Mrs Hewa Khalilifar

Alongside my university role, I am a BABCP accredited Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapist and have a private psychotherapy practice based in Central London. 

I studied for my BSc (Hons) in Biomedical Science at Imperial College London, during the final year of which I specialised in Neuroscience and Mental Health. After my BSc, I went on to obtain my Masters degree (Distinction) in Applied Neuroscience from King's College London. During my MSc, I was a two-time recipient of the KCL Dean's Award for Outstanding Academic Performance in the modules ‘Pharmacotherapies in Mental Health’ and ‘Child and Adolescent Mental Health’. 

My Masters dissertation focused on the relationship between psychosocial stress and inflammation, allowing me to explore my interest in the biological underpinnings of psychological wellbeing.  I looked into the intersection between psychology, immunology, and neuroimaging, under the supervision of Professor Federico Turkheimer. 

Parallel to my Masters, I was able to gather invaluable experiences in research and in clinical psychology. One of the projects I was involved in, as a Research Assistant at the MRC Social, Genetic, and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, investigated motor performance in individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Alongside my research experience, I was working as an Assistant Psychologist, which inspired me to pursue a clinical pathway. 

I subsequently trained as a Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapist at the University of Reading, where I was awarded the esteemed Caroline Gilbey Scholarship, completing a Postgraduate Diploma (Merit) in Evidence-based Psychological Treatment.

Soon after graduating, I joined the University of Warwick as an Associate Psychological Therapist, where I provided brief therapy interventions to the university students. 

In my private practice, I offer evidence-based CBT therapy to clients with common mental health problems. I provide contractor services to a Cauda Equina charity, which requires me to be creative in adapting CBT treatment protocols around the specific needs of individuals living with a chronic physical health condition. 

I would describe myself as a mental health and neuroscience enthusiast, as I am fascinated by the neuroscientific phenomena which underpin psychological wellbeing.  Owing to my undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, I come to my work as a psychotherapist and lecturer from a strong background of biological and mental health research. Among the research areas that I continue to educate myself on and draw upon in my clinical work are:  the neurobiology of ADHD, neuroplasticity, the mechanism of action of psychedelics (both in elucidating ordinary states of consciousness and in targeting psychopathological processes), and pathological gambling.

I was fortunate to do my training placement with a former academic whose specialism was in evolutionary biology, which gave me the opportunity to learn how to effectively integrate scientific knowledge into the psychoeducation component of psychotherapy.

I aim to conduct both my clinical work and academic work in the spirit of curiosity and compassion, hoping to provide a space for open minded learning and discovery. 

• Lecturer