Dr Grigota Monasterio
Clinical Psychologist
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).
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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.
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$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)
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Mood disorders (Unipolar Major Depression, Dysthymia, Bi-Polar I, Bi-Polar II)
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Personality Disorders (Borderline Personality, Avoidant Personality)
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Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Complex trauma
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ADHD
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Addictions (alcohol, illicit substances, gambling and prescribed addictive substances)
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Bereavement and grief
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Adjustment disorders (health, disability)
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Stress management
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Coping skills and emotion regulation
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Chronic pain
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Anger
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Self-esteem
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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)
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Assistance with “performance” (athletic, musical)
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Therapeutic approach
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Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
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Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)
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Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT)
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Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR)
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Functional Analytic Psychotherapy (FAP)
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Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
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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.
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Master of Arts (Psychology) with distinction, University of Canterbury, New Zealand, 2001.
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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.
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Capacity assessment master class, Professor Carmelle Peisah, President of Capacity Australia, 2019.
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CBT for clients with personality disorders with Professor Brin Grenyer, Project air, 2019.
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Introductory Interpersonal Psychotherapy Training, 2021.
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Introductory ACT workshop, Dr. Robing Walser, 2004.
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Advanced ACT workshops, Dr. Robing Walser, 2004 & 2006.
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Advanced ACT workshop (Mindfulness for Two), Dr Kelly Wilson, 2008.
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Introductory compassion focused therapy, Dr. Paul Gilbert, 2018.
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Advanced compassion focused therapy, Dr. Paul Gilbert, 2018.
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Advanced functional analytic psychotherapy, Mavis Tsai and Robert Kohlenberg, 2016.
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2-day Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, 2017.
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Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction, 2009.
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Clinical supervision, Universities of Wollongong and Western Sydney, and also by the NBMLHD, 2009 & 2011.
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Psychology Board-approved Supervisor Training, 2016 & 2020.
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Client focus
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Age:
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Adults
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Older adults
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Modality:
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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).
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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).
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Endorsed in Clinical Psychology by Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).
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Board-approved supervisor.
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Registrar program principal supervisor for practice of clinical psychology.
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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.
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Managing a full caseload of clients with a broad range of psychological and age-related concerns.
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Participating in regular clinical reviews and multidisciplinary team meetings.
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Developed and administered a clinical training programme for staff.
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Providing clinical supervision.
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Clinical psychologist, Nepean Hospital Consult Liaison Psychiatry, Kingswood, NSW, Apr 2018—present.​
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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.
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Psychology-specific referrals.
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Interworking relationships with other mental health treatment teams, ward staff and medical teams.
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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.
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Worked across the inpatient detox unit, the opiate substitution programme and the outpatient psychology team.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Founded and successfully ran a well-attended ACT interest group in both Cumberland drug and alcohol, and Nepean drug and alcohol.
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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.
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Involved in running our relapse prevention programme largely singlehandedly for 3 years, and co-facilitating the SMART group.
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Actively involved in supervision of clinical interns and also providing many lectures and in-services for colleagues.
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Sought out by students and colleagues for specialist supervision.
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Clinical psychologist, Sutherland Community Mental Health, Caringbah, NSW, 2006—2011.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Provided individual supervision to clinical interns and colleagues.
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Clinical psychologist, Northside Clinic, St Leonards, NSW, 2004—2006.
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Worked in the mood disorders and acute units, providing individual and group psychotherapy for a wide range of psychiatric presentations.
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Ran and developed the unit’s group programme, which was based predominantly on CBT.
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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.
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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.
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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).
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Participated in the development and implementation of rehabilitative programmes that promote independent living skills.
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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.
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Worked in a residential support home for clients of the IHC (organisation providing care for people with an intellectual disability).
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Managed clients presenting with a range of problems including “challenging behaviour”, anxiety and mood disorders and psychiatric disturbances.
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Attended training modules in effective teaching, autism, epilepsy, behaviour management, and safe restraint.
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Browse session times and book instantly
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You are welcome to contact me
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You are welcome to briefly discuss your clinical matter with me and establish what you may be seeking from me. This will also help us get an idea of how suitable my therapeutic approach and style is for you.
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For any administrative queries, please contact us. For clinical matters only, you may contact me by submitting the form below which the office manager will forward to me.
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Please understand that we are not a crisis service. If you need help in a crisis, please call Lifeline on 13 11 14, or in an emergency call 000.