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Dr Alissa Knight

Director & Clinical Psychologist

PhD; M.Psych (Clin); B.Psych (Hons); B.ED (JP/P); M.Journalism

Outside of my role as a Psychologist, I am just me ~ Alissa. I am a wife to a Basketballer, and a mother to two beautiful children, a 6-year-old boy and a 2-year-old baby girl. I love animals, travelling, health and fitness, catching up with friends, and proud to say I love watching the Bachelor and Love Island.

Prior to becoming a Psychologist, I worked in roles as a Scientist (Researcher) in areas such as Psychiatry, Psychology and Nutrition. I also worked as a Primary School Teacher, Journalist (Breakfast Radio Host), and Professional Dancer performing choreographed routines on stage in front of large audiences. I also taught dance to children and adolescents at a South Australian Dance Academy. I am also an accredited Les Mills BodyBalance (yoga, Tai Chi, relaxation and meditation) instructor, and taught BodyBalance in fitness centres around Australia for 9 years. 

Working as a Psychologist feels like such a gift. I made the career transition from working as a Psychology Researcher after realising that it was working with real-life people that I loved the most and wanted to focus all my attention on. Particularly, I love working with youth (teenagers and young adults) because they have their whole lives ahead of them to enjoy and explore, and they deserve to be immersed in this happiness.

I find it so rewarding to be able to meet such incredible young people, who are so special and unique in their own right, and help guide them back to the person they want to be, and move towards the life they want to live. 

Outside of my role as a Psychologist, I am just me ~ Alissa. I am a wife to a Basketballer, and a mother to two beautiful children, a 6-year-old boy and a 2-year old girl. I love animals, travelling, health and fitness, catching up with friends, and proud to say I love watching the Bachelor and Love Island.

Prior to becoming a Psychologist, I worked in roles as a Scientist (Researcher) in areas such as Psychiatry, Psychology and Nutrition. I also worked as a Primary School Teacher, Journalist (Breakfast Radio Host), and Professional Dancer performing choreographed routines on stage in front of large audiences. I also taught dance to children and adolescents at a South Australian Dance Academy. I am also an accredited Les Mills BodyBalance (yoga, Tai Chi, relaxation and meditation) instructor, and taught BodyBalance in fitness centres around Australia for 9 years. 

Working as a Psychologist feels like such a gift. I made the career transition from working as a Psychology Researcher after realising that it was working with real-life people that I loved the most and wanted to focus all my attention on. Particularly, I love working with youth (teenagers and young adults) because they have their whole lives ahead of them to enjoy and explore, and they deserve to be immersed in this happiness.

I find it so rewarding to be able to meet such incredible young people, who are so special and unique in their own right, and help guide them back to the person they want to be, and move towards the life they want to live. 

Academic Background

Academic Background

One of my big passions is knowledge. All kinds of knowledge, from lived experience, cultural, spiritual, and academic. My belief is true happiness is inspired by kindness, love and connection, and transformed by knowledge

My vision from day one was to become a psychologist who advocated for system change. My findings from working with youth in early research projects was by and large, most felt they did not connect well with conventional ways of delivering therapy.

Hearing the voices of the youth I had worked with, my goal was to search across the globe for better ways to deliver psychological therapy to youth that offered more effective, compassionate, and trusting outcomes. And so, I begun a journey looking for the most ground-breaking ways to improve the whole approach to psychology treatment with youth.

My journey begun at university. My academic background spans across 17 years of University Education (a long time…. I know!). Across those years, what I gained was an amazing learning experience. I now hold 5 University Degrees across fields of Psychology, Neurology, Junior Primary/Primary/high school Dance Education, and Journalism.

Once I graduated from university, my endeavour to build upon that knowledge continued. I enrolled in many different types of psychology courses and programs from leading experts right around the world, in hopes that I could be inspired by people who were proving to be innovative pioneers, and truly changing the face of psychology. Of those, undoutably, Dr Susan Simpson, Carolyn Costin, Terri Sheldon, and Dr Peta Stapleton ~ left an incredible influence on me.

Academic Background

Qualifications

Affiliations

Research Background

My passion for research has been translated in over 16 peer-reviewed scientific journals and a book chapter. Feel welcome to click the toggles below to view the full list of those, or check out the full texts on my professional ResearchGate page by clicking on the link  https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Alissa-Knight

  • Knight, A. (2017). Mediterranean diet as a potential strategy to reduce cognitive decline and dementia in elderly. In T. Farooqui & A. A. Farooqui (Eds.), Role of the Mediterranean diet in the brain and neurodegenerative disease. Toronto: Elsevier.
  • Knight, A., & Hicks, R. (2021). The effects of a BodyBalance mind-body intervention on academic-related stress among Australian university students: A pilot randomised controlled intervention study. [Under Review].
  • Knight, A., Pollock, D., Boyle, F., Horey, D., & Warland, J. (2021). Evidence available to guide care during labor and birth for women and their partners who know their baby will be stillborn: a scoping review protocol. JBI Evidence Synthesis.
  • Knight, A., Jarrad, G.A., Schrader, G.D., Strobel, J., Horton, D., & Bidargaddi, N. (2018). Monte carlo simulations demonstrate algorithmic interventions over time reduce hospitalisation in patients with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Biomedical Informatics Insights, 10, 1-7.
  • Knight, A., & Bidargaddi, N. (2018). Commonly available activity tracker apps and wearables as a mental health outcome indicator: A prospective observational cohort study among young adults with psychological distress. Journal of Affective Disorders.
  • Knight, A., Fouyaxis, J., Jarrad, G., Beski, K., Chao, G., & Bidargaddi, N. (2018). Systems to harness digital footprints to elucidate and facilitate ageing in place. IOS Press.
  • Knight, A., Bryan, J., Wilson, C., Hodgson, J., Davis, C., & Murphy, K. (2016). The Mediterranean diet and cognitive function among healthy older adults in a 6-month randomised controlled trial: The MedLey study. Nutrients, 8(9), 579-596.
  • Knight, A., Bryan, J., & Murphy, K. (2016). The Mediterranean Diet and Age-related Cognitive Functioning: A Systematic Review of Study Findings and Neuropsychological Assessment Methodology. Nutritional Neuroscience.
  • Knight, A., Castelnuovo, G., Pietrabissa, G., Manzoni, G.M., Simpson, S. (2016).
    Drunkorexia: An empirical investigation among Australian female university students. Australian Psychologist.
  • Knight, A., Bryan, J., & Murphy, K. (2015). Is the Mediterranean diet a feasible approach to preserving cognitive function and reducing risk of dementia for older adults in Western countries? New insights and future directions. Ageing Research Reviews 25,85-101.
  • Knight, A., Bryan, J., Wilson, C., Hodgson, J., & Murphy, K. (2015). A randomised controlled intervention trial evaluating the efficacy of a Mediterranean dietary pattern on cognitive function and psychological wellbeing in healthy older adults: the MedLey study. BMC Geriatrics,15(55).
  • Knight, A., Bryan., J., & Murphy, K. (2014). Is the Mediterranean dietary pattern the next step forward to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, dementia, and age- related cognitive decline among the elderly? 2nd World Forum for Nutrition Research Conference 2014 – Translating the Principles of the Mediterranean Diet, At Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, Brisbane Queensland, Australia, Volume: 71
  • Knight, A., Bryan, J., & Murphy, K. (2013). The Mediterranean dietary pattern and age-related cognitive functioning: a systematic review of study findings and methodological issues. PROSPERO International prospective register of systematic reviews, 1-4.
  • Knight, A., & Simpson, S. (2013). Drunkorexia: an empirical investigation of disordered eating in direct response to saving calories for alcohol use amongst Australian female university students. Journal of Eating Disorders.