Jessica Wilkins – Teskey Family Scholarship
Email: jessica.wilkins@kcl.ac.uk
Programme: PhD, Psychological Medicine, King’s College London
Biography (IN ENGLISH): Jessica Wilkins began her training in psychology at the University of Toronto, where she earned an Honours Bachelor of Science degree with a Specialism in Psychology and Sociology, graduating with High Distinction. Her interest in psychological research was sparked during her final year thesis in a social psychology lab, where she gained early experience collecting data for a study on unconscious biases and prejudice.
Jessica went on to complete a Master of Education in Counselling Psychology at Western University in London, Ontario (2010), where she trained as a psychological therapist and her research focused on help-seeking among women experiencing abuse. Following her master’s degree, she held clinical roles supporting military families in Toronto, focusing on supporting families of military members deployed to Afghanistan between 2010-2012 and the bereaved. Following relocation to the west coast of Canada, Jessica transitioned to a general psychiatric outpatient service. There she worked with individuals experiencing severe and enduring mental illnesses, delivering assessment and treatment planning for outpatients.
Since moving to London, UK, in 2015, Jessica has been a registered practitioner psychologist with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). In her first role in the UK, she continued to work in the general psychiatry inpatient unit at a busy London private hospital. From 2016 onwards, Jessica has specialised in eating disorders, delivering comprehensive care across inpatient, day patient, and outpatient settings in both NHS and private services. Her work includes conducting assessments and providing both individual and group therapy.
In 2023, Jessica commenced her PhD in Psychological Medicine at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King’s College London, with the aim of progressing towards a career as a clinical academic. Her research focuses on help-seeking for eating disorders among under-served groups, including individuals from ethnic minority backgrounds, sexual and gender minority communities, and men. Her project utilises electronic health records to examine patterns of primary care use prior to referral for specialist treatment and to identify disparities in referral rates across demographic groups. She is also conducting interviews with individuals with lived experience and their close others to better understand the barriers and facilitators to help-seeking for eating disorders.
Jessica is also a mother to two young children. Her PhD journey reflects the challenge and privilege of balancing research, clinical work and caring responsibilities. This has been both challenging and deeply rewarding, and she hopes her journey demonstrates that it is never too late to pursue new goals. Becoming a CCSF Scholar is an honour and a validation of her commitment to advancing research in eating disorders. She feels privileged to have her contributions recognised alongside esteemed peers and hopes to serve as a role model for those considering significant mid-career transitions.
