Dr. Laura Allen MSc (Health Psychology) PhD (a mixed methods evaluation of the neuropsychophysiological response and phenomenological experience of a mindfulness and compassion course) is a Chartered Health & Coaching psychologist and mindfulness teacher training, working both online and face to face with clients in a diverse range of settings. Laura incorporates health & wellbeing coaching with the application of mindfulness into her practice. The most important part of this work is to encourage a ‘commitment to action’ ethos and develop lasting personal growth and change using goal setting and action plans, whilst identifying barriers towards change. Laura is a published author of research in the European Journal of Positive Psychology and the BPS Transpersonal Psychology Review. Laura has designed a free course for those with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) with a positive psychology framework. Sign up to enroll here.

Languages: English 

Veronica Surfaro BSc, MSc (1:1 both at University of Naples “Federico II”) Psychology (recognized by UK NARIC as UK MSc equivalent, BPS Accredited) MBPsS, is a graduate member of the British Psychological Society and a general member of the Division of Counselling Psychology. Veronica has a, and currently lives in England where works as a specialist Mental Health Advisor at Bournemouth University. Veronica is the research assistant to Prof. Law and is shadowing him to gain experience in research projects monitoring and evaluation due to her ambition to develop as a Counselling Psychologist. Veronica is also helping Prof. Law with organising meetings, his email correspondences and note-taking and is an executive member of the Research Hub.

Languages: English, Italian, Spanish

Stephen joined Empsy® as part of its global mentoring programme via PushFar platform. Stephen said, “I am an inquisitive youth with an open mind, spontaneous brain, and an inexhaustible number of interests career and non-career related… ask a lot of questions and has sparked the flame in me to discover new knowledge, experiences, places, and… As a lifelong learner, my interests will likely broaden in the future. Due to that, I have a huge appreciation for total person development (Holistic)… I am pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Project Management… which aligns with my goal to reach the highest level in the professional domain…, the plan of action is to have heavy devotion toward, education, experience, and exposure where I can become a dominant agent of change through Project Management.

Hobbies: Calitshenitc, Pilates, Gardening, Volunteer, and Reading

Languages: English 

Dr. Sara Ireland is a chartered psychologist, psychotherapist and coach. She has worked in various roles as a management consultant and in OD/Leadership, as a clinician and coach and runs a small wellbeing company that works in London prisons and also works on individual, community projects and workplace coaching and support. Sara has post-graduate diplomas in Human Resources, management, mental health, systemic practice, CBT and coauthored with Professor Law the the first UK coaching psychology textbook Psychology of coaching, mentoring and learning‘ (1st Edition) in 2007. She was one of the founding members of the BPS Coaching Psychology Special Group in 2004. Additionally she acts a supervisor, mentor and coach to trainee psychologists and psychotherapists and those working in forensic contexts or from diverse backgrounds, who require support and encouragement.

Languages: English 

Kimberley has experience supporting individuals in residential healthcare provisions and has previously undertaken student mentoring roles. She joined Empsy® as part of the mentoring programme in her final year (BSc psychology) at the University of Birmingham. Kimberley gains an understanding of the day to day tasks of a psychologist.  Her role includes:

1. Collecting data to assist in current research
2. Assisting with clinical work under the supervision of a qualified psychologist
3. Organizing team meetings for psychological assessment and psychological therapies provided for service users
4. Research on how the service can be improved and the effectiveness of psychological interventions.

Languages: Cantonese, English, Mandarin

Dr. Peter Lloyd Bennett, BA, BSc, MSc (UCL) EdD (Sheffield), AFBPS, C. Psychol, HCPC Registered (-2020) retired; is an experienced Educational and Child Psychologist provides specialist educational psychology advice; is passionate about coaching educational communities to achieve their full potential as well as being keen on helping children and young people who are disadvantaged to achieve the five outcomes of Every Child Matters – be healthy, stay safe, enjoy and achieve, make a positive contribution and work towards economic wellbeing.

Nicole joined Empsy® as part of the mentoring programme/work placement scheme, sponsored by the Empsy® Network in collaboration with Hampton College. As Professor Law’s assistant, Nicole shadowed him to gain an insight into the working world of Psychology, learning what psychologists do daily. She helped him with his meetings and note-taking. Nicole said, “Through Empsy Ltd, I hope that I will be given the opportunity to complete the work experience and learn what entails to work in the psychology field. Furthermore, I believe this opportunity will help me when it comes to applying psychology in my future degree and career. Psychology is a passion of mine, as I want to know more … to the extent where I will eventually be able to apply it to help people who need it. Empsy, in my opinion, will greatly benefit me, as they would give me the potential to see what being a psychologist is like.”

Ibukun joined Empsy® as part of the mentoring programme/work placement scheme, sponsored by the Empsy® Network in collaboration with Hampton College. As Professor Law’s assistant, Ibukun shadowed him to gain an insight into the working world of Psychology, learning what psychologists do daily. She helped him with his emails, meetings, correspondence and note-taking, ensuring Empsy® runs smoothly and up to date. 

Wiktoria Dziurowicz (Nottingham Trent University) in Criminology & Psychology. She joined Empsy® as part of the mentoring programme/work placement scheme, sponsored by the BPS Psychotherapy Section in collaboration with Empsy® Network and Hampton College. The scheme provides opportunities for mentees to learn up to date tools and techniques that psychologists use, thereby enables mentees to gain insight about themselves and the modern-day work of professional psychology practitioners.

Languages: English, Polish

Dr. Peter Hau, BSc (Manchester) Biology, PhD (Strathclyde) Forensic Science, has 30 years operational forensic experience, involving the application of all aspects of forensic biology in the investigation of violent crime and offences against the person within both the English and Scottish legal systems. He specialises in Blood Pattern Analysis, sexual offences, DNA profiling, forensic research and within varied roles that require precise levels of accuracy and interpretation delivered within stringent control environments.