Dr Karin du Plessis
Couples Counsellor & Adjunct Associate Professor, Victoria University
PhD (Psychology) MA (Psychology)
BA (Psychology) DipCouns, MACA
Member of the College of Supervisors
About Me
Born in South Africa where I completed my undergraduate degree in Psychology, I have also lived in New Zealand for 10 years before moving to Australia in 2008. My post-graduate Masters and PhD studies in Psychology focused on couples' relationships, conflict and attachment.
​
I currently predominantly wear two work 'hats'. Most of my time is spent in private practice - I am a Registered Counsellor and specialise in working with couples using primarily the Gottman Method in my private practice. I also am a Clinical Supervisor for clinicians with a particular focus on relationships/couples cases and building private practice. For more information or to enquire about my availability, please click on the link to my practice website:
or read my couples counselling blog.
I also do some occasional academic writing/work as Adjunct Associate Professor at Victoria University. I have extensive experience as a researcher with strong skills in managing complex multi-site research projects and clinical trials. My area of focus has been broadly in mental health and medical research, including managing a clinical cardiac registry, and more recently university student wellbeing.
My research experience extends to relationship-building, leading teams and strategically interfacing with a wide range of people from cardiac surgeons to construction workers and young people. I am well versed in mixed methods research, evidence reviews and program evaluation. I am dedicated to research excellence, including consumer engagement, adhering to ethical standards, effective resource management and translating evidence-based findings to policy and practice.
HIGHLIGHTS
​
PhD (Psychology), 2006
Massey University, New Zealand
​
CURRENT/RECENT WORK EXPERIENCE
Private Practice - Relationships Squared
Couples Counselling
Owner
Jan 2020 - current
​
Victoria University
Institute of Sustainable Industries and Liveable Cities (ISILC)
Adjunct Associate Professor
March 2021- current
​
Murdoch Children’s Research Institute
Australian and New Zealand Fontan Registry Research Manager
May 2014 – March 2019
61 Peer reviewed manuscripts published
3 Books
h-index = 18
​
Top Cited Manuscripts:
[172 citations] Dennis, M., Zannino, D., Du Plessis, K., et al. (2018). Clinical outcomes in adolescents and adults after the Fontan procedure. Journal of the American College of Cardiology, March, 71(9): 1009-1017
​
[153 citations] Schilling, C., Dalziel, K., Nunn, R., Du Plessis, K., et al. (2016). The Fontan epidemic: Population projections from the Australia and New Zealand Fontan Registry. International Journal of Cardiology, 219, 14-9.
​
Have attracted $1,341,399 in competitive funding as chief or co-investigator