Dr Elizabeth Freeman BSc, PhD, CPhyscol, AFHEA, ML
Lecturer In Psychology
Summary
I have been interested in the psychology and mental health for a long time. I completed my BSc (Hons) at the University of Stirling in 2008 and my desire to find effective ways of working with people with mental health issues led me to do a PhD in 2009. Employing a qualitative methodology, the thesis investigated human-environment interaction and people's meaning-making and experience of a Walking and Solo Experience (WSE). The WSE was designed for the UK context and, with a summer mountain leader award (MLA), I guided the WSE.
About
In 2013, I was awarded my doctorate by the University of Leeds and my current aim is to further examine the effectiveness of WSEs with military veterans. Throughout my 8 years of education I have; been a member of voluntary community group committees (eg Edible York and York in Transition), volunteered with mental health services (e.g. Open Secret) and completed mental health training (ASSIST, MHFA and counselling skills).
I am a community-environmental psychologist, passionate about understanding: human-nature interrelationships and interaction; working with people to realise their potential and improve quality of life; and how natural environment experiences (and WSEs) might benefit people and engender more positive environmental attitudes, beliefs, behaviours, and stronger environmental identities. This research focus involves the examination of well-being, emotions, self-concept, identity, values, attitudes and behaviour, and the exploration how natural environments work as a therapeutic medium (Eco-therapy/Nature therapy/ Ecopsychology). I also research placemaking and wellbeing (drawing upon areas of health and cultural geography), exploring sense of place, the development of place attachment and community, and mapping place characteristics, meaning and their association with wellbeing. Although I'm predominantly a qualitative researcher, I also employ quantitative methodologies when appropriate.
I joined Ï㽶ÊÓƵ as an associate lecturer in 2013 and as a full-time lecturer in 2014.
Teaching
Sheffield Institute of Social Sciences
College of Social Sciences and Arts
Teaching Interests:
- Social Psychology;
- Introduction to Counselling and Psychotherapy;
- The Psychology of Development and Behaviour;
- Social Psychology and Qualitative Ï㽶ÊÓƵ Methods;
- Qualitative Ï㽶ÊÓƵ Methods;
- Clinical Psychology;
- Work Psychology Enhances Employability;
- Sports and Exercise Psychology;
- Academic Development and Personal Tuition.
Ï㽶ÊÓƵ
Expertise and Ï㽶ÊÓƵ Interests:
- Mental health/ wellbeing and the natural environment;
- Experience, meaning-making and human-nature interaction/ interrelationship;
- Placemaking and Wellbeing;
- Environmental Philosophy;
- Eco-therapy and Outdoor Therapies;
- Therapeutic Potential of Art.
Publications
Journal articles
Brymer, E., Freeman, E., & Richardson, M. (2024). . Frontiers in Psychology, 15.
Moore, R., Al-Tamimi, A.-.K., & Freeman, E. (2024). . JMIR formative research, 8 (1).
Moore, R., Vernon, T., Gregory, M., & Freeman, E. (2023). . Frontiers in Public Health, 11.
Moore, R., Edmondson, L., Gregory, M., Griffiths, K., & Freeman, E. (2023). . Frontiers in Public Health, 11.
Gurung, J., Turner, J., Freeman, E., Coleman, C., Iacovou, S., & Hemingway, S. (2023). . Nursing Reports, 13 (1), 456-469.
Brymer, E., Freeman, E., & Richardson, M. (2019). . Frontiers in Psychology, 10, 1611.
Freeman, E. (2017). . Health Promotion International, 32 (6), 1048-1056.
Freeman, E. (2017). . British Journal of Guidance and Counselling, 45 (5), 633-635.
Conference papers
Stirling, E., Freeman, E., Levick-Parkin, M., Bennett, C., Wakeford Holder, A., Boon, M.K.T., & Smith, S. (2025). . AMPS Proceedings Journal Series, 1 (40.1), 485-492.
Freeman, E., Robinson, E., & Harland, K. (2016). . In Coles, R., Costa, S., & Watson, S. (Eds.) Well-Being 2016: Third International Conference Exploring the Multi-Dimensions of Well-Being, Birmingham City University, 5 September 2016 - 6 September 2016 (pp. 67-70). Birmingham: Birmingham City University:
Book chapters
Al-Tamimi, A.-.K., Moore, R., Javed, Y., Babu, S., & Freeman, E. (2024). . In Kayyali, M. (Ed.) Building Resiliency in Higher Education. (pp. 99-127). IGI Global:
Rucklidge, J., & Freeman, E. (2024). Ego to Eco. In Design Education in the Anthropocene. (pp. 127-141). Routledge:
Theses / Dissertations
Wolstenholme, C. (2022). Male Student Perspectives on Male Students Mental Health in HE. (Doctoral thesis). Supervised by Kellock, A., & Freeman, E.
Sasi, O.A.Y. (2022). . (Doctoral thesis). Supervised by Spence, K., Al-Obaidi, K., & Freeman, E.
Pattinson, C.J. (2022). . (Doctoral thesis). Supervised by Macaskill, A., Freeman, E., & Coleman, C.
Internet Publications
Rucklidge, J., & Freeman, E. (2021). .
Exhibitions
Rucklidge, J., & Freeman, E. (2020). Ego to Eco: we are nature. Sheffield Institute of Arts Gallery.
Presentations
Stirling, E., Levick-Parkin, M., Wakeford Holder, A., Freeman, E., & Bennett, C. (2023). Reimagining the Garden City, Pride in place through cultivating climate action. Presented at: Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) Annual International Conference 2023, London
Kilby, L., Olusoga, P., Bennett, C., & Freeman, E. (2021). Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in Social Science: If we are all so ‘woke’ why are we still so ‘stuck’ with the status quo? Presented at: PSP Annual Conference, Sheffield
Posters
Rucklidge, J., & Freeman, E. (2021). How to connect to nature & yourself: spend time in imaginary worlds, talk to yourself, stay away from people commune with nature, draw about it. Presented at: Earth(ly) Matters 2021 - Human in Context: Mind, Body, Nature & Society, Ï㽶ÊÓƵ
Other activities
- I have been invited as a keynote to York St John University Ï㽶ÊÓƵ Ï㽶ÊÓƵ Conference (2014) and have reviewed articles for Counselling Psychology Quarterly.
- I have been invited to review research application for Rannis: The Icelandic Ï㽶ÊÓƵ Fund (2016);
- Founder and Chair of the Nationally based Nature Connection Ï㽶ÊÓƵ Network (NCRN);
- Founder and Chair of the SHU based Nature Connection & Well-being Ï㽶ÊÓƵ Group (NCW).
Professional Membership
- British Psychological Society (BPS)
- BPS Community Psychology Section
- Associate Fellow of Higher Education Academy (HEA)
- British Mountaineering Council (BMC)