Dr Inge Gnatt
Bachelor of Dance, Graduate Diploma in Psychology, Bachelor of Psychology (Honours), Doctor of Philosophy (Clinical Psychology)
About me
Hi, my name is Inge and I am a registered psychologist and clinical psychology registrar based in Melbourne, Australia. I have experience working across inpatient, outpatient, and community settings with individuals, families, and groups across the lifespan. I founded Eir Practice in 2025 to create a space where I could provide care to individuals experiencing a range of mental health difficulties and life challenges. I consider it a huge privilege to be able to walk alongside people and use my skills to help them, and feel grateful every time I step into the room.
I have a particular interest in eating and body image concerns. I work from a trauma-informed perspective that emphasises collaboration, transparency, and empowerment, always promoting choice and respecting each person’s unique experience. Having originally trained as a classical ballet dance, I also enjoy supporting dancers to thrive in their careers, and navigate transitions with dignity and agency.
My Approach
I spend time to understand what the needs and goals are of the people who I am working with, and draw from a range of therapeutic intervention approaches. These include cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), compassion focused therapy (CFT), specialist supportive clinical management (SSCM), family-based eating disorder treatments for anorexia and ARFID, and eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR).
Research
Research is a central aspect of my work and a key motivation behind my pursuit of a PhD. My research spans various areas of clinical psychology, with a particular focus on eating disorders and the psychological impact of trauma exposure. I have presented my research in Australia, the United States of America, Italy and Germany.
I am committed to understanding the lived and living experiences of individuals, and to integrating these perspectives into both research and clinical practice.
I co-founded and actively co-lead the Integrative Clinical Psychology Lab at Swinburne University of Technology with Professor Maja Nedeljkovic, and am a member of the Scientific Work in Anorexia Nervosa & Other Eating Disorders (SWAN) Research Group led by A/Professor Andrea Phillipou
Professional Training Opportunities
Compassion Focused Therapy for Eating Disorders: 1-Day Online Training
Date: September 11th
Time: 10am - 5pm AEST
Learn how to work compassionately and effectively with clients experiencing eating disorders.
This full-day training is designed for mental health professionals who want to deepen their understanding of Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) and its application to eating disorders. Grounded in the latest research and clinical practice, this workshop explores how shame, self-criticism, and threat-based emotional regulation underpin many eating disorder presentations and how CFT can offer a powerful, de-shaming alternative.
You’ll gain:
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A clear understanding of the CFT model, including the three affect regulation systems
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Practical tools for working with fears of compassion, self-criticism, and the “tricky brain”
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Clinical strategies to help clients build a compassionate mind and engage in recovery-focused change
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Experiential exercises and case examples tailored to eating disorder presentations
This training is ideal for psychologists, counsellors, social workers, and other health professionals working in eating disorder settings, private practice, or generalist mental health care. Whether you’re new to CFT or looking to refine your skills, you’ll leave with increased confidence and a toolkit you can use immediately in practice.
You can book directly through the Centre for Eating, Weight and Body Image website: https://www.cewbi.com.au/service-page/compassion-focused-therapy
Publications
Eating Disorders and Trauma
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Conducted research into evidence-based treatment for eating disorders, focusing on cognitive flexibility, trauma, and posttraumatic stress.
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Developed and evaluated a compassion-focused group therapy for individuals with co-occurring eating disorders and trauma-related symptoms.
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Examined the roles of shame, emotion dysregulation, and interpersonal trauma in mental health outcomes.
Lived Experience in Research and Practice
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Promoted the integration of lived experience into psychological research and mental health service design.
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Explored the benefits and ethical considerations of embedding lived experience perspectives within research teams and clinical systems.
Mental Health Workforce and Systems
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Investigated the impact of COVID-19 on the mental health workforce, including wellbeing, burnout, and system strain.
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Examined factors influencing staff attraction, retention, and turnover in public mental health services.
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Evaluated the relevance and application of phase-based treatment approaches for complex trauma in Australian clinical settings.
Public Engagement & Media
Inge has explored the emotional reasons we turn to food for comfort, offering compassionate, evidence-based strategies to support healthier emotional regulation and eating patterns.
(The Conversation, 2024)
Inge has written about the benefits of staying active through the colder months to help manage joint pain and arthritis, emphasising movement as a protective and empowering way to care for your body.
(The Conversation, 2023)
Inge contributed expert psychological insights to a Dance Australia feature on why dancers shouldn’t ignore or push through pain, highlighting the mental health risks of normalising injury and the importance of listening to the body (Why you should not dance through pain, Dance Australia, 2022).
Inge provided psychological commentary in a live Channel 7 News interview with Rebecca Maddern, discussing the risks of harmful eating disorder content on TikTok, its impact on vulnerable users, and the importance of digital safety and support.
(Channel 7 News Melbourne, 2022)
Research Participation
I am not currently recruiting for any research but you are welcome to email me for future opportunities. ignatt@swin.edu.au
Compassion Focused Group Therapy For Eating Disorders
Social Anxiety Group Therapy
We are currently recruiting for the Social Anxiety Group which will be held at The Swinburne Psychology Clinic on Monday nights, starting in September, 2025.
I am also planning to facilitate more Compassion Focused groups beginning early 2026. If you are interested in potentially participating, then please contact psychprojects@swin.edu.au to express your interest.
Research Supervision
I am currently supervising students at Honours, Masters and PhD level.
If my research interests align with yours you can contact me about research supervision at Swinburne University of Technology