Given in honour of the late Monte B Shapiro – widely considered the founding father of clinical psychology in the UK – the award is presented for researchers later in their career who have achieved eminence in the profession. Winners from recent years have included Professors Eizabeth Kuipers, Paul Gilbert and Til Wykes.
Recognising notable achievements
The award recognises the significant impacts Professor Salkovskis has had on understanding and practice in clinical psychology over nearly four decades of research and practice. Notably this includes in the fields of cognitive behavioural factors in the understanding and treatment of obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), health psychology and anxiety as well as panic disorder and agoraphobia.
In 2010 he was appointed Programme Director for the Clinical Psychology Doctorate Programme at Bath. Previously he was Professor of Clinical Psychology and Applied Science and Clinical Director in the Centre for Anxiety Disorders and Trauma at the Institute of Psychiatry (2000-2010) and at the University of Oxford from the mid-1980s.
He graduated in clinical psychology from the Institute of Psychiatry in 1979 where Monte Shapiro was one of his teachers.
Commenting on the award, he said: “Monte Shapiro was a key role model to me when I started training, showing how a systematic approach to the helping profession of clinical psychology could be combined with kindness and good humour, something I have aspired to throughout my career. I am delighted to be the recipient of this year’s award given in honour of his work. As one of my teachers in my formative years he had a tremendous impact early on in my career. I’m particularly grateful to the DCP and BPS for bestowing this honour on me this year.”
Fitting tribute to over four decades advancing clinical psychology
The Head of Department of Psychology, Professor Greg Maio, added: “Paul’s earnest devotion to the discipline of clinical psychology is clear to everyone who works with him. This award is a fitting tribute to the energy that he has directed toward clinical psychology over four decades.”
DCP Chair Dr Esther Cohen-Tovée offered her congratulations on behalf of the DCP Executive committee, saying: “It is great to see this formal recognition of the very significant contribution Paul has made to the profession and practice of Clinical Psychology, and to the wellbeing of service users through his research, clinical practice and roles in the training of others.”
Professor Salkovskis is also President British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP).
The award will be conferred at the DCP Annual Conference in Cardiff in January.
If you found this interesting you might also be interested in reading: