Dr Sarah McDonald is a Senior Lecturer, Clinical Psychologist and Board Approved Supervisor and is currently working in the Discipline of Clinical Psychology at the Graduate School of Health. Over the last 15 years, Sarah has been developing her expertise as a scientist practitioner, balancing teaching, with working on large funded clinical research trials, alongside managing a successful clinical practice. Over this time, she has also published 16 articles, presented at national and international conferences, and has received a number of competitive awards.

Early in her career, Sarah uncovered her research and clinical interests in the process and predictors of adjustment to stressful life events. She went on to complete her Doctor of Clinical Psychology and PhD both at the University of Sydney. Her PhD examined the role of body image in predicting outcomes for individuals with diabetes and/or an amputation.

Since completing her clinical and research doctorates, Sarah has held post-doctoral roles across several metro-Sydney institutions, including the University of Sydney, Macquarie University and University of Technology Sydney. These experiences have not only developed her leadership skills but they have also contributed to her building expertise in the development, implementation, and assessment of virtual mental health interventions for a variety of clinical presentations (e.g., mood disorders, anxiety disorders, stressor related disorders, obsessive compulsive disorders, neurological disorders and older adult mental health).

“My experiences working with a number of clinical teams, developing content for and managing large clinical trials, both traditional face-to-face and virtual mental health treatment trials has been central to my growing research interests in; preventative care, stepped care, transdiagnostic care as well as better understanding predictors of treatment outcome,” Sarah said.

While her research interests have evolved over time, she continues to be interested in better understanding adjustment, wellbeing as well as developing, implementing, and assessing interventions for individuals faced with stressful life and/or work circumstances. Congruent with this, Sarah’s current research interests are in staff wellbeing, self-care, self-regulation and self-compassion, with an emphasis on the role these play in wellbeing. Sarah has a keen interest in gaining a better understanding of the mental health care needs of staff in a variety of industries with a plan for developing preventative and responsive interventions for staff wellbeing.

From 2021-2023 Sarah was appointed as the Course Coordinator for the Graduate Diploma in Psychology and Graduate Diploma in Psychology (Advanced) courses, and was involved in the development of these courses and implementation of the UTS Indigenous Graduate Attribute. At the time the team were highly commended by the Dean of the Faculty for their efforts for promoting Social Justice and Equity.

Sarah is currently appointed as a Casual Academic within the discipline of Clinical Psychology.