About

I am a Buddhist psychologist and healthcare chaplain. I currently serve as a senior lecturer in health psychology, and I also direct the University of Derby Psycho-Oncology Lab. From 2023 - 2025, I directed the MSc Health Psychology Programme. I conduct community-based participatory research, supervise postgraduate research students, and lead modules in the MSc Health Psychology programme. 

Teaching responsibilities

I currently contribute to the following modules in the MSc programme: Clinical and Professional Skills; Psychology of Health & Wellbeing, Living with Long-term Conditions, and Empirical Research Project.

Professional interests

Prior to resuming my clinical research and teaching on a full-time basis, I conducted psychological assessments and psychotherapy with children, adults, and families. My practice is trauma-informed. For many years, I worked with individuals living in poverty and unsheltered and those who experienced physical and sexual abuse in childhood. In 2019, I began providing support to individuals living with cancer. I work one-to-one with patients and also lead mindfulness-based support groups.

Research interests

My research explores how engagement in self-stewardship facilitates mental and physical health. I study how engagement in contemplative practice and time in nature help individuals cope with the stress and anxiety associated with chronic illness. I also design clinical trials that assess the efficacy of mindfulness-based interventions on distress in patients with cancer and occupational burnout in healthcare providers.

I am a Templeton World Charity Foundation awardee (Grand Challenges for Human Flourishing). This award has enabled my lab to develop community-based participatory research studies within historically marginalised communities. We study how women cope and potentially thrive under conditions of extreme adversity (e.g., terminal illness, impact of racism and discrimination, poverty).

Membership of professional bodies

• American Psychological Association
• British Psychological Society, Chartered Psychologist
  • Division of Clinical Psychology
  • Division of Health Psychology
  • Faculty for Oncology and Palliative Care
  • Faculty of Clinical Health Psychology
• British Psychosocial Oncology Society
• International Psycho-Oncology Society
• Midlands Health Psychology Network
• FHEA (pending)
• HCPC registered Clinical Psychologist (pending)

Qualifications

• MA Buddhist Chaplaincy, Upaya Zen Center & Institute, 2021; Ordained, 2023
• Postdoctoral Fellowship, Harvard University, USA, 2011 - 2013
• Postdoctoral Fellowship, Vanderbilt University, USA, 2009 - 2011
• Postdoctoral Fellowship, University of Sheffield, UK, 2008 - 2009
• PhD Psychology, Boston University, USA, 2009
  
• MA Clinical Psychology, Saint Michael’s College, USA, 2000
• BSc Psychology (Hons), Pennsylvania State University, USA, 1996

Recent conferences

• Nelson, D., Jeffrey, I. Uddin, S., Harding-Bell, A., McPeake, K., Hopkirk, C., Thomson, V., Cross, A., Caldwell Phillips, B., & Cooke (2024). A systematic review on interventions to support carers of people with cancer in rural settings. 24th IPOS World Congress of Psycho-Oncology. Maastricht, Netherlands
• Caldwell Phillips, B. (2024). Cancer Care. EUROTAS 2024. University of Oxford, UK
• Caldwell Phillips, B. (2023). Concepts & practices in chaplaincy: 3-day workshop for Buddhist caregivers. Workshop Co-Facilitator. International Buddhist Psychotherapy and Chaplaincy Working Group & the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB). Bangkok, Thailand
• Caldwell Phillips B., & Novak*, K. (2023). Community-based participatory research: Understanding how women of the Global Majority cope with cancer. 24th IPOS World Congress of Psycho-Oncology. Milan, Italy
• 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

International experience

I am an American-trained psychologist; I teach and conduct research in the United States, Europe, and SE Asia. I also provide clinical support to individuals living with cancer in the UK and USA.

Recent publications

• ORCiD ID: 0000-0003-3680-7343