Dr Lucy Prodgers

Profile

I started work at the University of Leeds in September 2018 originally in the School of Psychology, before moving to the Division of Psychological and Social Medicine in the Leeds Institute of Health Sciences, School of Medicine in October 2023. Prior to my PhD research in Psychology, my previous academic work was in the field of English Literature (MPhil, MA, BA). I also have extensive experience of working with people with long-term physical health conditions, in particular Inflammatory Bowel Disease (Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis), and have undergone previous training in person-centred counselling and as a facilitator of the NHS Expert Patient Programme.

Research interests

My interests are in critical health psychology, particularly chronic and lifelong illness, with a focus on qualitative, arts-based and internet-based methods. My PhD project used a dialogical narrative approach to explore how men with Crohn’s disease used social media to author themselves and their illness experiences. As someone with Crohn’s myself, as well as several other lifelong conditions, subjectivity in research and researcher reflexivity are also central to my work.

Previous research in the field of English Literature used the ideas of French philosopher Gilles Deleuze to critically analyse psychoanalytical readings of self and gender in contemporary British fiction. Furthermore, Foucauldian textual analysis and social constructionist readings of disability, sexuality, gender and culture were key areas of interest which map on to my current work.

Qualifications

• PhD Psychology
• MPhil English Literature
• MSc Psychology (conversion)
• MA English Studies
• BA English Lit/Lang

Professional memberships

• Member of the British Psychological Society
• FHEA
• International Society of Critical Health Psychology

Student education

I presently teach on Individuals and Populations 1 & 2 on the MBChB programme and supervise on the Doctorate in Clinical Psychology. 

Doctoral Supervision:

• Fabiola Guerra, Exploring the perspectives on menstrual health among mental health practitioners working with young people in community settings, DClin
• Sarah Jewers, How is the socio-political context in the UK impacting the mental health experiences and identity development of gender-diverse young adults?, DClin
• Anna McNulty, What is the experience of individual psychological therapy for cisgender women with endometriosis?, DClin

Research groups and institutes

• Leeds Institute of Health Sciences
• Psychological and Social Medicine