About

I am a Senior Lecturer in the Psychology department, supporting both undergraduate, masters and PhD level students in modules and research projects that link with health and wellbeing. I am actively engaged in research and I have a particular interest in nature connections, behaviour change, body appreciation and positive psychology. I also work in the academic enterprise, leading workshops and training sessions for applied professionals and postgraduate researchers on topics such as qualitative methods, motivational interviewing and communication skills. I also conduct consultancy for external partners to support them in designing and evaluating behaviour change and nature connection interventions.

Teaching responsibilities

I am a core member of the teaching team on the MSc in Behaviour Change. I also teach on both the undergraduate psychology programme and the MSc health psychology programme, particularly in the areas of qualitative research methods, professional applications of psychology, motivational interviewing/communication skills, body image and psychological wellbeing. I supervise postgraduate research projects. 

Research interests

My research interests all sit within health and well-being. I am part of the Centre for Psychological Research and the Nature Connectedness Research group. 

I am particularly interested in:

• Behaviour Change
• Nature Connectedness
• Compassionate communication
• Qualitative research, particularly IPA
• Body esteem
• Breast cancer and body image
• Benefits of well-being interventions on psychological health
• Occupational well-being

I supervise postgraduate research and have a particular interest in qualitative projects that explore the lived experiences of participants. I have expertise in Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis and interview-based approaches. I am available for external examination for IPA doctoral projects. Please email me if you would like to explore a research idea.

Membership of professional bodies

• Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
• Member of the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers (MINT) and MINT UK and Ireland

Qualifications

Undergraduate Qualifications

• BA PE/Sports Science and English Literature, Loughborough University

Postgraduate Qualifications 

• MA Kinesiology (Sport Psychology focus), University of Minnesota
• PGCE PE/ English, Loughborough University
• Postgraduate Supervision Module, University of Derby

Research Qualifications 

• Professional Doctorate (Ed. D), University of Derby

Recent conferences

• My presentations over the last few years have been varied as I work with students, colleagues at Derby and at other institutions, and in other organisations. I am committed to disseminating my research to maximise its impact
• I have been involved in supporting my students' work and this has been disseminated in a variety of fields at regional conferences (behaviour change, health psychology, qualitative methods)
• I have presented the research I have conducted with colleagues around body image e.g. the Appearance Matters Conference. I delivered a methodological paper about hermeneutics in IPA at the International Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis Conference and have presented pedagogical work at the Motivational Interviewing Network of trainers Forum conference
• I have also been involved in the evaluation of applied behaviour change interventions and have presented this work via conference presentations and 'how-to' workshops
• I have been an active committee member supporting the hosting of the University's Qualitative Methods summer school and the Nature Connections Conference

Experience in industry

After completing my masters degree in Minnesota, I spent 16 years working in a variety of health and well-being roles in the US including directing wellness programmes for University employees and at a large retirement community. I also had my own wellness-based business for 9 years in North Carolina.

I have experience working collaboratively with professionals in a variety of industries and charities. These include evaluation work for the Derbyshire and Suffolk Wildlife Trusts, research collaboration with Breast Cancer Care, and consultancy work with BAE, Derby City Council, Active Lincolnshire and Health Education England.

I continue to be involved in behaviour change in practice outside of my academic role. I do behaviour change consultancy work, freelance qualitative research and Motivational Interviewing training.

Please contact me if you are interested in working collaboratively on a project.

International experience

I studied, worked and taught in the USA for 16 years. I have also taught in Finland on an Erasmus Exchange programme for a University 'health and wellbeing' summer school.

I have been an invited speaker in the USA, and have presented research and training internationally. 

I have collaborated with research colleagues from overseas and enjoy cross-disciplinary working.

In the media

I have been an invited speaker for a variety of media outlets including BBC Radio Derby, Radio Nottingham and Radio Sheffield. My work has also been featured in the mainstream press.

Recent publications

Visit my complete research profile

• Holland, F., Harvey, C. and Barnes, C. (2024) Connecting Families with Nature: A Nature Connectedness Activity Handbook. Connecting Families with Nature: A Nature Connectedness Activity Handbook : University of Derby Repository
• Barnes, C., Harvey, C., Holland, F., and Wall, S. (2021). Development and testing of the Nature Connectedness Parental Self-Efficacy (NCPSE) scale. Urban Forestry and Urban Greening, 127343.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2021.127343
• Laurent, N, Holland, F and Sheffield, D (2021) Exploring Buddhism as a ‘tool’ to support well-being: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis of Western Adopters’ Experiences. Pastoral Psychology, 20, 471-485
• Montague, J., Phillips, E., Holland, F. and Archer, S (2020) Expanding hermeneutic horizons: Working as multiple researchers and with multiple participants. Research Methods in Medicine and Health Sciences, 1, (1) https://doi.org/10.1177/2632084320947571 https://journals.sagepub.com/eprint/5TGFQZAUIVZ98YUTD3FV/full
• Khan, S, Holland, F, Williams, S and Montague, J (2019) Dispositive Analysis-overview and proposed approach. Qualitative Methods in Psychology, 28
• Holland, F, Peterson, K and Archer, S. (2018) Thresholds of size: An interpretative phenomenological analysis of childhood messages around food, body, health and weight. Journal of Critical Dietetics. February, 4 (1), 25-35 http://hdl.handle.net/10545/622747
• Archer, S., Holland, F. and Montague, J. (2016) Do you mean I’m not whole?’ Exploring the role of support in women’s experiences of mastectomy without reconstruction. Journal of Health Psychology, 1359105316664135
• Holland, F (2016) Reading between the lines. International Therapist, 118, 42-43
• Holland, F (2016) Choosing not to reconstruct- post-mastectomy: Exploring younger women’s experiences. Nursing Network News, Breast Cancer Care UK
• Holland, F, Archer, S and Montague, J (2014) Younger women’s experiences of deciding against delayed breast reconstruction post-mastectomy following breast cancer: An interpretative phenomenological analysis Journal of Health Psychology 
• Holland, F. (2014). Teaching in Higher Education: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis in Sage Research Methods Cases. London: Sage
• McLaren, N., Mackereth, P., Hackman, E.and Holland^, F. (2014) Working out of the ‘toolbox’: an exploratory study with complementary therapists in acute cancer care. Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice
• Wagstaff, C., Jeong, H., Nolan, M., Wilson, A., Tweedlie, J., Phillips, E., Senu H. & Holland, F. (2014). The accordion and the deep bowl of spaghetti: Eight researchers’ experiences of using IPA as a methodology TheQualitative Report, 19. 47: 1-15, p.7-9
• Holland, F. (2007) ‘Bringing the Body to Life: Using Multiple Intelligence Theory in the Classroom’. SportEx Dynamics (14) 1, p.6-8

Courses

• Behaviour Change (incorporating PG Dip/PG Cert) MSc