The Team

Prof Stephen Palmer giving a conference paper

Professor Stephen Palmer PhD CPsychol FISMA (Hon) FIHPE (Hon) FAC (Hon) FRSA

Director of the National Wellbeing Service Ltd

Professor Stephen Palmer is Professor of Practice at the Wales Academy for Professional Practice and Applied Research, University of Wales Trinity Saint David, and Adjunct Professor of Coaching Psychology at the Coaching Psychology Research Unit, Aalborg University, Denmark. He was the first Visiting Professor of Work Based Learning and Stress Management at the Institute for Work Based Learning, Middlesex University,

He is an International Society for Coaching Psychology Accredited Coaching Psychologist, a Chartered Psychologist and HCPC Registered Health Psychologist. He has 40 years of experience in business and management. His PhD was in stress.

Currently, Stephen is an Honorary Fellow and President of the International Stress Management Association (UK), Fellow and Honorary President of the International Society for Coaching Psychology, Honorary Fellow and Vice President of the Institute of Health Promotion and Education. He was the first Chair of the British Psychological Society Special Group in Coaching Psychology. He is an Honorary Fellow of the Association for Coaching and Former President. He has given conference papers, lectured and/or workshops in Europe, Australia, Japan, New Zealand, USA, South Africa, Hong Kong and China on a range of subjects and regularly appears in the media. In 2004 he co-presented the BBC 1 TV series, The Stress Test, (with Prof Angela Clow). He is Co-Editor of the International Coaching Psychology Review, Executive Editor of Coaching: An International Journal of Theory, Research & Practice, and Consulting Editor of the International Journal of Health Promotion and Education. He has authored and edited over 50 books including the Handbook of Coaching Psychology (with Whybrow), and the Handbook of Counselling (with McMahon). In 2015 edited a series of six academic textbooks published by Sage Publications on Psychological Stress, Resilience & Wellbeing (co-edited with Gyllensten).

Kate Thomas BA Hons

Kate Thomas is our External Contracts Director. She co-authored with Prof Stephen Palmer and Prof Sir Cary Cooper, Creating a Balance: Managing Stress published by The British Library. She has published papers on stress theory and stress management.

Dr Siobhain O’Riordan PhD CPsychol MIHPE MISCP Accred FRSA

Dr Siobhain O’Riordan is a Chartered Psychologist, International Society for Coaching Psychology Accredited Coaching Psychologist and Supervisor. She is Editor of the International Journal of Health Promotion and Education, Founder Chair of the International Society for Coaching Psychology, Editor of The Coaching Psychologist and Coaching Psychology International. Her other posts include being a Director of the International Academy for Professional Development Ltd. She supervises PhD/DPsych research students at City University London.

Kasia Szymanska MSc CPsychol AFBPsS MISCP Accred

Kasia Szymanska is a Chartered Psychologist, a HCPC Registered Counselling Psychologist, an International Society for Coaching Psychology Accredited Coaching Psychologist. She is Membership Secretary of the International Society for Coaching Psychology, and a former Editor of The Coaching Psychologist published by the British Psychological Society Special Group in Coaching Psychology. She is a Director of the International Academy for Professional Development Ltd. She has co-authored articles and chapters including a book on CBT (with Palmer).

Healthy workplaces manage stress