Professor Philippa Garety's first degree in Psychology and Philosophy (natural sciences) was from Cambridge University, 1979. She qualified in Clinical Psychology (MPhil) at the Institute of Psychiatry (King's College London) in 1981 and is a British Psychological Society chartered clinical psychologist. She is a Fellow of the British Psychological Society (since 1995). She has a PhD in Psychology (1990; Investigations in Delusional Reasoning; University of London), and an MA in Higher and Professional Education from the Institute of Education, University of London (1996). She was accredited as a cognitive and behavioural therapist by the UK BABCP and as a member of the Academy of Cognitive therapy (USA).

Her expertise is in psychological models and treatments for problems associated with psychosis, in particular unusual, distressing beliefs and psychotic experiences (sometimes called ‘delusions’ and ‘hallucinations’). She was one of the UK-based pioneers of cognitive behavioural therapy for psychosis. She has developed and evaluated specialist services for people with psychosis, such as the first UK trial of an Early Intervention Psychosis service. She has recently worked with others to develop and test innovative treatments for problems in psychosis employing digital technology (AVATAR and SloMo).

As Emeritus Professor, she is involved (as a co-applicant) on new projects, investigating implementation of SloMo in the real world (led by Dr Amy Hardy), and further developments of AVATAR therapy (led by Dr Tom Ward). She has collaborated on wide-ranging theoretical research and clinical trials and published over 240 peer reviewed papers.

Philippa has been awarded the British Psychological Society Shapiro award for ‘eminence’ in clinical psychology (2002); the British Psychological Society Professional Practice Board Lifetime Achievement Award (2018); Senior Investigator of the National Institute of Health Research, selected for two terms (2008-2015) and continues as a Senior Investigator emerita. 

Research interests

• Unusual beliefs and experiences (delusions and hallucinations)- theoretical and empirical studies
• Psychological treatments for psychosis
• Digital technologies and treatments for paranoia and voices

Expertise and public engagement

Philippa has been involved in national and international advisory bodies consulting on mental health research and services for people with psychosis (e.g. NICE guideline development, NHS England clinical reference groups; German Federal Government advisory committee). She currently is serving on one of the Wellcome Trust advisory panels for research funding.