David Berle

Associate Professor David Berle is a faculty member at the Australian National University (ANU) School of Medicine and Psychology, where he serves as the Psychology Clinical Program Convenor. Previously, he held positions at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) and was a Senior Research Fellow in trauma and mental health at the School of Psychiatry UNSW and St John of God Health Care - Richmond hospital.

His educational background includes a BA(Hons) from the University of Sydney, an MPsychol(Clin) from the University of New South Wales (UNSW), and a PhD from UNSW. As an endorsed clinical psychologist with the Psychology Board of Australia, he has extensive clinical experience working in community-based and inpatient mental health settings since 2001.

Professor Berle's research focuses on optimizing treatment outcomes for individuals with posttraumatic and anxiety disorders, with particular emphasis on trauma-focused therapies and interventions that reduce intrusive trauma-related memories in PTSD. His work spans several key areas including Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Complex PTSD, Depression, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, and various anxiety disorders. He leads the Psychological Trauma Research Group at ANU, driving innovative approaches to understanding and treating trauma-related conditions.

His recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on network approaches to understanding psychopathology, trauma processing mechanisms, and the development of targeted interventions for specific populations including refugees, police officers, and young parents with complex trauma histories. His research increasingly incorporates methodological innovations including daily diary studies, network analysis, and single-case experimental designs.

• National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Early Career Fellow (2017-2020)

Professor Berle has been a chief investigator on numerous projects funded by the Australian Research Council (ARC) and Australian Rotary Health. He supervises postgraduate research projects and serves as a clinical supervisor with the Psychology Board of Australia. His clinical expertise in anxiety disorders informs his research and teaching, creating a strong bridge between theory and practice in the field of clinical psychology.

As leader of the Psychological Trauma Research Group, Professor Berle coordinates a team of researchers focused on advancing understanding of trauma responses and developing evidence-based interventions. The group collaborates with clinical services to ensure research findings translate effectively into routine clinical practice, particularly for vulnerable populations including refugees, first responders, and individuals with complex trauma histories.