Psychology Research Projects

Associate Professor Madelyn Geldenhuys

Madelyn is a mid-career researcher with an established program of psychology research. She has been working as a researcher for over 17 years specialising in organisational psychology, specifically self-regulation, psychological well-being, stress and burnout management, personality and career progression. She has an extensive career in student research project supervision, secured research funding and collaborates on research at a national and international level.

Research projects:

• The role of self-determination strategies on reducing burnout in the workplace.
• Tolerance of uncertainty in counsellors, psychotherapists and psychologists.

Dr Raquel Peel

Dr Raquel Peel is an internationally recognised relationships expert and an award-winning educator and researcher. Her TEDx talk on relationship sabotage was featured as one of the most popular talks in the TED series 'How to Be a Better Human' and TEDxShorts. Her current research program encompasses studies on interpersonal relationships, mental health, suicide, and education.

Research projects:

• The cycle of relationship sabotage: From communication of romantic interest to dissolution of intimate engagements.
• Fake Date: Combating romance and dating scams.

Dr Jonas Chan

Jonas’ research focuses on understanding the basic learning principles that underlie behavioural and mental processes such as reasoning, decision-making, and problem solving.

Research projects:

• Cognitive and Behavioural Factors Underlying Human Causal Learning.

Dr Sara Parsafar

Dr. Parsafar has extensive knowledge and experience in clinical practice, teaching, and coordinating psychology units, courses, programs, and research projects. She is a highly skilled researcher with significant experience supervising PhD, Master's, and Honours theses across a diverse range of topics. Her research expertise spans several key areas, with a current focus on Mental Health, Trauma, Cross-cultural Psychology, and the Wellbeing of First Nations populations. Dr. Parsafar is dedicated to advancing impactful research that addresses complex psychological issues through systematic reviews, as well as qualitative and mixed-methods research. Her work focuses on understanding and addressing the unique psychological challenges faced by diverse populations

Research projects:

• Systematic reviews on topics to be discussed and tailored to reflect students' areas of interest and expertise.

Dr Robbie Busch

Robbie is a mid-career researcher with an established program in critical psychology and experience in teaching and applying qualitative research. His PhD examined theoretical differences between narrative therapy and evidence-based practice. His current interests are in social power relations, wellbeing, environments, media, and masculinity.

Research projects:

• Constructions of masculinity and gendered power relations in an Australian reality television program.
• Workplace civility and defence mechanisms of politicians during national or state parliamentary debates.
• Constructions and moral positionings of justice, health, gender or ethnicity in Australian talkback radio.
• Conversational dilemmas, strategies and emotional geographies with caller phone-ins during an emergency broadcast.

Dr Geoff Lyons

Dr Geoff Lyons has a background in clinical psychology and counselling. He practices as a holistic healer and counsellor, integrating empirically-supported talking therapies with emerging spiritual and energetic-based healing therapies. His research focuses on the use of spiritually-based complementary therapies to enhance health and wellness in both religious and non-religious populations. Dr Lyons has a particular interest in the role of spiritual and shamanic healing as adjunctive treatments for stress, trauma, and chronic pain. Other approaches of interest can include things such as yoga, breathwork, prayer, energy and sound therapies.

Research projects:

• An exploration of therapeutic outcomes and clinical experiences of shamanic healing practitioners and their clients
• Literature reviews related to the use of spiritually-based therapies for mental health
• Literature reviews related to the development of counselling competencies

Associate Professor Dion Khlentzos

Dion is a counsellor and psychologist and has been an educator, researcher and clinician for over 15 years. Dion’s research has covered topics of counselling education, faith, gender, mental health, and domestic violence. His research has included qualitative and quantitative methodologies.

Research projects:

• Parenting programs for fathers in recovery from addictions.
• Attachment in higher education students.
• Christianity, cultural diversity and viewpoint diversity.
• Domestic and family violence in Australia.