Mrs Sonja Pohlman
Psychology Clinical Placement Supervisor
School of Psychological Sciences
- Email:sonja.pohlman@newcastle.edu.au
- Phone:(02) 40553017
Career Summary
Biography
Sonja Pohlman is a Clinical Psychologist and a Lecturer in the School of Psychology. She has nearly 20 years experience working with clinical populations in both private and public organizations. During this time she has undertaken significant training with international experts in clinical psychology and cognitive-behaviour therapy as well as post-graduate level study. Sonja has worked as a clinician and researcher on intervention research for brief interventions for regular amphetamine users. She has designed and delivered treatment interventions for co-morbid substance use populations and has worked as a senior consultant for 360Edge, one of Australia’s leading specialist consultants in alcohol and other drug policy and practice. Sonja is committed to the delivery of high quality training of evidence-based therapies to the next generation of professional psychologists, with a specific focus on cognitive-behaviour therapy. She is a Psychology Board Approved Supervisor and provides supervision to provisional psychologists and Clinical Registrars.
Sonja's research interests include alcohol and other drug use, craving and metacognition in substance use, severe mental ill-health, self-practice and self-reflection in clinical training, and cognitive-behaviour therapies. She is currently undertaking her PhD studies with Professor Amanda Baker in the area of alcohol use in young people with severe mental ill-health.
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Arts (Psychology), University of Queensland
Keywords
- Alcohol and other drug use
- Clinical Psychology
- Clinical training
- Cognitive Behaviour Therapy
- Cognitive Therapy
- Metacognition
- mental health
Languages
- English (Mother)
Professional Experience
Membership
| Dates | Title | Organisation / Department |
|---|---|---|
| 1/6/2002 - 1/6/2005 | Queensland Branch President | The Australian Association for Cognitive and Behaviour Therapy Australia |
| 1/1/2000 - | Member | Australian Association for Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (AACBT) Australia |
Professional appointment
| Dates | Title | Organisation / Department |
|---|---|---|
| 1/3/2018 - 31/12/2018 | Project Officer | University of Newcastle - Faculty of Health and Medicine, School of Medicine and Public Health Australia |
| 1/1/2018 - 31/12/2018 | Clinical Program Support Officer | School of Psychology, Faculty of Science & IT, University of Newcastle Australia |
| 1/1/2014 - |
Senior Consultant 360Edge are one of Australia's leading specialist alcohol and other drug consultancies. As a consultant, I have provided services in review and development of group therapy manuals as well as worked on qualitative research to inform improved service delivery. |
360Edge Australia |
| 1/1/2007 - 31/12/2018 | Clinical Psychologist | Private Practitioner Australia |
| 1/1/2002 - 31/12/2005 |
Clinical Training Consultant Providing clinical education to a range of health disciplines in the areas including cognitive-behaviour therapy and motivational interviewing. |
Queensland Health Alcohol and Drug Training Unit/Centre for Drug and Alcohol Studies Australia |
| 1/1/2001 - 31/12/2004 |
Research Psychologist During this period, I worked on a number of different projects as a clinician and researcher within Queensland Health. Some of these included evaluation of a support program for parents of young people who use substances and a randomized controlled trial of brief cognitive-behaviour therapy for regular amphetamine users. |
Queensland Health Alcohol and Drug Training Unit/Centre for Drug and Alcohol Studies Australia |
Teaching
| Code | Course | Role | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| PSYC6426 |
Professional Psychology Placement I The University of Newcastle |
Lecturer/Clinical Supervisor | 18/2/2019 - 31/7/2019 |
| PSYC6527 |
Professional Psychology Placement 2 The University of Newcastle |
Lecturer/Clinical Supervisor | 29/8/2019 - 8/11/2019 |
| PSYC6501 |
Ethics and Professional Practice The University of Newcastle |
Course Coordinator | 18/2/2019 - 31/7/2019 |
| PSYC6401 |
Psychological Treatments and Interventions The University of Newcastle |
Lecturer | 18/2/2019 - 31/7/2019 |
Publications
For publications that are currently unpublished or in-press, details are shown in italics.
Chapter (1 outputs)
| Year | Citation | Altmetrics | Link | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 |
Baker AL, Denham A, Pohlman S, McCarter K, 'Treating comorbid substance use and psychosis', A Clinical Introduction to Psychosis Foundations for Clinical Psychologists and Neuropsychologists, Academic Press, United States 511-536 (2019) [B1]
|
Nova |
Journal article (7 outputs)
| Year | Citation | Altmetrics | Link | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 |
Beck AK, Baker AL, Britton B, Lum A, Pohlman S, Forbes E, et al., 'Adapted motivational interviewing for brief healthcare consultations: A systematic review and meta-analysis of treatment fidelity in real-world evaluations of behaviour change counselling.', Br J Health Psychol, 28 972-999 (2023) [C1]
|
Nova | |||||||||
| 2023 |
Gonsalvez CJ, Riebel T, Nolan LJ, Pohlman S, Bartik W, 'Supervisor versus self-assessment of trainee competence: Differences across developmental stages and competency domains', Journal of Clinical Psychology, 79 2959-2973 (2023) [C1]
|
Nova | |||||||||
| 2022 |
Baker AL, Forbes E, Pohlman S, McCarter K, 'Behavioral Interventions to Reduce Cardiovascular Risk Among People with Severe Mental Disorder.', Annu Rev Clin Psychol, 18 99-124 (2022) [C1]
|
Nova | |||||||||
| 2010 |
Lee NK, Pohlman S, Baker AL, Femis J, Kay-Lambkin FJ, 'It's the thought that counts: Craving metacognitions and their role in abstinence from methamphetamine use', Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, 38 245-250 (2010) [C1]
|
Nova | |||||||||
| 2005 |
Baker AL, Lee NK, Claire MR, Lewin TJ, Grant T, Pohlman S, et al., 'Brief cognitive behavioural interventions for regular amphetamine users: a step in the right direction', Addiction, 100 367-378 (2005) [C1]
|
Nova | |||||||||
| 2004 |
Baker AL, Lee NK, Claire MR, Lewin TJ, Grant T, Pohlman S, et al., 'Drug use patterns and mental health of regular ampthetamine users during a reported 'heroin drought'', Addiction, 99 875-884 (2004) [C1]
|
Nova | |||||||||
| 2003 |
Bennett-Levy J, Lee N, Travers K, Pohlman S, Hamernik E, 'Cognitive therapy from the inside: Enhancing therapist skills through practising what we preach', Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy, 31 143-158 (2003) Experiential training and personal therapy have rich traditions in various therapies as strategies to enhance self-awareness and therapist skills. However, personal experiential w... [more] Experiential training and personal therapy have rich traditions in various therapies as strategies to enhance self-awareness and therapist skills. However, personal experiential work has not traditionally been part of cognitive therapy (CT) training. The purpose of the present study is to map the impact of personal experiential work on CT skills in a group of CT practitioners. Fourteen cognitive therapists undertook training courses utilizing a structured approach to self-practice of CT techniques, known as self-practice/self-reflection (SP/ SR). Six therapists from one training group engaged in "co-therapy" sessions with a partner, while eight therapists from another training group practised CT techniques on their own. Both groups engaged in regular written reflections about their experience. Follow-up 1-5 months after the courses identified six areas of self-reported skill enhancement: Refinement of specific CT skills; Enriched communication of the conceptual framework of CT; Increased attention to the therapeutic relationship; Empathic attunement; Therapist self-reflection; and Therapeutic flexibility. The results suggested that SP/SR enhances the "professional artistry" of therapists, a finding consistent with literature suggesting that reflection is a key process in the development of therapist expertise. It is concluded that SP/SR represents a promising training strategy for cognitive therapists.
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| Show 4 more journal articles | |||||||||||
Conference (3 outputs)
| Year | Citation | Altmetrics | Link | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 |
Pohlman S, Anderson C, Baker A, Halpin S, McCarter K, 'Investigating reasons for alcohol use among young people living with severe mental ill-health', INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BEHAVIORAL MEDICINE (2021)
|
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| 2019 |
Pohlman S, Anderson C, Baker A, Halpin S, McCarter K, Hides L, ' I Kind of Just Missed Feeling Normal an Exploration of Alcohol Use in Young People with Severe Mental Illness', Berlin (2019)
|
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| 2008 |
Pohlman S, Lee N, Baker A, Ferris J, Kay-Lambkin F, 'Metacognitions among methamphetamine users in a randomised trial of motivational interviewing and cognitive behaviour therapy', Sydney Australia (2008)
|
Creative Work (1 outputs)
| Year | Citation | Altmetrics | Link | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 |
Kelly M, Pohlman S, Marlin S, Shaw G, Shadbolt J, Freeman E, et al., Brain @ Watt Space, Watt Space Gallery, Newcastle, Australia (2019)
|
Grants and Funding
Summary
| Number of grants | 2 |
|---|---|
| Total funding | $921,665 |
Click on a grant title below to expand the full details for that specific grant.
20231 grants / $864,165
National Mental Health Pathways to Practice Program Pilot $864,165
Funding body: Department of Health and Aged Care
| Funding body | Department of Health and Aged Care |
|---|---|
| Project Team | Professor Charlotte Rees, Professor Kristen Pammer, Professor Kristen Pammer, Professor Amanda Johnson, Doctor Gary Crowfoot, Doctor Gary Crowfoot, Doctor Shep Chidarikire, Doctor Shep Chidarikire, Associate Professor Samantha Ashby, Associate Professor Samantha Ashby, Doctor Kirsti Haracz, Doctor Kirsti Haracz, Professor Margaret Alston, Professor Margaret Alston, Mr Brad Peschar, Mr Brad Peschar, Mrs Rebecca Bojkowski, Mrs Rebecca Bojkowski, Doctor Sally Hunt, Doctor Sally Hunt, Mrs Sonja Pohlman, Mrs Sonja Pohlman, Doctor Tanya Hanstock, Doctor Tanya Hanstock, Professor Stephen Maloney, Doctor Milena Heinsch, Professor Esther May |
| Scheme | National Mental Health Pathways to Practice Program Pilot Grant |
| Role | Investigator |
| Funding Start | 2023 |
| Funding Finish | 2025 |
| GNo | G2301300 |
| Type Of Funding | Scheme excluded from IGS |
| Category | EXCL |
| UON | Y |
20191 grants / $57,500
Interdisciplinary student-led intensive stuttering treatment program for adults$57,500
This program aims to investigate the outcomes of a student-led intensive speech therapy training program for adults who stutter that also involves cognitive behaviour therapy delivered by psychology students.
Funding body: NSW Ministry of Health
| Funding body | NSW Ministry of Health |
|---|---|
| Project Team | Associate Professor Sally Hewat, Doctor Tanya Hanstock, Doctor Rachael Unicomb, Ms Yasmina Nasstasia, Mrs Sonja Pohlman, Doctor Sally Hunt |
| Scheme | Research Funds |
| Role | Investigator |
| Funding Start | 2019 |
| Funding Finish | 2019 |
| GNo | |
| Type Of Funding | C2210 - Aust StateTerritoryLocal - Own Purpose |
| Category | 2210 |
| UON | N |
Research Collaborations
The map is a representation of a researchers co-authorship with collaborators across the globe. The map displays the number of publications against a country, where there is at least one co-author based in that country. Data is sourced from the University of Newcastle research publication management system (NURO) and may not fully represent the authors complete body of work.
| Country | Count of Publications | |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | 10 | |
| United Kingdom | 3 |
News
News • 30 Mar 2020
Coronavirus: it’s tempting to drink your worries away but there are healthier ways to manage stress and keep your drinking in check
Stress and boredom might see us drinking more alcohol at home in the coming weeks and months. But there are alternatives.
Mrs Sonja Pohlman
Position
Psychology Clinical Placement Supervisor
School of Psychological Sciences
College of Engineering, Science and Environment
Contact Details
| sonja.pohlman@newcastle.edu.au | |
| Phone | (02) 40553017 |
Office
| Room | W-127 |
|---|---|
| Building | Behavioural Sciences |
| Location | Callaghan and Ourimbah University Drive Callaghan, NSW 2308 Australia |
Connect with me
Research Networks
NEWS • Mar 30.2020
Coronavirus: it’s tempting to drink your worries away but there are healthier ways to manage stress and keep your drinking in check
Stress and boredom might see us drinking more alcohol at home in the coming weeks and months. But there are alternatives.