Kate Witteveen

Dr. Kate Witteveen serves as a Lecturer in Counselling within the School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work at the University of Queensland, part of the Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences. She holds a Doctor of Philosophy, an undergraduate degree in counselling, and postgraduate studies in psychology. Originally pursuing a career in law, Witteveen shifted focus upon recognizing her interest in understanding human experiences during difficult situations. Following her undergraduate studies, she worked with adolescents disengaged from the educational system. She later established her own coaching business, which deepened her practical insights into client needs, before returning to academia driven by her passion for teaching and mentoring. At UQ, she contributes to the Master of Counselling program, emphasizing a teaching approach centred on empowering students to develop compassionate, client-centred practices through authentic connections and excellence. Her philosophy underscores that the core of effective counselling lies in the therapeutic relationship, equipping students to foster meaningful client relationships.

As a mental health academic and practitioner, Witteveen's research specializations centre on women's wellbeing and neurodiversity, with recent projects exploring the lived experiences of women receiving an adult ADHD diagnosis. Her work investigates hormonal influences, the intersection of ADHD and trauma, and therapeutic modalities suited to this population, aiming to address the under-representation of women and girls in ADHD research and improve diagnostic and treatment protocols. Key publications include the co-authored open textbook The Practice of Counselling and Psychotherapy (2025, University of Queensland); Rediscovering "Me": A Consensual Qualitative Analysis of the Experiences of Australian Women with an Adult Diagnosis of ADHD (2025, International Journal for the Advancement of Counselling); Mentalisation, Self-Compassion, and the Psychosocial Impact of ADHD in Adult Women (2025, Psychotherapy and Counselling Journal of Australia); and Are Professional Counsellors and Psychotherapists Prepared to Make a Greater Contribution to the Australian Mental Health Workforce? (2025, Advances in Mental Health). Earlier contributions encompass studies on cognitive performance enhancement in acute stroke patients (2019, The Clinical Neuropsychologist), pattern understanding in child arithmetic and reading development (2017, Child Development Perspectives), and social media applications in psychological data collection (2014, Current Psychology). She currently supervises doctoral research on mental health intersections for autistic and ADHD women and clinical processes in counselling frameworks, contributing datasets and reports on mental health services. Her 15 research outputs reflect sustained impact in counselling, psychotherapy, and neurodiversity fields.

Professional Email: k.witteveen@uq.edu.au