Dr Charmaine Sonnex

Charmaine joined the School of Psychology and Well-being in April 2019.  She is a committee member for the British Psychological Society Transpersonal section. Charmaine teaches modules in Individual Differences and Research Methods and Statistics.

Charmaine studied at The University of Northampton for her BSc (Hons) in Psychology, and MSc in Transpersonal Psychology and Consciousness studies.  She also completed her PhD exploring Neo-pagan healing spells at the University of Northampton.

Research Interests

Charmaine’s research interests are in the fields of Transpersonal Psychology, the Psychology of religion and spirituality, and Neo-Paganism. She uses both qualitative and quantitative research methods and analysis to answer her research questions.

Charmaine’s current research (in collaboration with Prof. David Sheffield of the University of Derby) is exploring the relationship between religious belief, nature connectedness and happiness.

Publications and conference papers

Publications:

• Shadrack, J., Sonnex, C. and Roe, C. (in press) Ritual Occultation and The Space Between Worlds: Exploring The Discursive Nature of The “Flow” State in Black Metal and Pagan Performative Practice. Monad: Journal of Transformative Practice.
• Roe, C. A., Sonnex, C. and Roxburgh, E. C. (2015) Noncontact healing: What does the research tell us? European Journal of Integral Medicine. 7(6), p. 687. 1876-3820.
• Roe, C., Sonnex, C., & Roxburgh, E. (2015) Two Meta-Analyses of Noncontact Healing Studies, EXPLORE The Journal of Science and Healing, 11 (1), 11-23
• Sonnex, C. (2015) Psi Healing Research in Psi encyclopedia Society for Psychical research http://psi-encyclopedia.spr.ac.uk/articles/psi-healing-research

Conference Presentations:

• Sonnex, C. and Sheffield, D. (2018) Exploring the role and impact of nature connectedness in Paganism BPS Transpersonal Section annual conference, University of South Wales, Newport.
• Sonnex, C. (2016) Flow in the ‘Space between worlds’: Comparing the ASC of Pagan ritual work with Flow BPS Transpersonal section annual conference, Highgate House, Northampton
• Sonnex, C. (2016) RCTs at the TRC?! Randomised controlled trials as a viable research method in Transpersonal Psychology 2nd Transpersonal Research colloquium, Highgate House, Northampton
• Shadrack, J.H. and Sonnex, C. (2016) Ritual Occultation and the Space between Worlds: exploring the application of the “flow” state in Pagan and Black Metal performance practice. Trans-states conference, University of Northampton, Northampton
• Sonnex, C., Roe, C. A. and Roxburgh, E. C. (2015) Testing the pagan prescription: using a randomised controlled trial to investigate pagan spell casting as form of distant healing. 58^th Annual Convention of the Parapsychological Association and the 39th Society for Psychical Research International Annual Conference, University of Greenwich, London
• Sonnex, C., Roe, C. A. and Roxburgh, E. C. (2015) Investigating pagan healing spells. 30^th Annual Psychology Postgraduate Affairs Group (PsyPAG) Postgraduate Student Conference, University of Glasgow, UK.
• Sonnex, C., Roe, C. A. and Roxburgh, E. C. (2015) Noncontact healing: what does the research tell us? Poster presented to: Complementary and Alternative Medicine Strategic Direction and Development (CAMSTRAND) 2015 Conference, London.
• Sonnex, C., Roe, C. A. and Roxburgh, E. C. (2015) Magical flow: comparing the flow experience to the ASC of pagan magical ritual work. Poster presented to: The University of Northampton Graduate School Poster Competition, Northampton.
• Sonnex, C., Roe, C. & Roxburgh, E. (2014) Monkey’s Paws, poppets, sheep and goats; or, the necessary components of successful spells BPS Transpersonal Section annual conference, Northampton.
• Sonnex, C., Roe, C. & Roxburgh, E. (2014) Making Magic(k); Essential aspects of successful Neo-Pagan spell work. Society for Psychical Research annual conference, York.
• Sonnex, C., Roe, C. & Roxburgh, E. (2014) Pagan Spellcasting: Discovering the Homogenous among the Heterogeneous Nineteenth Joint Postgraduate Conference on Religion and Theology, Bristol.
• Sonnex, C., Roe, C. & Roxburgh, E. (2013) Paganism in Practice: Finding the Homogenous within the Heterogeneous BPS Transpersonal section annual conference, Scarborough.
• Sonnex, C., Roe, C. & Roxburgh, E. (2013) The effects of Pagan healing practices on health and well-being. Contemporary religion in historical perspective: engaging outside academia, Milton Keynes.
• Roe, C.A., Sonnex, C., & Roxburgh, E. (2012). Two Meta-Analyses of Distant Healing Studies. Abstracts of presented papers: Parapsychological Association 55th Annual Convention, Durham, North Carolina.
• Sonnex, C., Roe, C. & Roxburgh, E. (2012) Meta analysis of distant healing studies using human samples Society for Psychical Research annual conference, Northampton.
• Sonnex, C., Roe, C. & Roxburgh, E. (2011) Meta analysis of distant healing studies using non-whole human samples. Society for Psychical Research annual conference, Edinburgh.
• Sonnex, C., Roe, C. & Roxburgh, E. (2011) The effects of pagan healing practices on health and well being. Exploring the Extraordinary conference, York.
• Sonnex, C., Roe, C. & Roxburgh, E. (2011) Distant healing studies using plant, animal and ex-vivo human samples: a meta analysis, BPS Transpersonal section annual conference, Scarborough.
• Sonnex, C. (2009) Conceptions of Religion and Spirituality, BPS Transpersonal section annual conference, Scarborough.