Principal Investigator

Charlene Rapsey is a clinical psychologist with an interest in mental disorder, childhood adversity, and sexual health and sexual difficulties. She uses quantitative and mixed methods and has a particular interest in applied research.

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In Memory Of

Damian was the head of the Adolescent Behaviour and Child Development (ABCD) Lab. The focus of his research was positive youth development in high school students and alcohol consumption in university students.

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Group Facilitator

Tom studies clinical psychology at the University of Otago and also does PhD research looking at child development. As a postgraduate student, he is passionate about helping others to navigate the many challenges of student life. In his spare time, he enjoys running, watching movies, and cooking.

Group Facilitator

Alisa is a clinical psychology student and is currently completing her PhD. The research areas she is interested in is disordered eating among university students and ways to provide accessible interventions.

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Social Media Marketing Manager

Aiden has studied media studies, marketing, communications, and writing. Aiden enjoys music, film, creative writing, and video games.

Collaborator

Amanda Clifford (Waitaha, Kāti Māmoe, Kāi Tahu) is a registered clinical psychologist. She has special interests in whānau health and the wellbeing of tauira. 

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Postdoctoral Research Fellow; Group & Coach Supervisor

Alannah is a registered clinical psychologist. She works as a postdoctoral research fellow for Brightside and as a wellbeing clinical psychologist at Student Health Services at the University of Otago. Alannah's research interests include tertiary student wellbeing and the barriers and facilitators to mental health help seeking.

Group Facilitator

Jess studies clinical psychology at the University of Otago. Her Honours research looked at whether parenting stress contributes to children's ADHD symptoms.

Coaching Facilitator

Jess has just completed her Master's thesis in psychology, exploring joy and flourishing in young autistic women. Jess enjoys engaging in disability advocacy, nature walks, and video games.

Collaborator

Hitaua (Ngāi Tahu, Te Ati Haunui-a-Pāpārangi) is a lecturer in the Department of Psychology at the University of Otago. His research is focused in the field of social psychology and in particular, linking elements of the core Māori values with contemporary social psychological theories.

Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Andre works as a postdoctoral research fellow and registered clinical psychologist. His primary focus is on university student's mental health and suicide, and how we can develop better tools for early intervention and prevention. When he's not in the office, you'll find him in my vege garden or out on the bike.

Group Facilitator

Florencia studies clinical psychology at the University of Otago and also does PhD research looking at women's processes of ending intimate relationships with psychologically abusive intimate partners. 

Administrator

Isabel (she/her) is a student in her first year of the clinical psychology programme at the University of Otago. She is currently completing her Master's thesis in psychology, which aims to understand pathways to mental health care among university students.