tulsi achia.
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2016 to present - Ph.D. candidate (part-time) at the School of Psychology, University of Queensland, Australia
2014 - Master of Clinical Psychology (MClinPsych), School of Psychology, University of Queensland, Australia
2004 - Master of Science (M.Sc) - Counselling Psychology, Montfort College, Bangalore University, India
2002 - Bachelor of Arts (B.A) - Psychology, Economics, and English Literature, Mount Carmel College, Bangalore University, India
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I have been a practising psychologist for 19 years, working in counselling and clinical settings in India and in Australia since 2011.
Clinical practice: My clinical experience has primarily been in the following areas:
-Chronic and severe mental illness with personality vulnerabilities, especially in the context of socio-economic disadvantage.
-Behavioural sleep medicine.
-Socio-emotional and cognitive adjustment after brain injury.
-Clinical policy - risk assessment, inclusive practice, and interpersonal violence.
Research: I am also a social psychology researcher focusing on the psychology of social inclusion and helping relations between socially privileged and disadvantaged people. I am currently doing a PhD at the UQ School of Psychology, with Prof. Winnifred Louis, co-supervised by Prof. Aarti Iyer, from the United States Environmental Protection Agency. See my research publications on social justice based helping and inequality here.
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CLINICAL MEMBERSHIPS
Psychologist with generalist registration - Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA). Reg. PSY0001616028
Member - Australian Psychological Society (APS)
SOCIAL RESEARCH MEMBERSHIPS
Member - Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues (SPSSI)
Student member - Society of Australasian Social Psychologists (SASP)
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Ongoing professional development
As psychologists we are required to maintain a robust learning and development plan every year. In my case, I focus on the following:
-Keeping abreast of the latest, best practice assessments for psychosocial disabilities.
-Undertaking training in assessment tools that are new to me.
-Keeping track of research developments in assessing cognitive functioning in people with severe and complex mental illness.
-Consulting with peers and senior clinicians when I am in doubt or need further input.
Holistic
Focusing on the individual-in-context and drawing in not just the adult in question, but caregivers, social circles, and family as active participants in the assessment process.
Creating easy-to-understand AND fit-for-purpose reports
So that they provide the most useful and specific information necessary to make decisions on funding and further supports.
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My cultural background
I was born and raised in Tech City Bangalore, South India. My ethnic community - the Kodavas - come from a place called Kodagu, where our people primarily grow coffee and have a long history of serving as warriors. I emigrated to Australia in 2011. I live here with my husband and two dogs.
My disability
I was diagnosed with severe and intractable chronic pain of the cervical spine in 2015 which flipped my life upside down for a few years. After close to a year of being bed-bound and several failed treatments, I was fitted with a spinal cord stimulator (SCS) a few years ago. Since then, I have been able to adjust to my disability better. It continues to be a process of daily physical, psychological, and occupational adjustment, and the informal supports I have are invaluable in that process. My experience with chronic pain has been a profoundly humbling experience and has forever changed me as a person and a psychologist. It continues to inform how I approach my profession, my priorities, and relationships.
Me
Being an 80’s child, on days off, you’ll find me watching tv. A lot of it. This also includes a lot of rubbish reality tv! I enjoy watching, reading, and discussing all things at the intersection of pop culture, politics, and human behaviour. I enjoy reading non-fiction, especially books on geopolitics and modern terrorism. I also enjoy playing with my dogs and photograph them endlessly.