Dr Sophie Bennett is a Clinical Academic Psychologist specialising in child and adolescent mental health and specifically in 1) the integration of physical and mental health care and 2) increasing access to psychological treatments through ‘low intensity’ interventions, including peer support.

Dr Bennett joined the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN) at King's College London in January 2023. Prior to this, she worked at UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health.

Her current research and clinical work focuses on a range of topics associated with integrated and low intensity mental health interventions, including work on modular interventions, in eating disorders, persistent physical symptoms including functional neurological disorder, and in long term physical health conditions in children and young people.

Research interests

• Physical, neurological and mental health conditions in children and young people.
• Integration of physical and mental health care
• Low intensity mental health interventions
• Eating disorders

Expertise and public engagement

Dr Bennett is a mental health representative for the RCPCH Epilepsy12 national audits of epilepsy services and member of the International League Against Epilepsy Integrated Mental Health Care Pathways Committee.

She is lead editor of the Oxford Guide to Brief and Low Intensity Interventions for Children and Young People (2022) textbook, including chapters from the leading international researchers in the field.

She is the research lead for an active Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) Research Advisory Group (20 members), who have advised on the development of research procedures, intervention and dissemination for her studies investigating the interface between physical and mental health. The PPI work in her research has been highlighted by the NIHR as an example of good practice.

She regularly provides external training on the delivery of evidence-based psychological therapies for children with neurological conditions to medical and mental health professionals and to families and patient groups. She is current trustee and previous Vice Chair of the London charity, HOPE for Epilepsy, and has provided mental health expertise at monthly groups in addition to facilitating remote peer support groups.