Accreditation Status
- Instructor Member ()
Course Accreditation Status
Instructor Profile
Personal Details
Dr Lesley Harrison (she/her)
Chartered Clinical Psychologist, Senior Lecturer & MHFA Instructor
Director of Harrison Health and Education Ltd
Email: MHTraining@DrLesleyHarrison.com
Hello 😊 I am Dr Lesley Harrison, a Clinical Psychologist, lecturer, and long-time advocate for accessible, inclusive mental health education. I’m also the Director of Harrison Health and Education Ltd, where I combine over 25 years of clinical and academic experience to deliver psychological therapy and engaging, evidence-based mental health training.
My journey with Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) began in 2005 after hearing founder Tony Jorm speak in Australia. It was a turning point that inspired me to weave mental health education into every aspect of my work. I became an accredited MHFA Instructor in 2011, and since then, I’ve delivered Adult, Youth, Higher Education and Workplace MHFA training to a wide range of sectors — including NHS Trusts, local authorities, third-sector organisations, universities, and schools — always with the goal of increasing confidence and supporting lasting change. I’m a firm believer in reducing stigma, increasing understanding, encouraging open conversations and creating spaces where people feel safe to talk about mental health.
Work Experience
With over two decades of experience across the NHS, universities, and community settings, I bring a breadth of knowledge and clinical experience to all of my work. At the heart of everything I do is a belief in compassionate, accessible support, and a commitment to making mental health education clear and approachable.
Most recently, I was the Clinical Lead for the Mental Health Treatment Requirements (MHTR) Service within the NHS, where I led a team supporting people involved in the criminal justice system. We offered psychological support as part of community sentences, helping individuals manage complex mental health needs in challenging life circumstances. This work really strengthened my commitment to trauma-informed, respectful care.
Before that, I helped design and deliver a dedicated staff wellbeing service for NHS and social care professionals and previously supported university staff and postgraduate students through mental health and wellbeing initiatives. Earlier in my clinical career, I specialised in early psychosis — providing evidence-based psychological therapy for young people, running psychoeducational groups for carers, and delivering mental health training across services.
Alongside my clinical work, I spent over a decade as an Assistant Professor in Clinical Psychology at Coventry University, where I taught, supervised doctoral research, and helped train the next generation of clinical psychologists.
I am currently prioritising a healthy work-life balance in my role as Director of Harrison Health and Education Ltd., and finding fulfilment in applying my knowledge and experience to clinical practice and mental health training.
Qualifications
• Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (DClinPsy) – University of Birmingham
Thesis: Identifying neuropsychological risk markers in the early detection of psychosis
• PhD in Clinical Psychophysiology – University of Sheffield
Thesis: Psychophysiological investigations of memory and anxiety
• BSc (Hons) in Psychology – Brunel University
• Chartered Clinical Psychologist (British Psychological Society)
• Registered Practitioner Psychologist (Health and Care Professions Council)
• Accredited MHFA Instructor for MHFA Adult, MHFA Youth, and MHFA Workplace courses
Whether I’m delivering MHFA or a bespoke wellbeing session, I aim to create an inclusive space where people feel safe to learn, share, and grow.
Recent (2025) MHFA feedback includes:
“One of the best courses I’ve ever attended — I feel inspired to keep learning more.”
“Lesley was so warm and compassionate in her delivery. It was insightful and thought-provoking — I left feeling much more confident in supporting someone in crisis.”
“Her knowledge and experience were clear throughout, and she tailored the session beautifully to meet our needs.”
"The course was very well run and I enjoyed how Lesley brought in her own experiences in the field as examples"
"Lesley provided a very engaging 2-day session, which both used the course material along with her past experiences which brought a number of different diagnosis to light. I would recommend this course to others in my organisation."
"Really enjoyed the course. Great to have a mixture of the workbook, video, talking etc. I feel my knowledge has improved and give me confidence to support someone. A big thank you to Lesley, her style of learning was fantastic!"
"The course was a really thorough insight to mental health and it was clear to see how Knowledgeable Lesley Harrison was on the subject. Throughout the 2 days the course was tailored to our personal requirements on areas we lacked whilst still covering all the criteria. I feel now that I have the tools and techniques to successfully aid somebody suffering with poor mental health, give my support and also signpost them in the right direction. After completing the course it has given me the curiosity to dive deeper into the subject matter and potentially take my knowledge further."
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