Kathryn Esparza is a registered Clinical Psychologist who completed her Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology at Australian Catholic University. Kathryn has experience working in acute adult mental health and extensively in private practice – working with clients across the life-span and a range of mental health presentations. In particular, Kathryn is passionate about promoting strong family relationships and supporting parents as they navigate the various stages of their child’s development. She has also provided clinical supervision to case managers and settlement workers supporting humanitarian migrant families. Prior to completing her qualifications, Kathryn also worked as a residential youth worker and an applied behaviour therapist for children with autism spectrum disorder.
In terms of research, Kathryn has a special interest in parenting and child adjustment, anxiety, cross-cultural psychology, and migrant mental health. Kathryn has gained sessional academia experience in the subject areas of cross-cultural psychology, counselling, grief and loss, child development, and health psychology. The focus of her PhD research is finding means to promote the psychological well-being of migrant and refugee families following arrival in Australia. For this body of work Kathryn was the recipient of the Australia Postgraduate Award and is completing her research at the University of Queensland.
Professional memberships
- Member Australian Psychological Society
- Registered Psychologist with Clinical Endorsement – Psychology Board of Australia
- Triple P Facilitator (Positive Parenting Program)
Awards and fellowships
- Winner Thesis Oral Presentation of the Year – Australian Catholic University, 2012
- Australian Postgraduate Award – University of Queensland, 2014
- Academic Excellence Award – Australian Catholic University, 2011
Professional social media
- ABC Sunshine Coast interview, 30 January 2023 - Child researchers find growing link between pandemic screen time and school refusal rates
- ABC Sunshine Coast interview, 22 March 2023 - How to tell your kids the family is under financial pressure, according to a child psychologist
Potential research projects for HDR and Honours students
- Parenting and family relationships
- Parenting across cultures and in the context of migration
- Cross-cultural psychology and mental health of CALD migrant populations
Research areas
- parenting and family relationships
- parenting across cultures and in the context of migration
- cross-cultural psychology and mental health of CALD migrant populations
Teaching areas
Kathryn Espaza's specialist areas of knowledge include adjustment of migrant and refugee families, parenting after migration, preventive family interventions, positive parenting.