Jessica Kingston

Jessica Kingston is a Senior Lecturer in Clinical Psychology at the Department of Psychology, Royal Holloway, University of London. Her work bridges clinical research and applied psychological interventions, with a strong focus on mental health and well-being across diverse populations.

Her research centers on mindfulness, acceptance, and values-based psychological interventions, particularly within the context of psychosis and paranoia. Key areas include:

• Mindfulness for persecutory delusions and non-clinical paranoia
• Values-based goals for reducing paranoid experiences and improving rehabilitation after acquired brain injury
• Self-processes in paranoid and narcissistic thinking
• The mechanisms of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) in anxiety and depression

The recent publications highlight a consistent trend toward understanding paranoia in adolescents, digital well-being tools, and the application of ACT in clinical and community settings. Her studies often employ longitudinal, experimental, and mixed-methods designs, contributing to both clinical practice and theoretical models of psychopathology.

She has received research funding from internal university schemes and the British Academy, leading multiple projects as Principal Investigator. Notable projects include:

• Understanding Paranoia in Adolescents (Social Science Impact Accelerator)
• The TRUST (Recognising and Understanding Suspicious Thoughts) in Adolescence Project (British Academy-funded)
• Tackling Emotionally-Based School Non-Attendance (EBSNA)
• Values and Committed Action for Inpatients with Acquired Brain Injury

She has supervised 19 research students and is active in knowledge exchange, presenting at conferences and organizing workshops on adolescent paranoia and school non-attendance. Her work contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals related to mental health and well-being.