Ian Barron

Professional Interests

Child and adult traumatization and recovery in war, military occupation, and domestic violence; Mass trauma (terrorism & disasters) response; Mass migration and trauma; School-based abuse prevention; Clerical child sexual abuse; Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing; Youth Radicalization and Trauma.

Dr. Barron’s research has begun with impact in mind, through identification of the most effective methods of child trauma education, prevention, and recovery. Children in war and domestic violence contexts have been the focus of education, intervention and study. Dr Barron has sought to bring the highest standards of practice and rigorous evaluative research to the most adverse and complex of situations. Interdisciplinary projects span local, national and international settings and have developed over many years from cumulative funding. The breadth and depth of influence of this research has been captured in a Research Excellence Framework (REF) impact case study rated as outstanding and world-leading.

On-going research seeks to develop a unique cross-cultural conceptualization of intergenerational and developmental trauma in children. Dr. Barron established the International Centre for Child Trauma Prevention and Recovery to develop global trauma recovery research projects, and the Trauma Response Network to respond to mass trauma events, e.g. terrorism.

Dr. Barron has received a CARE Accolade from the Scottish Social Services Council for his work in juvenile detention, an Award of Excellence from the Ministry of Education and Higher Education in occupied Palestine, and is a recognized Impact Champion (University of Dundee).

Recent Activities

Dr. Barron’s recent activities include establishing the Conflict and Migration research theme (Global Challenges Research Fund), developing PhD Humanitarian Scholarships for students from An Najah International University, Nablus, and in partnership with CARE (Ramallah) organizing a national Mental Health symposium in the West Bank, occupied Palestine.

In collaboration with the Children and War Foundation and Fight for Peace, Dr. Barron is currently PI for a project that aims to address child traumatization in Brazilian Favelas and a co-PI on a project that explores the transition of youth in juvenile detention to independent living (Glasgow, Scotland).

This year, Dr. Barron has submitted journal manuscripts on clerical child sexual abuse across global religions; organizational child sexual abuse and disability; and a trauma-specific approach to suicide prevention in juvenile detention. Keynote presentations in Dundee, London, and Ramallah covered Refugee traumatization and recovery; CBT with paraprofessionals - lessons for EMDR; and Ten years of trauma recovery capacity building and research in occupied Palestine.

Finally, international trauma-informed trainings and seminars included topics of substance use, pre-birth trauma, children’s understanding of confidentiality, vicarious trauma, trauma-informed schools, and complicated grief in children and adolescents.

Publications

1. Fonville, G., Barron, I. et al. (2023). An exploratory conversation of African American and Palestinian historical trauma and healing. A comparative qualitative case study of indigenous perspectives. Journal of Trauma and Treatment, 12(3), 1-8. https://www.hilarispublisher.com/open-access/an-exploratory-conversation-of-african-american-and-palestinian-historical-trauma-and-healing-a-comparative-qualitative-case-study-97467.html

2. Matthews, L. & Barron, I. (2023).  Participative Action Research: Ritual Abuse Survivor Researchers Experiences. Journal of Child Sexual Abuse. 1-17.doi: 10.1080/10538712.2023.2211578

3. Barron, I., Faro, I., Heath, E., Kent, S., Rush, C. & Vought, J. (2023). Child Sexual Abuse: How might theological schools be part of the solution. Faith and Flourishing, 2, 65-71. https://karamfellowship.org/ff-archive

4. Farrell, D., Barron, I. et al., (2023). Group early intervention EMDR Therapy as a video Conference psychotherapy with frontline emergency workers in response to the COVID-19 pandemic – An RCT. Frontiers in Psychology, 13, 1-19. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1129912

5. Matthew, L. & Barron, I.G. (2023). Young child sexual abuse survivors experience as participative researchers. Journal of Family Violence. doi: 10.1007/s10896-023-00560-4

6. Alseheimi, A. & Barron, I.G. (2023). Parental Abuse of Children in Saudi Arabia: Nature, prevalence, and effects. Asian Journal of Social Science Studies, 8(1), 35-50. doi: 10.20849/ajsss.v8i1.1330

7. Barron, I. & Darker-Smith, S. (2022). Efficacy of EMDR with Adolescents. EMDRIA ‘Go With That,’ 19-26. https://www.emdria.org/practice-resources/emdr-therapy-and-teenagers/

8. Barron, I. G., Ashcroft, P. & Fonville, G. (2022). Militarized Police Violence and Child Trauma & Healing in the Brazilian Favela. Centre for Research and Evidence on Security Threats (CREST). October 2022. https://crestresearch.ac.uk/comment/police-violence-child-trauma-in-the-brazilian-favelas/

9. Rashid, F. & Barron, I. (2022). Clerical sexual abuse in the Jehovah’s Witnesses: Implications for practice. National Organization for Treatment of Abuse (NOTA) Newsletter. In Press.

10. Farrell, D., Fadeeva, A. Zat, Z., Knibbs, L., Miller, P. Barron, I., Matthess, H., Matthess, C., Gazit, N., & Kiernan, K. (2022). A Stage 1 Pilot Cohort exploring the use of EMDR therapy as a Video-Conference Psychotherapy during Covid-19 with Frontline Mental Health Workers - A proof of concept study utilizing a Virtual Blind 2 Therapist Protocol. Frontiers in Psychology, 13, 1-14. 901855; doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.901855

11. Rashid, F. & Barron, I.G. (2022). Clerical Child Sexual Abuse in the Catholic Church in Spain: A Contemporary or Historical Phenomena? Georgetown Journal of International Affairs, 23(2), 227-237. doi: 10.1353/gia.2022.0035

12. Rashid, F. & Barron, I.G. (2022). A Critique of Organizational Policies: Jehovah’s Witnesses Response to Clerical Child Sexual Abuse (1989-2019). Journal of Sexual Aggression. doi: 10.1080/13552600.2021.2018513

13. Wilson, G., Farrell, D., Barron, I., Hutchins, J., Whybrow, D., & Kiernan, M. (2018). The use of Eye-Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy in treating Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder - A systematic narrative review. Frontiers, 9, 923. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2018.00923

14. Barron, I. & Mitchell, D. (2018). The Fairy Tale Model: Secure facility therapist perceptions. Journal of Adolescent Trauma, 1-11. doi: 10.1007/s40653-018-0203-2

15. Ingram, R. & Barron, I. (2018). Social work and vicarious trauma: risks and opportunities of emotional engagement. Journal of Chinese Social Construction. http://oversea.cnki.net/kns55/default.aspx

16. Rashid, F. & Barron, I. (2018). Critique of the Vatican’s role in recent child protection practice: A Short Report. Journal of Child Sexual Abuse, 27(2), 141-153. doi: 10.1080/10538712.2018.1425948

17.  Barron, I., & Mitchell, D. (2017). Unit manager perspectives of a trauma-specific programme across Scotland’s secure estate. Journal of Children's Services, 12(4), 271-287. doi: 10.1007/s10896-017-9921-8

18. Barron, I., & Abdallah, G. (2017). Field trial of a complicated grief psychosocial program for adolescents in occupied Palestine. Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment & Trauma, 26(4), 372-390. doi: 10.1080/10926771.2017.1290000

19. Barron, I., Mitchell, D., & Yule, W. (2017). Pilot study of a group-based psychosocial trauma recovery program in secure accommodation in Scotland. Journal of Family Violence, 1-12. doi: 10.1007/s10896-017-9921-8

20. Barron, I., & Mitchell, D. (2017). Adolescents in secure accommodation in Scotland: Exposure and impact of traumatic events. Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment & Trauma, 1-18. doi: 10.1080/10926771.2017.1330294

21. Alsehaimi, A., Barron, I., & Hodson, A. (2017). Physical child abuse by parents and teachers in Saudi Arabia: a systematic literature review. Journal of Child & Adolescent Trauma, 1-11. doi: 10.1007/s40653-017-0167-7

22. Barron, I., & Tracey, J. K. (2017). Quasi-qualitative evaluation of Progressive Counting in secure accommodation in Scotland: An exploratory cluster case study. Journal of Child & Adolescent Trauma, 1-11. doi: 10.1007/s40653-017-0184-6

23. Barron, I., Abdallah, G., & Heltne, U. (2017). Case study quasi-qualitative analysis of peer group supervision of a child trauma recovery program in occupied Palestine. Journal of Child and Adolescent Trauma, 1-10. doi: 10.1007/s40653-016-0127-7

24. Allardyce, S., Wylie, N., Ritchie, B., Sharpe, M. & Barron, I. (2017) Preventing Adolescent Harmful Sexual Behaviour: A NOTA Think Piece, 1-12. doi: 10.20933/10000105