Dr Susan Strauss

Director, Graduate Certificate in Counselling Psychology; Member, DPsych Counselling Psychology Team

Department of Psychology

Email: Susan.Strauss.1@city.ac.uk
Telephone: +44 (0)20 7040 0167

Overview and research interests

Dr Susan Strauss joined the Department of Psychology at City University in September 2006, teaching for the Professional Doctorate in Counselling Psychology.  While her considerable history in Higher Education has included a strong clinical and teaching focus, she is currently moving toward increasing her involvement in research. 

In her work thus far at City, Susan has made substantial contributions to research modules, particularly regarding interviewing, the role of the scientist practitioner and the role of feminist theory in qualitative research. She serves as a research supervisor, with particular interests in person-centred theory, the therapeutic relationship, gender issues and university counselling. In addition to leading DPsych modules in Person-Centred approaches, Susan is Director of City University's Graduate Certificate Programme in Counselling Psychology. 
 
Dr Strauss concurrently works with New York University in London, as Head of Wellness Services. She previously taught for many years with Syracuse University's London and Madrid programmes, serving in London as Coordinator of Psychology and Counselling Services as well as Assistant Director of the London programme. Her recent professional presentations have revolved around the changing face of mental health in the university environment. 

Originally from San Francisco, Dr Strauss completed Bachelors Degrees with distinction in English Literature and Psychology at San Francisco State University, and went on to earn her MSc and PhD in Counselling Psychology from Colorado State University. She served as Predoctoral Clinical Psychology Intern with the University of Minnesota Hospital's Psychology Internship Consortium.  Prior to moving abroad in 1994, she served as Director of Counselling, Testing and Career Services at University of St. Thomas in Houston, Texas.  She has also worked extensively with children, adolescents and adults in clinical settings. 

Dr Strauss is chartered as a Counselling Psychologist with the British Psychological Society, and is an accredited member of the BPS Division of Counselling Psychology. She is also registered as a Counselling Psychologist with the Health Professions Council in the UK. Additionally, she is licensed as a Psychologist in the State of Texas. 

Selected publications

Bury, D., and Strauss, S. M. (2006). "The Scientist-Practitioner in a Counselling Psychology Setting." In D. A. Lane and S. Corrie, The Modern Scientist-Practitioner: A Guide to Practice in Psychology. London: Routledge.

Fragkiadaki, E. & Strauss, S. M. (in press). "Termination of psychotherapy: The journey of ten psychoanalytic and psychodynamic therapists." Psychology and Psychotherapy: Theory, Research and Practice.

Maise, S.J. (1990).  "Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder - A Group Therapy Approach."  Journal of the Houston Group Psychotherapy Society, IV, 1.

MacQuiddy, S.L., Maise, S.J. and Hamilton, S.B. (1987).  "Empathy and affective perspective-taking skills in parent-identified conduct-disordered boys."  Journal of Clinical Child Psychology, 16, 260-268.

Papers

Fragkiadaki, E. & Strauss, S. (2008). Termination of psychotherapy: Therapists' journey through termination of therapy with patients.  Paper presented at the Joint Conference of the Divisions of Counselling Psychology: The British Psychological Society & The Psychological Society of Ireland, Trinity College, Dublin, 20-21 June 2008.

Fragkiadaki, E. & Strauss, S. (2009). The concept of the bizarre therapeutic relationship: Exploring the experiences of termination of psychoanalytic and psychodynamic therapists.  Paper presented in panel: "Qualitative Approaches when Dealing with Psychosocial Problems", in the 12th Panhellenic Conference of Psychological Research, Greek Psychological Society, University of Thessalia, Volos, 17 May 2009.

Gil-Rodriguez, E. & Strauss, S. (2009). Understanding women's experience of their bodies and body image in the postpartum year: An interpretative phenomenological analysis. Paper presented at the BPS Division of Counselling Psychology Annual Conference, Warwick University, 10 July 2009.