Teaching Strengths
Dr Cecily Young
Lecturer
School of Psychology
College of Education, Behavioural and Social Sciences
I am a Lecturer in the School of Psychology and the Supervising Clinical Psychologist of the Supported Families Program, a placement opportunity for Master of Psychology students which is offered in partnership with Ronald McDonald House South and Central Australia. I am a registered psychologist with clinical endorsement and a board approved supervisor. My clinical experience includes perinatal mental health, working with adult survivors of childhood trauma, completing psychological and developmental assessments, and consulting within multidisciplinary teams. My doctoral thesis examined resilience in the transition to parenthood. I have a particular interest in qualitative research methods (including reflexive thematic analysis) but also use quantitative methods.
I am passionate about the needs and experiences of families with young children. I am particularly interested in the barriers which block access to supports and exploring the experiences of children and parents who are underrepresented in existing literature (e.g., First Nations, single-parent families, LGBTIQA+, culturally diverse).
Research interests
- Child mental health and development
- The transition to parenthood
- Development, implementation, and evaluation of psychological programs and resources
- Developmental and complex trauma
| Date | Position | Institution name |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 - ongoing | Clinic Supervisor | Adelaide University |
| 2024 - ongoing | Lecturer | University of Adelaide |
| 2024 - 2024 | Psychology Tutor | University of Adelaide |
| 2021 - 2024 | Senior Clinical Psychologist | Department for Child Protection |
| 2015 - 2021 | Doctoral Candidate | University of Adelaide |
| 2010 - 2022 | Senior Clinical Psychologist | Effect Psychology |
| 2010 - 2014 | Clinical Psychologist | Families SA |
| 2006 - 2008 | Psychology Tutor | University of South Australia |
| Date | Type | Title | Institution Name | Country | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Award | Australian Postrgaduate Award | - | - | - |
| Language | Competency |
|---|---|
| English | Can read, write, speak, understand spoken and peer review |
| Polish | Can read, write, speak and understand spoken |
| Date | Institution name | Country | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 - 2021 | University of Adelaide | Australia | Doctor of Philosophy (Clinical Psychology) |
| 2009 - 2010 | University of Adelaide | Australia | Master of Psychology (Clinical) |
| 2007 - 2007 | University of South Australia | Australia | Graduate Diploma (Jungian Studies) |
| 2005 - 2005 | University of South Australia | Australia | Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) |
| 2002 - 2004 | University of South Australia | Australia | Bachelor of Psychology |
| Date | Title | Institution name | Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Marte Meo Practitioner | Marte Meo International | Australia |
| 2023 | Board approved supervisor | Psychology Board of Australia | Australia |
| 2012 | Approved area of practice: Clinical Psychology | Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency | Australia |
| 2012 | Circle of Security Facilitator | Circle of Security International | Australia |
| 2010 | Registered Psychologist | Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency | Australia |
| Year | Citation |
|---|---|
| 2021 | Young, C., Roberts, R., & Ward, L. (2021). Enhancing resilience in the transition to parenthood: a thematic analysis of parents' perspectives.. J Reprod Infant Psychol, 39(4), 358-370. Scopus14 WoS8 Europe PMC5 |
| 2020 | Young, C., Roberts, R., & Ward, L. (2020). Hindering resilience in the transition to parenthood: a thematic analysis of parents' perspectives.. Journal of reproductive and infant psychology, 40(1), 1-14. Scopus17 WoS17 Europe PMC7 |
| 2019 | Young, C., Roberts, R., & Ward, L. (2019). Application of resilience theories in the transition to parenthood: a scoping review. Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology, 37(2), 139-160. Scopus44 WoS42 Europe PMC23 |
| 2014 | Young, C., & Denson, L. (2014). Psychological health and provision of grandchild care in non-custodial 'baby boomer' grandparents. Journal of Family Studies, 20(1), 88-100. Scopus16 WoS14 |
| 2014 | Rayment, P., Young, C., & Guidolin, M. (2014). Therapeutic interventions for traumatised children in the child protection system in South Australia: matching the therapy to the child. Developing Practice: The Child, Youth and Family Work Journal, (38), 34-48. |
| Year | Citation |
|---|---|
| 2021 | Young, C., & Ayers, S. (2021). Risk and resilience in pregnancy and birth. In M. Ungar (Ed.), Multisystemic Resilience: Adaptation and Transformation in Contexts of Change (pp. 57-77). Oxford University Press. DOI Scopus8 |
| 2020 | Young, C. (2020). Transition to Parenthood. In Encyclopedia of Child and Adolescent Development (pp. 1-10). Wiley. DOI |
| Year | Citation |
|---|---|
| 2016 | Young, C., Roberts, R., & Ward, L. (2016). Mapping perinatal research: A scoping review of resilience theory in the transition to parenthood.. In Archive of Women's Mental Health. Melbourne. |
| Year | Citation |
|---|---|
| 2016 | Young, C., Roberts, R., & Ward, L. (2016). Mapping perinatal research: A scoping review of resilience theory in the transition to parenthood (Poster).. Poster session presented at the meeting of Frontiers in perinatal mental health - Looking to the future.. Melbourne. DOI |
Sawyer. A., Russo, K., Young, C., Princi-Hubbard, R., Carbone, J., Richardson, V., John, M., Smedley, C., Reece, C. & Due, C. (2025). Attachment-informed perinatal care – Evaluating a universal program to support infant mental health at the transition to parenthood Women’s and Children's Hospital Foundation, $699,802
Healthy Development Adelaide Travel Grant. Awarded to attend and present at the World Association of Infant Mental Health conference (Rome, September, 2018), $1,000
2026 Course Coordinator for Graduate Diploma in Psychology (Advanced) Professional and Interpersonal Skills OTP1| Tutor Insights into Health and Developmental Psychology Semester 1 and Semester 2 |Guest Lecturer, Master of Psychology Program, WISC V administration practical; Assessment of Infant Development
2025 Course Coordinator for Graduate Diploma in Psychology (Advanced) Professional and Interpersonal Skills OTP1, OTP2, OTP5; Psychological Measurement and Assessment OTP3
2024 Tutor, Psychology Skills and Applications
2024 Guest Lecturer, Master of Psychology Program, Assessment of Infant Development; Personality Assessment
2023 Guest Lecturer, Master of Psychology Program; Personality Assessment
| Date | Role | Research Topic | Location | Program | Supervision Type | Student Load | Student Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 - 2025 | Principal Supervisor | Intentional Connection: A Qualitative Analysis of Podcast Episodes, Exploring Strengths Employed by Mothers in Same-Gender Relationships During Matrescence | Adelaide University | Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) | Honours | - | Monique Woods |
| 2025 - 2025 | Principal Supervisor | “My client is the manual”: A Thematic Analysis of Individualist and Systematic Tensions in Australian Perinatal Psychologists' Priorities When Caring for LGBTQIA+ Clients | Adelaide University | Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) | Honours | - | Sophie Woods |
| 2025 - 2025 | Co-Supervisor | Internalized Stigma and Psychological Distress in Sexual and Gender Diverse Youth: The Role of Perceived School Safety | Adelaide University | Master of Psychology (Clinical) | Master | - | Adam Carter |
| Date | Role | Membership | Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 - ongoing | Member | Australasian Society for Traumatic Stress Studies | Australia |
| 2016 - ongoing | Member | Australian Association for Infant Mental Health | Australia |
| 2016 - ongoing | Member | Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth | - |
| 2015 - ongoing | Member | Healthy Development Adelaide | Australia |
| 2009 - ongoing | Member | Australian Psychological Society | Australia |
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