Alastair Pipkin

• Doctor of Psychology
• Principal Clinical Psychologist at Unlock Psychology Ltd

Background: Nonbinary people may rely on queer communities to resist cisnormative erasure and shape their sense of identity. However, transnormativity within queer communities may repudiate nonbinary identities. The Master Narrative Framework informs our understanding of how cis-and transnormative narratives are negotiated within queer communities,...

Minimal research exists on gender non-conforming individuals’ experience of disclosing mental health difficulties to healthcare professionals working within Gender Identity Clinics (GICs). As such little is known about the potential impact of intersectional stigma within this context. This project aimed to understand the barriers and facilitators o...

Previous research highlights mixed findings regarding how trans people experience sexual satisfaction during and after transition. Qualitative research in particular reflects a process of psychosocial adjustment during and after transition, which reciprocally impacts sex and pleasure. The current research explores trans women’s experiences of their...

Purpose: The following study aimed to better understand rural dwelling LGBTQ+ adults' experiences of the challenges and opportunities facing their working lives in England. Design/methodology/approach:A qualitative, focus group design was utilized, using online recruitment and an online, one-off focus group. Data were analyzed using thematic analy...

Introduction: Research highlights discrepancies in recognition of borderline personal- ity disorder (BPD) in men, despite similar rates of prevalence across genders. Aim: To investigate inpatient mental health professionals' experiences of delivering treatment for males with a diagnosis of BPD. Method: Six mental health professionals working within...

Meaning making is an important task for overcoming the impact of physical and psychological traumas, yet various theoretical perspectives conceptualise this process differently. Although meaning making is central to various psychological therapies aimed at addressing the impact of trauma, there remain some differences in definition, stance and appr...

Background: Barriers to healthcare and negative healthcare experiences are frequently reported by transgender people, which is known to be compounded by intersectional issues including racism. Aims: The present study aimed to explore the experiences of trans people of color accessing a national Gender Service in the United Kingdom, to better under...

Research suggests that the provision of psychological interventions within acute inpatient settings is effective and important for improving clinical outcomes. There remains limited research on the application of such interventions for individuals admitted to psychiatric intensive care units (PICU), and notably none for male-only PICU environments...

Background: The current research builds on a previous review of the literature which explored sexuality during gender transition. There has been increased attention toward TGNC people across academic, political, and healthcare fields since the previous review, as well as shifts in language use and health interventions, justifying a need for more co...

Transgender and gender non-conforming (TGNC) people may experience minority stress and internalised transnegativity, leading to increased psychological distress. Self-compassion has been suggested as a protective factor which can buffer against the impact of minority stress and stigma. This service evaluation study examined the outcomes of a novel...

Objectives: Self-love has been conceptualized and studied in both the broader constructs of narcissism, as a negative trait referring to excessive self-focus, and self-compassion, as a positive trait pertaining to self-affirmations. Little is known about the lived experience of and attitudes towards self-love in young adults, for whom self-compassi...

Objectives Transgender and gender non-conforming people may face elevated rates of shame and self-criticism in light of minority stress. Compassion-focused therapy has a growing evidence base in addressing trans-diagnostic processes in mental health difficulties, including shame and self-criticism. The objective of the present study was to explore...

The following paper reviews and summarises the available research regarding the psychological needs and available support for people with non-binary gender identities. It highlights current practice, research gaps and professional issues, such as access to care.

Objectives Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Psychosis (CBTp) demonstrates variable and at times mild to moderate effect sizes, thus its therapeutic processes are important to explore. Establishing a secure therapeutic relationship is one such key process where barriers may exist, including those related to psychotic symptoms and associated stigma....

Background: Client disclosure of emotionally salient information to a therapist may be an important factor in the effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Psychosis (CBTp). The present study explores how people engaging with CBTp make sense of sharing emotionally salient information with a therapist and considers how mental health stigma...

Aim Early Intervention in Psychosis teams (EITs) are a growing entity internationally, yet they remain under‐researched given challenges facing their delivery. Model adaptations include stand‐alone services, a hub‐and‐spoke model with various bases and integrating specialist staff into existing mental health teams. The present critical review focus...