Profile
Associate Professor Skeffington is a Clinical Psychologist in private practice and Senior Lecturer at Murdoch University. Petra is a sessional academic and research co-ordinator at Curtin University. She researches PTSD, resilience to trauma, treatment of non-suicidal self-injury and OCD. Dr Skeffington has tutored and lectured on research methods, non-suicidal self-injury and professional practice in both undergraduate and postgraduate university courses.
Dr Skeffington has worked extensively in the field of trauma, including PTSD, and the impact of trauma on individuals, partners and families. She also has extensive experience with FIFO work and its associated effects on family and mental health. She is currently appointed as a Senior Lecturer at Murdoch University.
Dr Skeffington’s clinical supervisors for her registrarship (completed 2016) are Janine De Soyza and A/Prof Brendon Dellar.
Experience
Sessional academic & research co-ordinator at Curtin University of Technology (current)
Currently co-ordinating a clinical trial for the treatment of non-suicidal self-injury. Current and past tutoring and lecturing in research methods and professional practice.
Sessional academic & guest lecturer at the University of WA and Murdoch University (2011-2013)
Teaching undergraduate research methods and professional practice.
Private Practice (current)
Providing Clinical Psychologist services in a primary health care setting.
Resilience Training Officer- Department of Fire and Emergency Services
Provision of resilience and wellness training within the recruit school.
Psychologist (2008-current)
Practiced across a range of settings, including Consultation Liaison Psychiatry in a public hospital, working with returned Veteran’s and their families, working in rural settings (Pilbara region) and working with young people.
Academic Peer Reviewer
Conducting peer review of submitted research for the following journals: PLOS-ONE, Clinical Psychologist, Australian Psychology, Journal of Trauma and Dissociation. Abstract reviewer for practice and scientific committees for the Fourth World Congress on Positive Psychology (2015) and the Population Health Congress (2015).
Education
PhD
Master of Psychology (Clinical Psychology)
Master of Counselling
Bachelor of Arts (Honours), Psychology
Awards and Memberships
Associate Member: Australian Psychological Society and APS College of Clinical Psychologists
Previously on the student advisor sub-committee for the APS College of Clinical Psychologists.
Member: Australian Clinical Psychologists Association
Member: Australian Association for Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
Postgraduate mentor at Curtin University of Technology (2015)
Australian Postgraduate Award (2013)
Curtin University Postgraduate Scholarship (2013)
PsyLIFE Award (2013)
3-minute thesis grand finalist & people’s choice award (2013)
Clinical Interests
PTSD, trauma, positive psychology, resilience/prevention of mental health issues, OCD
Presentations
2015 Evaluating a targeted intervention for the primary prevention of PTSD: A randomised-controlled trial- paper presented at European Society for Traumatic Stress Studies International Conference in Vilnius, Lithuania; Stress, Trauma and Anxiety Research Conference in Tel Aviv, Israel, AFAC Conference in Adelaide, inaugural PTSD Forum in Brisbane and APS National Conference on the Gold Coast.
2014 Trauma exposure and PTSD within Fire & Emergency Services in Western Australia- paper presented at the Brain, Behaviour and Mental Health First Annual Conference
The theory driven and evidence-based primary prevention of PTSD- presentation at the Denis Glencross Memorial Conference in Perth.
Gold-standard treatment for adults and adolescents with OCD- presentation at Mental Health First Aid continuing professional development seminar.
2013 A resiliency program for WA Fire and Emergency Service Workers- paper presentation at the Crisis Intervention and Management Australasia (CIMA) National Conference in Melbourne
2012 The primary prevention of PTSD: A systematic review- paper presentation at the Australian Psychological Society National Conference.
Publications
Skeffington, P., Rees, C., Mazzucchelli, T., & Kane, R. (in press). Evaluating a targeted intervention for the primary prevention of PTSD: A randomised-controlled trial
Skeffington, P., Rees, C., Mazzucchelli, T., & Kane, R. (in press). Trauma exposure and PTSD within Fire and Emergency Services in Western Australia.
Skeffington, P., & Browne, A. (2014) Art therapy, trauma and substance misuse: Using imagery to explore a difficult past with a complex client. International Journal of Art Therapy, DOI: 10.1080/17454832.2014.910816
Skeffington, P., Rees, C., & Kane, R. (2013) The primary prevention of PTSD: A systematic review. The Journal of Trauma & Dissociation, doi:10.1080/15299732.2012.753653.
Skeffington, P. (2012). Quality of lifestyle: Building the foundations for better mental health. InPsych, 35(1), 16-17.
Hynd. A, Skeffington P & Cooke, D. (2005) Working with Dad’s and Mum’s: A Community-Based Response to Postnatal Depression. Ngala Publication
Fees
Fees for clinical consultations can be found on www.cygnetclinic.com.au/fees
Referrals
Medicare based referrals, WC/MVA and EAP accepted. Self-referral is also accepted.