Dr Grigota Monasterio

Briefly about my clinical psychology practice

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My interest and passion for health care began in my early adolescence as a volunteer at a school for children with special needs. In the years that followed I worked with people on the spectrum with high behavioural needs and also in group homes for people with chronic and severe mental illness. I then trained as a Clinical Psychologist and continued to deepen my experience and passion in the 20+ years I have worked with NSW Health in a number of different of roles.
 

I now work with people across a broad range of issues which are listed in the following section.

My therapeutic approach includes a combination of acceptance/mindfulness-based approaches with existential/meaning based themes. I use these approaches both in the therapy I provide and daily in my own life.

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Fee

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• $200 per 50-minute telehealth video session (I do not offer in-person sessions).

• NDIS plan-managed, DVA, WorkSafe or TAC funded telehealth video sessions, please contact us.

• $200 including GST per hour for medico-legal report production or court attendance via video conference.

• $200 including GST per 60-minute Board-approved supervision telehealth video session (includes registrar program principal supervision for practice of clinical psychology), please contact us.

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Areas in which I help best

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• Anxiety disorders (Generalised Anxiety, Social Anxiety, Agoraphobia, Panic Attacks, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder)

• Mood disorders (Unipolar Major Depression, Dysthymia, Bi-Polar I, Bi-Polar II)

• Personality Disorders (Borderline Personality, Avoidant Personality)

• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Complex trauma

• ADHD

• Addictions (alcohol, illicit substances, gambling and prescribed addictive substances)

• Bereavement and grief

• Adjustment disorders (health, disability)

• Stress management

• Coping skills and emotion regulation

• Chronic pain

• Anger

• Self-esteem

• Mental health and other issues affecting older adults (change of role, loss of independence, significant life changes, dementia, transition to living in aged an aged care facility)

• Assistance with “performance” (athletic, musical)

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Therapeutic approach

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• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

• Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)

• Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT)

• Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR)

• Functional Analytic Psychotherapy (FAP)

• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

• Interpersonal Psychotherapy

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My goal, style and approach in session

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In addition to my clinical experience, I have a diverse range of interests in my life (see Special Interests…) which I bring to the work I do. I have a flexible and fluid style of therapy combined with a client-centred respectful approach. I adapt and modify our work to suit you and to achieve what you are seeking out of our sessions.

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Higher education

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• Master of Science and Doctor of Clinical Psychology, University of Sydney, NSW, 2004.

• Master of Arts (Psychology) with distinction, University of Canterbury, New Zealand, 2001.

• Bachelor of Arts (first class Honours, psychology major), University of Canterbury, New Zealand, 1994.

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Additional training

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• DBT skills training, Centre for Psychotherapy, Hunter New England Health District, 2016.

• Capacity assessment master class, Professor Carmelle Peisah, President of Capacity Australia, 2019.

• CBT for clients with personality disorders with Professor Brin Grenyer, Project air, 2019.

• Introductory Interpersonal Psychotherapy Training, 2021.

• Introductory ACT workshop, Dr. Robing Walser, 2004.

• Advanced ACT workshops, Dr. Robing Walser, 2004 & 2006.

• Advanced ACT workshop (Mindfulness for Two), Dr Kelly Wilson, 2008.

• Introductory compassion focused therapy, Dr. Paul Gilbert, 2018.

• Advanced compassion focused therapy, Dr. Paul Gilbert, 2018.

• Advanced functional analytic psychotherapy, Mavis Tsai and Robert Kohlenberg, 2016.

• 2-day Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, 2017.

• Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction, 2009.

• Clinical supervision, Universities of Wollongong and Western Sydney, and also by the NBMLHD, 2009 & 2011.

• Psychology Board-approved Supervisor Training, 2016 & 2020.

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Client focus

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• Age:

  • Adults

  • Older adults

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• Modality:

  • Individuals​

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• All genders, ethnicities, religions, relationship types and sexualities are welcome.

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Other spoken languages

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• Spanish

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Special interests, endeavours, publications and about me

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• Provided training and developed treatment programmes for NSW Health staff (see Relevant experience).

• I have a strong belief in the importance of cultivating meaning, purpose and vitality in life. In my own life I endeavour to do this with a range of activities such as running, cycling, rock and mountain climbing, playing music and occasionally performing music. I have a passion in working to not only perform at my best as a musician, athlete, and clinician, but also in learning how best to enjoy and find meaning in these activities. I bring these sensibilities to the work I do and I believe they help me relate on multiple levels to the people with whom I work.

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Professional membership and ABN

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• Member Australian Psychological Society (MAPS).

• Endorsed in Clinical Psychology by Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).

• Board-approved supervisor.

• Registrar program principal supervisor for practice of clinical psychology.

• ABN: 98 988 086 185.

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Relevant experience

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• Clinical psychologist, Older persons community mental health, Katoomba/Penrith, NSW, Jan 2019—March 2022.

  • Managing a full caseload of clients with a broad range of psychological and age-related concerns.

  • Participating in regular clinical reviews and multidisciplinary team meetings.

  • Developed and administered a clinical training programme for staff.

  • Providing clinical supervision.

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• Clinical psychologist, Nepean Hospital Consult Liaison Psychiatry, Kingswood, NSW, Apr 2018—present.​

  • Independently managing a full caseload of clients with a broad range of medical and psychological concerns. This included clients in critical care, cardiorespiratory, neurology, neurosurgical and aged care wards.

  • Psychology-specific referrals.

  • Interworking relationships with other mental health treatment teams, ward staff and medical teams.

  • Participating in joint clinical assessments, case conferences, family meetings, discharge planning meetings, and daily clinical handover.

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• Clinical psychologist, Nepean Drug and Alcohol/Gateway Clinic, Kingswood, NSW, 2011—2018.

  • Worked across the inpatient detox unit, the opiate substitution programme and the outpatient psychology team.

  • Managed a diverse range of clients presenting to the above programmes, often with complex bio-psycho-social issues and also typically presenting with dual diagnosis concerns including schizophrenia, Bi-Polar disorders, trauma, and personality disorders, in addition to D&A.

  • Practice always informed by evidence based cognitive behavioural approaches with a strong emphasis on modern developments in the field such as DBT, ACT, Mindfulness, and compassion focused therapies.

  • Designed and implemented an ACT based, dual diagnosis group which ran successfully for 5 years. Wrote client and clinician manuals for this programme and also provided training for staff to facilitate the group.

  • Founded and successfully ran a well-attended ACT interest group in both Cumberland drug and alcohol, and Nepean drug and alcohol.

  • Co-founder of our DBT informed group and wrote an innovative module for it focusing on values and compassion. This group has been running successfully for 3 years.

  • Involved in running our relapse prevention programme largely singlehandedly for 3 years, and co-facilitating the SMART group.

  • Actively involved in supervision of clinical interns and also providing many lectures and in-services for colleagues.

  • Sought out by students and colleagues for specialist supervision.

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• Clinical psychologist, Sutherland Community Mental Health, Caringbah, NSW, 2006—2011.

  • Worked in the Access to Allied Psychological Services Project (ATAPS), which is a part of the Better Outcomes in Mental Health Project. Saw people with a diverse range of psychological presentations (predominantly anxiety and depression) for short-term (up to 18 sessions) evidence-based individual and group psychotherapy.

  • Worked in the broader community mental health team at Sutherland and managed caseload of clients with additional complex needs, e.g., underlying Axis II, AOD, familial/marital and/or housing concerns.

  • Developed and ran a broad range of groups including CBT based groups for panic disorder with agoraphobia, MBCBT, and also an Acceptance and Commitment therapy-based group for anxiety and depression.

  • Provided individual supervision to clinical interns and colleagues.

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• Clinical psychologist, Northside Clinic, St Leonards, NSW, 2004—2006.

  • Worked in the mood disorders and acute units, providing individual and group psychotherapy for a wide range of psychiatric presentations.

  • Ran and developed the unit’s group programme, which was based predominantly on CBT.

  • Introduced Mindfulness meditation groups and also ACT based modules.

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• Community Support Worker, Independent Community Living Association (ICLA), Dulwich Hill, NSW, Aug 2017—present.

  • Part-time Community Support Worker (2-3 days per week) for the Independent Community Living Association (ICLA), a local organization providing rehabilitative residential care for people with chronic psychiatric disorders.

  • My employment with the ICLA broadened my experience of mental health through work with people with chronic psychiatric disorders (e.g., schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, and bipolar-I disorder).

  • Participated in the development and implementation of rehabilitative programmes that promote independent living skills.

  • Gained hands-on experience in the management of acute psychotic episodes.

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• Community Support Worker, IHC Christchurch, Christchurch, New Zealand, 1996—2001.

  • Worked in a residential support home for clients of the IHC (organisation providing care for people with an intellectual disability).

  • Managed clients presenting with a range of problems including “challenging behaviour”, anxiety and mood disorders and psychiatric disturbances.

  • Attended training modules in effective teaching, autism, epilepsy, behaviour management, and safe restraint.

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