Thomas Richardson
PsychologistUnited Kingdom
Thomas Richardson is a clinical psychologist and Associate Professor of Clinical Psychology at the University of Southampton. His work focuses on the psychological understanding and treatment of bipolar disorder, including cognitive behavioural therapy, impulsive spending and the relationship between financial difficulties and mental health. [1][2]
Career and work
Richardson is an Associate Professor in Clinical Psychology and CBT at the University of Southampton, where he teaches and conducts research in adult mental health. His research interests include the psychological understanding and treatment of bipolar disorder, financial difficulties and impulsive spending, and digital mental-health interventions. [2]
He has also worked on research examining the relationship between debt and mental health and on interventions aimed at reducing impulsive spending, including the development of the My Brain Bankers app. [6][5]
What has been publicly discussed
- Richardson has publicly identified himself as living with bipolar disorder. He has said that his personal experience of the condition informs how he thinks about therapy and sometimes inspires his research ideas about bipolar disorder. [1]
- Richardson has described experiencing strong urges to spend impulsively when he is unwell with bipolar disorder. His own experience of this contributed to his research into the relationship between bipolar disorder, impulsive spending and financial difficulties. [5]
- Richardson has said that psychological therapy has been an important part of managing his own bipolar disorder, describing therapy as “truly life changing.” [3]
- Richardson has spoken publicly about gaps in access to psychological therapies for people with bipolar disorder. Through his work with Bipolar UK, he has highlighted the proportion of people who are not offered therapy through the NHS and has trained mental health professionals to deliver cognitive behavioural therapy for bipolar disorder. [4]
- His research on impulsive spending and financial difficulties has also contributed to policy discussions about protecting people whose financial decision-making may be affected when they are unwell. [5]
“I have bipolar and have found therapy truly life changing.”
— Thomas Richardson [3]
Sources and other resourcesExpand to view the sources used in this profile and resources to learn more.
Sources used for this profile
The following sources contain information that supports the claims made on this page.
CREST.BDDr Thomas Richardson Profile confirming Richardson's bipolar diagnosis, clinical psychology career and the influence of his lived experience on his research.
University of SouthamptonDr Thomas Richardson University profile covering his academic position and research interests in bipolar disorder, psychological treatment and financial difficulties.
Bipolar UKTherapy for bipolar Includes Richardson's first-person statement about therapy being life-changing.
View all 6 sources
University of SouthamptonDr Thomas Richardson works with Bipolar UK Covers Richardson's work on access to psychological therapies and training mental health professionals in CBT for bipolar disorder.
University of SouthamptonEvidence to Policy First-person article covering Richardson's own impulsive spending when unwell and his research and policy work around finances and mental health.
University of SouthamptonDeveloping My Brain Bankers University project page documenting Richardson's work on a digital intervention addressing impulsive spending.
Learn more
Recommended books and other resources about Thomas Richardson and their experiences.