Graduate Profile

Louella Lim
B.A., Dip.T.D.M, B.Psych., D.Psych.

I began my academic journey at Murdoch in 1996. I was enrolled in the Master of Applied Psychology program, in the organisational psychology stream. As part of the program, I did a couple of units on managing drug and alcohol problems and clinical psychology (adult). I became very interested in clinical psychology and decided to "defect" to that stream. I enrolled to do an additional clinical psychology unit and to audit the clinical psychology placement unit (I had already officially completed all my 1st year masters placement units). I enjoyed myself so much that I applied to do the D.Psych program (I never expected I would enjoy studying so much).

Although it took me some time to complete my thesis, the entire process of conducting the research and writing the thesis was a very valuable experience. My supervisors, Angela O'Brien-Malone and Sandy Williams were absolutely fantastic in helping me get to the end of that journey. For my research, I identified the psychosocial issues faced by bipolar patients using a qualitative approach. I then developed an adjunctive cognitive behavioural group intervention for bipolar patients and evaluated the programme in a controlled clinical trial.

This intervention is currently being conducted at the Centre for Clinical Interventions (CCI), where I work as a Clinical Psychologist (Registrar). At CCI, I am involved in providing cognitive behavioural treatment for patients in individual and group therapy, facilitating training workshops for mental health practitioners, and conducting clinically applied research. As a result of my research, I wrote two therapist treatment manuals for bipolar disorder - for group and individual modular therapy, both of which have been published. I also developed two web-based patient workbooks "Back from the Bluez" and "Keeping Your Balance" available on the CCI website.

My time spent at Murdoch University has been extremely valuable and memorable. I have been inspired by many of the teaching staff who have been great role models of the profession to me and I have made many friends with whom I keep in regular contact to this day.

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