I am a registered Clinical Psychologist with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA). I completed my PhD (Clinical psychology) at Griffith University focusing on interventions and the impact of childhood adversity on young children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD). I have gained expert knowledge in the impact of prenatal alcohol exposure and different forms of childhood adversity on psychological functioning. I currently hold a research position at Griffith University which allows me to contribute knowledge to the field, and provides me access to databases of up-to-date scientific research, which I regularly integrate in to my practice.

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I am a published academic author (see below) in the area of child development and childhood adversity, and am a contributing author to The UK Royal College of General Practitioner (RCGP)’s guide to the management of substance misuse in primary care. I bring a unique perspective to my practice, with a varied occupational background, having previously worked as a government statistician, university tutor, bartender and a fully qualified arborist. I also currently coordinate a FASD diagnostic clinic funded by the Commonwealth Government to assess the impact of prenatal alcohol exposure in young children.

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In the therapy room, I have experience working with a range of presentations in both children and adults including:

• depression

• anxiety

• concentration problems

• obsessive compulsive difficulties

• oppositional behaviours

• anger

• autism

• interpersonal difficulties.

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I primarily take a client-centred approach, a form of phenomenological therapy which focuses on building a relationship and engaging in dialogue to help you develop an understanding of your experiences. I then integrate strategies from cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) to our discussion to scaffold thinking and behaviour change. I regularly integrate wisdom from different schools of philosophy in therapy, with a predominate focus on Stoic instructions on the art of living well.

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I have experience in the administration of a range of standardised psychological assessments tools and tests. I am skilled in the assessment and diagnosis of a range of neurodevelopmental concerns including Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, Autism and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

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Authored Papers

Betts, J. L., Eggins, E., Chandler‐Mather, N., Shelton, D., Till, H., Harnett, P., & Dawe, S. (2022). Interventions for improving executive functions in children with foetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD): A systematic review. Campbell Systematic Reviews, 18(4), e1258.

 

Betts, J. L., Ownsworth, T., & Dawe, S. (2022). Development of a framework for classifying threat and neglect in childhood: A qualitative study. Child Abuse Review, e2796.

 

Betts, J., Dawe, S., Eggins, E., Shelton, D., Till, H., Harnett, P., & Chandler‐Mather, N. (2019). PROTOCOL: Interventions for improving executive functions in children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder: Systematic review and meta‐ analysis. Campbell Systematic Reviews, 15(1-2), e1009.

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Chandler‐Mather, N., Betts, J., Donovan, C., Shelton, D., & Dawe, S. (2023). Understanding the impacts of childhood adversity on sleep problems in children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder: A comparison of cumulative and dimensional approaches. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research. https://doi.org/10.1111/acer.15152.

 

Dawe, S., Chandler-Mather, N., Betts, J., Oei, J., Harnett, P. (in press) Chapter 18, Women and substance use disorders: Implications for primary care In Guide to the Management of Substance Misuse in Primary Care, 3rd Edition. Royal College of General Practice, UK  

  

Harnett, P.H., Betts, J.,Chandler-Mather, N., Dawe, S. (in press)., Chapter 19, The impact of substance use on infant outcomes and parenting. In Guide to the Management of Substance Misuse in Primary Care, 3rd Edition. Royal College of General Practice, UK

 

Dawe, S., Eggins, E., Betts, J., Webster, H., Pomario, T., Doak, J., Chandler-Mather, N., Hatzis, D., Till, H., Wood, A., & Shelton, D. (2023). An investigation of the utility of the Australian Guide to the diagnosis of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder in young children, Alcohol: Clinical and Experimental Research, doi: https://doi.org/10.1111/acer.15012

 

Eggins, E., Dawe, S., Wilson, D. B., Chandler‐Mather, N., & Betts, J. (2020). PROTOCOL: Psychosocial, pharmacological and legal interventions for improving the psychosocial outcomes of children with substance misusing parents. Campbell Systematic Reviews, 16(3), e1113.

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