Dr Robbie Busch

Senior Lecturer, Program Coordinator and Discipline Group Lead of Behavioural Science
BA(Hons), MA(Geog) Canterbury, BAppSc(Psych), DipAppMH OPNZ, BSc(Hons)(Psych), PGCertSc(Psych), PhD Massey

ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7077-7024
Phone: (08) 9433 0725

  • Biography

    Dr Robbie Busch is a Senior Lecturer in the Behavioural Science and Master of Counselling programs in the School of Arts and Sciences, Fremantle. Robbie has degrees in geography, from the University of Canterbury, Christchurch, and psychology from the Open Polytechnic of New Zealand and Massey University. His master’s research examined the historical geographies of rural radio broadcasting in Aotearoa New Zealand. Based on his research, Robbie established a radio station in the rural community of Geraldine and was a radio broadcaster for two years. His PhD in psychology was also temporal in focus, looking at the development and differences of narrative therapy and evidence-based psychotherapy evaluation. His previous roles were a Curriculum Development Facilitator, Senior Tutor and Research Assistant at Massey University, Aotearoa New Zealand. Prior to Notre Dame, Robbie taught foundational and discursive psychology as well as principles of just therapy and qualitative research design. He was part of the former Discursive Therapies Programme at Massey University, conducted research in critical psychology involving an evaluation of a community-focused anti-violence initiative network, and established a symposium and peer-review programme for doctoral candidates to publish their research. Robbie’s current research interests include a commitment to social justice and curiosity involving international collaborations and textual analyses while focusing on explorations and critiques of power relations, wellbeing, environments, media and masculinity.

  • Teaching areas

    • Developmental Psychology (for Schools of Arts and Sciences, Education, Health Sciences, Physiotherapy and Nursing)
    • Qualitative Research Design
    • Health Psychology
    • Organisational Behaviour

  • Research expertise and supervision

    • Social constructionism, poststructuralism, critical theory and research philosophies
    • Critical, Counselling and Community Psychology
    • Narrative Analysis and Discourse Analysis
    • Masculinity, Power and Gender Politics
    • Qualitative Research Design
    • Narrative Therapy and Community Work
    • Interdisciplinary Approaches

    Current Postgraduate Supervision:

    • Supervisor of: Charmaine Hugo – Doctor of Philosophy (Mental fitness)
    • Co-supervisor of: Madhuri Mathisen – Doctor of Philosophy (Exploring the Experiences of South Asian Participants and Facilitators of Men’s Behaviour Change Programmes)

    Completed Master of Counselling Dissertations / Research Projects include:

    • Storied Reflections of Supervisors Working with Complex Trauma in Childhood-Focused Counsellors
    • Online Media and Women’s Empowerment
    • Media Constructions of Young People in Banksia Hill Detention Centre and the Implications for Aboriginal Youth (WA)
    • What are Young Perth Adults’ Experiences of Ecstasy Use and Mental Health?
    • Therapist Experiences and Understandings of Stroke Survivors and their Posttraumatic Growth
    • Unravelling the Phenomena of Mindfulness: Bhutanese Counsellors’ Approach to Counselling
    • The Construction of Self-Silencing Amongst Men
    • Narrative therapist approaches to infidelity
    • Exploring complexities of new generation school counsellors in Bhutan: Initiating a dialogue

  • Books

    • Busch, R., & Rogerson A. (Eds.) (2011). Refereed proceedings of Doing Psychology: Manawatu Doctoral Research Symposium 2011. Palmerston North, New Zealand: School of Psychology, Massey University. ISBN 978-0-473-20102-9. Retrieved from http://mro.massey.ac.nz/handle/10179/3389

  • Book chapters

    • Busch, R., & McCarthy, S. (2022). The emergence of evidence-based practice in psychology. In J. N. Lester & M. O'Reilly (Eds.), The Palgrave encyclopedia of critical perspectives on mental health (pp. 1-15). Palgrave Macmillan. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-12852-4_56-1
    • Busch, R. (2012). Problematising social context in therapy evaluation practice. In A. Lock & T. Strong (Eds.), Discursive perspectives in therapeutic practice (pp. 245-268). Oxford, England: Oxford University Press.

  • Journal articles and proceedings

    Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles and Proceedings Papers

    • Ledingham, M. D., Standen, P., Skinner, C., & Busch, R. (2019). “I should have known”. The perceptual barriers faced by mental health practitioners in recognising and responding to their own burnout symptoms. Asia Pacific Journal of Counselling and Psychotherapy, 10(2), 125-145.
    • Dem, K., & Busch, R. (2018). Complexities of a Bhutanese school counselling community: A critical narrative insight. The Australian Community Psychologist, 29(1), 54–71. Retrieved from https://www.psychology.org.au/getmedia/6c9dcfa2-304e-4bf0-bba3-991cf9d3efd4/Dem-_-Busch-ACP-Vol-29-1-2018.pdf
    • Mowat, K., Coombes, L. & Busch, R. (2016). Resituating masculinity and power in preventing child sexual abuse. The Australian Community Psychologist, 28(1), 25-46. Retrieved from https://groups.psychology.org.au/Assets/Files/Mowat-ACP-28-1-2016.pdf
    • Busch, R., & Ledingham, M. (2016). Bothered bloggings and troubled tweets: Constructions of stress and concerns for early-career academics [Edited reprint]. Asia Pacific Journal of Advanced Business and Social Studies, 2(2), 599-609.  Retrieved from http://apiar.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/7_APJABSS_ICABSS_BRR760_SS_599-609.pdf
    • Busch, R., & Ledingham, M. (2016). Bothered bloggings and troubled tweets: Constructions of stress and concerns for early-career academics. In First International Conference on Advanced Business and Social Sciences (Conference Proceedings: ICABSS-2016) (pp. 505-515). Gordon, NSW: Asia Pacific Institute of Advanced Research. Retrieved from http://apiar.org.au/?conference=1st-international-conference-on-advanced-business-social-sciences-icabss-2016
    • Busch, R., Morgan, M., & Coombes, L. (2014). Manufacturing egalitarian injustice: A discursive analysis of the rhetorical strategies used in fathers' rights websites in Aotearoa/New Zealand. Feminism and Psychology, 24, 440-460.
    • Larner, G., Strong, T., & Busch, R. (Eds.) (2013). Family therapy and the spectre of the DSM-5 [Special issue]. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Family Therapy, 34, 87-89.
    • Strong, T. & Busch, R. (2013). DSM-5 and evidence-based family therapy? Australian and New Zealand Journal of Family Therapy, 34, 90-103.
    • Busch, R., Strong, T., & Lock, A. (2011). Narrative therapy theory and evidence-based psychotherapy evaluation. In R. Busch & A. Rogerson (Eds.), Refereed proceedings of Doing Psychology: Manawatu Doctoral Research Symposium 2011 (pp. 49-56). Palmerston North, New Zealand: Massey University. Retrieved from http://mro.massey.ac.nz/handle/10179/3388
    • Busch, R., & Jamieson, A. (2011). Constructing an evidence-practice relationship between teaching, learning, and research: Reviewing and reflecting on academic blogging. In National Tertiary Learning and Teaching Conference 2011: 2011 Papers. Wellington, New Zealand: Ako Aotearoa.  Retrieved from https://ako.ac.nz/assets/reports/fb66ea7aa4/Constructing-an-Evidence-Practice-Relationship-between-Teaching-Learning-and-Research.pdf
    • Busch, R. (2011). Is mass-branded local identity oxymoronic? An historical perspective on radio regulation and ownership in Aotearoa New Zealand. In Shifting Boundaries and Identities: Refereed Proceedings of the Australia New Zealand Communication Association Conference. Hamilton, New Zealand: The University of Waikato.
    • Strong, T., Busch R., & Couture, S. (2008). Conversational evidence in therapeutic dialogue. Journal of Martial and Family Therapy, 34, 388–405.
    • Busch, R., & Coombes, L. (2008). Using Foucauldian perspectives to enable the reading/speaking/writing of mal/adjustment as moral subjects. In T. Bridgman & B. Edman (Eds.), Proceedings of the Conference on Contemporary Critical Theories (pp. 16-26). Wellington, New Zealand: Victoria University of Wellington.
    • Busch, R. (2007). Transforming evidence: A discursive evaluation of narrative therapy case studies. The Australian Journal of Counselling Psychology, 7(2), 8–15.
    • Kazantzis, N., Busch, R., Ronan, K. R., & Merrick, P. L. (2007). Using homework assignments in psychotherapy: Differences by theoretical orientation and professional training? Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy, 35, 121–128.

    Book Reviews

    • Busch, R. (2021). Deconstructing the psychology of lifespan development [Review of the book Deconstructing developmental psychology, by E. Burman]. The Educational and Developmental Psychologist, 1-2. https://doi.org/10.1080/20590776.2021.1954857
    • Busch, R. (2007). Constituting reflexive feminist approaches for narrative therapy [Review of the book Narrative therapy: Making meaning, making lives]. Journal of Feminist Family Therapy, 19(2), 95–99.

  • Conference papers

    • Dem, K., & Busch, R. (2017, April). Addressing the complexities and challenges of the school counselling community in Bhutan through a critical narrative inquiry. Paper presented at the Trans-Tasman Community Psychology Conference, Melbourne, Victoria.
    • Busch, R. (2013, June). Troubling civilized governmentalities of evaluative practice. Paper presented at the Society of Community Research and Action 2013 Biennial Conference, Coral Gables, Miami, Florida.
    • McCarthy, S., Busch, R., & Darlaston-Jones, D. (2013, June). Voices from the margins: (Re)conceptualising diversity, inclusivity and social justice in community psychology. Symposium presented at Society of Community Research and Action 2013 Biennial Conference, Coral Gables, Miami, Florida.
    • Darlaston-Jones, D., McCarthy, S., & Busch, R. (2012, September). Re-sourcing values and informed citizenship in psychology education: Integrating personal, professional and organisational values into graduate outcomes for undergraduate students. Professional Practice Forum presented at 47th Annual APS Conference, Perth 27th – 30th September 2012.
    • Busch, R., Lock, A., & Strong, T. (2007, August 23). Understanding theoretical influences on narrative therapy to inform psychotherapy evaluation. Paper presented at the Annual New Zealand Psychological Society Conference, Hamilton.
    • Busch, R. (2006, September 28). Transformation of meaning as evidence: A discursive evaluation of narrative therapy case studies. Paper presented at the Joint Conference of the Australian Psychological Society and New Zealand Psychological Society, Auckland.
    • Busch, R., Strong, T., & Couture, S. (2006, February 25). Conversational accomplishments and widening the evidence base in psychotherapy research: Discursive evaluations of performance and meaning in therapeutic conversations. Paper presented at the New Zealand Association of Psychotherapists Annual Conference, Wellington.
    • Busch, R. (2006). Transformation of meaning as evidence: A discursive evaluation of process-outcome studies in narrative therapy [Abstract]. Australian Journal of Psychology, 58 (Suppl.), 119.
    • Busch, R. (2005, October 27). Conceptualising evaluation with psychology's therapeutic domains and narrative therapy and community work. Paper presented at the joint American Evaluation Association and Canadian Evaluation Society Conference, Sheraton Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
    • Busch, R., Strong, T., & Lock, A. J. (2004, August 28). Evaluation and the challenges of evaluating narrative therapy. Paper presented at the New Zealand Psychological Society Annual Conference, Te Papa, Wellington.
    • Busch, R. S., & Kazantzis, N. (2003, September 2). Use and perceived importance of homework assignments in therapy: A survey of mental health practitioners in New Zealand. Invited address presented at the New Zealand Psychological Society Annual Conference, Massey University, Palmerston North.

  • In the Media

    Casey, A. (2021, April 20). Cold Nips just love ocean dips. The West Australian.

  • Professional Affiliations

    Member of the New Zealand Psychological Society (NZPsS)
    Member of the Society for Community Action and Research (SCRA)

  • Technical reports

    • Botello, C., Busch, R., & Drum, M. (in press). Poverty, homelessness and migrants in Western Australia. Fremantle, WA: University of Notre Dame Australia / Catholic Archdiocese of Perth.
    • Busch, R. (2013). Staff consultation report on the School of Psychology undergraduate curriculum at Massey University. Fremantle, WA: Author.
    • Busch, R., & Morgan, M. (2006). A formative evaluation of the Manawatu Abuse Intervention Network (MAIN): Final report. Palmerston North, New Zealand: Massey University, School of Psychology.
    • Busch, R., & Morgan, M. (2006). A formative evaluation of the Manawatu Abuse Intervention Network (MAIN): Preliminary report. Palmerston North, New Zealand: Massey University, School of Psychology.
    • Kazantzis, N., Busch, R., Ronan, K. R., & Merrick, P. L. (2006). Using homework assignments in psychotherapy: Differences by theoretical orientation and professional training? [Extended report]. Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy, 35 (1, Suppl.). Retrieved from http://journals.cambridge.org/jid_BCP