Dr. Alicia Carter
BPsych. GradDipPsych (Distinction). MAPS (Health Psychology). PhDLecturer - Psychology-636841
School of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences
42-52 - 3.21
Alicia is a practicing Health Psychologist, Teaching Scholar and researcher.
Alicia’s research, clinical practice, teaching and supervision focuses on Health Psychology and Compassion Focused Therapy. Broadly, Alicia focuses on the use of applied research methods and clinical practice to explore the relationship we have with ourselves and others and how this impacts mental health outcomes, health conditions and health behaviours. Specifically, Alicia uses theoretical evolutionary models to understand types of mindsets that influence thoughts, feelings, behaviours and motivate people to behave in particular ways. Her teaching experience expands across all higher education levels (undergraduate, honours and masters) as well as across multiple disciplines in private and public health education. Since her employment at CQU, Alicia has successfully supervised honours and master students to completion in the role of both secondary and primary supervisor (research), in addition to taking on the role of secondary supervisor (research) for PhD students.
She has expertise in developing and implementing interdisciplinary mixed method research designs that contributes to outcomes in health psychology, clinical psychology, public health and sports psychology.
Background
Before joining CQU Alicia was awarded the Joseph Sleight Bursary grant from the University of Queensland examining topics that seek to further understand the psychology processes relevant to the development, prevention or treatment of a medical condition. Alicia has continued this area of interest both private and public sectors where she has developed workshops for government organizations (for example: destigmatisation programs for people living with HIV/AIDs, Queensland Positive People), research projects (for example: Groups 4 Health, University of Queensland; the Social Cure, University of Queensland) in addition to working as a psychologist in interdisciplinary hospital settings in the area of chronic pain (Wesley Hospital).
In addition to her work in academia, Alicia continues to work in private practice and is a strong advocate for the scientist practitioner model. She is active in the field of Compassion Focused Therapy and is an affiliate member of the Compassionate Mind Research Group (University of Queensland) in addition to being Chair of the Australian and New Zealand Compassion Focused Therapy Supervision Group (since 2023).
Universities Studied At
Griffith University,
Queensland University of Technology,
University of Queensland
Universities Worked At
University of Queensland
Awards
2021: Dean's Award for Outstanding HDR Theses, in recognition to outstanding PhD and MPhil graduates who have produced an exceptional thesis that makes an outstanding contribution to the field of research. University of Queensland
2021: Tutor Excellence Award, in recognition to individuals who make a substantial contribution to enhancing the quality of learning and teaching. Course title: The New Psychology of Health. University of Queensland.
Media Citations
2024: Podcast. Advocate Insights. Dr Kate Watson. Topic: The Body Shame Game
2023: ABC Listening. Segment: Brisbane Drive with Steve Austin. Topic: The benefits of boredom,
2022: 4ZZZ. Segment: Only Human. Topic: Body weight shame.
2022: You Tube. Compassion in a T-Shirt. Dr Stan Steindl. Topic: Compassion focused therapy for body weight shame.
Previous teaching
Alicia' teaching experience expands across all higher education levels (undergraduate, honour and master) as well as across multiple schools of disciplines (i.e., Psychology, Public Health, Science). Throughout her career, Alicia has guest lectured as well as managed the administration, delivery and development of post-graduate units in the as Unit Coordinator. In addition to developing, delivering and maintaining unit curricular and resources, Alicia has assisted in the restructure of Courses that meet external accreditation standards. Alicia enjoys teaching and her ethos is to create learning material that is fun and engaging to enhance students' development, understanding and curiosity. Alicia has a particular interest in neurodiversity and is passionate about the implementation of learning and assessment practices that support all learners.
Professional Memberships
APRAH: Registered Psychologist, Psychology Board of Australia
WIT: Women in Innovation and Technology
WIS: Women in Science
CMF: Compassionate Mind Foundation (UK) and Australia
AADPA: Australasian ADHD Professionals Association
Accreditation
I am currently accredited for supervision in the following:
- 4203 Health services and systems
- 4206 Public health
Current Capacity
Current Supervision
Allied health and rehabilitation science - Rehabilitation
Public health - Preventative health care
Traditional, complementary and integrative medicine - Traditional, complementary and integrative medicine not elsewhere classified
Applied and developmental psychology - Child and adolescent development
Biological psychology - Behavioural neuroscience
Clinical and health psychology - Clinical psychology
Clinical and health psychology - Counselling psychology
Clinical and health psychology - Health psychology
Alicia has specific interest and expertise in the practice and research of health psychology in particular body weight shame, eating behaviors, nutrition and exercise.
Other psychology - Other psychology not elsewhere classified
Alicia has particular interest in the relationship we have with ourselves, others and animals.
Other psychology - Other psychology not elsewhere classified
Alicia has specific interest and expertise in the practice and research of Compassion Focused Therapy
Social and personality psychology - Community psychology
Social and personality psychology - Personality and individual differences
Social and personality psychology - Social psychology
