Research Consultant

Realist Evaluation & Evidence Synthesis | Mental Health

What I do

I specialise in realist evaluation and evidence synthesis for complex health interventions. What interests me is understanding why interventions work for some people and in some circumstances, but not for others. I work with research teams to explore how context shapes people's experiences and responses to interventions, generating evidence about what works, for whom, why, and under what circumstances.

My work focuses particularly on mental health, depression, chronic illness, and well-being.

My background brings together health research, the humanities, and many years of consulting. This interdisciplinary perspective, combined with my academic work in Germany, the USA, the UK, and Canada and my practical experience teaching mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, shapes how I approach research.

How can I contribute

I collaborate with research teams on the design and delivery of realist research, contributing specialist methodological expertise from research design through to analysis, synthesis, and publication.

This includes:

  • Programme theory development: Developing and refining theories about how interventions work.

  • Realist data collection: Conducting realist interviews and facilitating focus groups.

  • Realist analysis and synthesis: Analysing qualitative data and synthesising findings to refine programme theories.

  • Research design and methods: Advising on realist methodology, data collection, and interpretation of findings.

  • Project collaboration: Providing specialist methodological expertise within multidisciplinary research teams and funded projects.

Current Research

Realist Evaluation of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy for People Receiving Dialysis, University of Alberta, Canada · Four-year funded research project

As part of a research team, I bring realist methodological expertise to the project and conduct its realist evaluation and synthesis, including qualitative data collection and analysis, and programme theory development and refinement. The evaluation examines how, why, for whom, and under what circumstances cognitive behaviour therapy helps reduce depressive symptoms among people receiving dialysis.

Professional Background

I have over 20 years of consulting experience across the private, public, and non-profit sectors, focusing on leadership development, intercultural consulting and training, and workplace mental health.

Academic Background

  • Doctor of Philosophy in Evidence-Based Healthcare, University of Oxford (2022)

    Workplace mindfulness-based programmes for stress and wellbeing: A realist review and evaluation

  • Postgraduate Certificate in Health Research, University of Oxford (2017)

  • Master of Studies in Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), University of Oxford (2014)

  • Master of Arts in History of Art, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin (1999)

  • University of Pittsburgh – Postgraduate Certificate in Cultural Studies (1996); Master of Arts in German Literature (1995)

  • Scholar, Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes (1992-1995)

Selected Publications

Peer reviewed articles:

  • Micklitz K, Greenhalgh J, Lo SHL, Sawatzky R, Schick-Makaroff K (2025). How are people undergoing dialysis expected to benefit from cognitive behavioral therapy? A realist analysis. Health Expectations 28(5): e70466. doi.org/10.1111/hex.70466.

  • Schick-Makaroff K, Sawatzky R, Greenhalgh J, Cukor D, Wong H, Klarenbach S, Berendonk C, Lee L, Micklitz K, Lo LSH, Kennedy M (2025). Protocol for 'Re: CBT Dialysis': A realist evaluation-why, for whom and in what circumstances does cognitive behaviour therapy work for people with depressive symptoms receiving dialysis? BMJ Open 15(6): e090228. doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2024-090228.

  • Micklitz K, Wong G, Howick J (2021). Mindfulness-based programmes to reduce stress and enhance wellbeing at work: A realist review. BMJ Open, 11:e043525. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-043525.

Conference presentation:

  • Micklitz K, Greenhalgh J, Lo SHL, Sawatzky R, Schick-Makaroff K (2025). Cognitive behavioural therapy for people with depressive symptoms receiving dialysis: A realist evaluation perspective. 2025 International Conference for Realist Research, Evaluation and Synthesis, Atlanta, USA.

Contact

I welcome enquiries from research teams, research institutes, and evaluation consultancies seeking expertise in realist evaluation and evidence synthesis for research and evaluation projects.


katrinm.micklitz@gmail.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/katrin-micklitz

Berlin, Germany · Working internationally