James Courtney

A/Prof James Courtney serves as Associate Professor and Director of the Turner Clinics at Monash University's School of Psychological Sciences, providing clinical governance for research and community activities while overseeing clinical services, training programs, and research initiatives. He leads the Trauma Clinic and holds teaching responsibilities in Doctor of Philosophy (Clinical Psychology), Doctor of Philosophy (Clinical Neuropsychology), and Master of Clinical Psychology programs.

His educational background includes a Doctor of Clinical Psychology from La Trobe University, forming the foundation for his clinically focused career spanning public sector trauma specialist roles, private practice, and government consulting. Courtney specializes in evidence-based treatment of mental health disorders associated with occupational trauma exposure and natural disaster responses.

Courtney's research centers on trauma psychology in high-risk occupational settings, investigating transdiagnostic vulnerability factors in PTSD symptom clusters, shift work impacts on sleep and mood disorders, and complex PTSD in chronic trauma exposure. His work emphasizes practical applications to reduce symptomatology and improve return-to-work outcomes through industry partnerships with emergency services and military organizations.

He actively supervises PhD candidates in trauma-focused research and provides clinical supervision for provisional psychologists and registrar program participants. Courtney serves as Chief Investigator on the 2024-2025 Mental Health Support Training course project with WorkSafe Victoria, Police Association, and other industry partners.

Leading the Trauma Clinic within the Turner Clinics framework, Courtney maintains international collaborations including the Indian Association of CBT and Amity University, while delivering trauma-informed care seminars to hundreds of case managers across Australian emergency services organizations.