Dr Shalini Watson

Dr Shalini Watson, PhD

Dr Shalini Watson is commencing a Master of Clinical Psychology program and holds a PhD in Educational and Instructional Technology from Murdoch University and brings over 12 years of experience supporting vulnerable and neurodivergent students in higher education at Australian universities. Her academic and advisory roles involved mentoring students with ADHD, dyslexia, and anxiety, and developing inclusive, trauma-informed learning environments. Her background in instructional design and educational psychology has shaped her interest in the cognitive and emotional mechanisms that link attention, trauma, and adaptation.

She has been awarded First Class Honours in Psychology at Southern Cross University under the supervision of Dr Mary-Anne Kate. Her thesis, “Triangulating Childhood Trauma, Dissociation, and ADHD in a Clinical Sample: Patterns, Pathways, and Clinical Overlaps,” analyses data from a large Australian clinical sample (N=1,409) to clarify diagnostic boundaries and improve dissociation screening for individuals presenting with ADHD symptoms. Her research sits at the intersection of trauma, neurodevelopment, and dissociative processes, with a focus on improving diagnostic accuracy and clinical care for underrepresented populations. She is a member of the International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation and is committed to advancing trauma-informed, evidence-based practice in both clinical and educational contexts.