About

I have a Bachelor Arts (Psychology), with First Class Honours, and a PhD in Clinical Psychology. My PhD dissertation explored the rejection experiences of  gay men and women coming out to family.  The study sought to understand how rejection was portrayed and perceived, and importantly, how participants coped with rejection. 

I have experience in the public and private sector providing short and longer-term therapy.

I have previously worked for YouthLink, a specialist clinic within the Western Australian Health Department,  providing therapy to young people (13 - 25 years old) who seek help for a range of reasons including gender identity, trauma, mood disorders, anxiety disorders, homelessness, and other psychosocial issues. Within this role, I acted as senior clinical psychologist in the Gender Pathways Service, covering the lead's maternity leave. Here I worked exclusively with gender diverse people in assisting them meet their medical transition goals.

I have also previously worked at Royal Perth Hospital providing therapy to inpatients and outpatients with a wide-range of presentations including those living with or at risk of contracting HIV, sexual health issues, depression, PTSD, anxiety, adjustment to diagnoses and personality disorders.

My work in the private sector included providing a range of psychological services under Employee Assistance Programs, the Better Access to Mental Health Care Initiative, and Workers’ Compensation. In this setting I also provided critical incidence response counselling/support and mental health training to a number of organisations.  

Qualifications

PhD (Clinical Psychology)

BA (Hons)

BA

Publications, conference presentations,
and invited speaker

Carastathis, G., Cohen, L., Chang, P., & Kaczmarek, E. (2017). Rejected by family for being gay or lesbian: Portrayals, perceptions, and resilience. Journal of Homosexuality, 64, 289-320.

Hancock, P., Carastathis, G., Georgiou, J., & Oliveira, M. (2015). Female textile and garment workers in Sri Lankan Export Processing Zones (EPZs): Gender dimensions and working Conditions in an export-oriented economy. Sri Lankan Journal of Social Science, 38(1), 63-77.

Hancock, P., Carastathis, G., Georgiou, J., & Adibi, H. (2015). Influence of education on gender and status: A study of Sri Lankan export processing zone workers. International Journal of Gender Studies in Developing Societies, 1(2), 157–180.

Hancock, P., Carastathis, G., Georgiou, J., Oliveira M., & Mackeith, S. (2014). Women’s economic empowerment and formal income: Sri Lankan Export Processing Zones (EPZs) and their impact on gender perceptions of empowerment. Norsk Geografisk Tidsskrift - Norwegian Journal of Geography, 68(5), 291–300. doi: 10.1080/00291951.2014.965740

Carastathis, G. (2012). Gay and lesbian resilience in the face of family rejection. Invited speaker at the University of Western Australia’s ALLY Network meeting, Perth, WA.

Carastathis, G., & Cohen, L., Chang, P., & Kaczmarek, E. (2012). Rejected by your family: Experiences of gay men and lesbians coming out. Poster presented at the 47th Australian Psychological Society Annual Conference, Perth, WA.

Chang, P., & Carastathis, G. (2012). Unrealistic Optimism Helps Predict Adolescents’ Intentions to Protect Themselves from the Sun. Poster presented at the 24th Annual meeting of the Association for Psychological Science, Chicago, IL.

Carastathis, G., & Chang, P. (2010). Predicting Adolescent Intentions to Use Sun Protection: Extending the Theory of Planned Behaviour. Poster presented at the 27th International Congress of Applied Psychology, Melbourne, VIC.