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Dr Deborah Rafalin

Associate Dean - IPD

School of Health & Psychological Sciences

Contact details

Address

Dr Deborah Rafalin D330, Rhind Building [D]
City, University of London
Northampton Square
London EC1V 0HB
United Kingdom

About

Overview

Dr Deborah Rafalin, Associate Professor of Counselling Psychology, is Associate Dean (Interdisciplinary Portfolio Development) in the School of Health and Psychological Sciences where she holds a key strategic role in leading growth and innovation in the School's academic portfolio. Prior to joining the School of Health and Psychological Sciences, Deborah was Associate Dean (Education) in the School of Arts and Social Sciences where she lead the development and implementation of on-line and blended models of Educational delivery and supported the School's 7 disciplinarily diverse departments and 4000+ students, during the period of continuous change brought about by Covid-19. Deborah has contributed to many of City's decision making bodies as Associate Dean, Elected Senator and in the recent strategy development process as co-chair of the President's Strategy Group and a member of the Strategy Steering Committee.

Deborah is an Hcpc Registered Psychologist and BPS Chartered Counselling Psychologist who completed her Doctorate in Counselling Psychology at the University of Surrey in 1998. She is an experienced psychological therapist and has worked within the NHS, in the voluntary sector and in private practice. She works with Adults and Adolescents, individually and in groups, and is experienced in working in a range of psychological therapy approaches with a broad range of psychological difficulties. Deborah is also an Executive Coach and has supported clients across private and statutory sectors. Alongside her work at City, Deborah has developed a broad portfolio of strategic leadership experience across Education, Health, Social Care, VCSE and private sectors.

In addition to the above roles at City, University of London, Deborah is also currently:

- Director of Insight Counselling Psychology Practice: A private practice offering individual therapy for psychological difficulty and personal development to adults and adolescents.
- Clinical Supervisor for trainee and qualified counsellors, psychotherapists and chartered psychologists.
- Consultant to the voluntary sector and the NHS

Deborah holds the following professional registrations and memberships:

- Senior Fellow, HE Advance (PR174135)
- Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society (BPS) (074232)
- Registered Psychologist, Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) (PYL 19780)
- Registered Applied Psychology Practice Supervisor, BPS
- Registered Psychometric Test User (BPS): Occupational Ability
- Registered Psychometric Test User (BPS): Occupational Personality (Orpheus)
- Member of the Community Psychology Section, BPS
- Member of the Psychology of Sexualities Section, BPS
- Member of the Psychology of Women and Equalities Section, BPS
- Member of special group in Coaching Psychology, BPS

Qualifications

DPsych Counselling Psychology and BSc (Hons) Psychology.

Research

Research interests

- Qualitative research methodologies, methodological pluralism
- The challenges of managing multiple identities and identity threat
- Identity management issues including those pertaining to gender identity, disability and sexual identity

Publications

Publications by category

Chapters (2)

  • Rafalin, D. (2010). Counselling Psychology and Research: Revisiting the Relationship in the Light of our 'Mission'. Therapy and Beyond: Counselling Psychology Contributions to Therapeutic and Social Issues (pp. 41–55). ISBN 978-0-470-71548-2.
  • Rafalin, D. and Karavella, M. (2007). 'When I look at the photograph I wish he was here with me'. The experience of bereavemnet for adults with learning disabilities: A qualitative paper. In Fanti, K. (Ed.), Psychological Science: Research, Theory and Future Directions (pp. 67–90). Greece: Atiner.

Conference papers and proceedings (10)

  • Rafalin, D. (2019). Strategies for prevention - supporting students, encouraging good academic practice and tailoring assessment design. Westminster Higher Education Forum Keynote Seminar: Next steps for tackling contract cheating in higher education: supporting students, curbing essay mill activity and evaluating the effectiveness of legislative options 22 May 2019 – 22 Feb 2019, Westminster.
  • Rafalin, D. (2019). ‘Translating’ the NSS: Using thematic analysis of student free text to enhance assessment and feedback strategies. SEDA Spring Teaching, Learning and Assessment Conference 2019, 'Collaboration to support the student experience and progression' 9 May 2019 – 10 Feb 2019, Belfast.
  • Rafalin, D. (2011). Special Schools: Fit for whose Future? Special Schools: Fit for the Future February, London.
  • Rafalin, D. and Fulder-Heyd, Y. (2007). Managing sameness and otherness in qualitative research. 20th Anniversary conference of the Psychology of Women Section, BPS 18 July, Windsor, UK.
  • Karavella, M. and Rafalin, D. (2006). 'When I look at the photograph I wish he was here with me'. The experience of bereavement for adults with learning disabilities: A qualitative paper. BPS Clinical Psychology conference December, London.
  • Rafalin, D. and Fulder-Heyd, Y. (2006). ‘The experience of Israeli women living in the UK: Impact on identity and psychological implications.’ Paper presented at Annual Conference of the Psychology of Women, British Psychological Society 7-9 July, Manchester University.
  • Sturgeon-Clegg, I. and Rafalin, D. (2006). ‘ The long term effects of living through evacuation and the London blitz during second world war as perceived by those who experienced them: A qualitative study.’ National PSIGE (DCP Psychologist's Special Interest Group in the Elderly) Conference 3-5 July, Sussex University.
  • Rafalin, D. and Coyle, A. (1999). 'The Development of Gay Identity in Jewish Family Contexts'. British Psychological Society 15 December, Institute of Education, London.
  • Rafalin, D. and Coyle, A. (1999). 'Negotiating Cultural, Religious and Sexual Identity: Jewish Gay Men's Accounts of Sexual Identity Development in Their Youth'. Paper presented at a conference on 'Gay and lesbian identities: Working with young people, their families and schools' 29-30 March, UCL.
  • Rafalin, D. and Coyle, A. (1996). 'Balancing Cultural, Religious and Sexual Identity: Jewish Gay Men and Lesbians'. Association of Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Psychologies Conference : 'Homophobia and Beyond' 14-15 September, Nottingham University.

Journal articles (2)

  • Challenor, J., Edginton, T., Rafalin, D. and Willig, C. (2018). Call for support in university pensions dispute. Psychologist, 31(4), pp. 2–2.
  • Coyle, A. and Rafalin, D. (2001). Jewish Gay Men's Accounts of Negotiating Cultural, Religious, and Sexual Identity. Journal of Psychology & Human Sexuality, 12(4), pp. 21–48. doi:10.1300/j056v12n04_02.

Poster

  • Rafalin, D. and Karavella, M. 'When I look at the photograph I wish he was here with me'. The experience of bereavement for adults with learning disabilities: A qualitative study.' , 2007.

Professional activities

Events/conferences (3)

  • 'Academic Integrity: Contract Cheating in the Modern University'. London Higher (2022). Invited speaker.
    Paper: 'Designing Out Contract Cheating'
    Author: Rafalin, D
  • Advance HE Teaching and Learning Conference 2020. Online (2020). Invited speaker.
    Paper: 'Translating the NSS': Using thematic analysis of student free text to enhance assessment and feedback strategies
    Author: Rafalin, D.
  • SEDA Spring Teaching, Learning and Assessment Conference 2019, 'Collaboration to support the student experience and progression''. (Workshop) Belfast (2019). Invited speaker.
    Paper: ‘Translating’ the NSS: Using thematic analysis of student free text to enhance assessment and feedback strategies
    Author: Rafalin, D.

Keynote lecture/speech

  • Rafalin D. Strategies for prevention - supporting students, encouraging good academic practice and tailoring assessment design. Westminster (2019). Westminster Higher Education Forum - Keynote Seminar:
    Next steps for tackling contract cheating in higher education: supporting students, curbing essay mill activity and evaluating the effectiveness of legislative options

    Member of expert panel and keynote contributor

Other

  • Chair and Facilitator of Training Day 'Academic Misconduct in HE', Into Government (Feb 2020).