Annalisa specializes in spinal cord injury, chronic pain and chronic health problems.
She has spent the past 22 years working as the lead clinical psychologist in the NSW Spinal Cord Injury Units (Moorong- Royal Rehabilitation Centre, Royal North Shore Hospital Acute Spinal Unit and Prince of Wales Hospital Spinal Injuries Unit, Randwick), in acute and rehabilitation settings, delivering individual and group-based therapy following catastrophic injury, running ward-based education for clients on emotional wellbeing, sexuality and intimacy, and facilitated Mindfulness-based Compassion sessions for staff.
In addition to this clinical role, Annalisa was appointed Psychosocial Strategy Coordinator for the NSW SSCIS (State Spinal Cord Injury Service) under the Director Professor James Middleton in 2010 to provide guidance, education and support to SCI clinicians on psychosocial matters. In this capacity, she has presented resources that the Psychosocial Strategy developed at both national and international spinal conferences and work with government and non-government agencies (SCIA, Forward, Disability Council of NSW).
Current Practice
More recently Annalisa has begun working in private practice consulting Icare, Comcare, NDIS and Medicare clients with spinal cord injuries, persistent pain, anxiety, and mood issues. She is happy to do home visits where appropriate, telehealth and has rooms in Randwick via the Specialist Medical Centre.
Therapy Approach
Annalisa combines CBT (cognitive behaviour therapy) with Interpersonal Psychotherapy and aims to empower clients through the use of Mindfulness-based approaches, Positive Psychology and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).
Areas of Expertise
- Mood (anxiety and depression)
- Adjustment problems (acute distress, grief, PTSD)
- Chronic pain (headache, musculoskeletal, neuropathic)
- Chronic health problems
- Behaviour (anger, self management, sleep)
- Spinal cord injury - sexuality
- Trauma
- Cognition (memory and concentration)