About
Research
Email: marcelle.fernandes@stmarys.ac.uk
Tel: 02082402337
Biography
Dr Marcelle Fernandes is a Senior Lecturer in Psychology and Joint Course Lead for the BSc (Hons) Psychology with Counselling at St Mary's University, where she has taught since 2014.
Marcelle teaches across the undergraduate Psychology programmes, specialising in cognitive psychology, counselling psychology and research methods.
Together with Dr Silvia Riva, she co-developed the BSc (Hons) Psychology with Counselling programme, which they jointly lead. The programme combines academic study of psychology with counselling theory and practical skills development, including the opportunity for students to gain an externally recognised CPCAB Level 3 Certificate in Counselling Studies as part of the degree.
Marcelle has a strong interest in curriculum development, student experience and experiential learning. Her teaching emphasises the application of psychological theory to practice, particularly through the development of counselling skills, self-awareness and reflective practice. She has also contributed to initiatives supporting student engagement, peer mentoring and professional development.
Alongside her teaching, Marcelle supervises undergraduate and postgraduate research projects and contributes to doctoral supervision.
Her academic and professional background combines cognitive psychology, research methods and counselling psychology. Her interests span cognitive psychology, counselling and applied psychological research, with a particular focus on the relationship between psychological theory and practice.
Marcelle is passionate about teaching and creating inclusive learning environments that support students' academic, personal and professional development. She is also continuing her professional development in therapeutic counselling, strengthening the connection between her academic teaching and counselling practice.
Research
Research profile
Marcelle's research background is in cognitive psychology, particularly memory and retrieval-induced forgetting. More recently, her research has expanded into applied psychology, with a focus on intellectual disabilities, autism and participatory research approaches.
Working collaboratively with colleagues and community organisations, Marcelle has contributed to research exploring social relationships, communication, inclusion and wellbeing among people with intellectual disabilities, alongside projects investigating sensory sensitivities and support for autistic children and their families. She has been a Co-Principal Investigator on projects supported by the UKRI Enhancing Research Culture Fund, helping to strengthen partnerships between researchers and the local intellectual disability community.
Qualifications & accreditations
- PhD Cognitive Psychology – Swansea University
- MSc Research Methods in Psychology – Swansea University
- MA Counselling Psychology – SNDT Women's University, Mumbai
- Chartered Psychologist (CPsychol) – British Psychological Society
- Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA)
- CPCAB Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling (in progress; expected completion Summer 2027)
Membership of professional bodies
- British Psychological Society (BPS) – Chartered Psychologist (CPsychol)
- British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) – Student Member
Publications
- Nicholson, C., Fernandes, M., Abbott, J., Johnson, A., & Leung, J. (2025). Initial stages of a participatory research project about risks associated with people with intellectual disabilities. Journal of Participatory Research Methods, 6(4). https://doi.org/10.35844/001c.145745
- Riva, S., Fernandes, M., Minini, L., & Iannello, P. (2025). Editorial: Behaviors, bias, and decision-making in health. Frontiers in Psychology, 16, Article 1667225. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1667225
- Saunders, J., Worth, R., Vallath, S., & Fernandes, M. (2014). Retrieval-induced forgetting in repressors, defensive high anxious, high anxious and low anxious individuals. Journal of Experimental Psychopathology, 5(1), 97–112. https://doi.org/10.5127/jep.036213
- Fernandes, M., & Saunders, J. (2013). Does retrieval-induced forgetting affect future social behavior? Acta Psychologica, 144(1), 1–5. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actpsy.2013.04.017
- Saunders, J., Worth, R., & Fernandes, M. (2012). Repressive coping style and mnemic neglect. Journal of Experimental Psychopathology, 3(3), 346–367.
- Saunders, J., Fernandes, M., & Kosnes, L. (2009). Retrieval-induced forgetting and mental imagery. Memory & Cognition, 37, 819–828. https://doi.org/10.3758/MC.37.6.819