Dr. Timothy Bird

Lecturer in Clinical Psychology

Tel: +44 (0)131 650 3898
Email: timothy.bird@ed.ac.uk

Biography

Background

I joined the School of Health in Social Sciences in 2016 as a Postdoctoral Fellow in Clinical Psychology, and became a Lecturer in 2021. I also work in NHS Lanarkshire as an Honorary Consultant Clinical Psychologist. Prior to becoming a lecturer I worked in the West Lothian Psychological Therapies Service in NHS Lothian. I completed my PhD research at the University of Manchester under the supervision of Professor Warren Mansell and Professor Sara Tai, and obtained a DClinPsych from the University of Edinburgh. I am a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

Qualifications

BSc (Hons) Psychology

MRes Psychology

PhD Psychology

Doctorate in Clinical Psychology

Responsibilities & affiliations

I am currently the Research Director for the Doctorate in Clinical Psychology programme

Teaching & PhD supervision

Postgraduate teaching

I teach on the Doctorate in Clinical Psychology programme, mainly in the Adult Mental Health and Research modules.

Open to PhD supervision enquiries?

Yes

Research

Research summary

I am interested in research exploring the mechanisms in the development of psychopathology, as well as the mediators of change in psychological therapies, particularly for depression. I also have a broader interest in single-case methodologies for investigating mediators of psychological interventions. I have a particular interest in mentalising and am currently involved in projects investigating this construct in different ways, including research exploring the relationship between mentalising and wellbeing in psychological therapy trainees, and the impact of therapist mentalising on therapist-patient interactions in psychological therapies.

Current Projects:

Viewing therapists and patients as equals: Data-driven natural language analysis to predict outcomes in psychological therapy for depression (University of Edinburgh Big Ideas Accelerator grant)

The psychological characteristics of mental health and psychology students: What factors impact wellbeing and mentalizing capacities?

Past research interests

My MRes and PhD research was focused on investigating whether overlaps exist between cognitive and behavioural processes that are known to maintain psychopathology, and whether a single core process might account for this overlap. This research focused on Perceptual Control Theory (PCT), a theory of human functioning and behaviour, and a form of psychological therapy based on this theory called Method of Levels (MOL).