Penny Furness

Dr Penny Furness is a Senior Lecturer in Psychology at Sheffield Hallam University, affiliated with the Sheffield Institute of Social Sciences and the Social and Economic Research Institute. She teaches Counselling Skills, Qualitative Methods, Social/Health Psychology, and supervises postgraduate research. Her research focuses on chronic illness experiences, virtual reality applications in healthcare, and the therapeutic relationship. She holds a PhD from the University of Nottingham (2005) and a part-time Professional Diploma in Integrative Counselling (2021), practicing as an accredited BACP therapist. Prior to academia, she worked as a nurse in burns/reconstructive surgery (1994–2001).

Her research employs qualitative and mixed methods, addressing topics like autism, chronic pain, disfigurement, and happiness. Collaborators include ACES, Biomedical Sciences, and the University of Sheffield's Clinical Practice. Funders include MRC Confidence in Concept and Polly Fogs Fibromyalgia Research UK. She has supervised 10 postgraduate projects and reviews for health and psychology journals. Her work bridges clinical practice, psychological theory, and innovative interventions.