Dr Markku Wood

Associate Professor

School: Communities and Education

Dr Markku Wood is an Associate Professor and Head of Children and Young People’s Psychological Trainings at Northumbria University. He is a Consultant Clinical Psychologist, a BABCP-accredited practitioner and a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

Markku’s work connects clinical practice, education, research and workforce development. He leads the CYP Psychological Trainings team, working with NHS services, education settings, voluntary organisations and people with lived experience to develop accessible, evidence-based psychological support for children, young people and families.

His interests include psychological therapist training and supervision, parenting interventions, neurodivergence and learning disabilities, and improving access to psychological therapies. His research collaborations explore practitioner development, clinical outcomes and how services can better meet the needs of underserved groups.

Alongside his university role, Markku is Head of Programme within Psychology Specialist Practice at Public Services Delivery Scotland, with responsibility for learning disability, neurodivergence, perinatal mental health and psychological therapies workforce development. He also maintains a clinical practice and contributes to international training collaborations, including work in Finland.

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Key Publications

Please visit the Pure Research Information Portal for further information
Stakeholder perspectives on factors influencing the successful implementation of whole-school approaches to mental health, Spencer, L., Perkins, N., Flynn, D., Henderson, E., Maniatopoulos, G., Wood, M., Woodley, H., Newham, J. 1 Jun 2026, In: Health Education Journal
The effectiveness of low-intensity mental health interventions for children and young people in England: a presentation and analysis of synthesised outcomes, Payne, S., Mavji, D., Stokes, C., Richardson, J., Parker, J., Gallop, C., Gay, H., Snitter, K., Deacon, E., Ly, L., Curry, V., Wood, M., Lewis, T., Miller, C., Abraham, N., Turnbull, E., Janbakhsh, M., Smith, N., Barker, H., Williams, S., Bowyer, L., Jacques, K., Turnbull, M., Collins, J., Kurina, A., Fabian, N., Matthews, A., Evetts, B., Kang, J., Wheeler, A., Fonagy, P. 15 Sep 2026, In: Child and Adolescent Mental Health
The Implementation of Whole-School Approaches to Transform Mental Health in UK Schools: A Realist Evaluation Protocol, Spencer, L., Flynn, D., Johnson, A., Maniatopoulos, G., Newham, J., Perkins, N., Wood, M., Woodley, H., Henderson, E. 2022, In: International Journal of Qualitative Methods
Life is a rollercoaster: an exploration of a support group for parents and carers of those with children and young people with mental health difficulties, Fothergill-Misbah, N., Perkins, N., Rutter, N., Wood, M., Henderson, E. 20 Oct 2021, In: European Journal of Public Health
The economic costs of hoarding behaviours in local authority/housing association tenants and private home owners in the north-east of England, Neave, N., Caiazza, R., Hamilton, C., McInnes, L., Saxton, T., Deary, V., Wood, M. 1 Jul 2017, In: Public Health

Professional Activity

Please visit the Pure Research Information Portal for further information
Other: Cultural Competency/EDI and LI CBT research project 2024
Other: NHS staff perceptions of wellbeing research 2024

PGR Supervision

Michealla Lincoln How does university training and clinical supervision support low intensity practitioners to competently and confidently deliver and embed a Parent-led Cognitive Behavioural Therapy intervention and improve outcomes for children, young people, and families: a mixed methods study. Start Date: 01/03/2024

Qualifications

Psychology PhD June 01 2016
Fellow (FHEA) Higher Education Academy (HEA) 2017
Member British Association of Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy (BABCP) 2011
Practitioner Psychologist Health & Care Professional Council (HCPC) 2008
Associate Fellow (AFBPsS)/Chartered Psychologist (CPsychol) British Psychological Society (BPS) 2005