William's Profile
Job title
Senior Lecturer in Psychology, Programme Lead for MSc Public Health
Academic qualifications
BSc (Hons), MSc, PhD, CPsychol, HCPC, FHEA
"I was the lead psychologist for England’s Partially Sighted Football Team, and my consultancy work has allowed me to work with women’s football teams and a diverse range of athletes, from golfers to boxers, runners, and combat sport competitors."
I’m a Chartered Psychologist (CPsychol.) with British Psychological Society (BPS) and Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) accreditation, specialising in sport and exercise psychology, personality and social psychology, qualitative research, and humanistic approaches. I teach on the UCB courses: BSc Psychology, BSc Psychology with Sport and Exercise, MSc Psychology, and MSc Public Health.
Before working in higher education, my career took me through a variety of sport and exercise environments. I worked with women’s football teams such as Tranmere Rovers and Everton Ladies while at university, and after graduating, I became the lead psychologist for the England Partially Sighted Football Team within the England Paralympic Football Team set-up. My consultancy work brought me into contact with a diverse range of athletes, from golfers to boxers, runners, and combat sport competitors, who I worked with in order to boost their performance, build resilience, and develop both as athletes and as people.
I bring authentic, real-world examples to my classroom, bridging the gap between theory and practice. This helps students see how psychological support and interventions actually play out in everyday life, and also prepares them for what employers are looking for.
I’m proud to have published my academic work widely, including recent work on identity in elite disability sport and wellbeing in UK para-football. I stay active in the field as an external examiner and advisor for several universities, and I sit on Birmingham City Council’s ‘Creating a Mentally Healthy City Panel,’ which means that I can offer students opportunities for placements and bring in guest speakers who are making a difference in the community.
What inspires me most is seeing change in people, whether it’s helping someone enhance their performance, improve their wellbeing, or simply see things from a new perspective. It’s especially rewarding to watch students grow, seeing someone start out shy or hesitant and develop into a confident, effective communicator by the end of their studies. I learn just as much from my students as they do from me.
There are a lot of myths about psychology, for example, that we can “read minds” or that we only work with people who have “issues.” Students tell me they appreciate my humour and my ability to break down barriers, making even the most complex topics accessible and engaging.
My advice to students is to immerse themselves in the full university experience, for example by trying new activities, meeting people from different backgrounds, and travelling. I believe that you don’t regret the things you do; you regret the things that you don’t do.
Outside of work, I love travelling and discovering new cultures, foods, and languages. Last year, I visited Thailand and Cappadocia (yes, the place with the hot air balloons!) and this year, I’m off to Carcassonne, Romania, and Hungary. In terms of TV series, I can highly recommend The Bear.