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Dr Dora Brown

Lecturer

Qualifications: BSc, PhD (Surrey)

Email:
Phone: Work: 01483 68 3979
Room no: 10 AD 02

Further information

Research Interests

My research interests lie in three main areas.  Firstly, I have conducted research into self and identity construction and evaluation processes in groups of people with mental health problems such as brain injury, pain, self-harm, depression and Asperger’s Syndrome.  This body of research uses qualitative methodologies to examine how the self can be either empowered or negatively affected by different patterns of social interaction.  It contributes to theoretical literature which conceptualises people as resourceful agents who manage their selves and identities in complex ways depending on the context they locate themselves in.  I have carried out this research in the context of my doctoral studies and in collaboration with Clinical Trainees.

Secondly, my research interests lie in understanding potential barriers to multi-cultural military team management, gender equality, empowerment in organisational/career contexts and consumer behaviour.  This stemmed from working on projects funded by QinetiQ, the Housing Corporation, the Department of Transport of Industry and the Office of Fair Trading.  These employed a mixed method approach, utilising both surveys and interview data sets. 

Thirdly, I am interested in training issues and particularly the development and evaluation of methods of teaching professionals to adopt a reflective practitioner model.  This research has been funded by the Fund for the Strategic Development of Teaching and Learning at the University of Surrey.

Publications

Journal articles

  • King, E. , Brown, D , Wright, A , Petch, V. . (2012) 'Perceptions of support-seeking in young people attending a Youth Offending Team: An interpretative phenomenological analysis'. Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry, , pp. 1-17.
    doi: 10.1177/1359104512465739
  • Rowbottom S, Brown D, Cachia P. (2012) 'The males gender role and men's psychological distress: a review.'. The British Psychological Society Social Psychological review, 14 (1), pp. 16-27.
  • Gorvin L, Brown D. (2012) 'The psychology of feeling like a burden: a review of the literature'. The British Psychological Society Social Psychology Review, 14 (1), pp. 28-41.
  • Tickle A, Brown D, Hayward M. (2012) 'Can we risk recovery? A grounded theory of clinical psychologists' perceptions of risk and recovery orientated mental health services.'. Psychology and Psychotherapy: Theory, research and practice.,
    [ Status: Accepted ]
  • McCutcheon R, Brown D. (2012) 'A qualitative exploration of women’s experiences of giving birth at home'. Royal College of Midwives (RCM) Evidence Based Midwifery, UK: 10 (1)
  • King E, Brown D, Wright A. (2012) 'Young People attending a Youth Offending Team: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis'. Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry,
    [ Status: Accepted ]
  • Kouriatis K, Brown D. (2012) 'Therapists’ Experience of Loss: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis'. Baywood Publishing Omega: Journal of Death and Dying,
    [ Status: Accepted ]
  • Cigolla F, Brown D. (2011) 'A way of being: bringing mindfulness into individual therapy.'. Taylor & Francis Psychotherapy Research, 21 (6), pp. 709-721.
    doi: 10.1080/10503307.2011.613076
    Full text is available at: http://epubs.surrey.ac.uk/24875/

    Abstract

    This paper reports a qualitative, idiographic study employing Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis to explore the experiences of therapists who have a mindfulness practice, looking at how this is brought into their individual therapeutic work. Findings focus on mindfulness, conceptualized as a way of being, which emerges as a central theme in all accounts. Three “way of being” related themes are used to illustrate therapists’ experiences of mindfulness as part of their personal life and how this is brought into the therapy room both implicitly and explicitly. The application of mindfulness in therapy is discussed while drawing links with the mindfulness literature.

  • Harding E, Pettinari CJ, Brown D, Hayward M, Taylor C. (2011) 'Service user involvement in clinical guideline development and implementation: Learning from mental health service users in the UK'. informa healthcare International Review of Psychiatry, 23 (4), pp. 352-357.
    doi: 10.3109/09540261.2011.606802
    Full text is available at: http://epubs.surrey.ac.uk/25136/

    Abstract

    The participation of service users and the public in the development of clinical guidelines is increasingly valued in international guideline programmes. This paper extends the findings of Harding et al.'s (2010) exploration of the views of service users who participated in developing NICE mental health guidelines. This analysis considered the relative value of personal versus professional knowledge and experience, the barriers to service users contributing effectively in guideline development, the unspoken ‘rules’ concerning decision making, and issues of power and group dynamics. We combine these insights with observations from research in guideline development and with advances in the recovery movement and in the shared decision-making clinical model to suggest areas of improvement in guideline development, notably: translating evidence to recommendations, optimizing the acceptability of treatment recommendations to service users, and reconciling different types of knowledge.

  • Kouriatis K, Brown D. (2011) 'Therapists' Bereavement and Loss Experiences: A Literature Review'. TAYLOR & FRANCIS INC JOURNAL OF LOSS & TRAUMA, 16 (3), pp. 205-228.
    doi: 10.1080/15325024.2010.519289
    Full text is available at: http://epubs.surrey.ac.uk/24942/
  • Spiliotis, D, Brown D, Coyle A. (2011) 'The psychotherapeutic tales of five gay men in Greece:'. The British Psychological Society Psychology of Sexuality Review, 2 (1), pp. 25-40.
    Full text is available at: http://epubs.surrey.ac.uk/24897/

    Abstract

    Gay men utilise psychotherapy at a higher rate than heterosexual men due to increased societal stressors. However, even though homosexuality has been depathologised since 1973, some therapists still seem to practise from a pathological perspective of homosexuality. In Greece societal attitudes towards homosexuality are highly negative; gay men have limited civil rights, and issues of homosexuality and psychotherapy are absent from research literature. Overall, the existent literature on the psychotherapeutic experiences of gay men is sparse, regionally and culturally limited within the USA and the UK, and mostly based on surveys. The aim of this study was to explore the psychotherapeutic experiences of five gay men in Greece and the impact of their experience on their sense of self and their sexual identity. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews and were analysed using narrative analysis. Three primary narrative forms were identified: (A) Therapy as progression; (B) Therapy as tragedy; and (C) Therapy as dialectic conflict. In addition, two commonalities were identified among the participants’ stories: (i) Therapy as the only way out; and (ii) The only gay man in the room. This study can be seen to expand the existent literature in terms of methodology and cultural diversity, as well as informing practitioners who work with gay clients.

  • Goodliffe L, Hayward M, Brown D, Turton W, Dannahy L. (2010) 'Group person-based cognitive therapy for distressing voices: Views from the hearers'. ROUTLEDGE JOURNALS, TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD PSYCHOTHERAPY RESEARCH, 20 (4) Article number PII 924763176 , pp. 447-461.
    doi: 10.1080/10503301003671305
  • Harding E, Brown D, Hayward M, Pettinari CJ. (2010) 'Service user perceptions of involvement in developing NICE mental health guidelines: A grounded theory study'. INFORMA HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF MENTAL HEALTH, 19 (3), pp. 249-257.
    doi: 10.3109/09638230903469202
  • Fronimos Y, Brown D. (2010) 'Gender Differences in Depression and Male Depression: A Social Psychological Review'. . Social Psychology Review, 12 (1), pp. 3-16.
  • Hadfield J, Brown D, Pembroke L, Hayward M. (2009) 'Analysis of Accident and Emergency Doctors' Responses to Treating People Who Self-Harm'. SAGE PUBLICATIONS INC QUALITATIVE HEALTH RESEARCH, 19 (6), pp. 755-765.
    doi: 10.1177/1049732309334473
  • Brown D, Lutte-Elliot A, Vidalaki V. (2009) 'Learning to reflect: Trainees Perceptions of Case Discussion Groups during a Clinical Psychology Training Course'. Clinical Psychology Forum, 204, pp. 41-45.
  • Brown D, Rose D, Lyons E. (2009) 'Self-generated expressions of residual complaints following brain injury'. NeuroRehabilitation, 24 (2), pp. 175-184.
    doi: 10.3233/NRE-2009-0466
  • Brown D, Lyons E, Rose D. (2006) 'Recovery from brain injury: Finding the missing bits of the puzzle'. TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD BRAIN INJURY, 20 (9), pp. 937-946.
    doi: 10.1080/02699050600909821

Conference papers

  • Downey, M. , Brown, D. , Draghi-Lorenz, R. , Ishaq, M. . 'Constructing Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) within the military veteran community: a literature review.'. Sundhurst:
  • Ishaq, M. , Draghi-Lorenz, R. , Brown, D. , Downey, M. . 'Treating Combat RelatedR-Postraumatic Stress DisorderTSD- A social and counselling psychology approach to PTSD in the military veteran community and (CR-PTSD) what works: a literature review. its therapy'. Sandhurst: Psychological Well-being of Serving Military Personnel and Veterans Conference
  • Pieridi C, Brown D, Sterr A. (2012) 'The experience of returning to work following a traumatic brain injury'. INFORMA HEALTHCARE BRAIN INJURY, Edinburgh, UK: Ninth World Congress on Brain Injury 26 (4-5), pp. 625-625.
    doi: 10.3109/02699052.2012.660091
  • Marimuther V, Brown D, Coyle A. (2012) 'Public understanding of mild traumatic brain injury in the British military'. Informa Heathcare BRAIN INJURY, Edinburgh, UK: Ninth World Congress on Brain Injury 26 (4-5), pp. 618-619.
    doi: 10.3109/02699052.2012.660091

Reports

  • Brown D, Coyle A, Payne P. (2011) Report on “Maximising the Impact of Qualitative Psychological Research on Health”.
  • Millward L, Houston D, Brown D, Barrett M. (2006) Young People's Job Perceptions and Preferences. Final Report to the Department of Trade and Industry.. Guildford : University of Surrey, Guildford.

Teaching

My principal teaching interest is in qualitative methods, which I teach on the postgraduate research methods courses, Clinical Psychology, and Psychotherapy and Counselling.

Clinical Psychology course convenor.

Affiliations

 

Graduate member of the British Psychological Society.

Conferences

Brown, D., Rose, D. & Lyons, E. (2009). Two qualitative methods into the investigation of awareness following a brain injury. Paper presented at the "Towards a Science of Consciousness" in Hong Kong, June, 2009.

Millward L., Houston, D., Brown, D. & Barrett, M. (2005). Gender differences in adolescent job perceptions and evaluations. Social Psychology Section, Annual BPS Conference, Edinburgh.

Millward, L., Lane, R. & Brown, D. (2005).DOP Annual Conference, Warwick, 14th-16th Jan.

Millward L. Brown, D., Cronin, A. & Ozbilgin, M. (2004). Braking (Reinforced) Glass Ceilings: Making HA’s Right for Women. National Housing Federation Annual Conference, 22nd September, Birmingham.

Brown, D., Lyons, E. & Rose, D. (2003). The emergence of knowledge after brain injury: finding the missing bits of the puzzle. Paper presented at the CEP 7th Annual Conference. Oxford.

Brown, D., Lyons, E. & Rose, D. (2001). Does social interaction increase awareness of difficulties after brain injury?. Poster presented at the "Towards a Science of Consciousness" in Sweden. August, 2001.

Brown, D., Lyons, E. & Rose, D. (2001). Do brain injured people know about their deficits and implications?. Paper presented at the Psychology Department Conference, University of Surrey. January, 2001.

Brown, D., Lyons, E. & Rose, D. (2000). Awareness of deficit after brain injury: a qualitative approach. Paper presented at the Psychology Department Conference, University of Surrey. January, 2000.

Research Reports

Brown, D. Lutte-Elliott, A., & Vidalaki, V. (2008). Trainees perceptions of case discussion groups, tutor and peer feedback during a clinical psychology training course. Report prepared for the Fund for the Strategic Development of Learning & Teaching (FSDLT).

Brown, D., Oleksik, G. & Bisdee, D. (2006). Internet shopping. Report prepared for the Office of Fair Trading.

Millward L., Houston, D., Brown, D. & Barrett, M. (2006). Gender differences in adolescent job perceptions and evaluations. Technical report for DTI.

Millward L. Brown, D., Cronin, A. & Ozbilgin, M. (2004a). Braking (Reinforced) Glass Ceilings: Making HA’s Right for Women. Practitioners Report. The Housing Corporation. London.

Millward L. Brown, D., Cronin, A. & Ozbilgin, M. (2004b). Braking (Reinforced) Glass Ceilings: Making HA’s Right for Women. Practitioners Guide. The Housing Corporation. London.

Millward L. Brown, D., Cronin, A. & Ozbilgin, M. (2004c). Braking (Reinforced) Glass Ceilings: Making HA’s Right for Women. Technical Report. The Housing Corporation. London.

Millward L. Brown, D., Cronin, A. & Ozbilgin, M. (2004c). Braking (Reinforced) Glass Ceilings: Making HA’s Right for Women. Executive Summary. The Housing Corporation. London

Millward, L., Brown, D. & Kyriakidou, O. (2003). A scientific foundation for cultural differences having an impact on the effectiveness of multinational military teams. Final Report for QinetiQ. June.

Millward L. & Brown, D. (2003). "Swift Change" in preparation for managing the battlefield: maximising effectiveness in multi-national military team management. Interim Report for QinetiQ. May, 2003.