A/Prof Maria Hennessy ~ Associate Professor Clinical Psychology

Maria is an experienced clinical neuropsychologist and clinical psychologist with a background in  teaching, research and clinical practice.  She is currently an Associate Professor in Clinical Psychology at JCU Singapore.  She held one of the inaugural Queensland Health Research Fellowships, and was a Director of Psychology in Queensland Health.  Her research interests include the assessment of wellbeing, using complete state models of mental health in clinical practice, positive psychological interventions, and mental health outcomes after brain injury.  Maria is part of a global network investigating Mindfulness Based Strengths Practice (MBSP).  She enjoys working in collaborative research teams, mentoring staff, and working with research students to develop projects that have real world impact, and will be finished on time!

If you are interested in wellbeing science and neuropsychology, feel free to get in touch!

Teaching

• PY4114: Operationalising the Scientific Practitioner Model (Level 4; SIN)
• PY5305: Biopsychosocial and Cultural Models of Health (Level 5; SIN)

Interests

Research

• Assessment of wellbeing
• Mental health outcomes
• Positive health outcomes
• Chronic subdural haematoma
• Process-based therapy
• Mild traumatic brain injury
• Post-traumatic amnesia
• Neuropsychological assessment
• Systems thinking

Experience

• 2022 to present - Associate Professor In Clinical Psychology, James Cook University Singapore (Singapore)
• 2019 to 2020 - Principal Research Fellow, Jamieson Trauma Institute (Brisbane, QLD)
• 2018 to 2020 - Associate Professor in Clinical Psychology, James Cook University (Singapore)
• 2012 to 2018 - Senior Lecturer, James Cook University (Townsville, QLD)
• 2013 to 2015 - Associate Professor, Research Leader, Community Rehabilitation North Queensland & MICCRH, JCU (Townsville, QLD)
• 2010 to 2012 - Health Research Fellow, Queensland Health (Townsville, QLD)
• 2006 to 2012 - Director of Psychology Services, Townsville Health Service District (Townsville, QLD)
• 2004 to 2006 - Lecturer in Clinical Psychology, University of Tasmania (Hobart, TAS)
• 2003 to 2004 - Senior Research Fellow, Centre for the Mind, University of Sydney (Sydney, NSW)
• 1997 to 2003 - Lecturer in Psychology, James Cook University (Townsville, QLD)
• 1995 to 1997 - Casual Lecturer and Tutor, Griffith University (Brisbane, QLD)
• 1993 to 1995 - Clinical Neuropsychologist, Princess Alexandra Hospital (Brisbane, QLD)
• 1991 to 1992 - Research Assistant, Psychiatry, Royal Hobart Hospital (Hobart, TAS)
• 1990 to 1991 - Research Assistant, Psychology, University of Tasmania (Hobart, TAS)

Research Disciplines

• Clinical and health psychology (5203)
• Neurosciences (3209)

Socio-Economic Objectives

• Public health (2004)
• Evaluation of health and support services (2002)
• Expanding knowledge (2801)

Awards

• 2018 - 3MT - Winner, Academic/Research Division

Fellowships

• 2010 to 2012 - Queensland Health Research Fellowship

Memberships

• 2023 - Member, European Network for Positive Psychology
• 2021 - Fellow, APS College of Clinical Neuropsychologists
• 2020 - Fellow, APS College of Clinical Psychologists
• 2014 - Member, International Positive Psychology Association
• 1993 - Member, Australian Psychological Society

Other

• 1993 - Psychologist with specialist endorsement as a clinical psychologist and clinical neuropsychologist

These are the most recent publications associated with this author. To see a detailed profile of all publications stored at JCU, visit ResearchOnline@JCU. Hover over Altmetrics badges to see social impact.

Journal Articles

• Hennessy M and Sullivan K (2023) A 'network of understanding and compassion': a qualitative study of survivor perspectives on unmet needs after traumatic brain injury (TBI) in regional communities. Brain Impairment, 24 (1). pp. 27-38
• Hennessy M and Sullivan K (2022) Quality of life, community integration, service needs and clinical outcomes of people with traumatic brain injury in urban, regional and remote areas of Queensland, Australia. Australian Journal of Rural Health, 30 (2). pp. 164-174
• Hennessy M, Delle Baite L and Marshman L (2021) More than amnesia: prospective cohort study of an integrated novel assessment of the cognitive and behavioural features of PTA. Brain Impairment, 22 (3). pp. 294-311
• Hennessy M, Marshman L, delle Baite L and McLellan J (2020) Optimizing and simplifying post-traumatic amnesia testing after moderate-severe traumatic brain injury despite common confounders in routine practice. Journal of Clinical Neuroscience, 81. pp. 37-42
• Moffatt C, Hennessy M, Marshman L and Manickam A (2019) Long-term health outcomes in survivors after chronic subdural haematoma. Journal of Clinical Neuroscience, 66. pp. 133-137
• Hennessy M, Patrick J and Swinbourne A (2018) Improving mental health outcomes assessment with the Mental Health Inventory-21. Australian Psychologist, 53 (4). pp. 313-324
• Marshman L, Hennessy M, Delle Baite L and Britton G (2018) Utility of retrograde amnesia assessment alone, compared with anterograde amnesia assessment in determining recovery after traumatic brain injury: prospective cohort study. World Neurosurgery, 110. pp. e380-e384
• McLellan J, Marshman L and Hennessy M (2017) Anterograde amnesia and disorientation are associated with in-patients without traumatic brain injury taking opioids. Retrograde amnesia (RA) is absent. RA assessment should be integral to post-traumatic amnesia testing. Journal of Clinical Neuroscience, 44. pp. 184-187
• Marshman L, Jakabek D, Hennessy M, Quirk F and Guazzo E (2013) Post-traumatic amnesia. Journal of Clinical Neuroscience, 20 (11). pp. 1475-1481

Book Chapters

• Hennessy M (2013) Understanding mental health outcomes following traumatic brain injury. In: Health and Healing after Traumatic Brain Injury: understanding the power of family, friends, community, and other support systems. Disability Insights and Issues. Praeger, California, USA, pp. 121-138

Other research outputs

• Hennessy M and Barlas J (2023) Integrating wellbeing and neurosurgical practice to improve patient outcomes after chronic subdural haematoma: A rapid review with evidence mapping. [Presented at the 8th IPPA World Congress on Positive Psychology]. 20-23 July 2023, Vancouver, Canada
• Hennessy M and Barlas J (2023) The Butterfly Effect: A case study using process-based therapy to improve wellbeing. [Presented at the 8th IPPA World Congress on Positive Psychology]. 20-23 July 2023, Vancouver, Canada

More

ResearchOnline@JCU stores 21+ research outputs authored by A/Prof Maria Hennessy from 2013 onwards.

Advisory Accreditation: I can be on your Advisory Panel as a Primary or Secondary Advisor.

These Higher Degree Research projects are either current or by students who have completed their studies within the past 5 years at JCU. Linked titles show theses available within ResearchOnline@JCU.

Completed

• The development of a novel positive health framework to improve the understanding of recovery after chronic subdural haematoma (2019, PhD , Primary Advisor)