Dr Kate Mahony is a Melbourne trained Clinical Neuropsychologist and a British-trained Clinical Psychologist with 25 years clinical experience in public and private settings in Australia and the UK.
Kate is experienced treating persistent postural perceptual dizziness (PPPD), a physiological disorder that has psychological consequences. Here, Kate’s interest in the applied science of brain-behaviour relationships converges with her practice of evidence based psychological treatment.
Kate provides brief, focused cognitive behavioural therapy treatment (CBT) to people with psychophysiological conditions such as persistent postural perceptual dizziness (PPPD). This is a syndrome in which patients feel persistently unbalanced and as though they are moving, despite being stationary.
PPPD can be triggered by, or can coexist with, other causes of dizziness, such as vestibular migraine or benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. PPPD is classified as a chronic functional vestibular disorder, overlapping with functional neurological disorders (FND), in which symptoms are caused by changes to the functional connectivity of the brain, rather than structural changes.
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) is an evidence-based psychological approach for treating PPPD and FND. It involves using cognitive techniques (new ways of thinking about the symptoms) and behavioural techniques (new ways of behaving in the presence of the symptoms). By responding differently to the symptoms, ie., experiencing them with a new understanding and behavioural approach rather than trying to stop them, the brain’s internal models can be challenged and re-built, which in turn reduces the intensity of the symptoms.
Our published outcome data, Waterston et al (2021), demonstrates a significant reduction in symptoms and related disability following brief and focused CBT. We have also collected data showing lasting or further improvements at 6-to-12-month follow-up. These results were similar to clinical research by Sydney clinical psychologists and neurologists, Edelman et al (2012).
Referring clinicians are neurologist/neuro-otologists such as Dr John Waterson from The Alfred Hospital and Cabrini, and Dr Luke Chen from The Alfred Hospital and Neurology Network.
Please note that referrals will not be accepted unless a firm diagnosis of PPPD or FND has been made by a neurologist.
Neurologist referrals can be sent to the below addresses, or email info@drkatemahony.com
Goldfields Group Medical Clinic
64 Lyttleton Street
Castlemaine 3450
Melbourne based referrals are generally seen over Telehealth.
Neurologist referrals can be sent to the above addresses, or email info@drkatemahony.com
