Jessica Sears is a Doctoral Clinical Academic Fellow, and mental health nurse, based in the School of Mental Health & Psychological Sciences at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience at King's College London.

She has published as lead author and co-author on topics including disclosures of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), trauma-informed approaches, adolescent drug and alcohol use, recovery focussed care and safety planning and screening for adverse childhood experiences.

Jess completed her pre-clinical studies studying Psychology at the University of Sheffield. She then completed a MSc in Mental Health Nursing at King's College London which she passed with distinction.

Jess is an experienced clinician and leader and has worked in a variety of NHS settings including inpatient, drug and alcohol services, early intervention psychosis, community mental health and primary care in a range of clinical and leadership roles. 

Jess has also taught on the IMPARTS course teaching mental health skills to non-mental health professionals. Her professional experience has made her deeply committed to undertaking meaningful and impactful research and working collaboratively with key stakeholders.

Her PhD is titled the ACCEPT Study: Understanding and improving people’s experiences of disclosing childhood trauma. It is aiming to co-produce an intervention to support front-line mental health practitioners to safely have conversations about adverse childhood experiences with service users in a way that promotes healing and prevents further harm. Her supervisors are Professor Alan Simpson, Dr Angela Sweeney, Dr Una Foye and Professor Jacqueline Sin.

Research interests

• trauma-informed approaches
• co-production
• parenting and early years support
• intergenerational trauma
• compassionate leadership
• social and nature-based interventions for mental health