Mrs Catherine Sheehan
(she/her)

BA (Oxon.) PGCE PCET

Research student

Research Summary

My main area of research is children's social pretend play in the context of the parent-child dyad. I am working with children in early to middle childhood who are experiencing social, behavioural, cognitive or emotional problems, and am characterising the behaviours and themes with which they and their parents choose to engage during joint pretend play. I am interested in the correlates of pretend play such as how this imaginative form of play may be associated with children's abilities to regulate their emotions, and how parental mental health influences pretend play.

External Research Supervisor

Dr Salim Hashmi - King's College London

Research Group

Development & Health

Postgraduate Education

Current: PhD Developmental Psychology, Cardiff University
2005: Postgraduate Certificate of Education (Further Education), Cardiff University

Undergraduate Education

2002: BA(Hons) Human Sciences, University of Oxford

Employment

2024: Honorary Psychology Assistant, Perinatal Mental Health Team, Swansea Bay University Health Board
2021 - 2024: Postgraduate Tutor and Psychology Workshop Demonstrator, Cardiff University
2008 - 2012: Teacher of French, Education Queensland, Australia
2006 - 2008: Regional Officer for Wales and Northern Ireland, The British Science Association
2005 - 2008: Community French Teacher, The University of Glamorgan
2002 - 2005: Corporate Fundraiser, Tŷ Hafan, The Children’s Hospice in Wales