Dr Jane Mulcahy is a health psychologist who has 20 years of experience in the fields of clinical practice, tertiary education and research.
Jane has collaboratively worked with and taught other health clinicians (nurses, osteopaths, psychologists, social workers and speech therapists) to improve health promotion, patient care and health outcomes for patients with chronic illnesses.
She has worked in private practice, student led university clinics and community health centres. Predominantly in the areas of chronic pain, chronic disease, anxiety, depression, life stage adjustment issues and improving positive health behaviours.
As a result of Jane’s clinical practice she completed a PhD, “Meaningful Daily Activity and Chronic Pain”, exploring how engaging in meaningful daily activity affected patients’ reported severity of chronic pain symptoms. The symptoms investigated were pain, disability, anxiety, depression and hopelessness. This research highlighted the need for clinicians to develop meaningful patient goals and outcomes for the individual patient. Based on the outcomes of this research her clinical focus is supporting patients to make positive behavioural changes, achieve personally meaningful goals, and comply with treatments leading to improved physical, social and emotional functioning.
Therapeutic Strategies
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
- Mindfulness
- Motivational Interviewing
Research Interests
- Anxiety and social isolation
- Gender differences in adjustment to illness
- Outcome measures for chronic illnesses
- Patient perception of treatments
- Effects of meaningful daily activity on chronic pain
Professional Qualifications
- Bachelor of Arts
- Dip. Ed Psychology
- Grad. Dip Tertiary Education
- PhD
Professional Memberships
- Registered Psychologist (AHPRA)
- Australian Psychological Society, Fellow of the Health College
Languages Spoken
- English