Overview
Background
Dr Mitchell is a Clinical Psychologist and Clinical Neuropsychologist who currently holds a Senior Lecturer (Clinical Psychology) position within the School of Psychology at The University of Queensland (UQ). Teaching and learning occurs within the postgraduate psychology space and her role also incorporates that of the Clinical Academic at the UQ Psychology Clinic where she oversees the practical training of provisional psychologists. Dr Mitchell maintains her clinical practice skills via locum roles, consulting in aged care facilities, & private practice. She also supervises psychologists who are completing their studies, as well as those looking for ongoing development, particularly in the areas of working with older adults and assessment across the lifespan.
Dr Mitchell's research is primarily focused on clinical areas, including carers of people living with dementia, management of BPSD, financial capacity, and more recently, it has turned to anxiety in Parkinson's disease and in dementia. Her PhD considered the topic of wisdom and ageing within a successful ageing framework and her more recent areas of interest include working with animals within the clinical space (including in relation to coping with the loss of animals) and the role of engagement with nature on mental health and wellbeing (further emphasising her more overarching research theme of improved wellbeing). Her particular area of interest more broadly is geropsychology & she sees her skills as both a Clinical Neuropsychologist & Clinical Psychologist being well-suited to research and clinical work in this area. Dr Mitchell is also interested in curriculum (including interprofessional contexts), teaching, & supervision issues within the field of psychology. Her overall clinical focus in research, supervision, and in practice, is formed within strengths-based frameworks.
Dr Mitchell is a Fellow of the Australian Psychological Society (APS) and is a committee member of the APS Psychology and Ageing Interest Group. She presents at conferences, psychology meetings, & community group meetings throughout the year. An ad hoc reviewer for a number of ageing-related journals (including International Psychogeriatrics; Journals of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences; & the Australasian Journal on Ageing), she also reviews theses & manuscripts on topics related to ageing in particular. Her expertise has also seen her gain roles within advisory groups (Australian Department of Health) looking at reablement in older adults (both in the community and in aged care). She has also represented mental health in older adults on expert panels linked with the Australian Government, APS, the Australian Association of Gerontology, and Dementia Training Australia.
Availability
- Dr Leander Mitchell is:
- Available for supervision
Qualifications
- Doctoral Diploma, The University of Queensland
- Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
Works
Search Professor Leander Mitchell’s works on UQ eSpace
2013
Journal Article
Decisional capacity: toward an inclusionary approach
Peisah, Carmelle, Sorinmade, Oluwatoyin A., Mitchell, Leander and Hertogh, Cees M. P. M. (2013). Decisional capacity: toward an inclusionary approach. International Psychogeriatrics, 25 (10), 1571-1579. doi: 10.1017/S1041610213001014
2013
Journal Article
Rehabilitation in residential aged care facilities: barriers and facilitators in a dementia context
Mitchell, Leander K. and Pachana, Nancy A. (2013). Rehabilitation in residential aged care facilities: barriers and facilitators in a dementia context. Australian Journal of Rehabilitation Counselling, 19 (1), 57-63. doi: 10.1017/jrc.2013.5
2013
Conference Publication
Wisdom: Do we need to reach the summit or is it about the journey?
Mitchell, Leander (2013). Wisdom: Do we need to reach the summit or is it about the journey?. 16th International Congress of International Psychogeriatric Association (IPA), Seoul, Korea, 1 - 4 October 2013. Cambridge, United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press. doi: 10.1017/S1041610213002135
2013
Conference Publication
How do we feel about wisdom: A qualitative analysis
Mitchell, Leander and Pachana, Nancy (2013). How do we feel about wisdom: A qualitative analysis. 16th International Congress of International Psychogeriatric Association (IPA), Seoul, Korea, 1 - 4 October 2013. Cambridge, United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press. doi: 10.1017/S1041610213002160
2013
Conference Publication
Measuring wisdom via self-report: A systematic review
Mitchell, Leander and Pachana, Nancy (2013). Measuring wisdom via self-report: A systematic review. 16th International Congress of International Psychogeriatric Association (IPA), Seoul, Korea, 1 - 4 October 2013. Cambridge, United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press. doi: 10.1017/S1041610213002160
2012
Conference Publication
Financial capacity in the presence of diffuse cortical atrophy: a single case study
Mitchell, L., Byrne, G., Wilson, J., Tilse, C. and Pachana, A. (2012). Financial capacity in the presence of diffuse cortical atrophy: a single case study. 65th Annual Scientific Meeting “Charting New Frontiers in Aging”, San Diego, CA, United States, 14-18 November 2012. Cary, NC., United States: Oxford University Press.
2012
Conference Publication
Capacity assessment: the importance of strengths in a deficit-biased assessment model
Mitchell, L., Demakis, G. and Peisah, C. (2012). Capacity assessment: the importance of strengths in a deficit-biased assessment model. International Psychogeriatrics Association Meeting, Cairns, Australia, 7-11 September 2012.
2011
Journal Article
Memory and communication support in dementia: research-based strategies for caregivers
Smith, Erin R., Broughton, Megan, Baker, Rosemary, Pachana, Nancy A., Angwin, Anthony J., Humphreys, Michael S., Mitchell, Leander, Byrne, Gerard J., Copland, David A., Gallois, Cindy, Hegney, Desley and Chenery, Helen J. (2011). Memory and communication support in dementia: research-based strategies for caregivers. International Psychogeriatrics, 23 (2), 256-263. doi: 10.1017/S1041610210001845
2011
Conference Publication
Working with people with dementia: The perspectives of an Australian psychology student
Mitchell, Leander (2011). Working with people with dementia: The perspectives of an Australian psychology student. International Psychogeriatric Association Reinventing Aging through Innovation 15th International Congress, The Hague, Netherlands, 6-9 September 2011. Cambridge, United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press. doi: 10.1017/S104161021100127X
2011
Conference Publication
Safeguarding older adults: A focus on safeguarding systems to protect older people from abuse and neglect
Benbow, Susan Mary, Kingston, P., Swanwick, G., Mitchell, L., Cohen, C. and Baiyewu, O. (2011). Safeguarding older adults: A focus on safeguarding systems to protect older people from abuse and neglect. 15th International Congress on the International Psychogeriatric Association, The Hague, The Netherlands, 6-9 September 2011. Cambridge, England, U.K.: Cambridge University Press. doi: 10.1017/S1041610211001281
2009
Conference Publication
Development of DVD-based training in strategies to support communication and memory in dementia
Smith, E., Baker, R., Pachana, N., Mitchell, L., Angwin, A., Humphreys, M., Copland, D., Byrne, G., Gallois, C., Hucker, K., Vearncombe, K. and Chenery, H. (2009). Development of DVD-based training in strategies to support communication and memory in dementia. Australian National Dementia Research Forum 2008, Sydney, NSW, Australia, 18-19 September 2008. New York, NY, U.S.A.: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.jalz.2009.07.030
2009
Conference Publication
The RECAPS program: Relieving the burden of care in dementia
Angwin, A., Baker, R., Byrne, G., Chenery, H. J., Copland, D., Gallois, C., Hegney, D., Hucker, K., Humphreys, M. S., Mitchell, L., Pachana, N. and Smith, E. (2009). The RECAPS program: Relieving the burden of care in dementia. First Joint Conference of the APS Psychology & Ageing Interest Group (PAIG) and the Royal Australia/New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP) Faculty of Psychiatry of Old Age (FPOA), Bond University, Gold Coast, Queensland, 12-14 November 2009. Australia: Bond University.
Other Outputs
Cognitive Rehabilitation Strategies and Dementia: Benefitting the Professional Caregiver
Leander Mitchell Cognitive Rehabilitation Strategies and Dementia: Benefitting the Professional Caregiver. Professional Doctorate, School of Psychology, The University of Queensland.
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Leander Mitchell is:
- Available for supervision
Looking for a supervisor? Read our advice on how to choose a supervisor.
Supervision history
Current supervision
-
Doctor Philosophy
Becoming an effective healthcare practitioner in the NDIS context
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Merrill Turpin, Professor Jodie Copley
-
Doctor Philosophy
Technology-assisted telehealth psychotherapy intervention for people with dementia
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Deborah Brooks, Professor Nadeeka Dissanayaka
-
Doctor Philosophy
Development and implementation of a standardised toolkit to improve evaluation of cognitive impairment in Parkinsons disease
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Deborah Brooks, Professor Nadeeka Dissanayaka
Completed supervision
-
2025
Doctor Philosophy
The Role of Wisdom for Older Adults in an Australian COVID-19 Context
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Nancy Pachana
-
2024
Doctor Philosophy
Development and feasibility evaluation of a psychotherapy intervention for anxiety in persons living with cognitive impairment delivered via videoconferencing
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Jacki Liddle, Professor Nadeeka Dissanayaka
-
2022
Doctor Philosophy
Human-dog interaction: improving the partnership and canine welfare
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Nancy Pachana
Media
Enquiries
For media enquiries about Dr Leander Mitchell's areas of expertise, story ideas and help finding experts, contact our Media team: