Biography
Síofra is a survivor and post-doctoral researcher working on a project about pathways to support for trauma. She completed a BA and MA in Applied Psychology at University College Cork in Ireland before joining King’s College London in 2018 to begin her PhD. Prior to this, she worked on the National Rape Crisis Helpline, providing trauma-informed support to survivors of sexual violence.
Her research focuses on improving health care responses to violence, trauma and abuse and completed an ESRC-funded PhD exploring perinatal care experiences among survivors of sexual violence in adulthood. Síofra is also passionate about using creative and artistic ways to conduct research and maximise research impact.
Síofra has led seminars for the Women’s Mental Health BSc Psychology module at King’s College London. Síofra also worked as an associate lecturer at Birkbeck University of London. for 3 years, leading the ‘Developing Child: A Social Perspective’ module for the BA Psychology for Education.
Research Interests
- Trauma-informed approaches
- Survivor-led research
- Health systems responses to violence, trauma and abuse
Research
Service User Research Enterprise
The Service User Research Enterprise (SURE) undertakes research that examines mental health services from the perspectives of those that use them, explores empirically and conceptually the impact of service user involvement in research (in terms of both process and outcomes), and critically interrogates how service users have changed knowledge production globally.
Section of Women’s Mental Health
The Section of Women’s Mental Health (SWMH) undertakes mental health services and policy research with a primary focus on women’s mental health. We carry out global research into the gendered determinants of mental health problems and the needs of women with mental health problems using epidemiological and qualitative methods and develop and evaluate interventions to meet those needs and inform health policy. Our work contributes to policymaking and healthcare practice both nationally and internationally.
Midwifery & Maternal Health
The Midwifery & Maternal Health Research Group is developing a programme of high-quality research to foster improvements to the delivery, outcomes and experiences of maternity care services.
Research
Service User Research Enterprise
The Service User Research Enterprise (SURE) undertakes research that examines mental health services from the perspectives of those that use them, explores empirically and conceptually the impact of service user involvement in research (in terms of both process and outcomes), and critically interrogates how service users have changed knowledge production globally.
Section of Women’s Mental Health
The Section of Women’s Mental Health (SWMH) undertakes mental health services and policy research with a primary focus on women’s mental health. We carry out global research into the gendered determinants of mental health problems and the needs of women with mental health problems using epidemiological and qualitative methods and develop and evaluate interventions to meet those needs and inform health policy. Our work contributes to policymaking and healthcare practice both nationally and internationally.
Midwifery & Maternal Health
The Midwifery & Maternal Health Research Group is developing a programme of high-quality research to foster improvements to the delivery, outcomes and experiences of maternity care services.