Dr Jan Smith

Dr Jan Smith joined Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU) as a Lecturer in Psychology in October 2020. Jan is a Practitioner Psychologist registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), Chartered Health Psychologist and Associate Fellow with the British Psychological Society (BPS). Jan has accumulated over 20 years of postgraduate psychology experience across the United Kingdom. Previous experiences include the application of psychological practices within the National Health Service and UK universities, along with the third and private sectors.

Jan holds seven psychologically relevant qualifications which include the following: BSc (Hons) Psychology with Clinical Psychology (University of Kent, 2003); MSc in Health Psychology (2005; University of Westminster); MSc in Research Methods in Psychology (2006; University College London-UCL); Postgraduate Certificate in Clinical Applications in Psychology (Newman University College; 2011) and a PhD in Community Care (2013; University of Kent).

In 2019, Jan completed her health psychology practitioner training with the NHS Education for Scotland (NES) Stage 2 Health Psychology training programme, alongside placement support from NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGG&C). In 2022, Jan completed the Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice to qualify as a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. Jan is currently in the final year of her part-time Doctor of Education (EdD) in educational leadership studies (University of Strathclyde; 2020-2025).

Jan has an avid interest in Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) in psychology and supports EDI priorities at GCU as the Department of Psychology EDI Lead, Athena Swan (gender equality) Lead for the School of Health and Life Sciences (SHLS) and Deputy EDI Lead for the SHLS. Jan also supports EDI priorities in the BPS as a Strategic Board member for the BPS EDI Board and EDI Lead for the Division of Health Psychology Scotland.

In 2020, Jan transferred from the NHS into Higher Education at GCU, primarily to provide structured psychological learning to students and demonstrate how psychological principles could be practically applied in diverse environments.

Jan is currently a doctoral module leader for Consultancy Training in Applied Health Psychology (CTAP1-H) and Placement Co-ordinator (Lead) for the Doctorate in Health Psychology programme.  Additionally, Jan has supported and supervised students from undergraduate to doctoral level (DPsych and PhD) at GCU as a research supervisor and Registered Approved Psychology Practice Supervisor (RAPPS) with the BPS.

Jan looks forward to supporting GCU students by providing constructive, supportive, collaborative and empowering practices and strives to work towards producing more inclusive learning environments for all GCU students and staff.

Jan has an avid interest in psychology, with interests in health psychology, diversity and supporting people living with various vulnerabilities and multi-morbidities.

As an evidence-based practitioner, Jan continues to publish and contribute to psychological understandings through psychological-related outputs and has authored or co-authored several peer-reviewed publications on psychologically relevant areas.

Her current research interests include: management of long-term health conditions; understanding health behaviours, health conditions and lived experiences of people from minority populations; understanding service quality, quality of life outcomes and lived experiences of vulnerable people in community care settings; developing and applying behaviour change theory and practice to digital health interventions and applying reflective and reflexive practice in psychology with sensitivities to social justice, inclusion and equality.

Overall, Jan is passionate about Higher Education and looks forward to helping students reach their full potential.