I am a clinical researcher and a bilingual practitioner [BPsych(Hons), MPsych(Clinical), PhD(UNSW)] with expertise in the area of psychological interventions for anxiety and depression across the lifespan.  My PhD research was focused on understanding the cognitive mechanisms underpinning generalised anxiety disorder, pathological worry, and intolerance of uncertainty.  This research reflected my interest in the intersection of experimental psychopathology and clinical intervention.  I have since moved into clinical trial research of psychological interventions for anxiety and depression in older adults. 

I have worked as Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Macquarie University Lifespan Health and Wellbeing Research Centre (formerly Centre for Emotional Health), managing two NHMRC and Beyond Blue co-funded randomised controlled trials to compare psychological interventions for depression and anxiety in older adult populations.  Prior to joining Macquarie University, I was the Head of the WSLHD Anxiety Treatment and Research Unit at Westmead hospital (2014-2018).

Research interests: Psychological treatment of late-life anxiety and depression, methods of delivering mental health services for older adults, improving social connectedness in later life, reducing loneliness, culturally responsive and linguistically appropriate adaptaion of evidence-based psychological interventions for Chinese-speaking older adults.

Clinical interests: I have specialised in the assessment and treatment of anxiety and related disorders across the lifespan for over 16 years.  

Teaching and clinical supervision: I am currently teaching into the Master of Clinical Psychology program where I convene and lecture on evidence-based practice in the assessment and treatment of psychological disorders (e.g., personality disorders, complex comorbidities, application of eHealth).  I have delivered guest lectures and one-day workshops at other institutions.  I am also an AHPRA-approved supervisor and I have been involved in the training and supervision of provisional psychologists since 2008.

Community engagement: I am passionate about mental health communication and I regularly deliver invited community talks to raise consumer and professional awareness of anxiety and depression in older adults.  I also actively engage members of the public, local Councils, and community groups, in my research.