Dianna Bartsch

Dianna Bartsch

School of Psychology

Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences

I am an adjunct Clinical Senior Lecturer for the School of Psychology and Research Coordinator at the Borderline Personality Disorder Collaborative (BPD Co), SA Health. I am passionate about integrating science and practice in the field of psychology and within tertiary mental health settings. I strongly advocate for consumer-focused service-provision and access to high quality evidence-based psychological therapies.

My current research aims to evaluate stepped care for the treatment of Borderline Personality Disorder. I have particular interest in early intervention strategies targeting suicide/self-harm, group therapy, psychometric assessments for personality disorders, stigma and staff attitudes, personality disorder and parenting, carer and family interventions, youth mental health, and prevalence of BPD in the criminal justice system. I am interested in a broad range of psychotherapy approaches including Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Mentalization based therapy (MBT), General Psychiatric Management (GPM) and Schema Therapy, administered in different modalities (e.g. face-to-face vs. video-conferencing).

Finally, I also have additional research interests relating to other chronic and complex mental health conditions (e.g. psychosis, trauma), children of parents with a mental illness (COPMI), leadership in clinical psychology.

  • Appointments
    Date Position Institution name
    2019 - ongoing Research Coordinator Barossa, Hills, Fleurieu Local Health Network (BHF LHN)
    2013 - 2019 Principal Clinical Psychologist Southern Adelaide Local Health Network
    2012 - 2013 Acting Principal Clinical Psychologist Southern Adelaide Local Health Network
    2008 - 2013 Clinical Psychologist North East Psychology
    2007 - 2012 Clinical Psychologist Central Northern Adelaide Health Service
    2007 - 2010 Clinical Psychologist Central Northern Adelaide Health Service
    2006 - 2006 Psychologist SA Health
    2006 - 2006 Psychologist Central Northern Adelaide Health Service

  • Awards and Achievements
    Date Type Title Institution Name Country Amount
    2020 Achievement Dean’s Commendation for Doctoral Thesis Excellence The University of Adelaide Australia -
    2004 Award Alumni Certificate of Achievement for Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) University of South Australia Australia -
    2003 Achievement First Class Honours in Psychology (Honours) University of South Australia Australia -
    2002 Achievement Chancellor's Merit List University of South Australia Australia -
    2000 Achievement Dean's Merit List University of South Australia Australia -

  • Education
    Date Institution name Country Title
    2020 The University of Adelaide Australia Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
    2004 - 2006 University of South Australia Australia Master of Psychology (Clinical)
    2003 - 2003 University of South Australia Australia Bachelor of Psychology (Honours)
    2000 - 2002 University of South Australia Australia Bachelor of Psychology

  • Research Interests
    Clinical Psychology Personality, Abilities and Assessment Social and personality psychology Personality and individual differences Mental health services

  • Other Supervision Activities
    Date Role Research Topic Location Program Supervision Type Student Load Student Name
    2023 - 2023 External Supervisor "Right now I feel ok but more so that I am surviving not thriving”: Experiences of Sharing the Parenting with a Person Diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder The University of Adelaide Master of Psychology (Clinical) Master Full Time Claire Pascoe
    2022 - 2022 External Supervisor Exploring Personality Pathology and Minority Stress Among Australian Sexual and Gender Minorities The University of Adelaide Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) Honours Full Time Sierra Magann
    2022 - 2022 External Supervisor Attitudes Towards Parents with A Diagnosis of Borderline Personality Disorder The University of Adelaide Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) Honours Full Time Dana Laird
    2022 - 2022 External Supervisor An Evaluation of a BPD-Specific Training That Was Developed and Delivered in Collaboration with Experts by Lived Experience on the Attitudes, Empathy and Optimism of Mental Health Professionals The University of Adelaide Master of Psychology (Clinical) Master Full Time Molly Wright
    2013 - 2013 External Supervisor Mindfulness skills in a DBT skills training group program for BPD The University of Adelaide Master of Psychology (Clinical) Master Part Time Roberta Mitchell

  • Memberships
    Date Role Membership Country
    2009 - ongoing Member Australian Psychological Society Clinical College Australia
    2008 - ongoing Member Australian Psychological Society Australia
Connect With Me
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