DR. KATHARINE HODGKINSON
Dr Katharine Hodgkinson
Clinical Psychologist
BSc (Hons), M Psychol (Clin), PhD, MAPS
Dr Katharine Hodgkinson, Clinical Psychologist has over 25 years’ experience in client care, research, and education. She has worked in community, hospital and private settings providing psychological services to those dealing with range of emotional and health concerns. Katharine currently works with the team of Clinical and Consulting Psychologists at HeadwayHealth providing intervention to those affected by emotional and health concerns, as well as carers, families and loved ones. The team provide research-based interventions based on current best-practice research evidence that supports the effectiveness of interventions that use Cognitive Behaviour Therapies (CBT), Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT), mindfulness and other therapeutic techniques. The team work closely with other multidisciplinary care team members to provide a comprehensive and coordinated approach to supporting your care. Services are offered at clinics at Frenchs Forest, GenesisCare St Leonards, Mater Hospital North Sydney and Sydney Adventist Hospital Wahroonga, as well as via telehealth services for those living in rural and remote locations. Katharine has provided a clinic with the Northern Hematology and Oncology Group at Sydney Adventist Hospital Wahroonga for over 15 years (see NHOG.com.au).
Katharine is a regular presenter at patient support groups and educational programs, regularly donating her time to programs with the Mater Hospital North Sydney, the Cancer Support Centre at Sydney Adventist Hospital, and other organisations such as Ovarian Cancer Australia. She was a reviewer of the Avner Pancreatic Cancer Foundation “Living with Pancreatic Cancer” booklet and invited member of the inaugural Avner Pancreatic Cancer Clinical Advisory Panel (now PanKind). Katharine and her team work are privileged to work with DEBRA Australia to provide psychological support to those affected by Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB); EB is a rare disease whereby the skin can peel and blister at the slightest touch (see debra.org.au). EB can have a profound impact on the lives of those living with the disease as well as their loved ones, and Katharine was an invited speaker at their national conference in 2018.
HeadwayHealth also works with a number of organizations to support staff in their professional roles and clinical care delivery through employment assistance programs under the Headway Assistance Program (HAP). We are also delighted to partner with the Sydney Breast Cancer Foundation (SBCF) to provide a pilot program in 2025 to support patients with financial barriers to accessing care in collaboration with the breast care teams at Kempsey Mid North Coast, St George Hospital, and Mater Hospital North Sydney.
Katharine has published numerous research papers and has co-authored several book chapters on psychological and spiritual issues in gynaecological oncology and cancer survivorship. She co-edited the book “Psychosocial Care of Cancer Patients. A Health Professional’s Guide to What to Say and Do” (Hodgkinson K and Gilchrist J, Ausmed Publications, 2008) and co-authored chapters on psychosocial concerns and communication skills for health professionals in the 2015 Melanoma Institute Australia’s text: Melanoma Essentials – A Concise Guide. Katharine’s PhD with the Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Sydney identified predictors of distress and unmet supportive care needs in cancer survivors and their partners. The research resulted in the development of two empirically validated measures to assess unmet needs which have been translated into numerous languages and are being used internationally. In 2000 Katharine worked with University of Sydney researcher in the ADAPT program to investigate distress screening in the hospital setting, and the program at the Sydney Adventist Hospital was kindly supported by the SAH Foundation.
HeadwayHealth Services has been keen to support advanced training placements for Provisional Psychologists completing university level Masters courses in Clinical Psychology and Masters of Counselling to contribute to the mental health care workforce.
Katharine has been a full member of the Australian Psychological Society and Clinical College for over 25 years, and is a member of the APS Psychologists in Oncology Interest Group. She is an Accredited Specialist with Sydney Adventist Hospital Wahroonga and the Mater Hospital North Sydney. All psychologists who work with HeadwayHealth are registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulations Agency AHPRA (see ahpra.gov.au)
Therapeutic approach: Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and motivational interviewing.