Staff Profile

Background

I am an Art Psychotherapist (UK Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) registered Arts Therapist) and have worked in NHS mental health services for over 20 years. I am an Honorary Senior Clinical Lecturer in Mental Health and have been the recipient of two post-doctoral fellowships from the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), a Clinical Lectureship and Clinical Trials Fellowship. 

As an Allied Health Professional (AHP) working in mental health services I really value the opportunities I have to develop my clinical and academic roles in combination. I am committed to developing and carrying out research that will benefit people who face challenging and complex mental health problems across a wide range of NHS, social care, and community contexts.

My mental health research interests include the arts therapies (art, drama, dance-movement, and music), arts participation and arts in health, intellectual and developmental disabilities, children and young peoples mental health, aggression and violence in psychiatric and secure care, and addressing mental health inequalities.

Qualifications

PhD Art Psychotherapy, Northumbria University - 2012

MA Art Psychotherapy, University of Sheffield - 2003

PG Dip Art Psychotherapy, University of Sheffield - 1999

BA (Hons) Fine Art, Coventry University – 1995

 Mental Health Research Interests

1.    Aggression and violence in psychiatric and secure care settings. 

Current data tells us that aggression and violence in psychiatric and secure settings is an ongoing problem within health care provision. This has a very high impact on patients, staff, and family and friends. My research interest is in developing and testing accessible psychological interventions that target some of the social determinants of aggression that can occur in psychiatric settings and secure or locked care environments. There is also a greater need to understand both the prevalence and contextual issues related to aggression and violence within residential care, the approaches that can work now, and the development of future innovations that could help.

2.    Arts therapies, arts in health, and participatory arts and mental well-being. 

Arts therapies and the arts in health can offer people struggling with mental health difficulties a broad range of accessible approaches that can aid mental health related well-being. My research interest is in understanding how the inclusion of creative approaches can support and engage people with mental health problems and those with additional needs, such as intellectual and developmental disabilities, cognitive disabilities, experiences of adverse events, and physical health needs.

3.    Addressing inequalities in mental health.

People who have challenging and complex mental health problems need access to sustainable, joined up, high quality health and care services to maximise mental health and well-being. There can be a wide range of inequalities and barriers ranging from addressing people’s individual needs and adjustments, service limitations, and societal attitudes. My research interest includes mental health inequalities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, cognitive and communication difficulties, children and young people, people who have experienced adverse events, and those with combined physical and mental health needs.

• Hackett SS, Taylor JL, Freeston M, Jahoda A, McColl E, Pennington L, Kaner E. Interpersonal art psychotherapy for the treatment of aggression in people with learning disabilities in secure care: a protocol for a randomised controlled feasibility study. Pilot and Feasibility Studies 2017, 3, 42.
• Hackett S, Ashby L, Parker K, Goody S, Power N. UK art therapy practice-based guidelines for children and adults with learning disabilities. International Journal of Art Therapy 2017, 22(2), 84-94.
• Hackett SS, Aafjes-Van Doorn K. Psychodynamic art psychotherapy for the treatment of aggression in an individual with antisocial personality disorder in a secure forensic hospital: A single-case design study. Psychotherapy 2019, 56(2), 297-308.
• Bourne J, Selman M, Hackett S. Learning from support workers: Can a dramatherapy group offer a community provision to support changes in care for people with learning disabilities and mental health difficulties?. British Journal of Learning Disabilities 2020, 48(1), 59-68.
• Bruce D, Hackett SS. Developing art therapy practice within perinatal parent-infant mental health. International Journal of Art Therapy 2021, 26(3), 111-222.
• Wigham S, Watts P, Zubala A, Jandial S, Bourne J, Hackett S. Using Arts-based Therapies to Improve Mental Health for Children and Young People with Physical Health Long-term Conditions. A Systematic Review of Effectiveness. Frontiers in Psychology 2020, 11, 1771.