Ailsa Parsons

School of Health and Society

Photo of Ailsa Parsons

Contact Details

Allerton L820

Please email for an appointment.

Twitter

ORCiD

Current positions

Lecturer in Psychology; Programme Leader BSc (Hons) Psychology of Sport

Biography

Ailsa Parsons is a chartered Psychologist and Dance Movement Psychotherapist, who leads the BSc (Hons) Psychology of Sport programme at the University of Salford. In private practice, Ailsa is a humanistic, integrative and holistic practitioner who tailors embodied, somatic and creative approaches to a variety of client groups and problems. Her ongoing PhD by published works has generated published research on Dance Movement Psychotherapy and helpful ingredients in therapy for depression, contributing to the formation and development of the new evidence-based multimodal creative therapy, Arts for the Blues (https://artsfortheblues.com/). The main thesis of her PhD explores the therapeutic potential of psychological flow within creative and embodied therapies, and includes quantitative, qualitative and creative practice as research output.

Teaching

  • L4 Psychology of Exercise & Health
  • L4 Science of Psychology
  • L4 Intro to Sports Psychology
  • L5 Behaviour Change
  • L7 Evidence-Based Public Health
  • L7 Psychological therapies for common mental health disorders

Research Interests

  • Counselling & psychotherapy
  • Arts therapies
  • Body-oriented/embodied psychological therapies
  • Behaviour change
  • Biopsychosocial interactions in lifestyle behaviours

Qualifications and Memberships

Qualifications

  • BSc (Hons) Exercise, Physical Activity and Health (University of Salford)
  • MSc Psychology (University of Chester)
  • MA Dance Movement Psychotherapy (University of Derby)
  • Post Graduate Certificate in Academic Practice (University of Salford)
  • PhD by Published Works (ongoing)

Memberships

  • Chartered Psychologist with BPS (CPsychol)
  • Registered Dance Movement Psychotherapist with ADMPUK (RDMP)
  • Registered Psychotherapeutic Counsellor with UKAHPP (Ordinary Member)
  • Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (fHEA)