Stephanie Petty

Dr. Stephanie Petty is an Associate Professor and Deputy Associate Head of the School of Education, Language and Psychology at York St John University. She holds dual doctorates in clinical psychology (ClinPsyD) and research (PhD) and is a chartered clinical psychologist. Her roles include leading strategic development in psychology education, supervising doctoral research, and teaching across undergraduate and postgraduate programs. She specializes in neurodiversity, emotion-focused care, and clinical supervision, with a focus on autism and dementia care. Dr. Petty has received the British Psychological Society Award for Professional Practice.

Education & Qualifications

• Clinical Psychology Doctorate (ClinPsyD)
• Research Doctorate (PhD)

Research Interests

Her research explores the intersection of neurodiversity with emotional wellbeing, healthcare systems, and workplace inclusion. Specific areas include autistic emotion expression, dementia care strategies, and employer practices for neurodivergent employees. Methodologies include freelisting, corpus analysis, and mixed-method approaches.

Publications & Projects

Dr. Petty has authored over 30 peer-reviewed articles, including work on workplace adjustments for autistic employees and emotion-focused care for dementia patients. She co-developed the Neurodiversity Wellbeing Cards, a free resource for autistic individuals. Her research emphasizes practical applications in clinical, educational, and organizational settings.

Awards & Recognition

• British Psychological Society Professional Practice Award

Clinical & Professional Activities

In addition to academic roles, she leads neurodevelopmental assessments at The Retreat (York) and serves as an external examiner for a clinical psychology doctoral program in Ireland. She is a Senior Fellow of Advance HE.

Teams & Collaborations

She contributes to the Research on Neurodiversity, Environment, and Wellbeing group at York St John and collaborates with institutions like the University of Nottingham and University of York.