Senior Project Coordinator
BA (Hons), Doctor of Psychology
she/her/hers
Helen has completed her clinical psychology doctorate and she is a registered practising psychologist. Her mixed-methods research is focussed on the facilitation of acceptance in trans young people with a specific interest in supporting familial acceptance of young people’s gender identity. She has clinical practice in working with trans young people and their families at the Gender Diversity Service (GDS), Perth Children’s Hospital and has also recently developed and delivered a research program to aid parents in supporting their trans child in collaboration with the GDS and Telethon Kids Institute. Her research is underpinned by participatory design principles to tailor research outcomes to the needs of end-users.
Helen is currently involved in several projects focussed on improving mental health and wellbeing outcomes for both trans young people and their parents including development of a national online hub hosting information and resources for parents of trans children. Helen has a Bachelor of Arts with First Class Honours in Psychology from Edith Cowan University, and a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Murdoch University.
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Projects
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Publications
January 2023
Parental Challenges, Facilitators and Needs Associated with Supporting and Accepting Their Trans Child’s Gender
Parental support is strongly correlated with protective factors for trans youth yet most experience parental rejection or ambivalence regarding their gender. Many parents report a desire to support their child but indicate lack of understanding and support as key barriers. We aimed to develop a nuanced understanding of the challenges and facilitators experienced by Australian parents in developing understanding, support and acceptance of their child’s gender and their needs to do so.
Published research Bullying Gender Diversity Youth Mental Health Youth mental healthJanuary 2023Knowledge is Power: Trans Young People’s Perceptions of Parental Reactions to Their Gender Identity, and Perceived Barriers and Facilitators to Parental Support
Parental support is strongly correlated with protective factors for trans youth, however, most experience unsupportive parental attitudes. We aimed to better understand how youth perceive parental reactions to their gender identity disclosure and what they consider to be barriers to, and facilitators of, support.
Published research Gender Diversity Youth Mental Health Youth mental healthOctober 2022Factors Influencing Parental Acceptance of Trans Children and Young People: Findings from Trans Pathways
Trans youth are at high risk of mental health difficulties and negative life events. Strong parental support is highly protective however there is little understanding of what factors facilitate the process of parental understanding and acceptance of a child’s gender identity.
Published research Child Health, Development & Education Gender Diversity Youth Mental Health Youth mental healthOctober 2022Psychological Wellbeing Amongst Parents of Trans Children: An in-Depth Qualitative Investigation
Research has shown that parents of trans children face numerous challenges as they navigate their parenting role, however, little is known about the impact of these challenges on parents’ psychological wellbeing.
Published research Gender Diversity Youth Mental Health Youth mental healthDecember 2020Effectiveness, Acceptability, and Feasibility of Digital Health Interventions for LGBTIQ+ Young People: Systematic Review
Young people (aged 12-25 years) with diverse sexuality, gender, or bodily characteristics, such as those who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, or queer (LGBTIQ+), are at substantially greater risk of a range of mental, physical, and sexual health difficulties compared with their peers. Digital health interventions have been identified as a potential way to reduce these health disparities.
Published research Gender Diversity Youth Health Youth Mental Health -
Education and Qualifications
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Awards/Honours