Biography
Dr Rahmanara Chowdhury is a Chartered Psychologist and Course Lead for Islam and Pastoral Care at the Markfield Institute of Higher Education. Her previous roles include Counselling Tutor at Coventry University College and Research Associate with the Sexual Offences Crimes and Misconduct Research Unit at Nottingham Trent University. Prior to this Dr Rahmanara engaged in practitioner work with victims of domestic violence and abuse including in a counselling and project management capacity. She further has extensive experience of working in widening participation within Higher Education and teaching in FE. Dr Chowdhury is the Head of the newly formed MIHE Centre for the Study of Wellbeing which aims to showcase grassroots expertise in holistic wellbeing.
Professional membership:
Member of the British Psychological Association
Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Authority
Associate Fellow of the International Association for Islamic Psychology
Education
PhD Social Sciences - Brunel University London (ESRC Funded)
MSc Psychology - Nottingham Trent University
BSC Ergonomics - Loughborough University
Research interests
Research Interests
Domestic violence and abuse
Spiritual abuse
Forensic mental health
Intersectionality
Holistic wellbeing
Publications
Chowdhury, R., & Winder, B. (2022). A Web Model of Domestic Violence and Abuse in Muslim Communities—A Multi Perspective IPA Approach. Social Sciences, 11(8). 354. https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0760/11/8/354
The Lantern Initiative CIC, Civil Society Consulting CIC, Shaikh, A., Chowdhury,R., (2021). Muslim Mental Health Matters: ‘Understanding barriers to accessing mental health support services and gaps in provision for the UK Muslim community’. The Lantern Initiative, Peterborough, UK.
Chowdhury, R., Winder, B., Blagden, N., & Mulla, F. (2021). “I thought in order to get to God I had to win their approval”: a qualitative analysis of the experiences of Muslim victims abused by religious authority figures. Journalof sexual aggression, 28(2), 196-217. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13552600.2021.1943023
Mahoney, I., & Chowdhury, R., (2021). Criminal Justice and Inequality: What can be done to reduce reoffending? Nottingham TrentUniversity, Nottingham. Commissioned by the DAPE project (Developing AcademicPolicy and Engagement).
Chowdhury, R.,(2021), Road to Recovery; Healing from Domestic Violence, Ta-HaPublishers. London, UK.
Chowdhury, R. & Winder, B., (August 2018), Link to Change Evaluation Report, SOCAMRU, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, Commissioned by Link to Change, UK.
Chowdhury, R.,(2016), Qawwamoon: Protectors and Maintainers, Ta-Ha Publishers. London, UK.
Conferences & Public Lectures
Chowdhury, R. Domestic Violence and Abuse in UK Muslim Communities: Web model of DVA - A Multi perspective IPA Approach. Conference Presentation - 'Domestic Violence-Gender-Faith: Promoting integrated and decolonial approaches to domestic violence cross-culturally' co-organised by Project dldl/ድልድል and EMIRTA Research, Training and Development Institute in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. 11-12November 2022.
Chowdhury, R. Domestic Violence and Abuse in UK Muslim Communities: Web model of DVA - A Multi-perspective IPA Approach. Conference Presentation – British Muslim Studies at 50, Cardiff University. Cardiff. September 2022.
Chowdhury, R. Pastoral Care needs of Looked-after Children. Keynote Speaker, My Foster Family Group Roundtable, April 2022.
Chowdhury, R. Domestic Violence and Abuse in UK Muslim communities: Communities as Powerful Agents of Change. Spirit Research Group Seminar, Nottingham Trent University. March 2022.
Chowdhury, R. Collaborative Approaches to mental health care; the intersection of Chaplaincy with Psychological Services. 14nnual Muslim Mental Health Conference, US. March 2022.
Chowdhury, R. Reflections of a Muslim Female Academic. The Madrasah and the Modern Academy, Markfield Institute of Higher Education, December 2021.
Chowdhury,R., & Mulla, F. Barriers to Reporting Abuse within Muslim Faith Institutions, Global Faith and Child Safeguarding Summit, Nov 2021.
Chowdhury,R., Mulla, F., Winder, B., Blagden, N., (2021). ‘Impact of abuse by Imams/ Religious Teachers on Muslim Individuals’. Spiritual Abuse: Coercive Control in Religions. University of Chester. 03 September 2021.
Chowdhury,R., Domestic Violence and Abuse in theUK Muslim Population. Online Training Presentation for MET Police London DI’s, 05 August 2021.
