Jennifer McKinney

Social Justice, Marginalisation, Social Inclusion/Exclusion, Belonging, Participatory Research, Lived Experiences.

I am currently completing a Professional Doctorate in Advanced Research in Systemic Psychotherapy at the Tavistock Centre, London.  The working title is Life beside the bridge: The lived experiences of young people in Northern Ireland.  This research focuses on young adults aged 18-24 living in Derry/Londonderry and this generation's experiences of belonging, inclusion and marginalisation.

Research interests within the areas of lived experiences, being able to participate in society, inclusion/exclusion, marginalisation, collaborative research, arts and creativity.

Publications

McKinney, J. (1995) Assessing the Needs of Multiple Sclerosis Sufferers and their Carers.  WHSCT Headquarters.

McKinney, J., Burnham, J., Rich, C. and Wright, D. (2024) AFT diversity working party. Meet the class, income and employment group.  Context 192: Class.  UK: Association of Family Therapy.

McKinney, J. (2025) A day in the life of a systemic psychotherapist. Context. 199: Past, Present and Future. AFT at 50. UK: AFT.  

McKinney, J. and Askin, D. (June 2016) "A rainbow in someone's Cloud". Enabling social workers to form a spectrum of ideas to hear the child's voice.  Context.  UK: Association of Family Therapy.

NISCC (2025) Loneliness.  The role of social work: Meeting loneliness together. https://learningzone.niscc.info/loneliness-the-role-of-social-work-and-social-care-practitioners-meeting-loneliness-together/

Prior to taking up my full-time position at Queen's University in 2024, I held a part-time clinical lecturer (systemic psychotherapy) post at the University from 2019-2024.

Current Teaching

2024- Present- Programme Director for MSc Systemic Psychotherapy.

Module Convenor SWK8069  Family Therapy and Systemic Thinking 1- Theoretical Perspectives.

Module Convenor SWK8071 Family Therapy Skills and Techniques 1-Practice Applications.

Module Convenor SWK8072 Family Therapy and Systemic Thinking 2- Theoretical Perspectives.

Module Convenor SWK8073 Family Therapy Skills and Techniques 2-Practice Applications.

I provide input to the Bachelor of Social Work.

I provide teaching on the systemic approach to palliative care on the Palliative Care (PgDip) course.

I provide teaching input on the skills module (systemic practice) on the MSc Advanced Social Work, Children, Young People and Families.

I provide teaching input for the systemic moduleon the Doctorate in Educational Psychology, QUB.

My interests are in capturing the lived experiences of and the role of culture regarding:

• Marginalised and excluded members of the community.
• People living in poverty and areas of deprivation.
• Trauma.

I am also interested in:

• Enabling a voice for marginalised communities
• How art and science can be used together in research.

I am interested in collaboration with professionals of similar and different disciplines who share my interests.

Activities

• Branch Representative for Northern Ireland: Association of Family Therapy 2022-2024..
• Participant in the QUB Crucible Programme 2024-2025.  This programme promotes transdisciplinary collaboration and research.
• Facilitator of Association of Family Therapy Diversity Working Party subgroup on Class, Income and employment 2022-present. 
• Co-presenter at workshop presenting the work of the Diversity Working Party at the Association of Family Therapy Conference- September 2024.f
• Presentation at NISCC Loneliness, the role of social work. Meeting loneliness together launch.  A sense of place: themes on belonging from young adults in Northern Ireland. 12th June 2025.
• Presentation at European Family Therapy Congress, Lyon, France on Belonging- August 2025.

2011- Social Work Award for Mentoring.  WHSCT

2017- Social Work Award for Teamwork (with QUB systemic colleagues). WHSCT.

I am a social worker and a systemic psychotherapist, having spent most of 25 years in Children's Services.