFBPsS CPsychol

Dr Roman Raczka is the BPS President 2024 - 2026, with previous BPS leadership roles including the Chair of the Division of Clinical Psychology (DCP), DCP England Lead and DCP London Chair. 

Roman is a Consultant Lead Clinical Psychologist and works as the Chief Psychologist and Trust Head of Psychology for Central London Community Health (CLCH) NHS Trust. 

Roman has previously worked in a number of London NHS Trusts as well as having an academic appointment at Royal Holloway, University of London, visiting lecturer at the London Clinical Psychology training courses and visiting lecturer at the College of Policing.  

Roman has over 40 years of working as a Clinical Psychologist in the NHS with extensive experience of leadership and management, lecturing,  organisation consultancy and research.

Clinical areas of special interest include, adults with intellectual disabilities and complex needs, adults with Autistic Spectrum disorders, offenders with intellectual disabilities,  as well as the development of third wave cognitive behaviour therapies with people with intellectual disabilities.