“Women shouldn’t be put off pursuing their dream job”

A leading forensic psychologist who built her business from nothing is encouraging other women to never give up on their dreams.

Dr Ruth Tully, 35, became a mum to a disabled son at the age of 18 but she didn’t let this stop her from pursuing her aspirations of studying psychology at university to the highest level, whilst working to support her family.

Dr Tully, director of Tully Forensic Psychology in Nottingham, is now a well-respected academic and practitioner in what is often thought of as a male dominated industry. She oversees a team of 16 psychologists across the country, carries out psychological assessments in prisons and mental health hospitals, and provides expert training in risk assessments - including at The International Criminal Court at The Hague in The Netherlands.

To mark the year of the woman and 100 years since women won the right to vote, Dr Tully has offered advice to other women who may face adversity.

She said: “Women can often be put off pursuing their dream jobs because of life circumstances. I got a lower second class degree in my undergraduate degree. Because of Ethan’s disability and having to work in Sainsbury’s to fund my studies and life in general, I wasn’t going to university very much, but I persisted and did well in my Masters degree, publishing my work in respected peer reviewed journals.

“I was the first person in the country to achieve the Forensic Practitioner Doctorate for HM Prison Service after putting a business plan forward. I then graduated early from The University of Nottingham.”

Dr Tully, originally from the North-West, is now considered a leading authority on violence and sex offender risk assessment in relation to research, clinical work, and training professionals. She has a Master’s degree, and a doctorate from the University of Nottingham.

All of this has been achieved despite her working the whole time she was at university, while also caring for son Ethan, who has cerebral palsy.

Much of Dr Tully’s reputation has been built on the great work she has done with prisoners, many of them high-risk men and women, and she previously worked in the HM Prison Service for eight years and in the NHS.

She has commented in the news on major cases, such as on the parole process in light of the taxi driver rapist John Worboys case, consulted on TV dramas to advise them on storylines and appeared as an expert in crime documentaries.

More information can be found at tullyforensicpsychology.com