One of the greatest mysteries is the human brain. When it functions within perceived culturally and societal norms, little attention is paid to its mysteries. However, when the mind exhibits abnormal behaviors and thoughts, leading to distress, we are inspired to ask why? In my opinion, the word “why” and its cultural translations is the most powerful word in language. Why inspires, drives, and motivates us to better understand complex problems and search for reasons to explain what we are observing.
I am intrigued by human behavior, and continually motivated to ask “why” and seek a better understanding of complex phenomena relating to psychology. I enjoy working with people of all ages, race and identities. I am highly motivated to assist people with their life journey, especially when that journey may consist of psychological distress. I am cognizant that being a psychologist is not about curing, but assisting people manage their life and social networks to enhance their overall wellbeing.
A little about me – My father was an immigrant from Italy and spent most of his life working from the age of 12. My mother is of Australian descent and met my father at work, where they married in the late 60s and had 3 children (all boys) raised in the northern suburbs of Melbourne. My parents were hard working, rarely missed work, and at the ripe old age of 55 my father decided to run his own business. Some could see they were excellent role models for a strong work ethic, or others may suggest they possessed high degrees of certain personality traits (e.g., conscientiousness and aspects of extraversion) that propelled their endeavors. I side more with the latter.
Like any confused student my journey after year 12 was one of uncertainty and confusion. I played to my strengths (e.g., mathematics) and studied chemical engineering. This decision was shortly lived, and after failing most subjects in my first year, I transferred to pure and applied mathematics. Some may say I jumped out of the frying pan into the fire, and they may be right. However, while mathematics was difficult for me, I respected the lessons (e.g., mostly pain) it taught me - Solutions may present themselves, but you need to be willing to invest in the outcome, even if it means 1000 failures, or more simply “persistence”. Persistence could also be an antidote to psychological distress, where change occurs over a period of time, across multiple contexts of successes and setbacks.
On completion of mathematics, I detoured into business banking. During 2002 while working, I studied psychology part time. I was two subjects away from completing the course when I received a promotion at work. I deferred my studies. However, after a few years, and while happy in corporate banking, I still had this un-scratchable itch to continue with psychology. In 2014 I decided to start studying psychology again, starting from scratch at Melbourne University. I completed my undergrad and honours, and then patiently waited and persisted for offers into a Clinical masters program. After many rejections, uncertainty and a two year wait, I secured a place in the clinical master program and graduated.
My areas of interest include a broad array of clinical disorders including;
(1) social anxiety disorder in children and adults,
(2) obsessional compulsive disorder
(3) anxiety and depression
(4) health anxiety and
(5) eating disorders.
I also have active interests in more recent emerging themes (e.g., excessive internet or social media use), and behaviors more typical of males (e.g., concerns with muscularity). My unpublished theses have included topics from disordered eating (males and females) and a meta-analyses on other suitable treatments for obsessive compulsive disorder.
