Doctor Susan Sisko

Doctor Susan Sisko

Lecturer in Counselling,
Arts Therapy and Counselling

Biography

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.

Organisational Unit (School / Division)

  • Arts Therapy and Counselling

Contact

Email: N/A
Phone: (02) 9685 9823
Mobile:
Location: EH.G.22
Parramatta

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Teaching

Previous Teaching Areas

  • 101508 Clinical Studies, 2019
  • 101786 Clinical Studies (Counselling), 2018
  • 101787 Further Clinical Studies (Counselling), 2018
  • 101787 Further Clinical Studies (Counselling), 2019
  • 102357 Ethics and Diversity in Research and Therapy, 2019
  • 102357 Ethics and Diversity in Research and Therapy, 2020
  • 102357 Ethics and Diversity in Research and Therapy, 2021
  • 102358 Practising Research and Researching Practice, 2019
  • 102358 Practising Research and Researching Practice, 2020
  • 102373 Integrated Practices 4: Self and Relationships, 2020
  • 102373 Integrated Practices 4: Self and Relationships, 2021

Publications

Books

  • Hutton, V. and Sisko, S. (2021), 'Multicultural Responsiveness in Counselling and Psychology: Working with Australian Populations', : Palgrave Macmillan 9783030554262.

Chapters in Books

  • Morseu-Diop, N., Sullivan, C., Cruickshank, S., Hutton, V. and Sisko, S. (2021), 'Post-Colonialism (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders)', Multicultural Responsiveness in Counselling and Psychology: Working with Australian Populations, Palgrave Macmillan 9783030554262.
  • Sisko, S. (2021), 'Cultural responsiveness in counselling and psychology : an introduction ', Multicultural Responsiveness in Counselling and Psychology: Working with Australian Populations, Palgrave Macmillan 9783030554262.
  • Sisko, S. (2021), 'Key principles for multicultural perspectives and responsiveness in counselling and psychology', Multicultural Responsiveness in Counselling and Psychology: Working with Australian Populations, Palgrave Macmillan 9783030554262.
  • Fisher, M., Scanlon, C., Deojee, B., Hutton, V. and Sisko, S. (2021), 'Classism', Multicultural Responsiveness in Counselling and Psychology: Working with Australian Populations, Palgrave Macmillan 9783030554262.
  • Barrett, C., Bostock, S., Chinsen, A., Hampton, I., Simmons, M., Brown, E., Fava, N., Browne, V., Walsh, L., Hutton, V. and Sisko, S. (2021), 'Ageism', Multicultural Responsiveness in Counselling and Psychology: Working with Australian Populations, Palgrave Macmillan 9783030554262.
  • Wayland, S., Smith-Merry, J., Rakidzic, S., O'Shea, A., Schweizer, R., Gill, K., Hutton, V. and Sisko, S. (2021), 'Ableism', Multicultural Responsiveness in Counselling and Psychology: Working with Australian Populations, Palgrave Macmillan 9783030554262.
  • Pause, C., Lupton, D., Cadigan, T., Hutton, V. and Sisko, S. (2021), 'Sizeism', Multicultural Responsiveness in Counselling and Psychology: Working with Australian Populations, Palgrave Macmillan 9783030554262.
  • McPhillips, K., Rosenfield, M., Haq, R., Hutton, V. and Sisko, S. (2021), 'Religious hegemonism', Multicultural Responsiveness in Counselling and Psychology: Working with Australian Populations, Palgrave Macmillan 9783030554262.

Other Publications

  • 2021, 'Asian Australians' Experiences of Racism During the COVID-19 Pandemic', Report

Susan is engaged in research with the Challenging Racism Project | Diversity and Human Rights Research Centre at Western Sydney University. 

Amongst other publications, Susan is author and co-editor of Cultural Responsiveness in Counselling and Psychology (2021). 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 based on a Eurocentric position and 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 the inequity gap in accessing mental health service

This information has been contributed by Doctor Sisko.

Previous Projects

Title: Health Justice Project (HJP) Barnardos Pilot
Funder:
  • Barnardos Australia
Western Researchers: Susan Sisko
Years: 2022-09-12 - 2023-09-30
ID: P00028169

Supervision

Current Supervision

Thesis Title: Hope and Wicked Problems
Field of Research:
Thesis Title: An Exploration of Experienced Supervisors' Practice in Multiple Modes
Field of Research:

Media

Title: LinkedIn
Description: LinkedIn profile
Title: Diversity & Belonging: This Australian Life.
Description: Susan has developed and hosts a podcast on diversity and belonging in Australia. Guests include researchers, educators and people with lived experiences.

Western Sydney University

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Penrith NSW 2751

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