Dr Rachel McHugh

Overview

Rachel is a Lecturer in Psychology at Ulster University and a British Psychological Society (BPS) accredited Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner (PWP). She teaches on the BSc Hons Psychology and MSc Applied Psychology (Mental Health and Psychological Therapies) programmes at Ulster.

Rachel completed her BSc Hons degree in Psychology in 2014, and MSc in Applied Psychology with BPS accreditation as a PWP in 2015, followed by a three year funded PhD studentship at Ulster.

Rachel joined the teaching staff at Ulster in March 2021, and she is also a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, and completed her PgChep in Higher Education Practice in 2022.

Research Focus

Rachel is a founding member of the Cystic Fibrosis International Researchers’ Network, and has co-founded the UK based Cystic Fibrosis Mental Health Working Research Group in 2022. The group’s main aim is to further the mental health research aspect of Cystic Fibrosis (CF) and other long term health conditions in the UK and Northern Ireland.

The group’s first study assessed the internal consistency and factor structure of a CF specific psychometric measure, to determine the external validity of the CFEAB measure, by assessing its relationship with existing related measures of mental health and disordered eating.

This international cross-institution research group is made up of both quantitative and qualitative researchers, interested in psychological well-being with regards to quality of life, mental health, and health specific psychopathology. This is a multi-disciplinary group, with links to service providers in CF care, including UK-based CF clinicians and clinical psychologists and members with lived experience.

Research Interests

For her doctoral research, Rachel investigated depressive disorders and the impact of self-medication with alcohol. Rachel is involved with the Student Psychological Intervention Trial (SPIT); an EU funded research project focusing on student mental health and the trial of an online CBT intervention for college students.

Her main research interests include the relationship between mental health and physical health and coping with long term health conditions, as well as comorbidity, addiction and risky behaviour. She has presented her research at national and international conferences, and has a range of experience in research methods, using mostly quantitative methods.

Teaching

Rachel teaches mostly on the MSc Applied Psychology programme. She contributes to the following modules; PSY562, PSY866, PSY868, PSY871, PSY872, PSY873, PSY700, PSY722 and PSY736. Additional teaching duties include module co-ordinator for Assessment, Formulation and Intervention (CBT model) - PSY866, and PSY736 - Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner Clinical Placement. She is the MSc Clinical Placement Co-Ordinator and MSc Tutor (Pastoral Lead).

Other roles include Research Supervisor for BSc, MSc and PhD students, as well as Academic Placement Tutor for PWP students on the MSc programme. Rachel is interested in and currently developing Long Term Conditions (LTC) specific training for Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners and trainee students.

Community Impact

Rachel has previously worked as a PWP, and on various research projects. She has also self-designed CBT based mental health workshops which have been run in the community. Rachel fundraises and organises events in aid of the Cystic Fibrosis Trust.

Rachel is also associated with Pneuma Healthcare at Ulster University, and is currently exploring the development of online workshops and mental health resources specific for people with long term health conditions.