Research & publications
Julia’s research sits at the intersection of psychoanalytic theory, performing arts medicine, and clinical psychology. Her doctoral work represents one of the few studies correlating psychological variables with performance phases in professional actors — and the first to identify reflective capacity as a predictor of resilience in this population.
“Getting in and out of role: What does the aesthetic work of acting entail and is resilience a central factor in the actor’s ability to perform?”
This doctoral thesis explores the creative and psychological work of the professional actor — examining what the aesthetic process of acting entails and whether resilience, specifically emotion regulation and reflective capacity, serves as a central protective factor for performer mental health. The research combines quantitative findings (including the Interpersonal Reactivity Index and the Resilience Scale for Adults) with qualitative interviews with professional actors, drawing on psychoanalytic theory and performing arts medicine to offer an original contribution to the field.
The thesis also includes longitudinal data collected before and during the Covid-19 pandemic — providing a unique window into how performers’ resilience changed under conditions of unprecedented professional disruption.
“Getting in and out of role”
PhD in Psychoanalytic Studies
University College London
Completed July 2023
Conference presentations
42nd Annual PAMA International Symposium
London, UK
41st Annual PAMA International Symposium
New York, USA
Symposium der Österreichische Gemeinschaft für Medizin und Musik
Graz, Austria
PAM Day — Performing Arts Medicine Conference
University College London
Papers & publications
All papers currently under reviewAn exploration of the creative work of the actor and resilience as a protective factor for mental health
Julia Grieshofer and Christine English
Submitted for publication, under review
What are musicians' experiences of using beta-blockers for music performance anxiety?
Tanja Ross, Julia Grieshofer, and Joanna Moncrieff
Submitted for publication, under review
The influence of audience response on comedy performance anxiety
Kwame Asante and Julia Grieshofer
Submitted for publication, under review
Clinical intervention for emotionally based school absences
Julia Grieshofer, Hannah Tippler, and Jessica Roitman
Submitted for publication, under review
All papers are currently submitted and under review. To request a preprint, please get in touch.
Research interests
Julia’s research spans performance psychology, performing arts medicine, resilience, emotion regulation, and the specific psychological demands of acting and performance. She is particularly interested in the intersection of psychoanalytic theory and empirical methods — and in translating research findings into practical, accessible tools for performers.
Julia welcomes collaboration with researchers, institutions, and organisations working in performing arts medicine, performance psychology, and related fields. If you are interested in a research partnership, supervision, or consultation, please get in touch.
Interested in collaborating?
Julia welcomes enquiries about research partnerships, preprint requests, and academic collaboration.
Get in touch →