Dr. Andrea Firth
UCFB Wembley
Course Leader
BSc (Hons) Sports Psychology
Andrea is a British Psychological Society Chartered Psychologist, registered practitioner with BUPA and member of the Health Care Professions Council. She is also on the register of supervisors for the British Psychological Society’s Qualification in Sport and Exercise Psychology (Stage 2) and is on the BPS Register of Applied Psychology Practitioners. Andrea is a member of the BPS Special Interest Group in Qualitative Research Methods, as well as a Qualified Life Coach and a member of the BPS Special Group in Coaching Psychology.
She specialises in performance enhancement. Her experience includes working with a variety of national and international sports men and women, from elite to amateur level. She also works with performing artists and SMEs who need to improve performance, team cohesion, and leadership strategies. Andrea is currently specialising in the use of Heart Rate Variability Biofeedback, along with other types of interventions, as means of performance enhancement as part of her PhD and consultancy practice.
Andrea’s research interests include performance enhancement in multiple fields including cyber defence, sport, performing arts and business, mindfulness, HRV and self-efficacy.
Areas of expertise
- Sport and exercise psychology;
- Performance psychology;
- Coaching;
- Research methods.
Industry Expertise
- Managing Director, Headgame Ltd, 2004-2017.
- Performance psychology.
- PhD Applied Psychology;
- MSc Sport Coaching;
- BA (hons) psychology.
- HCPC – Health Care Professions Council;
- British Psychological Society – Chartered Psychologist;
- RAPPS – Register of Psychology Practitioners;
- QSEP – Stage two supervisor for the Qualification in Sport and Exercise Psychology.
- QSEP, December 2017;
- DBS last checked, 2017;
- BPS Registry of Supervisors, February 2016;
- Lumina Spark Psychometric Training, January 2016;
- British Psychological Society, Supervision Workshop, July-December 2015;
- Positive Therapy SDS Seminars Ltd, BPS approved 6 CPD training hours, March 2015;
- DASA, Decision-making and Self-Regulation Assessor Hogrefe Ltd Publisher, March 2015;
- Hogrefe Personality Metrics UK NEO PI-R Personality Assessment Course, November 2014;
- Educare, Child Protection, May 2014;
- Heart Rate Variability, Biofeedback Training: From Theory to Measurement to Application i qEEG delivered by Dr Richard Gevirtz, June 2012;
- Beginner Neurofeedback Course, qEEG – University of Westminster, October 2011;
- Newcastle College, Certificate in Life Coaching, June 2005.
- Lugo, R.G., Firth-Clark, A., Knox, B.J., Josok, O., Helkala, K, M., Sutterlin, S. 2019. Cognitive Profiles and Education of Female Cyber Defence Operators. Lecture Notes in Computer Science. 2019;
- Firth-Clark, A. Sutterlin, S. & Lugo, R.G. (2019). Using Cognitive Behavioural Techniques to Improve Academic Achievement in Student-Athletes. Submitted and under review with Education Sciences;
- Firth-Clark, A. Lugo, R.G. & Sutterlin, S. (2019). Mindfulness and Self-Efficacy in Pain Perception and Stress. The Influence of Mindfulness on Cognitive Processes. Submitted and under review with Dove Medical Press;
- Muñiz-Pumares D, Lage-Guede A., Firth-Clark A., Allgrove J. (2011). Effects of acute supplementation with Rhodiola Rosea and L-carnitine on exercise performance cognitive function and cortisol in healthy volunteers. British Journal of Sports Medicine. 45:A1