RESEARCH - INGE GNATT
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 deeply 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
PEER-REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS
Eating Disorders and Trauma
-
Conducted research into evidence-based treatment for eating disorders, focusing on cognitive flexibility, trauma, and posttraumatic stress.
-
Developed and evaluated a compassion-focused group therapy for individuals with co-occurring eating disorders and trauma-related symptoms.
-
Examined the roles of shame, emotion dysregulation, and interpersonal trauma in mental health outcomes.
Lived Experience in Research and Practice
-
Promoted the integration of lived experience into psychological research and mental health service design.
-
Explored the benefits and ethical considerations of embedding lived experience perspectives within research teams and clinical systems.
Mental Health Workforce and Systems
-
Investigated the impact of COVID-19 on the mental health workforce, including wellbeing, burnout, and system strain.
-
Examined factors influencing staff attraction, retention, and turnover in public mental health services.
-
Evaluated the relevance and application of phase-based treatment approaches for complex trauma in Australian clinical settings.
​
​
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT AND MEDIA
Explored the emotional drivers of using food to cope, offering compassionate and evidence-based strategies for improving emotional regulation and eating patterns. (The Conversation, 2024)
Wrote about the benefits of staying active during colder months for managing joint pain and arthritis, emphasising movement as a protective and empowering strategy.
(The Conversation, 2023)
Contributed expert psychological insights to a Dance Australia feature on why dancers should not ignore or push through pain, highlighting the mental health risks of normalising injury and the importance of listening to the body.
(Quoted in: Why you should not dance through pain, Dance Australia, 2022)
Provided psychological commentary in a Channel 7 News interview with Rebecca Maddern on the risks of harmful eating disorder content on TikTok, particularly for 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 will update this regularly.
COMPASSION-FOCUSED GROUP THERAPY
I am planning to facilitate more of these groups beginning later in 2025. 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
International Conference on Eating Disorders (ICED)
New York City, March 14-16, 2024