After arriving in Australia from Europe in 1989, I began studying psychology at the University of New South Wales in 1993.

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I graduated in 1998 with a BA and1st Class Honours in Psychology, the Australian Psychology Society Prize for best performance in Honours, and the University Medal for Highly Distinguished Academic Merit.

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I completed a Master of Clinical Psychology and a PhD degree at UNSW.

My PhD research investigated worry and anxiety in both adults and children.

It established my life-long interest in understanding anxiety disorders, and a desire to help those who live with these often disabling conditions.

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In 2003 I took up an academic position as a lecturer in the School of Psychology at the University of Sydney. I created new courses about anxiety disorders, about general mental health, and about mindfulness. These courses continued to be very successful over the years, with outstandingly high student enrolments and positive evaluations.

​My research about the causes, nature and treatment of emotional disorders resulted in more than 60 international publications and conference presentations. A list of my published research studies can be found on Google Scholar.