Sophie Taylor

Dr Sophie Taylor is a Senior Lecturer at the Sheffield Institute of Education, Sheffield Hallam University, specializing in Psychology and Counselling education. She serves as Course Leader for the BA (Hons) Education with Psychology and Counselling degree, integrating her expertise in developmental psychology and quantitative methods into teaching. She is a Chartered Psychologist (CPsychol) and Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA), currently pursuing a Professional Diploma in Counselling and Psychotherapy at The Academy S.P.A.C.E. while working as a trainee specialist counsellor in the NHS Sheffield Adult Autism and Neurodevelopmental Service.

Research Focus: Her work spans three key areas: (1) Neurodevelopmental psychology, particularly social and executive function trajectories in late adolescence/early adulthood; (2) Digital mental health, exploring Facebook use and its correlations with empathy and self-esteem; (3) Fibromyalgia research, analyzing treatment effectiveness and psychosocial impacts through mixed-methods surveys.

Notable Contributions: Her 2021 Western Journal of Nursing Research publication on fibromyalgia comorbidities and cognitive functions reflects her interdisciplinary approach. Earlier longitudinal studies (Developmental Psychology 2012, Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience 2015) established foundational insights into neurodevelopmental patterns. She continues to collaborate on multi-disciplinary fibromyalgia research through the Social and Economic Research Institute.

• Scientific Awards:
• Chartered Psychologist (CPsychol)
• Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA)

Teaching Roles: Module leader for Social In/Exclusion in Educational Contexts, supervisor for L6 Research Projects, and academic adviser. Previously taught developmental psychology and statistics in the Psychology, Sociology & Politics department for 10 years.