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
2024
Conference Publication
Burnout, flexibility and resilience: taking care of ourselves so we can take care of children and families
Whittingham, Koa, Mitchell, Amy, Barfoot, Jacqui and Kirby, Grace (2024). Burnout, flexibility and resilience: taking care of ourselves so we can take care of children and families. 12th Australasian Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine Biennial Conference, Cairns, QLD, Australia, 30 July 2024.
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
2023
Conference Publication
MotherCare: A micro-trial approach to developing brief online support for mothers of infants grounded in compassion-focussed therapy and acceptance and commitment therapy
Mitchell, A.E., Whittingham, K., Lennard, G. and Brophy, L. (2023). MotherCare: A micro-trial approach to developing brief online support for mothers of infants grounded in compassion-focussed therapy and acceptance and commitment therapy. International Congress on Evidence-Based parenting Support, Online, 6-8 June 2023.
2023
Conference Publication
“Their happiness, not neurotypical success”: Autistic adults reflect on their experiences of being parented in childhood
Lee, J-Y., Whittingham, K. and Mitchell, A.E. (2023). “Their happiness, not neurotypical success”: Autistic adults reflect on their experiences of being parented in childhood. International Congress on Evidence-Based parenting Support, Online, 6-8 June 2023.
2023
Journal Article
Efficacy of very early interventions on neurodevelopmental outcomes for infants and toddlers at increased likelihood of or diagnosed with autism: a systematic review and meta‐analysis
McGlade, Andrea, Whittingham, Koa, Barfoot, Jacqui, Taylor, Leisa and Boyd, Roslyn N. (2023). Efficacy of very early interventions on neurodevelopmental outcomes for infants and toddlers at increased likelihood of or diagnosed with autism: a systematic review and meta‐analysis. Autism Research, 16 (6), 1145-1160. doi: 10.1002/aur.2924
2023
Journal Article
Harnessing neuroplasticity to improve motor performance in infants with cerebral palsy: a study protocol for the GAME randomised controlled trial
Morgan, Catherine, Badawi, Nadia, Boyd, Roslyn N., Spittle, Alicia J., Dale, Russell C., Kirby, Adrienne, Hunt, Rod W., Whittingham, Koa, Pannek, Kerstin, Morton, Rachael L., Tarnow-Mordi, William, Fahey, Michael C., Walker, Karen, Prelog, Kristina, Elliott, Catherine, Valentine, Jane, Guzzetta, Andrea, Olivey, Shannon, Novak, Iona and The GAME study team (2023). Harnessing neuroplasticity to improve motor performance in infants with cerebral palsy: a study protocol for the GAME randomised controlled trial. BMJ Open, 13 (3) e070649, 1-11. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-070649
2023
Journal Article
Psychological interventions targeting mental health and the mother–child relationship in autism: systematic review and meta‐analysis
Kulasinghe, Kavindri, Whittingham, Koa, Mitchell, Amy E. and Boyd, Roslyn N. (2023). Psychological interventions targeting mental health and the mother–child relationship in autism: systematic review and meta‐analysis. Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology, 65 (3), 329-345. doi: 10.1111/dmcn.15432
2023
Journal Article
Study protocol: peer delivered early intervention (Learning through Everyday Activities with Parents for Infants at risk of Cerebral Palsy: LEAP-CP) for First Nation Australian infants at high risk of cerebral palsy – an RCT study
Benfer, Katherine, Boyd, Roslyn N, Roe, Yvette, Fagan, Ruth, Luke, Carly, Mick-Ramsamy, Leeann, Whittingham, Koa, Novak, Iona, Bosanquet, Margot, McNamara, Lynda, Khandaker, Gulam, Fogarty, Lucy, Cadet-James, Yvonne, Ruben, Alan, Comans, Tracy, Smith, Anthony and Ware, Robert S (2023). Study protocol: peer delivered early intervention (Learning through Everyday Activities with Parents for Infants at risk of Cerebral Palsy: LEAP-CP) for First Nation Australian infants at high risk of cerebral palsy – an RCT study. BMJ Open, 13 (3) e059531, 1-16. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-059531
2023
Journal Article
Women pregnant after previous perinatal loss: relationships between adult attachment, shame, and prenatal psychological outcomes
Caldwell, Julia Marysia, Meredith, Pamela J., Whittingham, Koa, Ziviani, Jenny and Wilson, Trish (2023). Women pregnant after previous perinatal loss: relationships between adult attachment, shame, and prenatal psychological outcomes. Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology, 42 (4), 1-15. doi: 10.1080/02646838.2023.2180142
2023
Journal Article
School readiness of children at high risk of cerebral palsy randomised to early neuroprotection and neurorehabilitation: protocol for a follow-up study of participants from four randomised clinical trials
Boyd, Roslyn N., Novak, Iona, Morgan, Catherine, Bora, Samudragupta, Sakzewski, Leanne, Ware, Robert S., Comans, Tracy, Fahey, Michael Collingwood, Whittingham, Koa, Trost, Stewart, Pannek, Kerstin, Pagnozzi, Alex, Mcintyre, Sarah, Badawi, Nadia, Smithers Sheedy, Hayley, Palmer, Kirsten Rebecca, Burgess, Andrea, Keramat, Afroz, Bell, Kristie, Hines, Ashleigh, Benfer, Katherine, Gascoigne-Pees, Laura, Leishman, Shaneen and Oftedal, Stina (2023). School readiness of children at high risk of cerebral palsy randomised to early neuroprotection and neurorehabilitation: protocol for a follow-up study of participants from four randomised clinical trials. BMJ Open, 13 (2) e068675, 1-17. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-068675
2022
Journal Article
Emotional availability in the mother-child relationship for families of young children with autism spectrum disorder in Australia: a cross-sectional survey
Kulasinghe, Kavindri, Whittingham, Koa and Mitchell, Amy E. (2022). Emotional availability in the mother-child relationship for families of young children with autism spectrum disorder in Australia: a cross-sectional survey. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 131 104365, 1-15. doi: 10.1016/j.ridd.2022.104365
2022
Conference Publication
Randomised controlled trial of a brief online self-compassion intervention for mothers of infants
Whittingham, K., Lennard, G.R. and Mitchell, A.E. (2022). Randomised controlled trial of a brief online self-compassion intervention for mothers of infants. Australian and New Zealand Association for Contextual Behavioral Science 2022 Conference, Online, 20 November 2022.
2022
Journal Article
When a baby is diagnosed at high risk of cerebral palsy: understanding and meeting parent need
Dickinson, Corrine, Sheffield, Jeanie, Mak, Catherine, Boyd, Roslyn N. and Whittingham, Koa (2022). When a baby is diagnosed at high risk of cerebral palsy: understanding and meeting parent need. Disability and Rehabilitation, 45 (24), 1-9. doi: 10.1080/09638288.2022.2144491
2022
Journal Article
Childhood experiences of being parented, adult attachment, psychological inflexibility, social engagement, and mental health of autistic adults
Lee, Jia Ying Sarah, Whittingham, Koa and Mitchell, Amy E. (2022). Childhood experiences of being parented, adult attachment, psychological inflexibility, social engagement, and mental health of autistic adults. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 130 104343, 1-17. doi: 10.1016/j.ridd.2022.104343
2022
Journal Article
Development of social functioning in children with cerebral palsy: a longitudinal study
Burgess, Andrea, Sakzewski, Leanne, Whittingham, Koa, Wotherspoon, Jane, Chatfield, Mark D., Ware, Robert S. and Boyd, Roslyn N. (2022). Development of social functioning in children with cerebral palsy: a longitudinal study. Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology, 65 (5), 1-9. doi: 10.1111/dmcn.15439
2022
Conference Publication
Childhood experiences of being parented, adult attachment, psychological inflexibility, social engagement, and mental health of autistic adults
Lee, S., Whittingham, K. and Mitchell, A.E. (2022). Childhood experiences of being parented, adult attachment, psychological inflexibility, social engagement, and mental health of autistic adults. Children’s Health Research Symposium, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 21 October 2022.
2022
Journal Article
The social predictors of paternal antenatal mental health and their associations with maternal mental health in the Queensland Family Cohort prospective study
Dixson, Barnaby J.W., Borg, Danielle, Rae, Kym M., Whittingha, Koa, Gannon, Brenda, McPhail, Steven M., Carter, Hannah E., Moritz, Karen M., Boyd, Roslyn N., Bora, Samudragupta, Kumar, Sailesh, Frater, Julanne, Schweitzer, Daniel, Miller, Paul, Mehter, Divya and Clifton, Vicki L. (2022). The social predictors of paternal antenatal mental health and their associations with maternal mental health in the Queensland Family Cohort prospective study. Archives of Women's Mental Health, 26 (1), 1-10. doi: 10.1007/s00737-022-01257-1
2022
Journal Article
Associations between COVID-19 lockdown and post-lockdown on the mental health of pregnant women, postpartum women and their partners from the Queensland family cohort prospective study
Clifton, Vicki L., Kumar, Sailesh, Borg, Danielle, Rae, Kym M., Boyd, Roslyn N., Whittingham, Koa, Moritz, Karen M., Carter, Hannah E., McPhail, Steven M., Gannon, Brenda, Ware, Robert, Dixson, Barnaby J. W., Bora, Samudragupta and Hurst, Cameron (2022). Associations between COVID-19 lockdown and post-lockdown on the mental health of pregnant women, postpartum women and their partners from the Queensland family cohort prospective study. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 22 (1) 468, 1-12. doi: 10.1186/s12884-022-04795-9
2022
Journal Article
Cognitive, academic, executive and psychological functioning in children with spastic motor type cerebral palsy: influence of extent, location, and laterality of brain lesions
Laporta-Hoyos, Olga, Pannek, Kerstin, Pagnozzi, Alex M., Whittingham, Koa, Wotherspoon, Jane, Benfer, Kath, Fiori, Simona, Ware, Robert S. and Boyd, Roslyn N. (2022). Cognitive, academic, executive and psychological functioning in children with spastic motor type cerebral palsy: influence of extent, location, and laterality of brain lesions. European Journal of Paediatric Neurology, 38, 33-46. doi: 10.1016/j.ejpn.2022.02.004
Funding
Current funding
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Koa Whittingham is:
- Available for supervision
Looking for a supervisor? Read our advice on how to choose a supervisor.
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
What Matters to Parents of Children with Developmental Disability: Exploring Collaborative Goal-setting with Parents in Therapy
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Jacqui Barfoot
Completed supervision
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2025
Doctor Philosophy
AutInsight: Development of a Consumer-Informed Parent Support Program for Parents of Autistic Children
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Amy Mitchell
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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 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 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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