H a p p i n e s s a n d c r e a t i v i t y
r e s e a r ch
Working with clinical psychologist Dr Chris Irons, Robert is undertaking a research into the psychology and relationship between creativity and happiness using the therapeutic notion of Self-compassion as by Dr Irons and others to measure and intervene in this complex dynamic relationship
Working with an initial study group of 100 choreographers the research aims to initially produce data on this subject before expanding towards methods and ways of incorporating this data into meaningful creative practices that could be useful to choreographers.
Dr Chris Irons
Dr Chris Irons is a Clinical Psychologist and academic working for the NHS in East London. He has done specialist training in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), but primarily practices Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT), an approach developed originally to work with people high in shame and self-criticism. He has a particular interest in exploring the role of compassion in alleviating suffering and improving wellbeing, and is a board member of the Compassionate Mind Foundation, a charitable organisation set up to “promote wellbeing through the scientific understanding and application of compassion”.