Staff profile

Dr Fiona Holland


Senior Lecturer, Psychology

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Subject

Psychology

College

College of Health, Psychology and Social Care

Department

School of Psychology

Research centre

Human Sciences Research Centre

ORCiD ID

0000-0003-4596-8560

Campus

Kedleston Road, Derby Campus

Email

f.g.holland@derby.ac.uk

About

I am a Senior Lecturer in the Psychology department, supporting both undergraduate, masters and PhD level students in modules and research projects that link with health and wellbeing. I am actively engaged in research and I have a particular interest in nature connections, behaviour change, body appreciation and positive psychology. I also work in the academic enterprise, leading workshops and training sessions for applied professionals and postgraduate researchers on topics such as qualitative methods, motivational interviewing and communication skills. I also conduct consultancy for external partners to support them in designing and evaluating behaviour change and nature connection interventions.

Research interests

My research interests all sit within health and well-being. I am part of the Centre for Psychological Research and the Nature Connectedness Research group. 

I am particularly interested in:

I supervise postgraduate research and have a particular interest in qualitative projects that explore the lived experiences of participants. I have expertise in Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis and interview-based approaches. I am available for external examination for IPA doctoral projects. Please email me if you would like to explore a research idea.

Recent publications

Visit my complete research profile

Membership of professional bodies

Qualifications

Undergraduate Qualifications

Postgraduate Qualifications 

Research Qualifications 

Recent conferences

Experience in industry

After completing my masters degree in Minnesota, I spent 16 years working in a variety of health and well-being roles in the US including directing wellness programmes for University employees and at a large retirement community. I also had my own wellness-based business for 9 years in North Carolina.

I have experience working collaboratively with professionals in a variety of industries and charities. These include evaluation work for the Derbyshire and Suffolk Wildlife Trusts, research collaboration with Breast Cancer Care, and consultancy work with BAE, Derby City Council, Active Lincolnshire and Health Education England.

I continue to be involved in behaviour change in practice outside of my academic role. I do behaviour change consultancy work, freelance qualitative research and Motivational Interviewing training.

Please contact me if you are interested in working collaboratively on a project.

In the media

I have been an invited speaker for a variety of media outlets including BBC Radio Derby, Radio Nottingham and Radio Sheffield. My work has also been featured in the mainstream press.

International experience

I studied, worked and taught in the USA for 16 years. I have also taught in Finland on an Erasmus Exchange programme for a University 'health and wellbeing' summer school.

I have been an invited speaker in the USA, and have presented research and training internationally. 

I have collaborated with research colleagues from overseas and enjoy cross-disciplinary working.

Teaching responsibilities

I am a core member of the teaching team on the MSc in Behaviour Change. I also teach on both the undergraduate psychology programme and the MSc health psychology programme, particularly in the areas of qualitative research methods, professional applications of psychology, motivational interviewing/communication skills, body image and psychological wellbeing. I supervise postgraduate research projects. 

Courses

A head shot of a young woman wearing a disposable facemask

Dr Jenny Lunt, Lecturer in Health Psychology, and Dr Fiona Holland, Senior Lecturer in Psychology & Behaviour Change at the University of Derby, give their top tips on what to do and say if people fail to wear face coverings or face masks.

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In this blog Dr Fiona Holland, Senior Lecturer in Psychology at the University of Derby, discusses whether a positive psychology intervention could make a difference for those working in healthcare settings.

Scrabble letters reading time for change

Dr. Fiona Holland, Senior Lecturer in Psychology at the University of Derby, looks at how motivational interviewing can help people make positive changes.

Chocolate cupcakes

Fiona Holland, Lecturer in Psychology at the University of Derby, explains why giving something up for Lent is hard and offers her top tips to help you achieve it.

Someone holding out their hand into a dark background

Fiona Holland, Psychology Lecturer, discusses what to say and what not to say to someone with cancer ahead of World Cancer Day on February 4, 2017.