I am truly honoured and humbled to be elected as fellow of the BABCP. As I reflect on the path that led me here, I am reminded of the many individuals who have inspired and supported me along the way. I particularly would like to thank the service users and carers who allow me to be part of their lives during moments of vulnerability and strength. I am grateful for their invaluable contribution to my journey as a healthcare professional and an academic.
Professor Lucia Valmaggia
08 August 2023
IoPPN researchers elected Fellows of British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies
Professors Lucia Valmaggia and Patrick Smith recognised for as having made a significant contribution to the development of cognitive behavioural therapy.
Professors Lucia Valmaggia and Patrick Smith have been elected Fellows of British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP).
Elections happen annually and recognise BABCP members who have made a significant contribution to cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) in areas of clinical service, research, teaching/training service development, and services to BABCP.
Lucia Valmaggia is Professor in Clinical Psychology at IoPPN and Head of the Virtual Reality Research Lab. She is also an Honorary Consultant Clinical Psychologist at the South London and Maudsley NHS Trust. Her research has been in two areas: Early Intervention and Virtual Reality applied to mental health.
Patrick Smith is Professor of Clinical Psychology at IoPPN, and Honorary Consultant Clinical Psychologist at the National & Specialist CAMHS Trauma Anxiety and Depression (TAD) Clinic, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust. His collaborative research has focused on understanding children’s psychological reactions to trauma, and on developing individual and group interventions for traumatised young people.
I feel very honoured to be awarded this Fellowship. BABCP is the leading organisation for CBT in the UK. They play a key role in supporting safe and effective CBT practice, including a system of accreditation for therapists and training organisations. For example, the DClinPsy doctoral training programme for clinical psychologists at the IoPPN is now a BABCP-accredited programme.
Professor Patrick Smith
Professors Valmaggia and Smith join existing BABCP fellows from IoPPN including Professors Kate Rimes and Stephen Scott, with Honorary fellowships previously awarded to: Professors Trudie Chalder and David Veale.
The BABCP’s mission is to advance the theory and knowledge of CBT in order to improve and enhance wellbeing. They seek to lead the way in continually developing high-quality CBT across the UK and Ireland, to help therapists provide high standards of practice and better help and protect the public engaging with CBT.
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Reader in Clinical Psychology