Liza joined GCU in February 2022 as a Lecturer in Applied Psychology contributing to teaching and research supervision on the HCPC and BPS accredited, practitioner doctoral programmes in Counselling Psychology, Health Psychology and Sport and Exercise Psychology. 

Liza is a Chartered (BPS) and Registered (HCPC) Counselling Psychologist with extensive experience (NHS and Independent Practice) of providing assessment and psychological therapy for adults experiencing a wide variety of mental health and life difficulties. 

With a strong academic background and a PhD by research from the University of Glasgow, Liza's research interests include promoting psychologically informed healthcare to prevent medical trauma and improve mental health, in particular, for the growing population of people with congenital heart conditions.   Liza's recent work includes exploring disempowering aspects of medical care (such as the hospital gown) and developing a measure of psychological safety (NPSS), grounded in Polyvagal Theory, with international collaborators.  

For over a decade, Liza has been a passionate health advocate for improved healthcare, psychological support and social inclusion for people born with a heart conditon consistent with the civic and community commitments of GCU.  This includes sitting on various NHS health committees, successfully campaigning the Scottish Government for national healthcare standards, co-creating the Scarred FOR life photography exhibition and involvement in projects such as iSupport (an international, rights based collaborative to support paediatric patients during medical procedures). 

Liza's teaching and supervision across the practitioner doctoral programmes reflect her expertise in CBT, (complex) trauma, medical trauma, psychological safety and tackling ableism.   

Liza is a member of the Child and Adolescent Health and Ageing Well research groups. 

Liza co-authored 'Healing Hearts and Minds: A holistic approach to coping well with congenital heart disease' published by Oxford University Press in Jan 2023.