- Lecturer, Social Work, University of Strathclyde
My research, teaching, and social work practice have focused on supporting people who have experienced violence. I am passionate about uplifting the perspectives of service users/survivors. I am especially interested in Disability Studies, Mad Studies, and feminist research methods. My current research focus is on institutional violence and the pathologisation of youth in the USA 'troubled teen industry'. For my PhD, I conducted in-depth interviews and surveys on the experiences of former therapeutic boarding school students. Prior to moving into academia, I was a social worker who specialised in supporting LGBTQ+ victims/survivors of domestic abuse and LGBTQ+ homeless youth.
Experience
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2024–presentSocial Work Lecturer, University of Strathclyde
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2023–2023Teaching Fellow, University of Edinburgh
Education
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2023University of Edinburgh, PhD Social Work
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2017University of Edinburgh, MScR Social Work
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2013University of Sussex, MA Social Work
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2009McGill University, BA Sociology and Psychology
Publications
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2023'I'm gay! I'm gay! I'm gay! I'm a homosexual!' : overt and covert conversion therapy practices in therapeutic boarding schools, British Journal of Social Work
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2020Troubling the ‘troubled teen’ industry: Adult reflections on youth experiences of therapeutic boarding schools, Global Studies of Childhood
Grants and Contracts
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2016PhD Studentship
- Role:
- Doctoral researcher
- Funding Source:
- Economic and Social Research Council
Professional Memberships
- Social Worker, Scottish Social Services Council
Contact Sarah for
- General
- Media request
- Speaking request
- Consulting / Advising
- Research collaboration
- Research supervision
- Location: Scotland
- Website
- X (formerly Twitter): @s_golightley
- Article Feed
- ORCID
- Joined