ABOUT

JESSIE MCDONALD

DIRECTOR & CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST | BOARD APPROVED SUPERVISOR | NOOSA, SUNSHINE COAST

BPsychSci (Hons) | MClinPsych | MMH (Psychotherapy) | MAPS

Jessie is a warm and empathic psychologist who places value on developing authentic relationships with every person she works with. In sessions, she develops meaningful connections to ease discomfort, explore challenges, and move toward new areas of self-awareness and growth.

Jessie primarily works with adults and adolescents (14+) experiencing anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, complex trauma, personality disorders, and chronic pain/health conditions.

She also enjoys working with people experiencing emotional, psychological and/or interpersonal concerns who wish to gain insight, strengthen relationships, and develop a cohesive sense of self.

Jessie practices from a relational and attachment-based framework. Stemming from her early career experience working with complex mental health, she has a strong interest in trauma and trauma-informed care. As such, her primary therapeutic modalities are Schema Therapy (parts model), Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR), and Psychodynamic Psychotherapy. In addition to these approaches, she is trained in Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Dialectic Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and the Neuro Orthopaedic Institute (NOI) Explained Pain Training Program (for the treatment of persistent pain). Jessie is currently working toward advanced certification in Schema Therapy and accreditation in EMDR.

Prior to her clinical psychology training, she worked in several non-government organisations; providing counselling and therapy services to women & children experiencing domestic violence, and delivering therapeutic interventions to individuals living with complex & severe mental health issues.

Outside of JCM Psychology, Jessie has been recently involved in clinical research at the UQ School of Psychology and currently facilitates the Persistent Pain Program at the Noosa Hospital, both of which heavily inform her clinical practice.

AVAILABILITY:

Monday, Tuesday & Thursday (Note: Jessie is not currently accepting new referrals).

AREAS OF INTEREST & EXPERIENCE

  • Depression & anxiety (including OCD, phobias and panic)

  • Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and Complex PTSD

  • Chronic pain & health conditions (incl. fatigue, PPPD, & fibromyalgia)

  • Personality disorders

  • Early/complex trauma

  • Recovery from cardiac & medical events

  • Older adult mental health

  • Psychological wellness & developing a cohesive sense of self

QUALIFICATIONS & PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

  • Bachelor of Psychological Science (Honours, UQ)

  • Master of Mental Health (Psychotherapy, UQ)

  • Master of Clinical Psychology (UQ)

  • Full registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Registration Agency (AHPRA) with endorsement in the area of Clinical Psychology

  • Board Approved Supervisor (Registrar Program Principle Supervisor; AHPRA)

  • Member of the Australian Psychological Society (APS)

  • Member of the International Schema Therapy Association (ISST)

WANT TO BOOK AN APPOINTMENT?