Dr Sonia Kalsi
About
I am a UK-trained Psychologist with dual registration to practise in Australia & UK. With a career
in mental health spanning over 26 years, I have worked with individuals with a wide range of psychological difficulties including depression, anxiety, stress, low self-esteem, trauma, self-harm, suicide, relationship difficulties and bereavement, and in a variety of settings such as the National Health Service and voluntary sector in the UK.
I also have 15 years experience of working in the tertiary education sector in the UK and Australia, and therefore have a good working knowledge of student mental health.​
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Qualifications:​
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Doctorate in Counselling Psychology & Psychotherapy by Professional Studies
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Clinical Diploma in Integrative Psychotherapy
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Certificate in Coaching and Mentoring (Level 5 accreditation)
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Foundation Certificate in Counselling skills
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MSc Health Psychology
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BSc (Hons) Psychology​​
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Research area of interest:
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Student suicide
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Membership of Professional Bodies:
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Australia
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Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency
(General Reg: PSY0002631720)
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Australian Psychological Society
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Australian Association of Psychologists Inc.​
UK
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​British Psychological Society
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Health & Care Professions Council
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British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy
Publications:
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A UK study on student suicide in universities: Training and support implications for frontline staff (2024). Workshop for Mental Wellbeing in Higher Education Conference 2024 (15 May 2024), Leeds Horizon, UK
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Supporting suicidal international students in universities: Insights & Recommendations (2023). Presentation at the International Student Advisers’ Network of Australia (ISANA) Annual Conference 2023, Sydney, Australia
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Working with suicidal students: Therapists’ perspectives (2022). Poster presentation (online) at the Australia and New Zealand Student Services Association (ANZSSA) Annual Conference 2022, Australia
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Recommendations report on student suicide risk management, prevention and postvention (2022). Student Health, Counselling & Wellbeing Service, Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia
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A difficult tightrope to walk: Experiences of working with suicidality in higher education (2021). University and College Counselling Journal, British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, November 2021 edition. Link:https://www.bacp.co.uk/bacp-journals/university-and-college-counselling/november-2021/a-difficult-tightrope-to-walk/
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“A difficult tightrope to walk”: An exploration of therapists’ experiences of working with suicidal students in Higher Education (2020) . DCPsych Thesis, Middlesex University/Metanoia Institute, London, UK. Link: https://repository.mdx.ac.uk/item/89536