Marita Morahan

Marita is a Chartered Psychologist, an independent psychotherapist and an active researcher. She is also the review lead for the new Ethical Framework at the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). She combines her practitioner experience in psychotherapy with her psychology teaching and research supervision.

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Background

Marita joined ARU in January 2024. Previous roles include Senior Lecturer in Counselling and Coaching at University of East London, and Director of Studies on Postgraduate Certificate in HE Teaching of Counselling/Psychotherapy at Metanoia Institute.

Prior to counselling/psychotherapy roles, Marita worked as an academic in developmental psychology. Past research includes disabled students and employability skills, with Garry Bishop (ICE, Cambridge University); pre-term infants at age six, with Professor Dieter Wolke and Professor Neil Marlow (EPICure and PROGRAMS, Nottingham and Oxford Universities); and as PI for targeted mental health in schools, Durham University. Marita also led the north east region of an early years project (EPPE, University of London) with Professor Kathy Sylva and Professor Edward Melhuish.

Research interests

Marita carries out research in the following areas:

• relational ethics and ethical decision making in counselling
• contemporary ethical challenges for counselling practitioners
• pedagogical approaches to fairness, justice and equity
• quarter life crisis, young adults
• intergenerational trauma.

Teaching

• Module lead for Psychological Therapies
• Diagnosis and Formulation in Mental Health
• Psychology MSc dissertation supervision
• Psychology BSc project supervision

Qualifications

• MA Counselling and Psychotherapy, University of East London
• MSc Child Development University of London
• Post Graduate Certificate in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education, Sunderland University

Memberships, editorial boards

• Chartered Psychologist, British Psychological Society (CPsychol) (Division of Academics, Researchers and Teachers in Psychology-DARPT)
• Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society (AFBPsS)
• Member British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (MBACP)
• Fellow Higher Education Academy (FHEA)

Research grants, consultancy, knowledge exchange

Morahan, M. (2010) Targeted Mental Health in Schools Project.  Sunderland University and Darlington and Derwentside Local Authority, £6500.00.

Morahan, M. (2009) Principle Targeted Mental Health in Schools Project. Durham University and Stockton on Tees Local Authority, £ 14000.00.

Morahan, M. (2004) Children’s Perceptions of Education whilst in Domestic Violence Refuges. University of Northumbria Early Career Research Funding Award, £3000.00.

Selected recent publications

Davis, A. and Morahan, M. (2024, June) Decolonising Integrative Practice with Black Queer Men Who Experienced Trauma: A Thematic Analysis. Counselling and Psychotherapy Research. 2024;00:1–13. DOI: 10.1002/capr.12780

Morahan, M., & Reeves, A. (2024, Mar). Reshaping the ethical framework. Therapy Today, 35(2), 42-44.

Morahan, M. (2024, Jan) A review of contemporary ethical issues for counselling practitioners 2018 to 2024. A report for the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy. British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy.

Morahan, M. (2011) Targeted mental health in schools: A report for Darlington and Derwentside Borough Council. Sunderland University

Morahan, M. (2010) Targeted mental health in schools: A report for Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council. Durham University and Stockton Borough Council

Recent presentations and conferences

Morahan., M. and Reeves, A. (2024, Apr) Reshaping the ethical framework: new lenses for a different time? Paper to be presented at Ethical Framework review 2024, British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy Webinar.

Morahan, M. (2023, Oct) Ethical Framework review: information sharing presentation at:

British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, Making Connections conference, Edinburgh.

Bishop, G. and Morahan, M. (2019, Jul) Unseen disabilities in undergraduates: An invisible opportunity for collaborative group learning? Paper presented at ADVANCE HE Conference, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne.

Bishop G, Morahan M. (2019, Jun) Working with students with unseen disabilities

Paper presented at University of Northampton Research Conference. Northampton.

Bishop, G., Morahan, M., [acknowledged contribution]. (2016, Sept) An Evaluation of the effectiveness of intensive problem solving weeks (IPSWs) to develop group working and employability skills for science and engineering students with unseen disabilities.

Paper presented at RAISE16 Conference: 'Excellence' in Student Engagement, Loughborough University

Bishop G, Morahan M. (2016, Mar) The development of inclusive group work practices for students with unseen disabilities. Paper presented at the Festival of Learning, Teesside University.

Bishop G, Morahan M. (2015, Mar) Skills gap, what skills gap?” Making employability and professional skills development relevant to part time students. Paper presented at The regional annual Three Rivers Learning and Teaching Conference on Student Engagement with learning in higher education. Sunderland University

Morahan, M. (2011, Sept) Confidence and perception: understanding mental health difficulties in children by teachers and school staff. Paper presented at British Psychological Society, Psychology of Education Section, Conference, Preston, Lancashire 

Morahan, M. (2011, Jul) Confidence and perception: teachers understanding of mental health issues in children. Poster presented at the British Psychological Society, Developmental Section Annual Conference Northumbria University