Dr Xi Liu
Senior Teaching Fellow
Psychology
Personal statement
I joined University of Strathclyde as a Teaching Associate in September 2018. Before joining Strathclyde, I worked as an Associate Lecturer for the Department of Psychological Sciences at Birkbeck, University of London, an Associate Academic in Psychology for The University of Derby Online Learning, and a Graduate Teaching Assistant for The University of Sheffield. I also worked as a part-time tutor at Sheffield Confucius Institute and Lifelong Learning, Skills & Communities in Sheffield City Council, teaching Taichi and Chinese calligraphy with a particular focus on promoting mental health well-being. Before coming to the UK, I was a certificated psychological counsellor in China and worked as a psychological teacher in a local primary school. Since 2011, I have written short stories for several Chinese children and teenager magazines and my first children’s book has been published in 2016.
Qualifications
Chartered Psychologist, British Psychological Society
Registered Member, British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy
Counsellor Member, Counselling and Psychotherapy in Scotland
Associate Fellow, Higher Education Academy
Primary School Teacher (Chinese), Ministry of Education (China)
Publications
- Understanding experiences of loneliness among Chinese international students : a participatory study using a qualitative image-elicitation approach
- Liu Xi, Cogan Nicola, Chau Chin-Van Yvonne, Tse Dwight, Rasmussen Susan, Anderson Tony, Kelly Stephen, Flynn Colin, Ren Jifan, Zhao Helin, Tang Zhun
- British Journal of Guidance and Counselling (2026)
- https://doi.org/10.1080/03069885.2026.2656459
- Signposting and support for international students : development of a key departmental role
- Heslop Mark, Liu Xi, Thamm Juliane, Carlysle-Davies Felicity
- Teaching and Learning Conference 2023 (2024)
- The taboo of mental health problems, stigma and fear of disclosure among Asian international students : implications for help-seeking, guidance and support
- Cogan Nicola A, Liu X, Chau Y Chin-Van, Kelly SW, Anderson T, Flynn C, Scott L, Zaglis A, Corrigan P
- British Journal of Guidance and Counselling Vol 52, pp. 697-715 (2024)
- https://doi.org/10.1080/03069885.2023.2214307
- Adapting mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) for Chinese international students experiencing loneliness : a qualitative, participatory action research project complemented with imagery
- Liu X, Chau Y, Cogan Nicola, Rasmussen S, Tse D, Kelly S, Anderson A, Flynn C, Tang Z, Ren J, Zhao H
- NRS Mental Health Network Annual Scientific Meeting 2022 (2022)
- Stigma of mental health problems and fear of disclosure among Asian international students : implications for help-seeking, guidance and support
- Cogan N, Liu X, Chin-Van Chau Yvonne, Kelly S W, Anderson T, Flynn C, Scott L, Zaglis A, Corrigan P
- Smarten Final Showcase (2022)
- Exploring Chinese International students’ understanding and experiences of loneliness to inform cultural adaptation of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT)
- Liu Xi, Chau Chin-Van Yvonne, Cogan Nicola, Rasmussen Susan, Tse Dwight, Kelly Stephen, Anderson Tony, Flynn Colin, Ren Jifan, Zhao Helin, Tang Zhun
- Smarten Final Showcase (2022)
Teaching
I teach on BA Psychology, BSc Psychology and Counselling, and MSc Psychology with a specialistion in Business (conversion) programmes. I contribute to the following classes:
B9201 Positive & Humanistic Psychology (Class Leader)
C8305 Development (Class Leader)
C8981 & C8923 Social & Developmental Psychology (Class Leader)
B9200 Introduction to Mental Health Difficulties
B9202 Theories of Counselling and Psychotherapy
C8983 Empirical Project
C8203 Introduction to Research Design and Analysis
C8307 Social Psychology
C8321 Research Methods and Data Analyses
C8426 & C8427 Psychology Dissertation
Professional Activities
- PCE Europe Symposium (Glasgow 2025)
- Organiser
- 20/11/2025
- Person-Centered and Experiential Psychotherapies (Journal)
- Peer reviewer
- 2025
- Developing a Mindfulness Peer Coaching Programme for Asian/Chinese Students
- Speaker
- 14/3/2024
- Supporting Asian/Chinese International Students
- Speaker
- 27/4/2023
- Exploring Chinese International students’ understanding and experiences of loneliness to inform cultural adaptation of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT)
- Speaker
- 3/11/2022
- Using Images to Explore Chinese International Students’ Understanding and Experiences of Loneliness
- Speaker
- 3/11/2022
Projects
- Socially Progressive AI Lab
- Noto La Diega, Guido (Principal Investigator) Miyake, Esperanza (Principal Investigator) Harkens, Adam (Co-investigator) Moncur, Wendy (Co-investigator) Weaver, Beth (Co-investigator) Nikou, Stavros (Co-investigator) Jones, Benedict (Co-investigator) Cunningham, Scott (Co-investigator) Dorfler, Viktor (Co-investigator) Liu, Xi (Co-investigator)
- The Socially Progressive AI Lab (SPAI-Lab) is the University of Strathclyde's hub for impactful research, collaborative bids, engagement and networking—shaping policy, technical design and regulation in Scotland, the UK and internationally. Scotland's AI Strategy 2026-2013 spotlights the Lab as a key example of "world-leading AI research".
Based in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, SPAI-Lab involves colleagues from all the faculties (Engineering, Science, Strathclyde Business School), bridging humanities‑led approaches and tech‑centred methods. The Lab's research and activities are guided by a commitment to socially progressive deployment of AI that advances equity, upholds human rights and serves the public good.
The SPAI-Lab brings together over 90 experts from across the University and is co-led by Dr Esperanza Miyake and Professor Guido Noto La Diega and is supported by a cross-Faculty, cross-departmental steering committee: Professor Wendy Moncur, Professor Beth Weaver,
Dr Stavros Nikou, Professor Ben Jones, Dr Xi Liu, Dr Adam Harkens, Professor Scott Cunningham, Professor Viktor Dorfler. - 26-Jan-2026
- The Effects of Peer-Supported Social Media-Based Brief Mindfulness Meditation on Mental Well-Being and Academic Self-Efficacy Among Chinese International Students in the UK: A Mixed-Method Pilot Study
- Zhong, Jiawan (Post Grad Student) Liu, Xi (Principal Investigator) Tse, Dwight (Co-investigator)
- 20-Jan-2025
- Mindfulness-Based Interventions for Chinese Students in Higher Education: A Scoping Review
- Liu, Xi (Principal Investigator) Tse, Dwight (Co-investigator) Zhong, Jiawan (Post Grad Student) Li, Jingheng (Post Grad Student) Ahuja, Hardik Singh (Post Grad Student)
- 02-Jan-2024
- Exploring Chinese international students’ understanding of loneliness to inform cultural adaptation of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT)
- Liu, Xi (Principal Investigator) Anderson, Tony (Co-investigator) Cogan, Nicola (Co-investigator) Kelly, Stephen (Co-investigator) Rasmussen, Susan (Co-investigator) Tse, Dwight (Co-investigator)
- 31-Jan-2021 - 30-Jan-2022
- The understandings of distinctive experiences of mental health, disclosure and help seeking among Asian students (SMARTeN)
- Cogan, Nicola (Principal Investigator) Anderson, Tony (Co-investigator) Kelly, Stephen (Co-investigator) Liu, Xi (Co-investigator)
- 01-Jan-2019 - 31-Jan-2020