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Dr Karin du Plessis

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.

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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:

www.relationshipssquared.com

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

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EDUCATION

PhD (Psychology), 2006

Massey University, New Zealand

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CURRENT/RECENT WORK EXPERIENCE

Private Practice - Relationships Squared

Couples Counselling

Owner

Jan 2020 - current

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Victoria University

Institute of Sustainable Industries and Liveable Cities (ISILC)

Adjunct Associate Professor

 March 2021- current

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Murdoch Children’s Research Institute

Australian and New Zealand Fontan Registry Research Manager

May 2014 – March 2019

 

ACADEMIC PUBLISHING

61 Peer reviewed manuscripts published

3 Books

h-index = 18

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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

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[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.


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FUNDING

Have attracted $1,341,399 in competitive funding as chief or co-investigator
 

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