Dr Mandy Matthewson is a senior lecturer in the school of psychological sciences. She is also a clinical psychologist working in private practice. Dr Matthewson research interests and areas of psychology practice include family relationships, family violence, parental alienation and psychological trauma.

Biography

Dr Matthewson is a senior lecturer in the school of psychological sciences at the University of Tasmania and a senior clinical psychologist in private practice. She is the lead researcher in the Family and Interpersonal Relationship Research Lab at UTAS. She is on the Board of Directors of the Eeny Meeny Miney Mo Foundation and the Parental Alienation Study Group. Both organisations are not-for-profit organisations raising awareness of parental alienation and parental alienating behaviours. Dr Matthewson's work focuses on the fields of family relationships, family violence, parental alienation and psychological trauma. She is co-author of the highly acclaimed book Understanding and Managing Parental Alienation: A Guide to Assessment and Intervention. She has also published extensively on the topic of parental alienation in well-respected peer review journals. She was past Chair of the Parental Alienation Study Group Research Committee and is editor-in-chief of Parental Alienation International. Dr Matthewson provides supervision to psychology interns, clinical psychology registrars and early career psychologists and is passionate about the training the next generation of psychologists.

Career summary

Qualifications

• PhD, University of Tasmania, Australia, 2009. Do mothers and fathers differentially contribute to sons' and daughters' anxiety?
• BA (hons), University of Tasmania, Australia, 2001. The Mediating Effects of Parents and Peers on the Development of Children's Anxiety

Memberships

Professional practice

• Member of the Australian Psychological Society
• Fellow of the College of Clinical Psychologists
• Registered Psychologist with Clinical and Supervisory endorsement, Australian Health Professionals Regulation Agency
• Member of the Parental Alienation Study Group

Administrative expertise

Dr Matthewson is the lead researcher of the Family and Interpersonal Relationships Lab and has been the lead or co-lead of a number of research projects of national and international significance. She was the director of the postgraduate counselling and rehabilitation counselling programs (2008-2013). She was a member of the social sciences human research ethics committee. She has served on numerous boards and committees.

Teaching

Psychology, Clinical Psychology, Psychological assessment, Psychology ethics, Psychology practice, Family violence, Parental alienation

Teaching expertise

Dr Matthewson's teaching experience and expertise is in postgraduate psychology training and clinical psychology. She teaches the following topics: psychological assessment, ethics and professional practice in psychology, and clinical supervision in psychology. Dr Matthewson was also the director of the postgraduate counselling programs from 2008-2013.  She has experience in course and unit development and has a particular interest in simulated and work integrated learning, and ethics in psychology practice.

Teaching responsibility

• KHA721 Advanced Assessment
• KHA734 Ethics and Professional Practice
• KHA730 Professional Practicum 1
• KHA305 Clinical Psychology

Research Appointments

• Associate Editor of Clinical Psychologist (2016-2021)
• Associate Editor of the Australian Journal of Rehabilitation Counselling (2013-2019)
• Chair of the Family Violence Lost in the Fog Conference Organising Committee (2018)
• Chair of the Parental Alienation Study Group Research Committee (2018-2021)
• Member of the Parental Alienation Study Group Research Committee (2016-present)
• Academic member of the University of Tasmania's Social Sciences Research Ethics Committee (2015-2018)

Research Invitations

Dr Matthewson was invited to the position of Chair of the Parental Alienation Study Group Research Committee (2018-2021). She was invited to co-author a chapter in Parental Alienation - Science and Law, because of her expertise in parental alienation research and practice. Dr Matthewson has been an invited keynote speaker at a number of international and national conferences. She has been invited to speak about her research in the media including guest appearances on international television programs. Dr Matthewson was also invited by the Institute of Family Therapy and Systemic Practice to teach contemporary research in parental alienation in their Post Graduate Certificate in Parental Alienation Studies (Malta).