Brenda Caldwell Phillips

About

I am a lecturer in the College of Health, Psychology and Social Care. Prior to joining the University of Derby, I served as a senior lecturer at Boston University. I conduct community-based participatory research, supervise postgraduate research students, and lead modules in the MSc Health Psychology programme. As a Buddhist chaplain, I facilitate meditation support groups for individuals living with cancer. I also provide end-of-life support to patients and their caregivers.

Teaching responsibilities

I currently teach two modules in the MSc programme: The Psychology of Health & Wellbeing and Living with Long-term Conditions.

Research interests

I study social cognition and emotion regulation. More specifically, my research explores how engagement in self-stewardship practices, such as meditation and spending time in nature, facilitate mental and physical health. I currently have funding from the Templeton World Charity Foundation (Grand Challenges for Human Flourishing) to explore the ways individuals and communities cope and (potentially) thrive under conditions of extreme adversity. I am interested in how women, especially those from marginalised and fence-line communities, address their socio-emotional and spiritual needs while seeking treatment for cancer. I also conduct research within the domains of psycholinguistics and cognitive development.

Membership of professional bodies

American Psychological Association (Society for Environmental, Population, and Conservation Psychology, Div. 34; Society for Health Psychology; Div. 38; Society for the Psychology of Women, Div. 35)
British Psychological Society (pending)
FHEA (pending)
HCPC registered Health Psychologist (pending)
Midlands Health Psychology Network

Qualifications

BSc Psychology (Hons), Pennsylvania State University, USA
MA Clinical Psychology, Saint Michael’s College, USA
MA Buddhist Chaplaincy, Upaya Institute & Zen Center, USA
PhD Psychology, Boston University, USA
Postdoctoral Fellowship, University of Sheffield, UK
Postdoctoral Fellowship, Vanderbilt University, USA
Postdoctoral Fellowship, Harvard University, USA
Research Associate, Harvard University, USA

Recent conferences

Carr, D., Zhao, Y., Caldwell-Harris, C., Manglos-Weber, N., Mody, M., Phillips, B., Shipton, P., & Shohet, M. (2022). Is Suffering an Obstacle to or Pre-Condition for Flourishing? A Multidisciplinary Exploration. Annual Global Scientific Conference on Human Flourishing. *Award-winning Abstract.

Caldwell Phillips, B. & Novak*, K. (2022). Seeking refuge while living with cancer: The psychological and spiritual underpinnings of women’s solitude experiences. Annual Global Scientific Conference on Human Flourishing.

Caldwell Phillips, B. (2021). Human flourishing in diverse populations and contexts. Paper presented at Research on Tap. Boston University, Massachusetts. How solitude experiences influence women’s perceptions of well-being and identity. Albert & Jessie Danielsen Institute, Boston, Massachusetts.

Caldwell Phillips, B. Novak*, K., Parkinson*, E., Kramer*, M., Trajtenberg*, D.P., & Cooper*, B. (2021). How women cope with cancer by seeking solitude. Poster presented at the American Psychological Association Convention, Online.

Caldwell Phillips, B. (2020). How solitude experiences influence women’s perceptions of well-being and identity. Paper presented at the Albert & Jessie Danielsen Institute, Boston, Massachusetts.

Caldwell Phillips, B. (2019). Women’s perceptions of solitude and social support in the wake of the #MeToo movement. Paper presented at the Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues Annual Conference. San Diego, California.

Caldwell Phillips, B. (2018). The best of worlds: Exploring the connection between social and ecological identities. Poster presented at the Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues Annual Conference. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Coley*, S., Mercurio, A., & Caldwell Phillips, B. (2018).The Online dating experiences of students of color. (2018). Poster presented at the Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues Annual Conference. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

* student advisee

Experience in industry

Meditation Support Group Facilitator, Virginia Thurston Healing Garden Cancer Center, Harvard, MA, USA
Buddhist Chaplaincy Thesis Advisor, Upaya Institute & Zen Center, Santa Fe, NM, USA
Child and Family Psychotherapist, The Center for Counseling & Psychological Services, Montpelier, Vermont, USA
Individual Psychotherapist, University of Vermont Counseling Center, Burlington, Vermont, USA
Child and Family Psychotherapist, Maternal Child Health, Visiting Nurses Association, Colchester, Vermont, USA
Intake Coordinator, Hospital Diversion Program, Northeastern Family Institute, Winooski, Vermont, USA
Mental Health Technician, Meadows Psychiatric Center, Centre Hall, Pennsylvania, USA