Fiona Stirling is a counselling lecturer with the Department of Mental Health Nursing and Counselling at Abertay. Her undergraduate degree was in Social Anthropology at the University of St. Andrews, and she has since completed further studies in Psychology, Education, Youth and Childhood, and Counselling.

Her research interests are focused on creative therapies, narrative, co-production, cultural resources, self-harm, and personality disorders. Currently, she is exploring the application of reflective methodologies such as autoethnography and duoethnography.

She is also a practicing counsellor, with clients at the Tayside Centre for Counselling, based in Abertay.

Fiona is currently working towards a PhD by publication. 

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

• HEA (Higher Education Academy), Fellow since 2018 
• BACP (British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy) Registered Member since 2014
• BPS (British Psychological Society) Member since 2013

NOTABLE EXTERNAL ROLES

• BPS Children and Young People Expert Reference Group member (2019 - 2020) 
• External Examiner, University of Aberdeen (2018 - Present)
• Peer Reviewer (2014 – present) International Journal of Disability, Development, and Education

Fiona is primarily responsible for the delivery and development of the counselling modules on the undergraduate Psychology and Counselling course, which allows psychology students to develop an understanding of therapeutic techniques as they progess through their BPS accredited degree.  

She also delivers content on the Counselling MSc, which offers a pluralistic approach to counselling and psychotherapy. Her areas of focus are counsellor-client boundaries, narrative therapy, creative therapies, and cultural perspectives. She also facilitates personal development groups and practical skills development. 

From 2018 Fiona will deliver the elective module 'One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest' which will introduce first year students from across the university to foundational concepts of mental health, using films and literature as a mode of further exploration. 

She is currently developing teaching around youth and childhood for both the MSc and undergraduate courses.

Fiona's interests are focused on creative therapies, narrative therapy, co-production, cultural resources, self-harm, and personality disorders.

Currently, she is exploring the application of reflective methodologies such as autoethnography and duoethnography.

Works in progress include the experience of patients with non-suicidal self harm presenting at Accident and Emergency, therapetuic cultural resources for young people, and the experience of trainee students on the pluralistic counselling course at Abertay. 

AWARDS 

• Principals Award for Best Overall Postgraduate Student (University of Abertay, 2014)
• High Commendation Writing Award (Scottish Mental Health Arts and Film Festival, 2014)

In 2017 Fiona founded the Sarah Fletcher Memorial Prize for Compassionate Practice. The prize is awarded each year to a third year mental health nursing student who has displayed continued genuine care for those in recovery from mental illness during their training. 

Contributions can be made to the fund by clicking here. 

Fiona also has collaborations in progress with the University of Dundee, Dudhope Young Persons Unit, and Dundee City's Libraries.