Chris Nicholson

Dr. Chris Nicholson is a Senior Lecturer and Head of the Department of Psychosocial and Psychoanalytic Studies at the University of Essex. He specializes in therapeutic communities, trauma recovery, and childhood studies, with a focus on applying psychoanalytic theory to clinical and educational settings. His academic roles include overseeing undergraduate programs and developing innovative courses like BA Therapeutic Care and BA Childhood Studies. Nicholson has extensive experience in children’s services, including therapeutic care for traumatized adolescents and co-founding the Junction Young Person’s service for Colchester MIND.

Education:

• PhD in Higher Education from University of Northampton (2007)
• BA in English Literature/Philosophy from University of Kent (1994-1997)

Research Interests:

• Psychodynamic approaches to care-leavers
• Therapeutic communities and competency frameworks
• Literary analysis of trauma (Robert Graves, Hemingway)
• Enabling environments in higher education

Professional Activities:He chairs the Consortium of Therapeutic Communities Executive Board, advises on TC training in Greece and India, and co-founded the Essex Refugee Wellbeing Network. His training model 'Active Education Events' is used in prisons, armies, and residential childcare.

Advising & Grants:Supervised doctoral theses on topics like school grief education and teenage sexting. Active in curriculum development and institutional well-being initiatives.

Labs/Teams:Runs a Royal College of Psychiatrists-validated TC training program in Athens and collaborates with the Robert Graves Society’s Gravesiana journal.