Anxiety Practitioners Network

23/03/2026

2026 CLINICAL FOCUS WEBINAR
Recognising and Responding to Anxiety in Neurodivergent People
Jennifer Kemp
Clinical Psychologist and Adjunct Lecturer, School of Psychology,
Adelaide University

About this webinar: Anxiety is one of the most common presentations in therapy for neurodivergent people, yet it is also frequently misunderstood. When anxiety is assessed and treated without considering the whole person, particularly the neurobiological differences associated with their neurotype, therapeutic interventions can be less effective and risk causing harm. This webinar will explore how anxiety presents differently across neurodivergent adolescents and adults. Drawing on clinical expertise and the lived experiences of her clients and herself, Jennifer will examine how anxiety intersects with Autism, ADHD, and other forms of neurodivergence, such as PTSD, paranoia, and bipolar disorder. Attendees will develop a clearer conceptualisation of anxiety in their neurodivergent clients, explore approaches to intervention, and learn about assessment options for screening neurodivergence and guiding therapy.

Learning objectives - By the end of this webinar, participants will be better able to:
1. Identify how anxiety can present in different neurotypes, including Autism and ADHD
2. Apply neurodiversity-affirming principles when working with neurodivergent clients with anxiety
3. Use evidence-based screening tools to identify neurodivergence and guide their therapeutic approaches
Please note: This presentation will focus on therapeutic practice with adolescents and adults and will not include recommendations for diagnostic assessments.

About the presenter: Jennifer Kemp is a clinical psychologist based in Adelaide, Australia. Her neurodiversity-affirming approach is founded on her own experience of being late-diagnosed as Autistic and an ADHDer, listening deeply to the experiences of her neurodivergent clients and extensive knowledge of the
research. In her therapeutic practice and when training other therapists, Jennifer recognises and accepts the unique differences and strengths of people with different neurotypes. Founded on neurodiversity- affirming principles, Jennifer weaves together acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) with compassion-
focused approaches to help her clients improve their mental health and develop greater self-acceptance, self-compassion, and pride in their neurodivergent identity.

Jennifer is the co-author of “The Neurodivergent Skills Workbook for Autism and ADHD: Cultivate Self-Compassion, Live Authentically, and Be Your Own Advocate” and author of “The ACT Workbook for Perfectionism: Build Your Best (Imperfect) Life Using Powerful Acceptance & Commitment Therapy and Self-
Compassion Skills.”

THIS WEBINAR WILL BE RECORDED - Recording available for three months after event

When: Thursday April 30th 2026
Time: 630pm – 830pm (90 min webinar plus 30 min for questions)
Where: Webinar - link to be sent to registrants
Cost: $50 ($25 for full-time students) plus $0.30 booking fee
Registration: https://events.humanitix.com/apn-clinical-focus-webinar-thursday-30th-april-2026-6-30-8-30pm
Registration deadline is Wed 29th April 2026
Cancellation policy: No refunds, but attendee substitutions are allowed
Further Info: Brian O’Grady
Tel: 0412 220 145 Email:[email protected]

13/11/2025

HI all, a reminder about the APN Trivia Night. A Christmas celebration that includes a 3 course dinner, trivia, and a complimentary drink.
Your quizmasters will be Vincent Fogliati and Patrick Sheehan.
Put a team together, or just turn up and sit with whoever looks the most trivial! There will be prizes!

Thursday December 4th 2025
Time: 7:00pm start
Venue: Forest Lodge Hotel, 117 Arundel St Forest Lodge NSW 2037
Cost: $55 plus $0.30 booking fee

LINK to TICKETS: https://events.humanitix.com/apn-christmas-trivia-night-thur-4th-dec-2025
Registration closes Thursday 20th November 2025.
Contact Brian O'Grady at [email protected] or on 0412 220 145

27/10/2025

Come and join us for the annual APN Christmas celebration that includes a 3 course dinner, trivia, and a complimentary drink.

Your quizmasters will be Vincent Fogliati and Patrick Sheehan.

Put a team together, or just turn up and sit with whoever looks the most trivial! There will be prizes!

LINK to TICKETS: https://events.humanitix.com/apn-christmas-trivia-night-thur-4th-dec-2025

Registration closes Thursday 20th November 2025.

Contact Brian O'Grady at [email protected] or on 0412 220 145

24/10/2025

We have a date for our End of Year Event - our Trivia Night / Christmas Dinner. Put the 4th of December in your diaries and get your thinking hats on! Details to come soon!

09/10/2025

Hi all,
we are excited to announce our next event - a webinar on the use of Imagery Rescripting in treating GAD:

APN CLINICAL FOCUS WEBINAR
Friday November 21st
10am - 11.30am
‘Applying Imagery Rescripting to Target Worry'
Presenters:
Dr. Lauren Stavropoulos (Clinical Psychologist) & Dr. Andrew Phipps (Clinical Psychologist; ISST Certified Advanced Schema Therapist and Trainer/Supervisor)

About this webinar: Many individuals with generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) show limited symptom remission following cognitive behavioural therapy. GAD is commonly considered a characterological condition and has been linked to maladaptive schemas and problematic mental imagery. Imagery rescripting is a technique that has effectively targeted these areas in a range of presentations. This webinar presents the results of the first clinical pilot to explore the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of imagery rescripting in individuals with a diagnosis of GAD. An overview of the rationale for the approach will be provided, and the intervention and specific imagery rescripting protocol will be described and demonstrated. Implications for research and clinical practice will be discussed.

About the presenters:
Lauren is a Clinical Psychologist who completed her PhD at UNSW Sydney in the area of mental imagery and imagery rescripting for generalised anxiety disorder. She has published on this topic in journals including Clinical Psychology Review, and supervises research students investigating mental imagery at UTS Sydney. Lauren has previously worked as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Black Dog Institute investigating imagery rescripting for mental imagery of su***de, and has experience in mental health settings within NSW Health. She now practices at Schema Therapy Institute Australia in Melbourne.
Andrew is a Clinical Psychologist and Advanced Certified Schema Therapist and Trainer based in Sydney, Australia. With over 20 years of clinical experience, he has spent much of his career in public mental health settings and now works exclusively in private practice. Andrew previously held an academic position at Western Sydney University and currently maintains a casual teaching and research supervision role at the University of New South Wales. As part of Schema Therapy Training Australia, he facilitates accredited schema therapy workshops across the country. In addition to his work in the schema therapy space, Andrew has published research in areas including early intervention for trauma, self-help strategies for depression, and clinical outcomes in Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT).

PLEASE NOTE: THIS WEBINAR WILL BE RECORDED
Recording available for two weeks after event
Event Details
When: Friday November 21st 2025
Time: 10am to 11.30am
Where: Online. Webinar - link to be sent to registrants
Cost: $44 ($22 for full-time students) plus $0.30 booking fee
Registration:
https://events.humanitix.com/apn-clinical-focus-webinar-friday-21st-november-2025-10am-to-11-30am
Registration deadline is Wednesday 19th of November
Cancellation policy: No refunds, but attendee substitutions are allowed.
Further Info:
Brian O’Grady
Tel: 0412 220 145
Email: [email protected]

23/06/2025

We still have some spaces at our next webinar, on pharmacological treatments for OCD

Update on Pharmacological and Stimulation Treatments in OCD

Dr John Lam-Po-Tang Consultant Psychiatrist, Redtree Practice

About this webinar: Obsessive compulsive disorder is a psychiatric condition often associated with significant morbidity and disability, and presents treatment challenges for mental health professionals. Interventions for this condition, both psychological and biological, are specialised. The presentation will address pharmacological treatments for obsessive compulsive disorder, including antidepressant medications, augmentation strategies for when individuals have partial responses to antidepressant medications, and also look at novel interventions, including novel pharmacological and stimulation therapies. Some of the methodological issues raised in clinical treatment trials will also be addressed.

About the presenter: John is a consultant psychiatrist who specialises in the assessment and treatment of anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), post-traumatic stress disorder, mood disorders and cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT). He works in private practice in Sydney, as well as working for the NSW Personal Injury Commission and consulting to a life insurance company. John graduated from the University of Sydney in 1990, and trained in Psychiatry at St Vincent’s Hospital, Sydney. He completed advanced training in cognitive behavioural therapy and anxiety disorders at the Clinical Research Unit for Anxiety Disorders at St Vincent’s Hospital. After qualifying as a psychiatrist in 1999, John split his work between private practice, and working in metropolitan and regional mental health services. From 2019 onwards, he has worked within the private sector only.
PLEASE NOTE: THIS WEBINAR WILL BE RECORDED
Recording available for two weeks after event
When: Monday June 30th 2025
Time: 7:30-8:30pm
Where: Webinar - link to be sent to registrants
Cost: $44 ($22 for full-time students) plus $0.30 booking fee
Registration: https://events.humanitix.com/apn-clinical-focus-webinar-monday-30th-june-2025-7-30pm

Cancellation policy: No refunds, but attendee substitutions are allowed
Registration deadline is Friday 27th June 2025
Further Info: Brian O’Grady Tel: 0412 220 145, Email:[email protected]

18/06/2025

Hi APN followers, there is a very interesting looking 2 day conference coming up in September that we're happy to let you know about. It's organised through Sydney Uni and staff from several of the public anxiety units around Sydney, and it's being held at Westmead Hospital and covers a whole range of aspects of anxiety and OCD. The website for the conference is:

11-12 September 2025

20/05/2025

Hi all, we are pleased to announced another APN event, this time a webinar on OCD treatment.

Update on Pharmacological and Stimulation Treatments in OCD

Dr John Lam-Po-Tang Consultant Psychiatrist, Redtree Practice

About this webinar: Obsessive compulsive disorder is a psychiatric condition often associated with significant morbidity and disability, and presents treatment challenges for mental health professionals. Interventions for this condition, both psychological and biological, are specialised. The presentation will address pharmacological treatments for obsessive compulsive disorder, including antidepressant medications, augmentation strategies for when individuals have partial responses to antidepressant medications, and also look at novel interventions, including novel pharmacological and stimulation therapies. Some of the methodological issues raised in clinical treatment trials will also be addressed.

About the presenter: John is a consultant psychiatrist who specialises in the assessment and treatment of anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), post-traumatic stress disorder, mood disorders and cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT). He works in private practice in Sydney, as well as working for the NSW Personal Injury Commission and consulting to a life insurance company. John graduated from the University of Sydney in 1990, and trained in Psychiatry at St Vincent’s Hospital, Sydney. He completed advanced training in cognitive behavioural therapy and anxiety disorders at the Clinical Research Unit for Anxiety Disorders at St Vincent’s Hospital. After qualifying as a psychiatrist in 1999, John split his work between private practice, and working in metropolitan and regional mental health services. From 2019 onwards, he has worked within the private sector only.
PLEASE NOTE: THIS WEBINAR WILL BE RECORDED
Recording available for two weeks after event
When: Monday June 30th 2025
Time: 7:30-8:30pm
Where: Webinar - link to be sent to registrants
Cost: $44 ($22 for full-time students) plus $0.30 booking fee
Registration: : https://events.humanitix.com/apn-clinical-focus-webinar-monday-30th-june-2025-7-30pm

Cancellation policy: No refunds, but attendee substitutions are allowed
Registration deadline is Friday 27th June 2025
Further Info: Brian O’Grady Tel: 0412 220 145, Email:[email protected]

13/05/2025

Hi all, there is still space at our upcoming seminar on Performance Anxiety.

"Managing Performance Anxiety:
What can we learn from Musicians?"
Presenter: Thomas Nicholl, PhD, Clinical Psychologist
Monday May 26th, 7pm - 9pm, Forest Lodge Hotel
https://events.humanitix.com/anxiety-practitioners-network-clinical-focus-seminar-mon-may-26th-2025-7-00pm

About this seminar:
Performance anxiety (PA) captures the experience of intense anxiety in preparation for/during an evaluative event. The experience is often endured despite debilitating symptoms and can result in a negative performance experience (or even performance itself). Experienced by many different types of performers, PA is particularly prevalent in musicians and research is growing to further understand how best to manage it. This seminar will explore the applicability of cognitive behavioural models to understanding the experience of PA from both a facilitative and debilitating lens, leaning on the experiences of musicians to highlight these factors.
The seminar will specifically look at:
• Defining performance anxiety
• Effective interventions for performance anxiety
• Exploring the cognitive mechanisms involved in its development and maintenance
• Performing in the absence of anxiety
• Considerations for working with musicians
• Applying knowledge to a case study
About the presenter: Thomas Nicholl is a clinical psychologist with a special interest in understanding and treating anxiety disorders. Thomas completed a PhD exploring performance anxiety in musicians at the University of Sydney with Professor Maree Abbott and brings both a clinical and performance lens to his work, leaning on early experiences as a musician to support his research.
Event Details
When: Monday 26th May 2025
Time: 7:00pm food, 7:30pm to 9:00pm presentation
Where: Forest Lodge Hotel
117 Arundel St Forest Lodge NSW 2037
Cost: $40 includes finger food
Registration: https://events.humanitix.com/anxiety-practitioners-network-clinical-focus-seminar-mon-may-26th-2025-7-00pm
Registration deadline is Thursday 22nd May 2025
Cancellation policy: No refunds, but attendee substitutions are allowed.
Further Info: Brian O’Grady
Tel: 0412 220 145
Email: [email protected]

28/04/2025

We are excited to announce our next APN Clinical Focus Seminar on Performance Anxiety.

‘Managing Performance Anxiety:
What can we learn from Musicians?’
Presenter: Thomas Nicholl, PhD, Clinical Psychologist
Monday May 26th, 7pm - 9pm, Forest Lodge Hotel
https://events.humanitix.com/anxiety-practitioners-network-clinical-focus-seminar-mon-may-26th-2025-7-00pm

About this seminar: Performance anxiety (PA) captures the experience of intense anxiety in preparation for/during an evaluative event. The experience is often endured despite debilitating symptoms and can result in a negative performance experience (or even performance itself). Experienced by many different types of performers, PA is particularly prevalent in musicians and research is growing to further understand how best to manage it. This seminar will explore the applicability of cognitive behavioural models to understanding the experience of PA from both a facilitative and debilitating lens, leaning on the experiences of musicians to highlight these factors.
The seminar will specifically look at:
• Defining performance anxiety
• Effective interventions for performance anxiety
• Exploring the cognitive mechanisms involved in its development and maintenance
• Performing in the absence of anxiety
• Considerations for working with musicians
• Applying knowledge to a case study

About the presenter: Thomas Nicholl is a clinical psychologist with a special interest in understanding and treating anxiety disorders. Thomas completed a PhD exploring performance anxiety in musicians at the University of Sydney with Professor Maree Abbott and brings both a clinical and performance lens to his work, leaning on early experiences as a musician to support his research.

Event Details
When: Monday 26th May 2025
Time: 7:00pm food, 7:30pm to 9:00pm presentation
Where: Forest Lodge Hotel
117 Arundel St Forest Lodge NSW 2037

Cost: $40 includes finger food
Registration: https://events.humanitix.com/anxiety-practitioners-network-clinical-focus-seminar-mon-may-26th-2025-7-00pm
Registration deadline is Thursday 22nd May 2025

Cancellation policy: No refunds, but attendee substitutions are allowed.
Further Info: Brian O’Grady
Tel: 0412 220 145
Email: [email protected]