Staff Profile

I'm the Clinical Director / Deputy Programme Director for the Clinical Psychology Doctorate. I also co-chair the School of Psychology Equity, Diversity and Inclusion sub-committee and work clinically within our Neurodevelopmental Assessment Service for students at Newcastle University. I initially joined the programme as a Clinical Tutor in December 2019.

I trained as a Clinical Psychologist at Newcastle University from 2006-2009. Following this, I completed further training in CBT (PgDip Advanced Practice in Cognitive Therapy) and Neuropsychology (PgDip in Clinical Neuropsychology). I have worked in a range of NHS specialties post qualification, including NHS Talking Therapies for Anxiety and Depression, Community Acquired Brain Injury Rehabilitation, and Older Adult Mental Health and Dementia services. 

Prior to my applied clinical training, I completed a PhD looking at the developmental trajectories of anxiety and ritualistic behaviour in childhood with a view to better detect, understand and treat obsessive-compulsive disorder in young people. 

My current research is mainly focused on understanding and treating uncertainty distress and I co-supervise trainee projects in this area. I'm also involved in the mental health stream of the Pro:NE project (www.pronortheast.org.uk), which is a network created by five North-East universities (Newcastle, Durham, Northumbria, Sunderland and Teesside) to increase access and positive participation for racially and ethnically minoritised students and staff in postgraduate research.

Michallat-Bragg, G., Bennett, M. , Flewitt, B.I., Kazmi, S, Smith, S.J., Wells, C., Hollins, A., Ash, C., Thwaites, S., Neil, W., Howett, D., Dexter-Smith, S., Chan, D., Dachtler, J., Poulter, S., Evans, S., & Lever, C. (2025). Exploring the sensitivity of episodic and spatial memory tests to healthy and pathological cognitive aging, Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience. 17:1547834. DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2025.1547834

Thwaites, S.V., Robinson, L., Yeebo, M. & Xie, Y. (2024). Student Mental Health Support: Exploring the needs of racially and ethnically minoritised students. Conference Paper: Group of Trainers in Clinical Psychology Annual Conference. 

Thwaites, S.V. & Robinson, L. (2024). Managing your Mental Health as a PGR Student. Conference Paper:

Unleashing Potential: Breaking Down Barriers and Bias for Racially Minoritised Postgraduate Researchers - Pro:NE Annual Conference.

Yeebo, M., Robinson, L & Thwaites, S.V. (2024). Student Mental Health Support - Exploring the Needs of Racially and Ethnically Minoritised Students. DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.26475.14881

Appiah, A., Yeebo, M., Bamford, J., Thwaites, S.V., Lomax, C., & Farooq, R. (2022). A mixed method evaluation of the North East Black, Asian & Minority Ethnic mentoring scheme launch: Reflections & actions, Clinical Psychology Forum, 354(355): 9-16.

Addy, C., Appiah, A., Yeebo, M., Bamford, J., Thwaites, S.V., Lomax, C., & Farooq, R. (2021). "Seeing Me" in Clinical Psychology: A Mixed Method Evaluation of the North East Mentoring Scheme for Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Aspiring Psychologists. Conference Paper: Group of Trainers in Clinical Psychology Annual Conference.

Farooq, R., Thwaites, S.V. & Addy, C. (2021). Dismantling the Master’s House: Building the foundations for an Anti-Racist Clinical Psychology. Conference Paper: Group of Trainers in Clinical Psychology Annual Conference.

Freeston, M.H., Tiplady, A., Mawn, L., Bottesi, G. & Thwaites, S. (2020). Towards a model of uncertainty distress in the context of Coronavirus (Covid-19). The Cognitive Behaviour Therapist, 1-32.

Veale, D., Thwaites, S. & Freeston, M.H. (2013). Ego-dystonicity: Still relevant to our understanding of obsessions? Conference Paper: 43rd Annual Conference of the European Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Therapies.

Laing, S.V. (2010). Enhancing specificity in cognitive models of obsessive-compulsive disorder: Responsibility, thought-action fusion and egodystonicity. Unpublished DClinPsych. thesis.

Laing, S. V., Fernyhough, C., Turner, M. & Freeston, M. H. (2009). Fear, worry, and ritualistic behavior in childhood: Developmental trends and interrelations. Infant and Child Development 18(4): 351-366.

Laing, S.V. (2008). A developmental approach to fear, worry and rituals among typically developing children. Unpublished PhD thesis.

Scholey, A., Laing, S., & Kennedy, D.O. (2006) Blood glucose changes and memory: Effects of manipulating emotionality and mental effort. Biological Psychology, 71, 12-19.

Laing, S. (2003) The continuity between normative and pathological rituals: Fear, worry and compulsive-like behaviour in childhood. Unpublished MA thesis.

Neave, N., Laing, S., Fink, B. & Manning, J.T. (2003) Second to fourth digit ratio, testosterone and perceived male dominance. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 270(1529), 2167-72 ·