Associate Professor Janet Conti

Associate Dean, Learning and Teaching,
Dean's Unit, School of Psychology

Associate Professor in Clinical Psychology,
Specialist Psychology

Biography
Contact
Publications
Projects
Supervision
Teaching
Media

Biography

Janet Conti an Associate Professor of Clinical Psychology in the School of Psychology, an AHPRA endorsed clinical psychologist and supervisor, and a Psychology Board approved trainer for masterclasses on reflective practice in supervision. She is also a credentialled psychologist with the Australian and New Zealand Academy of Eating Disorders.

Janet's clinical experience informs her research that prioritises giving voice to peoples’ experiences of anorexia nervosa (AN) and other Eating Disorders (EDs) and their experience of its treatment. She has contributed to pedagogical shifts in Western Sydney University’s Master of Clinical Psychology and Master of Professional Psychology programs to increase students’ skills development across a range of therapeutic interventions; to increase awareness and sensitivity to cultural and individual diversity in ways that optimise client voice and appropriate response; and to engage in reflective practice early in the training to ensure an active participation in their professional development. Her teaching pedagogy is fundamentally based on respect and engaged, value-based experiential classroom learning that invites reflective practice in the building of professional identity.

Janet's research is focused on giving voice to the person/family touched by Eating Disorders (ED) and its treatment. Her research demonstrates and advocates for the prioritisation of the person/family’s voice to inform therapeutic interventions and for clinicians to develop skills in tailoring treatments to the person/family. She has a particular interest in qualitative research, including critical discusive approaches.

CURRENT RESEARCH PROJECTS

Eating disorder treatment experiences

Narrative Therapy in the treatment of Anorexia Nervosa

Severe and Enduring Anorexia Nervosa

This information has been contributed by Associate Professor Conti.

Qualifications

PhD Macquarie University
MClinPsy Macquarie University
BSc Macquarie University

Professional Memberships

AHPRA Registered Psychologist (1999)
AHPRA Registered Psychologist with Clinical Endorsement (2010)

Awards

WSU Learning and Teaching Award for Excellence in teaching (Psychosocial Interprofessional Education PIPE Team) 2018-12-06
WSU Covid Assessment Commendation Award - Office of DVC(A) 2020-11-24

Interests

Eating disorders
Critical discursive psychology
Narrative inquiry
Reflective Practice in Supervision

Organisational Unit (School / Division)

Dean's Unit, School of Psychology
Specialist Psychology

Committees

Years 4-6 Psychology programs
Clinical Psychology and Therapy Studies group
Postgraduate Psychology programs
Postgraduate Psychology Programs

Contact

Email:	J.Conti@westernsydney.edu.au
Phone:
Mobile:
Location:

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Teaching

Previous Teaching Areas

101214 Psychological Interventions 2, 2016
101214 Psychological Interventions 2, 2017
101214 Psychological Interventions 2, 2018
101214 Psychological Interventions 2, 2019
101214 Psychological Interventions 2, 2020
101220 Clinical Health Psychology, 2020
101220 Clinical Health Psychology, 2021
101812 Clinical Psychopathology 1, 2016
101812 Clinical Psychopathology 1, 2017
101812 Clinical Psychopathology 1, 2018
101812 Clinical Psychopathology 1, 2019
101813 Clinical Psychopathology 2, 2017
101813 Clinical Psychopathology 2, 2018
101813 Clinical Psychopathology 2, 2019
101813 Clinical Psychopathology 2, 2020
102361 Advanced Therapeutic Modalities, 2016
B7637 Psychological Interventions 1, 2016
BEHV7008 Clinical Health Psychology, 2022
BEHV7037 Psychological Practice in Contemporary Contexts, 2022
BEHV7037 Psychological Practice in Contemporary Contexts, 2023
BEHV7038 Assessment and Treatment of Complex Psychological Disorders, 2022
BEHV7038 Assessment and Treatment of Complex Psychological Disorders, 2023

Publications

Chapters in Books

Conti, J., Hewson, D. and Isben, J. (2001), 'Power, voice and connection', Postgraduate Research Supervision: Transforming (R)Elations, Peter Lang Publishing 9780820449982.

Journal Articles

Kiely, L., Conti, J. and Hay, P. (2024), 'Anorexia nervosa through the lens of a severe and enduring experience : 'lost in a big world'', Journal of Eating Disorders, vol 12, no 12 .
Clague, C., Conti, J. and Hay, P. (2024), '[In Press] Outcomes and associated clinical features of people with eating disorders participating in residential treatment facilities : a scoping review', Eating Disorders, .
Heywood, L., Conti, J., Touyz, S., Madden, S. and Hay, P. (2024), 'Key-in-session identity negotiations in a first line treatment for adult anorexia nervosa', Journal of Eating Disorders, vol 12, no 20 .
Newton, E., Liu, L., Conti, J., Touyz, S., Arcelus, J., Madden, S., Pike, K. and Hay, P. (2024), 'Early change in quality of life in the treatment of anorexia nervosa', Psych, vol 6, no 1 , pp 288 - 304.
Lam, A., Piya, M., Foroughi, N., Mohsin, M., Chimoriya , R., Kormas, N., Conti, J. and Hay, P. (2024), 'Predictors of mental health outcomes in a multidisciplinary weight management program for class 3 obesity', Nutrients, vol 16, no 7 .
Keedle, H., Stulz, V., Conti, J., Bentley, R., Meade, T., Qummouh, R., Hay, P., Kaye-Smith, H., Everitt, L. and Schmied, V. (2023), 'Psychosocial interprofessional perinatal education : design and evaluation of an interprofessional learning experience to improve students' collaboration skills in perinatal mental health', Women and Birth, vol 36, no 4 , pp 379 - 387.
Rankin, R., Conti, J., Touyz, S., Arcelus, J., Meyer, C. and Hay, P. (2023), 'Dancing with change : a qualitative exploration of in-session motivation to change in the treatment of anorexia nervosa', Australian Psychologist, vol 58, no 2 , pp 119 - 130.
Koreshe, E., Paxton, S., Miskovic-Wheatley, J., Bryant, E., Le, A., Maloney, D., National Eating Disorder Research Consortium, .., Conti, J., Foroughi, N., Hay, P., Mitchison, D., Smith, E., Touyz, S. and Maguire, S. (2023), 'Prevention and early intervention in eating disorders : findings from a rapid review', Journal of Eating Disorders, vol 11 .
Brookman, R., Kalashnikova, M., Levickis, P., Conti, J., Xu Rattanasone, N., Grant, K., DeMuth, K. and Burnham, D. (2023), 'Effects of maternal depression on maternal responsiveness and infants' expressive language abilities', PLoS One, vol 18, no 1 .
Rankin, R., Conti, J., Ramjan, L. and Hay, P. (2023), 'A systematic review of people's lived experiences of inpatient treatment for anorexia nervosa : living in a "bubble"', Journal of Eating Disorders, vol 11, no 1 .
Miskovic-Wheatley, J., Bryant, E., Ong, S., Vatter, S., Le, A., National Eating Disorder Research Consortium, .., Conti, J., Foroughi, N., Hay, P., Mitchison, D., Smith, E., Touyz, S. and Maguire, S. (2023), 'Eating disorder outcomes : findings from a rapid review of over a decade of research', Journal of Eating Disorders, vol 11 .
Hay, P., Rankin, R., Ramjan, L. and Conti, J. (2023), 'Current approaches in the recognition and management of eating disorders', Medical Journal of Australia, vol 219, no 3 , pp 127 - 134.
Hay, P., Moshin, M., Liu, L., Touyz, S., Meyer, C., Arcelus, J., Madden, S., Attia, E., Pike, K. and Conti, J. (2023), 'Impact of LEAP and CBT-AN therapy on improving outcomes in women with anorexia nervosa', Behavioral Sciences, vol 13, no 8 .
Kiely, L., Conti, J. and Hay, P. (2023), 'Conceptualisation of severe and enduring anorexia nervosa : a qualitative meta-synthesis', BMC Psychiatry, vol 23 .
Smith, C., Barr, K., Alhassani, G., Taylor, E. and Conti, J. (2023), '[In Press] Experiences and challenges related to wellbeing faced by Australian higher degree research candidates prior to and during the COVID-19 pandemic', Higher Education Research and Development, .
Barakat, S., McLean, S., Bryant, E., Le, A., Marks, P., National Eating Disorder Research Consortium, .., Aouad, P., Barakat, S., Boakes, R., Brennan, L., Bryant, E., Byrne, S., Caldwell, B., Calvert, S., Carroll, B., Castle, D., Caterson, I., Chelius, B., Chiem, L., Clarke, S., Conti, J., Crouch, L., Dammery, G., Dzajkovski, N., Fardouly, J., Felicia, C., Feneley, J., Firriolo, A., Foroughi, N., Fuller-Tyszkiewicz, M., Fursland, A., Gonzalez-Arce, V., Gouldthorp, B., Griffin, K., Griffiths, S., Hambleton, A., Hannigan, A., Hart, M., Hart, S., Hay, P., Hickie, I., Kay-Lambkin, F., King, R., Kohn, M., Koreshe, E., Krug, I., Le, A., Linardon, J., Mitchison, D., Smith, E., Touyz, S., Maguire, S. and et al, .. (2023), 'Risk factors for eating disorders : findings from a rapid review', Journal of Eating Disorders, vol 11, no 1 .
Yang, Y., Conti, J., McMaster, C., Piya, M. and Hay, P. (2023), '"I need someone to help me build up my strength": a meta-synthesis of lived experience perspectives on the role and value of a dietitian in eating disorder treatment', Behavioral Sciences, vol 13, no 11 .
Russell, H., Aouad, P., Le, A., Marks, P., Maloney, D., Aouad, P., Barakat, S., Boakes, R., Brennan, L., Bryant, E., Byrne, S., Caldwell, B., Calvert, S., Carroll, B., Castle, D., Caterson, I., Chelius, B., Chiem, L., Clarke, S., Conti, J., Crouch, L., Dammery, G., Dzajkovski, N., Fardouly, J., Feneley, J., Foroughi, N., Fuller-Tyszkiewicz, M., Fursland, A., Gonzalez-Arce, V., Gouldthorp, B., Griffin, K., Griffiths, S., Hambleton, A., Hannigan, A., Hart, M., Hart, S., Hay, P., Hickie, I., Kay-Lambkin, F., King, R., Kohn, M., Koreshe, E., Krug, I., Linardon, J., Long, R., Long, A., Madden, S., Maguire, S., Maloney, D., Marks, P., McLean, S., Meddick, T., Miskovic-Wheatley, J., Mitchison, D., O?Kearney, R., Ong, S., Paterson, R., Paxton, S., Pehlivan, M., Pepin, G., Phillipou, A., Piccone, J., Pinkus, R., Raykos, B., Rhodes, P., Rieger, E., Rockett, K., Rodan, S., Russell, J., Russell, H., Salter, F., Sawyer, S., Shelton, B., Singh, U., Smith, S., Smith, E., Spielman, K., Squire, S., Thomson, J., Tiggemann, M., Touyz, S., Utpala, R., Vartanian, L., Vatter, S., Wallis, A., Ward, W., Wells, S., Wertheim, E., Wilksch, S., Williams, M., Touyz, S. and Maguire, S. (2023), 'Psychotherapies for eating disorders : findings from a rapid review', Journal of Eating Disorders, vol 11, no 1 .
Kiely, L., Touyz, S., Conti, J. and Hay, P. (2022), 'Conceptualising specialist supportive clinical management (SSCM) : current evidence and future directions', Journal of Eating Disorders, vol 10, no 1 .
Liu, L., Hay, P. and Conti, J. (2022), 'Perspectives on barriers to treatment engagement of people with eating disorder symptoms who have not undergone treatment : a qualitative study', BMC Psychiatry, vol 22, no 1 .
Aouad, P., Bryant, E., Maloney, D., Marks, P., Le, A., Russell, H., National Eating Disorder Research Consortium Membe, .., Hay, P., Miskovic-Wheatley, J., Touyz, S., Maguire, S., Barakat, S., Boakes, R., Brennan, L., Byrne, S., Caldwell, B., Calvert, S., Carroll, B., Castle, D., Caterson, I., Chelius, B., Chiem, L., Clarke, S., Conti, J., Crouch, L., Dammery, G., Dzajkovski, N., Fardouly, J., Feneley, J., Foroughi, N., Fuller-Tyszkiewicz, M., Gonzalez-Arce, V., Gouldthorp, B., Griffin, K., Hambleton, A., Hannigan, A., Hart, M., Hart, S., Hickie, I., Kay-Lambkin, F., King, R., Kohn, M., Koreshe, E., Krug, I., Linardon, J., Long, R., Long, A., Madde, S., McLean, S., Meddick, T., Mitchison, D., O?Kearney, R., Paterson, R., Paxton, S., Pehlivan, M., Pepin, G., Phillipou, A., Piccone, J., Pinkus, R., Raykos, B., Rhodes, P., Rieger, E., Rockett, K., Rodan, S., Russell, J., Salter, F., Sawyer, S., Shelton, B., Singh, U., Smith, S., Smith, E. and et al, .. (2022), 'Informing the development of Australia's national eating disorders research and translation strategy : a rapid review methodology', Journal of Eating Disorders, vol 10, no 1 .
Perich, T., Kakakios, K. and Conti, J. (2022), 'Experiences of a transdiagnostic anxiety cognitive behaviour therapy group for people living with bipolar disorder : a qualitative study', Clinical Psychologist, vol 26, no 3 , pp 269 - 276.
Mital, R., Hay, P., Conti, J. and Mannan, H. (2022), 'Associations between therapy experiences and perceived helpfulness of treatment for people with eating disorders', Journal of Eating Disorders, vol 10 .
Bryant, E., Spielman, K., Le, A., National Eating Disorder Research Consortium, .., Conti, J., Foroughi, N., Hay, P., Mitchison, D., Smith, E., Touyz, S. and Maguire, S. (2022), 'Screening, assessment and diagnosis in the eating disorders : findings from a rapid review', Journal of Eating Disorders, vol 10, no 1 .
Hambleton, A., Pepin, G., Le, A., Maloney, D., Touyz, S., Maguire, S., National Eating Disorder Research Consortium, .., Conti, J., Hay , P., Aouad, P., Barakat, S., Boakes, R., Brennan, L., Bryant, E., Byrne, S., Caldwell, B., Calvert, S., Carroll, B., Castle, D., Caterson, I., Chelius, B., Chiem, L., Clarke, S., Crouch, L., Dammery, G., Dzajkovski, N., Fardouly, J., Felicia, C., Feneley, J., Firriolo, A., Foroughi, N., Fuller-Tyszkiewicz, M., Fursland, A., Gonzalez-Arce, V., Gouldthorp, B., Grifn, K., Grifths, S., Hannigan, A., Hart, M., Hart, S., Hickie, I., Kay-Lambkin, F., King, R., Kohn, M., Koreshe, E., Krug, I., Linardon, J., Long, R., Long, A., Madden, S. and et, a. (2022), 'Psychiatric and medical comorbidities of eating disorders : findings from a rapid review of the literature', Journal of Eating Disorders, vol 10 .
Conti, J., Heywood, L., Hay, P., Shrestha, R. and Perich, T. (2022), 'Paper 2 : a systematic review of narrative therapy treatment outcomes for eating disorders : bridging the divide between practice-based evidence and evidence-based practice', Journal of Eating Disorders, vol 10, no 1 .
Heywood, L., Conti, J. and Hay, P. (2022), 'Paper 1 : a systematic synthesis of narrative therapy treatment components for the treatment of eating disorders', Journal of Eating Disorders, vol 10, no 1 .
Pehlivan, M., Miskovic-Wheatley, J., Le, A., Maloney, D., National Eating Disorders Research Consortium, .., Conti, J., Foroughi, N., Hay, P., Mitchison, D., Smith, E., Touyz, S. and Maguire, S. (2022), 'Models of care for eating disorders : findings from a rapid review', Journal of Eating Disorders, vol 10, no 1 .
Paparo, J., Beccaria, G., Canoy, D., Chur-Hansen, A., Conti, J., Correia, H., Dudley, A., Gooi, C., Hammond, S., Kavanagh, P., Monfries, M., Norris, K., Oxlad, M., Rooney, R., Sawyer, A., Sheen, J., Xenos, S., Yap, K., Thielking, M. and Australian Postgraduate Psychology Simulation Educ, .. (2021), 'A new reality : the role of simulated learning activities in postgraduate psychology training programs', Frontiers in Education, vol 6 .
Yang, Y., Conti, J., McMaster, C. and Hay, P. (2021), 'Beyond refeeding : the effect of including a dietitian in eating disorder treatment : a systematic review', Nutrients, vol 13, no 12 .
Conti, J., Joyce, C., Natoli, S., Skeoch, K. and Hay, P. (2021), '"I'm still here, but no one hears you" : a qualitative study of young women's experiences of persistent distress post family-based treatment for adolescent anorexia nervosa', Journal of Eating Disorders, vol 9, no 1 .
Hay, P., Ghabrial, B., Mannan, H., Conti, J., Gonzalez-Chica, D., Stocks, N., Heriseanu, A. and Touyz, S. (2020), 'General practitioner and mental healthcare use in a community sample of people with diagnostic threshold symptoms of bulimia nervosa, binge-eating disorder, and other eating disorders', International Journal of Eating Disorders, vol 53, no 1 , pp 61 - 68.
Lewke-Bandara, R., Thapliyal, P., Conti, J. and Hay, P. (2020), '"It also taught me a lot about myself" : a qualitative exploration of how men understand eating disorder recovery', Journal of Eating Disorders, vol 8 .
Bagaric, M., Touyz, S., Heriseanu, A., Conti, J. and Hay, P. (2020), 'Are bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder increasing? : results of a population-based study of lifetime prevalence and lifetime prevalence by age in South Australia', European Eating Disorders Review, vol 28, no 3 , pp 260 - 268.
Thapliyal, P., Conti, J., Lewke-Bandara, R. and Hay, P. (2020), '"It exists" : an exploratory study of treatment experiences in men with eating disorders', Australian Psychologist, vol 55, no 5 , pp 534 - 545.
Walker-Swanton, F., Hay, P. and Conti, J. (2020), 'Perceived need for treatment associated with orthorexia nervosa symptoms', Eating Behaviors, vol 38 .
Brookman, R., Kalashnikova, M., Conti, J., Rattanasone, N., Grant, K., Demuth, K. and Burnham, D. (2020), 'Maternal depression affects infants' lexical processing abilities in the second year of life', Brain Sciences, vol 10, no 12 .
Conti, J., Joyce, C., Hay, P. and Meade, T. (2020), '"Finding my own identity" : a qualitative metasynthesis of adult anorexia nervosa treatment experiences', BMC Psychology, vol 8, no 1 .
Brookman, R., Kalashnikova, M., Conti, J., Rattanasone, N., Grant, K., Demuth, K. and Burnham, D. (2020), 'Depression and anxiety in the postnatal period : an examination of infants' home language environment, vocalizations, and expressive language abilities', Child Development, vol 91, no 6 , pp 1211 - 1230.
Wufong, E., Rhodes, P. and Conti, J. (2019), '"We don't really know what else we can do" : parent experiences when adolescent distress persists after the Maudsley and family-based therapies for anorexia nervosa', Journal of Eating Disorders, vol 7, no 1 .
Grunseit, A., Cook, A., Conti, J., Gwizd, M. and Allman-Farinelli, M. (2019), '"Doing a good thing for myself" : a qualitative study of young adults' strategies for reducing takeaway food consumption', BMC Public Health, vol 19, no 1 .
Aradas, J., Sales, D., Rhodes, P. and Conti, J. (2019), '"As long as they eat"? Therapist experiences, dilemmas and identity negotiations of Maudsley and family-based therapy for anorexia nervosa', Journal of Eating Disorders, vol 7 .
Conti, J. (2018), 'Recovering identity from anorexia nervosa : women's constructions of their experiences of recovery from anorexia nervosa over 10 years', Journal of Constructivist Psychology, vol 31, no 1 , pp 72 - 94.
Cibralic, S. and Conti, J. (2018), '"I'm More Acknowledged" : a qualitative exploration of men's positioning of their body image, eating, and exercise concerns', Journal of Constructivist Psychology, vol 31, no 2 , pp 186 - 205.
Thapliyal, P., Hay, P. and Conti, J. (2018), 'Role of gender in the treatment experiences of people with an eating disorder : a metasynthesis', Journal of Eating Disorders, vol 6 .
Notaras, S. and Conti, J. (2018), 'A qualitative analysis of eating behaviour change for patients with diabetes and non-dialysis dependent chronic kidney disease stages 4-5', Journal of Renal Care, vol 44, no 4 , pp 219 - 228.
Conti, J., Calder, J., Cibralic, S., Rhodes, P., Meade, T. and Hewson, D. (2017), ''Somebody else's roadmap' : lived experience of Maudsley and family-based therapy for adolescent anorexia nervosa', Australian and New Zealand Journal of Family Therapy, vol 38, no 3 , pp 405 - 429.
Conti, J. (2016), '"I don't think anorexia is the way out" : reconstruction of meaning in women's narratives of anorexia nervosa over 10 years', Journal of Constructivist Psychology, vol 29, no 2 , pp 165 - 183.
Conti, J., Rhodes, P. and Adams, H. (2016), 'Listening in the dark : why we need stories of people living with severe and enduring anorexia nervosa', Journal of Eating Disorders, vol 4, no 1 .
Rhodes, P. and Conti, J. (2016), 'Why clinical psychologists should read philosophy : an introduction', Australian Clinical Psychologist, vol 2, no 1 .
Abraham, S., Taylor, A. and Conti, J. (2001), 'Postnatal depression, eating, exercise and vomiting before and during pregnancy', International Journal of Eating Disorders, vol 29, no 4 , pp 482 - 487.
Conti, J., Abraham, S. and Taylor, A. (1998), 'Eating behaviour and pregnancy outcome', Journal of Psychosomatic Research, vol 44, no 3-4 , pp 465 - 477.

Other Publications

2023, 'Final Report: Clinical Evaluation of the Wandi Nerida Residential Care Facility', Report
2020, 'Depression, Co-Morbidity and Integrated Care', Report

I am an Australian researcher who is committed to research that takes seriously the ‘voice’ of those who experience eating disorders, specifically anorexia nervosa (AN), comorbid trauma and their treatment. I have specific skills as a dietitian who understands the physiological impacts of AN and a clinical psychologist who specialises in narrative therapy. I have a comprehensive understanding of client complex needs through direct experience of the benefits of cross-disciplinary tailoring of treatments in the public/private sectors since the 1990s.

My key research achievements have demonstrated the significance of voice-led treatment interventions for AN and questioned the dominant ways of conceptualising AN. The dominant treatment paradigm for AN narrows the focus of treatment to a limited range of therapeutic modalities that, when they don’t work, risk leaving the adolescent/family to assume they have failed. This may lead to few treatment options to prevent AN progressing to a severe and enduring course. My approach broadens the treatment options through diverse and tailored treatment interventions that prioritise the voice of the experiencing person/family. The translational impact of my research highlights the need to further develop and research more diverse AN therapeutic interventions that give voice to the experiencing person/family, including narrative therapy.