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Dr Claire Ahern - Clinical Psychologist - OCD Online _edited.jpg
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Dr Claire Ahern

Director Melbourne Psychology & Counselling
Clinical Psychologist / Clinical Psychology Supervisor

Facilitator OCD Online Programs

Qualifications

  • PhD (Clinical Psychology) – Swinburne University

  • Bachelor of Arts (Hons) - Swinburne University

  • Bachelor of Social Science (Psychology) - Swinburne University

Mango

Trainee Therapy Dog

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About Claire

Claire enjoys providing an environment where clients can feel comfortable to share their experiences. She believes that it is a privilege to get to know another person, and enjoys working collaboratively with her clients to create a shared understanding about themselves and their experiences.
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Claire has a variety of experience as a clinician and a researcher. She has 10-years experience treating children, adolescents, adults, couples and families in private practice, public/private hospitals and the community. She completed her PhD in Clinical Psychology in 2012 and is registered as a supervisor for Clinical Psychology.

About Mango

Mango loves people. She enjoys pats and being gushed over.

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Mango helps her clients to feel comfortable by being a friendly presence, and for sessions in the consulting room - for pats and cuddles if you wish. 


As much as Mango loves her work and people, her true love is food. 

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Mango only joins in sessions upon client request. In her free time, she will be found sleeping near a potential food source.

Therapeutic Interests

Claire enjoys working with:

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  • Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and related disorders, including Hoarding Disorder, Body Dysmorphic Disorder, Trichotillomania (compulsive hair pulling) and Excoriation (skin-picking) Disorder.

  • Parents with young children including pre- and post-natal depression/anxiety, mother-baby attachment and adjustment to parenthood.

  • Issues relating to “the self” including identity, self-concept and self-esteem. This can be related to ones experience of mental health, as well as  roles, sexuality, gender, life transitions.

  • Anxiety disorders including panic attacks, generalised anxiety, social anxiety and phobias (e.g., fear of flying, public speaking).

  • Perfectionism, responsibility, morality and procrastination.​

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Claire is a committed scientist-practitioner: she believes that the most effective therapy is informed by the latest research, and that the most important research is informed by working with clients.

 

She regularly participates in supervision, training and professional development, and is a registered Clinical Psychology supervisor. ​

Other Professional Interests

  • Co-Chair of Clinical Governance Committee for eHub Health (eTherapy - MoodGym & eCouch).

  • Developed and supervises the group therapy programs for Perfectionism at Swinburne University Psychology Clinic.

  • Facilitated the OCD Group, Hoarding Disorder Group at Swinburne University Psychology Clinic.

  • She completed her Honours and PhD theses on The Self in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. Claire completed her post-doctorate where she continued to examine the Self in psychopathology, as well as online treatments for OCD.

  • She is passionate about accessibility to effective mental health treatment, and is involved in treatment and research on eTherapy (Online Mental Health) with Swinburne University and Australian National University

  • Provides guest lectures for postgraduate psychology students, and has published articles in peer-reviewed journals, and chapters in academic books.

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