Oliver is a PhD student at King's, supervised by Professor Emily Simonoff and Professor Francesca Happé. His research, kindly funded by the De Pass Studentship, investigates Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA), particularly what might be driving this behavioural profile, and what helps, using both quantitative and qualitative methods.

Oliver previously worked as a Children's Wellbeing Practitioner in the NHS, helping children and young people, and their families, with low‑intensity CBT‑based interventions for common mental health difficulties, including anxiety and low mood. Additionally, Oliver completed a year's clinical placement in the Psychological Medicine Team at Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital.

Oliver holds an undergraduate degree in Psychology (BSc), with a Diploma in Professional Studies, from Loughborough University (2017–2021). Additionally, he holds a Master’s in Developmental Psychology and Psychopathology from King's College London (2021–2022), and a Postgraduate Diploma in CYP MH Child Wellbeing Practice from King's College London (2023–2024).

Research Interests

• Autism
• Psychological Interventions and Support
• Pathological Demand Avoidance 

Research Groups

MINDS-RG

ReSpect Lab: Researching Autism across the Spectrum and Lifespan

Teaching

Oliver teaches as a Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA) on the Psychological Approaches to Treatment Module part of the Developmental Psychology and Psychopathology MSc.