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
2021
Journal Article
Mental health, broad autism phenotype and psychological inflexibility in mothers of young children with autism spectrum disorder in Australia: a cross-sectional survey
Kulasinghe, Kavindri, Whittingham, Koa and Mitchell, Amy E. (2021). Mental health, broad autism phenotype and psychological inflexibility in mothers of young children with autism spectrum disorder in Australia: a cross-sectional survey. Autism, 25 (5), 1362361320984625-1202. doi: 10.1177/1362361320984625
2020
Conference Publication
Mental health of mothers of young children with autism in Australia: a cross-sectional survey
Kulasinghe, K., Whittingham, K. and Mitchell, A. E. (2020). Mental health of mothers of young children with autism in Australia: a cross-sectional survey. Australasian Society for Autism Research Conference, Wellington, New Zealand, 10-11 December 2020.
2020
Conference Publication
ENACT: an RCT of a novel very early support program for infants at increased likelihood of autism
Whittingham, K., McGlade, A., Kulasinghe, K., Mitchell, A.E., Heussler, H. and Boyd, R.N. (2020). ENACT: an RCT of a novel very early support program for infants at increased likelihood of autism. Australasian Society for Autism Research Conference, Wellington, New Zealand, 10-11 December 2020.
2020
Conference Publication
The retrospective experiences of mothers of children with autism in Australia
Kulasinghe, K., Whittingham, K. and Mitchell, A.E. (2020). The retrospective experiences of mothers of children with autism in Australia. 22nd Australian Human Development Association Online Conference, Online, 22-23 October 2020.
2020
Conference Publication
ENACT: an RCT of a novel very early support program for infants with an increased chance of autism
McGlade, A., Whittingham, K., Kulasinghe, K., Mitchell, A.E., Heussler, H. and Boyd, R.N. (2020). ENACT: an RCT of a novel very early support program for infants with an increased chance of autism. Children’s Health Precinct HDR Student Symposium, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 19 October 2020.
2020
Conference Publication
Mental health of mothers of young children with autism in Australia: a cross-sectional survey
Kulasinghe, K., Whittingham, K. and Mitchell, A.E. (2020). Mental health of mothers of young children with autism in Australia: a cross-sectional survey. Children’s Health Precinct HDR Student Symposium, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 19 October 2020.
2020
Journal Article
Early parenting acceptance and commitment therapy ‘early PACT’ for parents of infants with cerebral palsy: a study protocol of a randomised controlled trial
Whittingham, Koa, Sheffield, Jeanie, Mak, Catherine, Dickinson, Corrine and Boyd, Roslyn N. (2020). Early parenting acceptance and commitment therapy ‘early PACT’ for parents of infants with cerebral palsy: a study protocol of a randomised controlled trial. BMJ Open, 10 (10) e037033, e037033. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-037033
2020
Journal Article
Evaluating the “possums” health professional training in parent–infant sleep
Whittingham, Koa, Palmer, Chloe, Douglas, Pamela, Creedy, Debra K. and Sheffield, Jeanie (2020). Evaluating the “possums” health professional training in parent–infant sleep. Infant Mental Health Journal, 41 (5) imhj.21885, 603-613. doi: 10.1002/imhj.21885
2020
Journal Article
ENACT (ENvironmental enrichment for infants; parenting with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy): a randomised controlled trial of an innovative intervention for infants at risk of autism spectrum disorder
Whittingham, Koa, McGlade, Andrea, Kulasinghe, Kavindri, Mitchell, Amy E., Heussler, Honey and Boyd, Roslyn N. (2020). ENACT (ENvironmental enrichment for infants; parenting with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy): a randomised controlled trial of an innovative intervention for infants at risk of autism spectrum disorder. BMJ Open, 10 (8) e034315, 1-10. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2019-034315
2020
Journal Article
Efficacy of interventions to improve psychological adjustment for parents of infants with or at risk of neurodevelopmental disability: a systematic review
Dickinson, Corrine, Whittingham, Koa, Sheffield, Jeanie, Wotherspoon, Jane and Boyd, Roslyn N. (2020). Efficacy of interventions to improve psychological adjustment for parents of infants with or at risk of neurodevelopmental disability: a systematic review. Infant Mental Health Journal, 41 (5) imhj.21871, 697-722. doi: 10.1002/imhj.21871
2020
Journal Article
Shame and guilt in the postnatal period: a systematic review
Caldwell, Julia, Meredith, Pamela, Whittingham, Koa and Ziviani, Jenny (2020). Shame and guilt in the postnatal period: a systematic review. Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology, 39 (1), 1-19. doi: 10.1080/02646838.2020.1754372
2020
Conference Publication
Psychological interventions for mothers of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Kulasinghe, K., Whittingham, K., Mitchell, A.E. and Boyd, R.N. (2020). Psychological interventions for mothers of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis. 10th Biennial Australian Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine Conference, Perth, WA Australia, 10-14 March 2020.
2020
Conference Publication
ENACT (Environmental enrichment for infants; parenting with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy): A randomised controlled trial for infants at risk of Autism Spectrum Disorder
Whittingham, K., McGlade, A., Kulasinghe, K., Mitchell, A.E., Heussler, H.S., Hudry, K. and Boyd, R. (2020). ENACT (Environmental enrichment for infants; parenting with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy): A randomised controlled trial for infants at risk of Autism Spectrum Disorder. 10th Biennial Australian Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine Conference, Perth, WA Australia, 10-14 March 2020.
2019
Conference Publication
Psychological interventions for mothers of young children with autism spectrum disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Kulasinghe, K., Whittingham, K., Mitchell, A.E. and Boyd, R. (2019). Psychological interventions for mothers of young children with autism spectrum disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Children’s Health Precinct HDR Student Symposium, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 29 August 2019.
2019
Journal Article
A randomized trial of Baby Triple P for Preterm Infants: child outcomes at 2 years of corrected age
Colditz, Paul B., Boyd, Roslyn N., Winter, Leanne, Pritchard, Margo, Gray, Peter H., Whittingham, Koa, O'Callaghan, Michael, Jardine, Luke, O'Rourke, Peter, Marquart, Louise, Forrest, Kylee, Spry, Carmen and Sanders, Matthew R. (2019). A randomized trial of Baby Triple P for Preterm Infants: child outcomes at 2 years of corrected age. The Journal of Pediatrics, 210, 48-54.e2. doi: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2019.01.024
2019
Journal Article
Parenting intervention combined with acceptance and commitment therapy: processes of change
Whittingham, Koa, Sanders, Matthew R., McKinlay, Lynne and Boyd, Roslyn N. (2019). Parenting intervention combined with acceptance and commitment therapy: processes of change. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 28 (6), 1673-1680. doi: 10.1007/s10826-019-01386-9
2019
Journal Article
Randomised controlled trial of a novel online cognitive rehabilitation programme for children with cerebral palsy: A study protocol
Wotherspoon, Jane, Whittingham, Koa, Boyd, Roslyn N and Sheffield, Jeanie (2019). Randomised controlled trial of a novel online cognitive rehabilitation programme for children with cerebral palsy: A study protocol. BMJ Open, 9 (6) e028505, e028505. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2018-028505
2019
Journal Article
Experiences of children and parents in MiYoga, an embodied mindfulness yoga program for cerebral palsy: a mixed method study
Mak, Catherine K., Whittingham, Koa and Boyd, Roslyn N. (2019). Experiences of children and parents in MiYoga, an embodied mindfulness yoga program for cerebral palsy: a mixed method study. Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice, 34, 208-216. doi: 10.1016/j.ctcp.2018.12.006
2019
Book
Acceptance and commitment therapy: the clinician's guide for supporting parents
Whittingham, Koa and Coyne, Lisa W. (2019). Acceptance and commitment therapy: the clinician's guide for supporting parents. London, United Kingdom: Academic Press. doi: 10.1016/C2017-0-01265-X
2018
Journal Article
The Possums Infant Sleep Program: parents’ perspectives on a novel parent-infant sleep intervention in Australia
Ball, Helen L., Douglas, Pamela S., Kulasinghe, Kavindri, Whittingham, Koa and Hill, Peter (2018). The Possums Infant Sleep Program: parents’ perspectives on a novel parent-infant sleep intervention in Australia. Sleep Health, 4 (6), 519-526. doi: 10.1016/j.sleh.2018.08.007
Funding
Current funding
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Koa Whittingham is:
- Available for supervision
Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact 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
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
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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Doctor Philosophy
AutInsight: Development of a Consumer-Informed Parent Support Program for Parents of Autistic Children
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 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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