Overview
Background
Dr Koa Whittingham is a clinical and educational/developmental psychologist with research interests across parenting, neurodevelopmental disabilities and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). Koa began her career building key empirical support for the flagship UQ program Stepping Stones Triple P for specific neurodevelopmental disabilities including autism, acquired brain injury and cerebral palsy. She has since developed an international reputation as a leader in developing and testing novel acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) interventions to support parents, including using online/telehealth formats. Her contributions to the field of ACT-based parenting intervention were recognised by her election as a Fellow to the Assocaition for Contextual Beahvioural Science in 2023. Koa has a strong track record with over 100 papers and 6 book chapters and currently leads an MRFF testing her online intervention Parenting Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (PACT) with 300 families of children with neurodevelopmental disabilities or developmental delay. She has written a self-help book for the transition to motherhood, Becoming Mum, as well as the first clinical manual on applying ACT to parenting support, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy the Clinician's Guide for Supporting Parents.
Availability
- Dr Koa Whittingham is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Arts, The University of Queensland
- Bachelor of Science, The University of Queensland
- Bachelor (Honours), The University of Queensland
- Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
Research interests
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Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Particularly applied to supporting parents or parenting including parents of children diagnosed with a neurodevelopmental disability and during the perinatal period.
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Mindfulness
Particularly applied to supporting parents or parenting including parents of children diagnosed with a neurodevelopmental disability and during the perinatal period.
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Neurodevelopmental Disabilities
Interested in neurodevelopmental disabilities, including autism and cerebral palsy and increased likelihood of neurodevelopmental disabilities. Particularly interested in the influence of parents and parenting, and supporting the family, but also in child wellbeing and school readiness.
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Parenting
Parenting and parenting intervention, including for parents of children diagnosed with neurodevelopmental disabilities and during the perinatal period.
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Autism
Particularly interested in the influence of parents and parenting, and supporting the family, but also in child wellbeing and school readiness.
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Cerebral Palsy
Particularly interested in the influence of parents and parenting, and supporting the family, but also in child wellbeing and school readiness.
Research impacts
Dr Koa Whittingham played a key role in establishing the efficacy of Stepping Stones Triple P for specific neurodevelopmental disabilities including autism, acquired brain injury and cerebral palsy. She is a leader in the field of developing and testing parenting support grounded in acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) and was the lead author of the first RCT to directly rest the impact of ACT on parenting. She is the first author of the only clinical manual on using ACT with parents, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy the Clinician’s Guide for Supporting Parents, as well as an author of a self-help book for the transition to motherhood, Becoming Mum. Koa's work has been cited in policy documents including by WHO, the US CDC and UK NICE networks and, via national and international collaborations with PACT incorporated into clinical trials in Hong Kong with Prof Connie Chong, in Italy with Prof Andrea Guzzetta, and in Georgia, Sri Lanka and Australian Aboriginal communities as part of the LEAP Program.
Works
Search Professor Koa Whittingham’s works on UQ eSpace
Featured
2023
Journal Article
“Their happiness, not neurotypical success”: autistic adults reflect on the parenting of autistic children
Lee, Jia Ying Sarah, Whittingham, Koa, Olson, Rebecca and Mitchell, Amy E. (2023). “Their happiness, not neurotypical success”: autistic adults reflect on the parenting of autistic children. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. doi: 10.1007/s10803-023-06188-z
Featured
2023
Journal Article
Predicting breastfeeding continuation to 6 and 12 months in an Australian context: a cross-sectional study
Mitchell, Amy E. and Whittingham, Koa (2023). Predicting breastfeeding continuation to 6 and 12 months in an Australian context: a cross-sectional study. Breastfeeding Review, 31 (2), 25-36.
Featured
2023
Journal Article
Postnatal traumatic symptoms and shame: a cross-sectional study examining the role of birth, breastfeeding, psychological flexibility and self-compassion
Whittingham, Koa and Mitchell, Amy E. (2023). Postnatal traumatic symptoms and shame: a cross-sectional study examining the role of birth, breastfeeding, psychological flexibility and self-compassion. Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science, 28, 248-255. doi: 10.1016/j.jcbs.2023.04.004
Featured
2023
Journal Article
Executive function, attention and autism symptomatology in school-aged children with cerebral palsy
Wotherspoon, Jane, Whittingham, Koa, Sheffield, Jeanie and Boyd, Roslyn N. (2023). Executive function, attention and autism symptomatology in school-aged children with cerebral palsy. Journal of Developmental and Physical Disabilities, 36 (1), 1-16. doi: 10.1007/s10882-023-09905-9
Featured
2022
Journal Article
Parenting Acceptance and Commitment Therapy: an RCT of an online course with families of children with CP
Whittingham, Koa, Sheffield, Jeanie, Mak, Catherine, Wright, Ashleigh and Boyd, Roslyn N. (2022). Parenting Acceptance and Commitment Therapy: an RCT of an online course with families of children with CP. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 155 104129, 1-11. doi: 10.1016/j.brat.2022.104129
Featured
2021
Journal Article
Birth, breastfeeding, psychological flexibility and self‐compassion as predictors of mother–infant emotional availability in a cross‐sectional study
Whittingham, Koa and Mitchell, Amy E. (2021). Birth, breastfeeding, psychological flexibility and self‐compassion as predictors of mother–infant emotional availability in a cross‐sectional study. Infant Mental Health Journal, 42 (5) imhj.21935, 718-730. doi: 10.1002/imhj.21935
Featured
2021
Journal Article
Randomized controlled trial of a brief online self‐compassion intervention for mothers of infants: effects on mental health outcomes
Lennard, Georgina R., Mitchell, Amy E. and Whittingham, Koa (2021). Randomized controlled trial of a brief online self‐compassion intervention for mothers of infants: effects on mental health outcomes. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 77 (3) jclp.23068, 473-487. doi: 10.1002/jclp.23068
Featured
2020
Journal Article
Six-month follow-up of a mindfulness yoga program, MiYoga, on attention, executive function, behaviour and physical outcomes in cerebral palsy
Mak, Catherine, Whittingham, Koa, Cunnington, Ross, Chatfield, Mark and Boyd, Roslyn N. (2020). Six-month follow-up of a mindfulness yoga program, MiYoga, on attention, executive function, behaviour and physical outcomes in cerebral palsy. Disability and Rehabilitation, 44 (6), 1-7. doi: 10.1080/09638288.2020.1783582
2024
Journal Article
Clinical utility and psychometric properties of tools for early detection of developmental concerns and disability in young children: a scoping review
Burgess, Andrea, Luke, Carly, Jackman, Michelle, Wotherspoon, Jane, Whittingham, Koa, Benfer, Katherine, Goodman, Sarah, Caesar, Rebecca, Nesakumar, Tiffney, Bora, Samudragupta, Honeyman, David, Copplin, Danielle, Reedman, Sarah, Cairney, John, Reid, Natasha, Boyd, Roslyn N. and Sakzewski, Leanne (2024). Clinical utility and psychometric properties of tools for early detection of developmental concerns and disability in young children: a scoping review. Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology. doi: 10.1111/dmcn.16076
2024
Conference Publication
School readiness outcomes of children identified as high risk of cerebral palsy in infancy
Oftedal, S., Boyd, R., Novak, I., Badawi, N., Whittingham, K., Morgan, C., Elliott, C., Fahey, M., Valentine, J., Ware, R., Bora, S. and Sakzewski, L. (2024). School readiness outcomes of children identified as high risk of cerebral palsy in infancy. 12th AusACPDM Biennial Conference, Cairns, QLD Australia, 31 July-3 August 2024. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing.
2024
Conference Publication
Tools for early detection of developmental concerns and/or disability in young children (aged birth–5 years 11 months): a scoping review
Burgess, A., Luke, C., Jackman, M., Wotherspoon, J., Whittingham, K., Benfer, K., Goodman, S., Caesar, R., Nesakumar, T., Reedman, S., Bora, S., Honeyman, D., Copplin, D., Cairney, J., Reid, N., Boyd, R. and Sakzewski, L. (2024). Tools for early detection of developmental concerns and/or disability in young children (aged birth–5 years 11 months): a scoping review. 12th AusACPDM Biennial Conference, Cairns, QLD Australia, 31 July-3 August 2024. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing.
2024
Journal Article
Randomised controlled trial of an online cognitive training program in school-aged children with cerebral palsy
Wotherspoon, J., Whittingham, K., Sheffield, J. and Boyd, R. N. (2024). Randomised controlled trial of an online cognitive training program in school-aged children with cerebral palsy. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 150 104752, 104752. doi: 10.1016/j.ridd.2024.104752
2024
Conference Publication
School readiness outcomes of children who were at high risk of cerebral palsy in infancy.
Oftedal, S., Boyd, R.N., Novak, I., Badawi, N., Whittingham, K., Morgan, C., Elliott, C., Fahey, M., Jane, V., Ware, R., Bora, S. and Sakzewski, L. (2024). School readiness outcomes of children who were at high risk of cerebral palsy in infancy.. European Academy of Childhood Disability, Bruges, Belgium, 29 May-1 June 2024. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell.
2024
Conference Publication
Tools for early detection of developmental concerns and/or disability in young children (aged birth–5 years 11 months): A scoping review
Burgess, A., Luke, C., Jackman, M., Wotherspoon, J., Whittingham, K., Benfer, K., Goodman, S., Caesar, R., Nesakumar, T., Bora, S., Honeyman, D., Copplin, D., Reedman, S., Cairney, J., Reid, N., Sakzewski, L. and Boyd, R.N. (2024). Tools for early detection of developmental concerns and/or disability in young children (aged birth–5 years 11 months): A scoping review. European Academy of Childhood Disability, Bruges, Belgium, 29 May-1 June 2024. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell.
2024
Journal Article
Sleep problems in a population-based cohort of primary school age children with Cerebral Palsy
Whittingham, Koa, Benfer, Kath, Sakzewski, Leanne, Wotherspoon, Jane, Burgess, Andrea, Comans, Tracy, Keramat, Syed Afoz, Ware, Robert S. and Boyd, Roslyn N. (2024). Sleep problems in a population-based cohort of primary school age children with Cerebral Palsy. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 147 104690, 104690. doi: 10.1016/j.ridd.2024.104690
2024
Journal Article
Efficacy of early intervention for infants with cerebral palsy in an LMIC: An RCT
Benfer, Katherine A., Whittingham, Koa, Ware, Robert S., Ghosh, Asis Kumar, Chowdhury, Sayak, Moula, Golam, Samanta, Sandip, Khan, Naila Zaman, Bell, Kristie L., Oftedal, Stina, Bandaranayake, Sasaka, Salt, Alison T., Bhattacharya, Anjan, Maiti, Pradip, Tripathi, Santanu K., Morgan, Cathy, Novak, Iona and Boyd, Roslyn N. (2024). Efficacy of early intervention for infants with cerebral palsy in an LMIC: An RCT. Pediatrics, 153 (4) e2023063854, 1-15. doi: 10.1542/peds.2023-063854
2024
Journal Article
The Knowledge Translation of Early Cerebral Palsy (KiTE CP) Study: Implementing Screening among a High-risk Prospective Cohort of Australian infants
Kwong, Amanda KL., Eeles, Abbey, Anderson, Peter J., Badawi, Nadia, Boyd, Roslyn N., Cameron, Kate L., Cheong, Jeanie, Colditz, Paul, Koorts, Pieter, Crowle, Cathryn, Dale, Russell C., Doyle, Lex W., Fahey, Michael, George, Joanne, Hunt, Rod W., McNamara, Lynda, Morgan, Catherine, Novak, Iona, Olsen, Joy E., Reid, Nadia, Rieger, Ingrid, Whittingham, Koa and Spittle, Alicia J. (2024). The Knowledge Translation of Early Cerebral Palsy (KiTE CP) Study: Implementing Screening among a High-risk Prospective Cohort of Australian infants. The Journal of Pediatrics, 268 113949, 113949. doi: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2024.113949
2024
Journal Article
Including a relationship-focus in paediatric occupational therapy interventions: Introducing the PAIR Model
Barfoot, Jacqueline, Meredith, Pamela, Whittingham, Koa and Kerley, Lachlan (2024). Including a relationship-focus in paediatric occupational therapy interventions: Introducing the PAIR Model. Journal of Occupational Therapy, Schools, and Early Intervention, 17 (2), 331-347. doi: 10.1080/19411243.2023.2203416
2023
Conference Publication
REACH: Randomised trial of rehabilitation very EArly in congenital hemiplegia.
Boyd, Roslyn, Sakzewski, Leanne, Novak, Iona, Greaves, Susan, Wallen, Margaret, Morgan, Catherine, Badawi, Nadia, Elliott, Catherine, Heathcock, Jill, Eliasson, Ann-Christian, Maitre, Natalie, Whittingham, Koa N. and Ware, Robert (2023). REACH: Randomised trial of rehabilitation very EArly in congenital hemiplegia.. American Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine,, Chicago, IL, United States, 10-13 September 2023. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell.
2023
Journal Article
Cognition and learning difficulties in a representative sample of school-aged children with cerebral palsy
Wotherspoon, J., Whittingham, K., Sheffield, J. and Boyd, R. N. (2023). Cognition and learning difficulties in a representative sample of school-aged children with cerebral palsy. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 138 104504, 104504. doi: 10.1016/j.ridd.2023.104504
Funding
Current funding
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Koa Whittingham is:
- Available for supervision
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Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
ENACT (ENvironmental enrichment for infants; parenting with ACT): A randomised controlled trial of an innovative intervention for infants at risk of Autism Spectrum Disorder
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Roslyn Boyd
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Doctor Philosophy
Head start - Autism from the inside out
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Amy Mitchell
Completed supervision
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2024
Doctor Philosophy
Neurodevelopmental Outcomes and a Randomised Controlled Trial of an Online Cognitive Training Program in School-Aged Children with Cerebral Palsy
Principal Advisor
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2023
Doctor Philosophy
ENACT (Environmental enrichment for infants, parenting with ACT): An Intervention for infants with an increased chance of Autism Spectrum Disorder
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Amy Mitchell
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2018
Doctor Philosophy
MiYoga: A Randomised, Waitlist-Controlled Trial of an Embodied Mindfulness Program based on Hatha Yoga Principles for Children with Cerebral Palsy and their Parents
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Ross Cunnington, Professor Roslyn Boyd
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2015
Doctor Philosophy
Preventing Relationship Difficulties Between a Mother and her Very Preterm Infant: Implementation and Evaluation of Baby Triple P for Parents of a Very Preterm Infant
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Matthew Sanders, Professor Roslyn Boyd
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2015
Doctor Philosophy
A randomised controlled trial to determine the efficacy of Baby Triple P with parents of very preterm infants on regulatory difficulties, child behaviour and parenting style
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Matthew Sanders, Professor Roslyn Boyd
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2021
Doctor Philosophy
A compassion-focused approach to enhance women's psychological adjustment to motherhood
Associate Advisor
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2019
Doctor Philosophy
Early childhood interventions for children with developmental delays, including cerebral palsy: Adopting a relationship focus
Associate Advisor
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2014
Doctor Philosophy
Supporting parents after paediatric acquired brain injury: Evaluation of Stepping Stones Triple P combined with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Roslyn Boyd
Media
Enquiries
Contact Dr Koa Whittingham directly for media enquiries about:
- acceptance and commitment therapy
- early motherhood
- mindful parenting
- parenting
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