Dr Moitree Banerjee
Reader in Clinical Psychology, Head of Psychology Programmes

About
Moitree is a Reader in Clinical Psychology and Qualitative Research Methods, Programme Coordinator for Psychology Programmes, and leads the Mental Health and Wellbeing Lab.
BACKGROUND
Dr Moitree Banerjee is a senior lecturer and the programme co-ordinator for Psychology programmes at the Institute of Education, Health and Social Sciences.
In addition to teaching and research, she is responsible for the general development and coordination of all psychology programmes. She also holds the responsibility of enabling involvement of all academic environments related to the Psychology programmes in the continual development of the programmes. Moitree has also played a pivotal role in the development of undergraduate programmes such as, BSc (Hons) Counselling Psychology, BSc (Hons) Criminology and Forensic Psychology, Foundation year programmes, in addition to being involved in the development of BSc (Hons) Educational Psychology.
Moitree has a PhD in Psychology and an MSc in Foundations of Clinical Psychology and Mental health, both granted by the School of Psychology at the University of Sussex, Her BSc (Hons) Psychology was granted by the University of Calcutta in India.
She is an Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.
MODULE TEACHING
Moitree leads the following modules:
- IFY002 – Project module
- PSY207 – Survey and Qualitative Designs module
- PSY302 – Project Management and Presentation Skills
- She is also responsible for BSc and MSci Independent Project and Dissertation supervision.
ADMINISTRATIVE ROLE
Moitree is responsible for organisation of lectures, and seminars in consultation with contributing departments within the institute of Education, Health and Social Sciences. She is also responsible for progress of programmes and internal annual monitoring. Moitree liaises with the British Psychological Society for accreditation of new programmes, nominating for awards and running of all accredited psychology programmes. She is also responsible for developing programmes based on feedback. Moitree is also the academic advisor for Foundation year students providing pastoral care to students exercising initiative and discretion and liaising with departmental and central contact when required.
Key Publications
- Banerjee, M., Cavanagh, K., & Strauss, C. (2017). A Qualitative Study with Healthcare Staff Exploring the Facilitators and Barriers to Engaging in a Self-Help Mindfulness-Based Intervention. Mindfulness, 1-12.
- Banerjee, M., Cavanagh, K. & Strauss, C. Mindfulness (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-017-0837-4
Selected Presentations:
- Banerjee, M., Cavanagh, K., & Strauss, C. (2014, July). Engagement in mindfulness-based interventions: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Paper presented at British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP) 42nd Annual Conference, University of Birmingham.
- Banerjee, M., Cavanagh, K., & Strauss, C. (2015, June). Engagement in mindfulness-based interventions: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Paper presented at Mindfulness and Compassion: The Art and Science of Contemplative Practice Annual Conference, San Francisco University.
- Banerjee, M., Cavanagh, K., & Strauss, C. (May 2016) “Learning mindfulness is like learning to swim”: A qualitative study with NHS Staff Exploring the Facilitators and Barriers to Engaging in a Self-help Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy. Paper presented at International Conference on Mindfulness, Sapienza University of Rome.
- Banerjee, M., Cavanagh, K., & Strauss, C. (2015, June). Barriers to Learning Mindfulness: A path analysis exploring the role of rumination, worry and engagement. Paper presented at Mindfulness and Compassion: The Art and Science of Contemplative Practice Annual Conference, San Francisco University.
- Banerjee, M., Cavanagh, K., & Strauss, C. (May 2016) Barriers to Mindfulness: The role of rumination and worry in predicting disengagement from an online mindfulness-based intervention. Paper presented at International Conference on Mindfulness, Sapienza University of Rome.
Research
Moitree’s research is primarily focussed on third-wave psychotherapies. Her research interests include development and evaluation of psychotherapeutic interventions. She has investigated the mechanisms of disengagement from psychotherapy. Her research also focuses on increasing access to psychotherapy and breaking down barriers that hinder engagement in psychological interventions. This research was conducted in the Sussex Mindfulness Centre. Her research has led to the successful identification on common barriers of engagement in mindfulness-based interventions. This research has led to focus on adapting psychotherapeutic interventions for diverse population groups. This has also led to use of brief and self-help forms of interventions. Moitree is also interested in understanding the mechanism for change in brief interventions.
Moitree has published her work in high impact journals that have been widely cited. She is also a reviewer for the peer-reviewed journal, Mindfulness. Moitree has disseminated her research in leading international and national conference in her field of specialisation.
PhD Supervision
Areas of Supervision: Clinical and Counselling Psychology, Third-wave Psychotherapies, Mindfulness, Adapting interventions across lifetime, Nature-Connectedness, Effectiveness of Psychological Interventions, Engagement in Interventions
Current PhD Students
Since 2019
Institute of Education, Health and Social Sciences– University of Chichester
- Supervision for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (ongoing) – Lori Covington.
- Supervision for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (ongoing) – Jasmine Afaily-Zadeh
Research Output
Articles
Hazell, C. M., Berry, C., Bogen-Johnston, L. and Banerjee, M. (2022) Creating a hierarchy of mental health stigma: testing the effect of psychiatric diagnosis on stigma. BJPsych open, 8 (5). pp. 1-7. ISSN 2056-4724 10.1192/bjo.2022.578
Tyndall, I., Hartland, T., Banerjee, M., Giacomelli, V., Ball, I., Churchill, S., Pereira, A. and Lowry, R. G. (2022) Tailoring sexual health interventions for middle-aged and older adults, including vulnerable populations: A scoping review. International Journal of Sexual Health, 34 (4). pp. 593-613. ISSN 1931-7611 10.1080/19317611.2022.2089313
Covington, L., Banerjee, M., Price, M. and Pereira, A. (2022) Mindfulness-Based Interventions for Professionals Working in End-of-Life Care: A Systematic Review of the Literature. Journal of Palliative Care, 38 (2). pp. 225-238. ISSN 0825-8597 10.1177/08258597221100330
Lee, J., Waldeck, D., Holliman, A., Banerjee, M. and Tyndall, I. (2022) Feeling Socially Anxious at University: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. The Qualitative Report. ISSN 1052-0147 (In Press)
Waldeck, D., Banerjee, M., Jenks, R. and Tyndall, I. (2020) Cognitive Arousal Mediates the Relationship between Perceived Ostracism and Sleep Quality but it is not Moderated by Experiential Avoidance. Stress and health: Journal of the International Society for the Investigation of Stress, 36 (4). pp. 487-495. ISSN 1532-2998 10.1002/smi.2946
Banerjee, M., Cavanagh, K. and Strauss, C. (2018) Barriers to Mindfulness: a Path Analytic Model Exploring the Role of Rumination and Worry in Predicting Psychological and Physical Engagement in an Online Mindfulness-Based Intervention. Mindfulness, 9 (3). pp. 980-992. ISSN 1868-8527 10.1007/s12671-017-0837-4
Banerjee, M., Cavanagh, K. and Strauss, C. (2017) A Qualitative Study with Healthcare Staff Exploring the Facilitators and Barriers to Engaging in a Self-Help Mindfulness-Based Intervention. Mindfulness, 8 (6). pp. 1653-1664. ISSN 1868-8527 10.1007/s12671-017-0740-z