Dr Laura Hamilton

Overview

Dr Laura Hamilton PhD, is a Lecturer in Applied Psychology and HCPC Registered Practitioner Psychologist. Prior to starting at Ulster University in 2022, Laura worked a split clinical and academic role for many years, working as a Consultant Applied Psychologist in the NHS and Senior Lecturer in a university. Laura has worked in a range of forensic, forensic mental health and mental health services for the past 25 years.

Specialising in the assessment and treatment of complex developmental trauma and personality disorder, as well as the assessment of Autistic Spectrum Conditions and ADHD. Laura is an innovative practitioner often working at the cutting edge of clinical practice and piloting new ways of enhancing forensic and mental health services. She conducted the first trials of Radically Open-Dialectical Behavioural (RODBT) Therapy with forensic service users and was part of the development team which trialled Cognitive Analytic Therapy (CAT) in this service.

Laura is trained in a broad range of other therapy modalities, including Dialectical Behavioural Therapy, Schema Therapy, EMDR and Sensorimotor Psychotherapy (Level 3 Practitioner). As an academic she has developed postgraduate training courses for forensic psychologists, has been a Course Director and continues to deliver specialist teaching, supervision and workshops on a range of applied clinical forensic issues.

Research Focus

Laura’s research focus is on overcontrolled personality and coping (Lynch, 2018), and practical applications of Porges poly-vagal theory in understanding and promoting psychological well-being. She has also written and trained others in the area of applied boundary management, and this remains an ongoing focus of her research.

Research Interests

Laura’s research interests are in applied boundary studies, in particular examining the process of boundary changes in professional practice and examining why some professionals breach their fiduciary responsibilities. Laura’s research on overcontrol is varied, she is interested in the assessment of overcontrol and produced some of the seminal studies applying Lynch’s overcontrol theory to offending populations.

Laura remains committed to understanding why some people with excessive self-control offend and/or have poor mental well-being. Laura has developed a recent interest in post-diagnostic support for families and children identified as ASD and/or ADHD, and in particular how interventions utilising Porges Poly-Vagal theory could support these neurodiverse groups. Laura is also interested in the retirement transitioning process for elite athletes, veterans, frontline workers and others professions where voluntary and involuntary retirement can involve a completely different way of life.

Teaching

Laura has over 15 years academic experience, undertaking a range of roles. She developed Nottingham Trent University’s MSc in Forensic Psychology and was Course Director for a number of years before returning to the NHS to take up a Consultant Psychologist position. Laura has developed and led many modules at Undergraduate and Postgraduate level, providing specialist teaching on a range of clinical practice skills, applied mental health, forensic mental health and forensic issues.

Research Supervision

Laura has supervised many undergraduate and postgraduate dissertations, and PhDs to completion. As clinician she supervised many trainee psychologist and managed many organisational research and evaluation projects.

Current PhD students

Laura has three PhD students currently completing their studies.  Katie is just starting work on a fascinating applied boundary project in a forensic context, Alex is coming towards the end of her PhD developing a new assessment tool for overcontrol, and Rebecca is part way through a PhD looking at physical activity and mental well-being amongst residents in a secure setting.

Administrative Roles and Memberships

Laura is a member of the British Psychological Society and Division of Forensic Psychology, she is also on the International Senior Clinician team for Radically Open-DBT (RODBT) and member of the RODBT international research committee.

Community Impact

Laura’s work over the years has had a significant impact on practice.  Her boundary seesaw model is a core boundary framework used in the National personality disorder training package and has been adopted widely in forensic, forensic mental health and clinical services. Laura’s work in early 2000’s pioneered service user involvement in the development of forensic services, particularly involvement of those people identified as having a severe personality disorder. Revisiting the concept of overcontrol and offending has been single-handed driven by Laura about a decade ago, and she piloted the first known treatment targeting overcontrol (RODBT) in a forensic context and has continued to advocate for this group of people who have often been poor served by standard mental health provisions.

Personal Information

I just love dogs – no time for anything else according to my four legged friend

Upcoming International Meetings

I’ve just recently returned from Chicago after meeting the RODBT Senior Clinician team and presenting at the inaugural RO-DBT conference. Next the DFP conference in Belfast, November 2023.