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Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Psychology (Distinction, Victoria) 2014Zara Mansoor image
MSc Psychology (Distinction, Victoria) 2013
BA Hons Psychology (First Class, Victoria) 2012
BA Psychology and English (Otago) 2011

Research Fellow

Contact details

Email: zara.mansoor@otago.ac.nz

Research interests

  • Child, adolescent and family mental health
  • Parent/whānau based interventions
  • Evaluating mental health interventions in real world settings
  • Co-design
  • Child development
  • Cross-cultural psychology

Current projects

Zara is a Clinical Psychologist specialised in working with young people and their whānau. Alongside current research projects, she has a small private practice and is Co-Director at Whānau in Mind, an organisation that aims to provide evidence-based support for parents and whānau in the community.

Parent and whānau involvement in adolescent mental health interventions

Currently completing a PhD thesis under a Health Research Council NZ Clinical Research Practice Fellowship on supporting parents of early adolescents (10–14 years) in mental health services. This thesis includes a systematic review; co-design with young people and parents on research outcomes; and a feasibility randomised-control trial in Child Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) in the Wellington region evaluating the Tuning in to Teens programme for parents. Supervised by Professor James Stanley (Otago), Associate Professor Elliot Bell (Massey) and Dr Sarah Fortune (Auckland).

Evaluation of a new Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy training programme at Otago

Research Fellow on an evaluation led by Professor Susanna Every-Palmer (Otago) and Associate Professor Elliot Bell (Massey). This is an evaluation of the first NZ developed EMDR training programme and one of the first university-based programmes globally.

For information on the course, visit:
Study EMDR Therapy at Otago

Supporting the health and wellbeing of rangatahi living with psychosis

Research Fellow on a project led by Dr Matthew Jenkins (Otago) that aims to support and enhance the health and wellbeing of those experiencing early psychosis. This includes co-design with rangatahi impacted by psychosis and development of a physical health intervention. Selected outputs and updates for this project can be found at Moving with Psychosis

Research communication

Publications

Bell, E., Mansoor, Z., Flewett, T., Daniel, B., & Every-Palmer, S. (2024). Protocol for evaluating a novel university-based clinical training course in eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy in Aotearoa New Zealand. Journal of the New Zealand College of Clinical Psychologists, 34(1), 59-74. doi: 10.5281/zenodo.10939147 Journal - Research Article

Chinn, V., Creagh, E., Gardiner, T., Drysdale, B., Ramritu, P., Mansoor, Z., Every-Palmer, S., & Jenkins, M. (2024). Lived experience of health and wellbeing among young people with early psychosis in Aotearoa New Zealand. Community Mental Health Journal. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1007/s10597-024-01259-6 Journal - Research Article

Jenkins, M., Chinn, V., Gardiner, T., Drysdale, B., Ramritu, P., Mansoor, Z., Creagh, E., & Every-Palmer, S. (2023). Te Hekenga Whaiora: A co-designed system of support for the health of young people experiencing first episode psychosis. Journal of Sport & Exercise Science, 7(4), (pp. 68-69). doi: 10.36905/jses.2023.04.01 Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Buchanan, M., Walker, G., Boden, J. M., Mansoor, Z., & Newton-Howes, G. (2023). Protective factors for psychosocial outcomes following cumulative childhood adversity: Systematic review. BJPsych Open, 9, e197. doi: 10.1192/bjo.2023.561 Journal - Research Other

Mansoor, Z., Stanley, J., Fortune, S., Havighurst, S., & Bell, E. (2023). Evaluating an emotion coaching programme for parents of young adolescents attending Child Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) in New Zealand: Protocol for a multi-site feasibility trial including co-design with service users. Pilot & Feasibility Studies, 9, 70. doi: 10.1186/s40814-023-01282-6 Journal - Research Other

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