Meet Our Team

Kia ora, I'm Elise, a PhD student and I've completed my first year of training in the Clinical Psychology programme. My doctoral research focuses on cognitive recovery after concussion and examines psychological mechanisms that may perpetuate persistent cognitive difficulties. I've completed her Honours research within the NRCS lab, evaluating a concussion psychoeducation tool – CLARITY. My other research interests include psychological flexibility and wellbeing in organisational contexts.

I have worked extensively as a care worker in both community and residential settings. This work sparked my passion for neuropsychology and for supporting the wellbeing of individuals living with cognitive challenges and other disabilities. When not studying, I can usually be found in an op-shop or with a book and a well-made cup of coffee.

Kia ora e te whānau - my name is Ana (Te Arawa, Ngāti Whakaue, Ngāti Rangiwewehi) and I am a PhD candidate and student in the postgraduate clinical psychology programme. My PhD research is looking at the cultural congruency and responsiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), including the Psychological Flexibility Hexaflex Model, with Māori clinicians and communities. My other research interests include mild Traumatic Brain Injury (mTBI), intercultural relations, intersectional health, Indigenous Psychology, and Kaupapa Māori research.

Hello! I’m Jarrod. After completing a music degree and working as a window cleaner abseiling sky-rise buildings for several years, I decided to return to Victoria to pursue clinical psychology. I am very grateful to now be in my second year training as a clinical psychologist!

Along side my clinical training, I am working to complete a masters thesis. On the journey of studying clinical psychology, I discovered I am passionate about understanding the processes of change in psychotherapy; what works for who and why? As such, my masters research is focused on exploring the relationship between psychological flexibility (a therapeutic process of change) and wellbeing and distress. I will be using a promising new measure of psychological flexibility (The Personalised Psychological Flexibility Index) and network analysis, an emerging method for exploring complex relationships within and between constructs such as psychological flexibility and well-being and distress.

Kia ora koutou katoa! My name is Josh Viljoen and I am a postgraduate student in the Clinical Psychology programme and a member of Dr Faulkner’s NRCS lab. My Master’s research will incorporate a network analysis methodology to investigate whether experiential avoidance, psychological flexibility, or psychological inflexibility mediate the relationship between post-concussion symptoms and psychological distress. In my spare time, you can probably catch me reading a novel or shooting some hoops!