
Dr Vanessa Lawrence
Reader in Qualitative Health Research
Biography
Following a first degree in psychology, Vanessa completed a PhD at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neurology in which she used a grounded theory methodology to explore the subjective reality of living with dementia and caring for a person with dementia within multicultural Britain. She subsequently co-authored a book on how best to provide culturally sensitive dementia care (Managing Dementia in a Multicultural Society, Wiley). She is Associate Editor for Qualitative Research for the International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry and is passionate about using qualitative methods to understand and improve the experiences of service users.
Research Interests
Vanessa designs and conducts high quality applied qualitative research. She is interested in using traditional and innovative methods of date collection to develop, evaluate and implement therapeutic interventions that are grounded in the lived experiences of service users. She has particular interests in the fields of older adults’ mental health, recovery, and, most recently, eating disorders.
Current research focuses on using qualitative methods to developing acceptable and feasible interventions, specifically: management strategies for visual hallucinations in older adults; problem solving therapy in people with dementia; Acceptance Commitment Therapy for people with motor neuron disease; Acceptance Commitment Therapy for and older people with treatment resistant anxiety.
Vanessa is affiliated with the King’s Clinical Trials Unit and provides expert advice on applying qualitative methods in clinical trials across King’s Health Partners.
Teaching
Vanessa provides teaching, supervision and advice on qualitative methods to post-graduate and undergraduate students across Kings Health Partners. She is the Academic Lead for the MSc Module, ‘Qualitative Research: Principles, Methods and Practice’ and the IoPPN’s Summer School: Introduction to Qualitative Research Methods.
She offers a Qualitative Research Advisory Service to staff and students that can be booked via the Biostatistics and Health Informatics Advisory Service.
Vanessa is also the PhD Admissions Tutor for the Health Service and Population Research Department.
Research

Qualitative Research Group
Qualitative Research Group is an interdisciplinary team of methodologists comprising social scientists, experts by experience, and health practitioners
News
New NIHR Research Support Service established at King's College London
The National Institute of Health and Care Research (NIHR) has awarded £6.8 million to King’s College London to establish a new Research Support Service that...

Applying critical appraisal skills in evaluating qualitative research
Jo Moriarty was at the IOPPN

Dr Vanessa Lawrence on the importance qualitative research
Dr Vanessa Lawrence highlights the need for a greater appreciation of qualitative research in helping us to understand and improve the mental health of older...

New study explores how individuals across ethnic groups navigate UK mental health services
Researchers have explored how individuals from black Caribbean and white British populations navigate UK mental health services to help reduce healthcare...

New Centre for Qualitative Applied Health Research at King's launches
New virtual centre will raise the visibility of high-quality qualitative research across all King’s faculties and schools.

Research

Qualitative Research Group
Qualitative Research Group is an interdisciplinary team of methodologists comprising social scientists, experts by experience, and health practitioners
News
New NIHR Research Support Service established at King's College London
The National Institute of Health and Care Research (NIHR) has awarded £6.8 million to King’s College London to establish a new Research Support Service that...

Applying critical appraisal skills in evaluating qualitative research
Jo Moriarty was at the IOPPN

Dr Vanessa Lawrence on the importance qualitative research
Dr Vanessa Lawrence highlights the need for a greater appreciation of qualitative research in helping us to understand and improve the mental health of older...

New study explores how individuals across ethnic groups navigate UK mental health services
Researchers have explored how individuals from black Caribbean and white British populations navigate UK mental health services to help reduce healthcare...

New Centre for Qualitative Applied Health Research at King's launches
New virtual centre will raise the visibility of high-quality qualitative research across all King’s faculties and schools.
