Professor Philippa Garety

Biography

Professor Philippa Garety joined the staff of KCL  first in 1981, and, after a brief period in Oxford in the 1990s, where she co-led the clinical psychology training course there, she rejoined KCL in 1997 as Professor of Clinical Psychology.  Her expertise is in psychological models and treatments for problems associated with psychosis, in particular unusual, distressing beliefs and psychotic experiences (sometimes called ‘delusions’ and ‘hallucinations’). She was one of the UK-based pioneers of cognitive behavioural therapy for psychosis. She has developed and evaluated specialist services for people with psychosis, such as the first UK trial of an Early Intervention Psychosis service.  She has recently worked with others to develop and test innovative treatments for problems in psychosis employing digital technology (AVATAR and SlowMo). She has collaborated on wide-ranging theoretical research and clinical trials and published over 200 peer reviewed papers. 

Philippa's first degree in Psychology and Philosophy (natural sciences) was from Cambridge University, 1979. She qualified in Clinical Psychology (MPhil) at the Institute of Psychiatry (KCL) in 1981 and is a British Psychological Society chartered clinical psychologist, also registered with the Health Care Professions Council as a practitioner psychologist. She is a Fellow of the British Psychological Society (since 1995). She has a PhD in Psychology (1990; Investigations in Delusional Reasoning; University of London), and an MA in Higher and Professional Education from the Institute of Education, University of London (1996). She was accredited as a cognitive and behavioural therapist by the UK BABCP and is a member of the Academy of Cognitive therapy (USA). 

Philippa has been awarded the British Psychological Society Shapiro award for ‘eminence’ in clinical psychology (2002); the British Psychological Society Professional Practice Board Lifetime Achievement Award (2018); Senior Investigator of the National Institute of Health Research, selected for two terms (2008-2015) and continues as a Senior Investigator emerita.  

Research Interests

• Unusual beliefs and experiences (delusions and hallucinations)- theoretical and empirical  studies 
• Psychological treatments for psychosis 
• Digital technologies and treatments for paranoia and voices 

Teaching

• Cognitive behavioural therapy for psychosis 

Expertise and Public Engagement

Philippa has been involved in national and international advisory bodies consulting on mental health research and services for people with psychosis (e.g. NICE guideline development, NHS England clinical reference groups; German Federal Government advisory committee). She currently is serving on one of the Wellcome Trust advisory panels for research funding.