Role
Dr Eva Sundin is Professor of Psychology and member of the Trauma, Social Isolation and Mental Health research group in the Department of Psychology at Nottingham Trent University (UK). Eva has double qualifications; she has a PhD in Psychology and is a licensed Clinical Psychologist. She is also an accredited Cognitive Behavioural Therapist.
Eva's research examines the psychology of people who are vulnerable, from those with mental health vulnerabilities to those who are socioeconomically deprived. Her interest in the psychology of deprived populationsis based on the notion that although many groups give people a sense of place, purpose, and belonging, and can enhance e.g., self-esteem and sense of self-worth, this may not be true for disadvantaged groups. Her research is also influenced by her personal experiences of living with two neurological conditions.
Eva's teaching at both undergraduate and postgraduate level has been informed by her clinical expertise and research interests. She has developed two postgraduate courses, the ‘Behavioural Analysis of IT Environments Programme’ and NTU’s ‘MSc in Psychological Wellbeing and Mental Health’ which both are popular among students. She has also developed a series of teaching modules from her clinical key specialisms, e.g., Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for trauma and Experiences of trauma in young people.
Career overview
Eva undertook her clinical training and PhD in Psychology at Umea University (Sweden) and took up research posts at Umea University (1990) and University of California at San Francisco (1997-1999). She was lecturer and senior lecturer at Umea University (1991-1996), associate professor at Umea University (2000-2005), and reader and associate professor at NTU (2006-2021). Eva has also had many part-time posts in the Swedish as well as British NHS and she has upheld a private clinical practice where she has worked with 500+ clients.
Research areas
The first strand of Eva's research uses an approach where she integrates her research with clinical work built on her cooperation with other clinicians and clinical researchers. This research approach follows a strong tradition in North America, where internationally renowned experts such as Prof Beck, the founding father of Cognitive Behavioual Therapy, combine research and clinical practice. Eva’s integration of research and clinical practice involves picking up questions that clinicians identify as critically important in their clinical practice, for example evaluations of trainee psychologists’ clinical work, clinical supervision, and evaluation of new treatments.
In a second research strand, Eva is applying an academic research approach to studying what psychological resources (for example, self-efficacy and sense of belonging) can decrease the impact of stress and hassles in people who have other vulnerabilities than mental health problems, for example people who are socioeconomically deprived.
External activity
- Visiting Professor of Psychology, Umea University, Sweden (2011-)
- Member of St Mungo's Peer Support Intervention Consortium for initiating dialogue and valuable research (2011-)
- Consultant clinical psychologist (part-time), Nottingham City Primary Care Trust (2010-2011)
- Grant reviewer for The Ontario Mental Health Foundation, Canada (2011)
- Lectures and seminars, 2 weekends/year on how to develop a quality assurance packet, The City Mental Health Clinic, Gothenburg NHS (2004-)
- Invited consultant on assessing and evaluating psychological group treatment, The Couple Counselling Bureau, Umea City Council, Sweden (2003-2007)
- Invited lecturer, 1-2 times/year, research guidance and advice to physicians and nurses, Women's Health Clinic Umea NHS (2000-2003)
- Invited lecturer, the Council for the Welfare of Disabled persons, Vasterbottens NHS (May 2001)
- Invited lecturer, current views on systematic evaluations a quality assurance work, The Hearing and Tinnitus Clinic, Umea NHS (2001)
- Invited speaker, Grand Rounds, Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, USA (1998)
Journal referee:
- Psychosomatic Medicine
- Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology
- British Journal of Psychiatry
- Nordic Journal of Psychology.
Sponsors and collaborators
External Collaborators:
- Mardi Horowitz, University of California, San Francisco.
- Stephen Joseph, University of Nottingham, UK
- Peter Dwyer, University of York, UK
- Marie-Louise Ogren, Stockholm University, Sweden
- Helene Ybrandt, Umea University, Sweden
- Hans Znoj, University of Bern, Switzerland
Research grants:
- 2018: “Sleep, health and wellbeing in the workplace. Eva was Co-I, funded by Health and Wellbeing, NTU (£10k).
- 2011 – 2012: “Development of a network research project researching the trainee led psychotherapeutic treatment provided at three Swedish universities (Umea, Gothenburg, and Lund).” Eva was Pi; funded by Umea University, Sweden (approx £12k).
- 2010: “A validation study of the Mindfulness Based Awareness Training programme (MBAT) as a psychological health intervention in public and private sectors.” Eva was PI, funded by the Ingenuity Programme, NTU (£5k).
- 2009: “The support priorities of multiply excluded homeless people and their compatibility with support agency agendas.” Eva was Co-I; funded by ESRC (£116k).
- 2009: “A cross-sectional pilot study of the relationship between neurophysiology, psychological wellbeing and meditation”. Eva was PI along with Dr Sumich, funded by the Division of Psychology, NTU (£5k).
- 2003 - 2005: “A study of group supervision in psychotherapy.” Eva was Co-I; funded by the Swedish Research Council (approx £150k).
- 1999 - 2000: “Studies of student therapists’ psychotherapeutic work at the Psychology Clinic, Umea University.” Eva was Principal Investigator; funded by the Dep. of Applied Psychology, Umea University, Sweden (approx £6k).
- 1998 - 1999: “A study of the psychological impact of genetic testing for breast cancer.” Eva was Principal Investigator, funded by the University of California (approx £320k).
- 1997 - 1998: I received a Postdoctoral Award from the Swedish Research Council for the Humanities and Social Sciences (approx £220k).
- 1995 - 2000: “Treatment within the Swedish NHS for people with alcohol, drug abuse, and psychological disorders.” Eva was Co-I; funded by the National Board of Institutional Care, Sweden (approx £250k).
- 1995 - 1997: “A study of the capacity to relate in people with severe psychopathology.” Eva was Principal investigator; funded by the Swedish Council of Social Research (approx £20k)
- 1992 - 1994: “A study of psychological resources and social adjustment in individuals with severe psychiatric disorder.” Eva was PI, funded by the Swedish Council of Social Research (approx £20k).
- 1989 - 2000: “A longitudinal study of milieu therapy for psychotic patients in 28 Swedish NHS trusts.” Eva was Co-I, funded by the Bank of Sweden Tercentenary Foundation and Swedish NHS trusts. (approx. £1,1m)