Rebecca Semmens-Wheeler
Dr Rebecca Semmens-Wheeler has a background in neuropsychology, consciousness and cognition. She has a strong interest in mental health, wellbeing which she brings to her current teaching, research, and practice in positive psychology and counselling, yoga and mindfulness.
Rebecca cares strongly about equality and diversity and is an advocate for staff and students who are neurodivergent; she is co-founder of BCU’s ‘Neurokin Colleague Support Group. She is also member of the university’ Disability Steering Group and is UCU representative for Disabled Members and for Health & Safety.
Areas of Expertise
- Mental health and Wellbeing
- Mindfulness
- Neurodiversity and neurodivergence
- Neuropsychology
- Counselling
Qualifications
- BSc Psychology (Hons)
- MSc Research Methods in Cognitive Neuropsychology
- PhD in Psychology
- Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling
- Level 3 Diploma in Teaching Yoga
- Level 2 Exercise to Music
Memberships
- British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP)
- National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society (NCPS)
Teaching
Rebecca teaches on the following modules:
- Foundations for Counselling (BSc Psychology and Counselling)
- Positive Psychology and Counselling (BSc Psychology)
- Neuropsychology (BSc Psychology)
- Multi-disciplinary and Diversity Issues in Counselling Practice (MSci Psychology and Counselling)
- Diversity, Cultural, Familial & Contextual Dynamics (MSc Counselling for Children and Young People)
Postgraduate Supervision
- Jay Rowe (completed) – “Understanding Changing Voter Attitudes and Perceptions toward Brexit”
- Amy-Louise Simkiss – “Attentional capture: How similarly are attention and distraction affected by factor manipulation?”
- Roshni Kumar - “From training to qualified: A qualitative perspective on ethnic minority Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners (PWP’s) experiences and identifying any barriers reported when working in an Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) services.”
- Florence Hayles – “Cultivating Experiences of Inner Peace in Initial Teacher Training”
Publications
Stenner, P., Pearson, A. Kapp, S, Watson, C., Pressler, R., Williams, G., Bertilsdotter-Rosqvist, H., Hultman, L., Semmens-Wheeler, R., & Botha, M. (2025). Using Q methodology, a group of neurodivergent neurodiversity researchers ask: what is the neurodiversity movement and what should it do? Neurodiversity, 3, 27546330251329625.
Lloyd, A. & Semmens-Wheeler, R. (In Review) Staff’s Understanding of The Role of Least Restrictive Practice in the Development of Obesity in Secure Psychiatric Inpatients. Journal of Mental Health Training, Education and Practice.
Hill, K. & Semmens-Wheeler, R. (In Review). We’re not happy and no-one is listening”: United Kingdom public perceptions of the 2016 European Referendum. Social Identities.
Semmens-Wheeler, R. & Hill, K. (in prep). "It’s all smoke and mirrors, but I voted anyway”: Understanding Voter Decisions Behind ‘Brexit’.
De Ruyter, A. Semmens-Wheeler, R. Rowe, J. Gomez, A. & Hill, K. (forthcoming: September 2019). Tales from an Episodic Journey into “Brexitland”: Understanding the Underlying Factors as to Why People Voted “Leave”. The Economic and Labour Relations Review.
Semmens-Wheeler, R., Dienes, Z & Duka, T. (2013). Alcohol Increases Hypnotic Susceptibility. Consciousness and Cognition 22, 1082–1091.
Dienes, Z., & Semmens-Wheeler, R. (2012). Response to Terhune: Testing Cold Control Theory. Journal of Mind-Body Regulation, 2(1), 169-171.
Semmens-Wheeler, R., & Dienes, Z. (2012). The Contrasting Role of Higher Order Awareness in Hypnosis and Meditation. Journal of Mind-Body Regulation, 2(1), 43-57.
Moore, D. & Semmens-Wheeler, R. (2008). Psychology Teaching: A Student's Perspective. Psychology Teaching Review 14(2).
Book chapters
Hearne, D., Semmens-Wheeler, R. & Hill, K. (2019) Explaining the Brexit Vote: A socio-economic and psychological exploration of the referendum vote in De Ruyter, A. & Nielsen, B. (2018). Brexit: one year on from Article 50 - Reflections from Academia, Business and Politics. Emerald.
Dienes, Z., Lush, P., Semmens-Wheeler, R., Parkinson, J., Scott, R. and Naish, P. (2016). Hypnosis as self-deception; Meditation as self-insight, in Hypnosis and Meditation: Toward an Integrative Science of Conscious Planes. M. Lifshitz & A. Raz, Eds. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Media Work
- BBC Woman’s Hour interview (2022) Scream therapy: Five reasons we should (or shouldn’t) start screaming more. Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/3rJJ9xLQzgC9G63WHDnJ8vl/scream-therapy-five-reasons-we-should-or-shouldn-t-start-screaming-more
- Stylist magazine interview (2023). Inside scream therapy – the new wellness trend encouraging you to shriek away your problems. Available at: https://www.stylist.co.uk/fitness-health/wellbeing/scream-therapy/776055
- BBC Midlands Today (April 2020). Interview on mental health during the covid pandemic, with Sian Lloyd
- Express and Star (March 2020) Denial, fear, shock and anger: How the public is reacting to coronavirus
- Mashable (November 2020) Why you're reflecting on past mistakes more than ever before
- ITV news (April 2020) – Government must be ready with clear guidance if lockdown eased, expert warns
- BBC Radio West Midlands – Interview on Scream Rooms
- BBC Radio Gloucestershire – Interview on Scream therapy
- Free Radio (July 2021) Interview about potential impact on the public of England winning the Euros, following lockdown
Work With Industry
- Digital Wellbeing workshops for workplaces
- Clinical counselling practice