About Us

---

(Director)

Mandy Matthewson is a clinical psychologist and senior lecturer in clinical psychology at the University of Tasmania (UTAS). Dr Matthewson is the lead researcher in the Family and Interpersonal Relationship Research Lab at UTAS and she is a senior clinical psychologist in private practice. Her work focuses on the fields of family relationships, family violence and parental alienation. She is co-author of the highly acclaimed book Understanding and Managing Parental Alienation: A Guide to Assessment and Intervention. She has also published extensively on the topic of parental alienation in well respected peer review journals. She was past Chair of the Parental Alienation Study Group Research Committee and is editor-in-chief or Parental Alienation International. 

(Director)

Kristine currently works as a senior Intensive Care Physician. She holds a degree in science, majoring in Pharmacology from the University of Queensland, and she went on to complete post graduate studies in Nutrition and Dietetics from the Queensland University of Technology. 

Kristine practised as a clinical dietitian whilst completing her medical degree with honours from the University of Queensland. She has worked across both private and public health sectors and conducted both large and smaller scale medical research as both a principle and sub investigator 

Kristine holds a Fellowship with the Australian and New Zealand College of Intensive Care Medicine and spends her time dedicated to the care of critically ill patients and their families. She undertook a broad range of medical specialty training prior to completing her intensive care specialty, including time spent as a registrar in both adult and adolescent Psychiatry, Obstetrics & gynaecology and Lung Transplant medicine. She is also an examiner for the University of Queensland Medical School.  

Kristine is currently in the final stages of completing her Fellowship with the Australian Society of Lifestyle Medicine. 

Kristine has lived experience as an alienated mother. She is committed to contributing to change and education in the arena of family law and domestic violence legislation for men, women and children. In particular, she seeks to further promote education and robust research in the area of parental alienation and post separation coercive control for the benefit of all alienated children and parents. 

(Director)

Suzanne Verhaar has a background of working in various psychological, educational and child protection roles. Suzanne uses evidence-based approaches tailored to individual needs to support clients experiencing a range of  challenges related to anxiety, mood, adjustment disorders, PTSD, adult ADHD and grief/loss. Suzanne has a special interest in working with parents, perinatal clients, and couples/ families affected by parental  separation and/or divorce. 

Suzanne conducted research into the effects of parental alienation on the mental health and wellbeing of adults who were alienated as children under the supervision of PA researcher Dr Mandy Matthewson. Suzanne now offers evidence-based  therapy (in person and via telehealth) aimed specifically to targeted parents and alienated children who are hoping to gain insight into their unique challenges.