Doctor Susan Sisko

Dr Susan Sisko is a Lecturer in Arts Therapy and Counselling, primarily in the Masters of Psychotherapy and Counselling program. With a background in counselling and psychology, Susan brings her clinical expertise into academia. Susan’s  tertiary level teaching philosophy reflects her interest in collaborative learning, as emphasised through the use of student-centred teaching. These preferences allow for student contribution, small group work, and promotes discourse with one another, which maintains a consistent focus on the process, where personal experiences serve as legitimate sites of knowledge and provide a place for consciousness raising and for students to increase personal reflection and self-awareness. She strives to develop meaningful learning communities, which in turn reflects a powerful dimension of feminist and multicultural pedagogy.

Amongst other publications, Susan is the author and co-editor of Multicultural Responsiveness in Counselling and Psychology, 2021 (Palgrave). The book focuses on Australian populations and systemic structures with a social justice framework. Susan is passionate about changing the debate in the field by moving away from cultural competence from a Eurocentric position to a focus on social justice and systemic issues – ultimately shifting blame from vulnerable and non-dominant groups to exploring systemics issues as related to quality of care and  in the inequity gap in accessing mental health services.

This information has been contributed by Doctor Sisko.

Qualifications

PhD Counsellor Education

MA Counselling Psychology

Graduate Diploma in Applied Social Psychology

Masters of Divinity

BA Psychology

 Professional Memberships

AHPRA Registered Psychologist

Oregon Board of Licensed Professional Counsellors and Therapists

National Counselor Education

 Organisational Unit (School / Division)

Dean's Unit School of Social Sciences

Arts Therapy and Counselling

Challenging Racism Project Research Strand

Diversity and Human Rights Research Centre

Recent Publications

Hutton, V. & Sisko, S. (Ed.). (2020). Multicultural Responsiveness in Counselling and Psychology, working with Australian populations. Palgrave MacMillan. ISBN 978-3-030-55427-9

Sisko, S (2020) Introduction to Cultural Responsiveness in Counselling and Psychology: An Overview. In Hutton, V. & Sisko, S. (Ed.). (2020). Multicultural Responsiveness in Counselling and Psychology, working with Australian populations. Palgrave MacMillan. ISBN 978-3-030-55427-9

Sisko, S. (2020) Principles of Multicultural Counselling and Psychology. In Hutton, V. & Sisko, S. (Ed.). (2020). Multicultural Responsiveness in Counselling and Psychology, working with Australian populations. Palgrave MacMillan. ISBN 978-3-030-55427-9

This information has been contributed by Doctor Sisko.