Dr Valentina Bianchi

“I am passionate about helping my clients make sense of their own experiences. First, I aim to connect as a human with another human. Then, I share my perspectives on how to work towards each client’s well-being goals. My practice is rooted in evidence-based approaches, and moulded around people’s needs and objectives.”

I am a Senior Clinical Psychologist supporting adults who want to improve their individual and relational well-being. I am trained and experienced in addressing difficulties intertwined with: emotion dysregulation, personality disorders, trauma (including PTSD and complex trauma), substance use, identity and sense of self, and eating disorders. I am particularly well-versed in identifying and treating long-standing problematic patterns of behaviour (including suicidality and non-suicidal self-injury).

I am originally from Italy, and lived for a few years in the Netherlands and in the UK, before moving permanently to Australia in 2011. Over the last 15 years, I have gained experience in a range of mental health settings (i.e., public, private, inpatient and outpatient services). When I am not consulting, I work at The University of Melbourne, and investigate three main research areas: 1. the impact of secrecy on people’s well-being; 2. affect dynamics; and 3. emotion regulation processes in everyday life. Outside of work, I enjoy live music, dark humour and visiting culturally vibrant destinations.

QUALIFICATIONS

PhD in Psychology, University of Melbourne
Master of Psychology (Clinical), Deakin University
Master in Social, Work and Communication Psychology (Universita’ Degli Studi di Padova, Italy)
Bachelor in Personality and Interpersonal Relationships Psychology (Universita’ Degli Studi di Padova, Italy)

THERAPEUTIC APPROACHES

I bring a transdiagnostic, challenging and irreverent style to the therapy room. I am extensively trained in the following evidence-based treatment approaches:

Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy-Enhanced (CBT-E)
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)
Schema Therapy
Motivational Interviewing (MI)
Mentalization Based Therapy (MBT)
Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) and Structural Dissociation

LANGUAGES

Fluent in English and Italian
Basic communication skills in French and Spanish

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIP

Registered Psychologist (Clinical) with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA)
Board Approved Supervisor (AHPRA)
Member of the Australian Psychological Society (MAPS)
Fellow Member of the APS College of Clinical Psychologists (FCCLP)
Member of the Australian Clinical Psychology Association (MACPA)
Accredited therapist with the Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing Association of Australia (EMDRAA)

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

Bianchi, V., Greenaway, K. H., Moeck, E. K., Slepian, M. L., & Kalokerinos, E. K. (2024). Secrecy in Everyday Life. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/01461672241226560
Bianchi, V., Greenaway, K. H., Slepian, M. L., & Kalokerinos, E. K. (2024). Regulating emotions about secrets. Emotion, 24(6), 1386–1402. https://doi.org/10.1037/emo0001357
Tran, A., Bianchi, V., Moeck, E. K., Clarke, B., Moore, I., Burney, S. J. H., Koval, P., Kalokerinos, E. K., & Greenaway, K. H. (2024). Dynamics of Social Experiences in the Context of Extended Lockdown. Social Psychological and Personality Science, 15(4), 395-406. https://doi.org/10.1177/19485506231176603
Moeck, E. K., Greenaway, K. H., Bianchi, V., Gross, J. J., Koval, P., & Kalokerinos, E. K. (2024). Uncertainty moderates the emotional consequences of reappraisal, social sharing, and rumination in daily life. Emotion. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1037/emo0001407
Bianchi, V., & Greenaway, K. H. (2022). Book Review: The secret life of secrets: How our inner worlds shape well-being, relationships, and who we are. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 46(4), 537-538. https://doi.org/10.1177/03616843221119965
Sloan, E., O’donnell, R., Bianchi, V., Simpson, A., Cox, R., & Hall, K. (2018). Distress, emotional clarity, and disordered eating in young people with complex emotional and behavioural difficulties. Clinical Psychologist, 22(2), 148–157. https://doi.org/10.1111/cp.12154

Dr Valentina Bianchi