Michael Heap

I am a retired clinical forensic psychologist and lecturer living in Sheffield, England. My professional expertise was in the assessment and treatment of people with mental health, including offenders compulsorily detained under the Mental Health Act. I have extensive experience in the preparation of expert witness reports on defendants coming before the criminal courts, as well as medico-legal reports for the civil courts, mainly personal injury cases. In this capacity I have considerable experience in the psychological effects of road traffic accidents. I have had a long-term interest in hypnosis (theory, research, clinical practice, and forensic and legal issues). I have lectured and taught extensively in this field and published many papers over the past 45 years and several books. I am active in the field of skepticism, being a founding member of the UK’s Association for Skeptical Enquiry and Sheffield Skeptics in the Pub. I have written, lectured and taught extensively on skeptical topics. I am a member of Humanists UK and I work voluntarily in chaplaincies in the health service and higher education. I teach about Humanism as an invited speaker in local schools.