Dr. David H. Capstick
Dave is a clinical psychologist who works within an LGBTQIA-affirming and neuroaffirming framework, with extensive experience supporting sexually-diverse clients, particularly gay men, as well as queer, trans, gender-diverse, and neurodivergent clients. He strongly focuses his practice within the LGBTQIA+ community and has a clinical and research background in how gender and sexuality influence mental health.
Dave received his undergraduate degree in psychology with honours, as well as his Doctorate of Psychology (Clinical), from Deakin University. In 2023, he was named Australian Psychologist of the Year. He works across a broad range of psychological difficulties, with particular interest in trauma, attachment, self-worth and self-esteem, substance-related concerns (particularly crystal methamphetamine), and relationship difficulties.
Dave is an advanced-level Certified Schema Therapist. His main therapeutic approaches include Schema Therapy, Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), EMDR, and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). He is also trained in couples therapy through Gottman Therapy and holds a diploma of clinical hypnosis.
Dave regularly provides training to clinicians in queer mental health, including LGBTQIA+ affirmative practice and supporting clinicians to undertake WPATH assessments with trans, gender-diverse, and non-binary clients. As an AHPRA PsyBA board-approved supervisor, he also provides supervision to clinicians, including psychologists completing their clinical endorsement program.
Previously, Dave held a lecturer position at Deakin University, where he chaired the counselling and coaching units. He has been the principal researcher on numerous clinical research projects exploring the relationships between gender, sexuality, and mental health, and he continues to supervise postgraduate students undertaking research in this area.
Dave recently changed his surname from Demmer to Capstick.
Bachelor of Psychology (Honours)
Doctorate of Psychology (Clinical)
Diploma of Clinical Hypnosis
AHPRA registration: PSY0001892921
Member of The World Professional Association for Trans Health (WPATH)
Member of The Australian Clinical Psychology Association (ACPA)
The below publications were published under Dave's pre-marriage name: David H. Demmer.
Demmer, D. H., & Tatnell, R. (2025). Readiness assessments prior to gender affirming medical care: the processes and perspectives of Australian healthcare practitioners. International Journal of Transgender Health, 1-16. link here
Tatnell, R., Constanti, A., Johansen, S. W. F., & Demmer, D. H. (2025). A mixed methods pilot study assessing adaptations to the ESTEEM program for Australian same sex attracted men. Australian Psychologist, 1-12. link here
Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS). (2024). Chemsex Toolkit for clinical service providers in the Asia-Pacific region. UNAIDS. link here
Ridgway, K., Cooke, K., Demmer, D. H., Hooley, M., Westrupp, E., & Stokes, M. A. (2024). Camouflaging Autism in Pursuit of Friendship and Intimate Relationships: A Systematic Review. Autism in Adulthood. link here
Ridgway, K., Macmillan, C., Demmer, D. H., Hooley, M., Hedley, D., Westrupp, E., & Stokes, M. A. (2024). Subjective wellbeing of autistic adolescents and young adults: A cross sectional study. Autism Research, 1–12. link here
Smith, I., O’Dea, G., Demmer, D. H., Youssef, G., Craigie, G., Francis, L. M., Coles, L., D’Souza, L., Cain, K., Knight, T. and Olsson, C.A. & Macdonald, J. A. (2023). Associations between unintended fatherhood and paternal mental health problems: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Affective Disorders, 339, 22-32. link here
Livingston, J. D., Youssef, G. J., StGeorge, J., Wynter, K., Dowse, E. … Macdonald, J. A. (2021). Parental coping and psychopathology during the perinatal period: A mixed studies systematic review and meta-analysis. Clinical Psychology Review, 86.
Pecora, L. A., Hancock, G. I., Hooley, M., Demmer, D. H., Attwood, T., Mesibov, G. B., & Stokes, M. A. (2020). Gender identity, sexual orientation and adverse sexual experiences in autistic females. Molecular autism, 11(1), 1-16.
Demmer, D. H., Puccio, F., Stokes, M. A., McGillivray, J. A., & Hooley, M. (2017). The influence of child gender on the prospective relationships between parenting and child ADHD. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology. doi:10.1007/s10802-017-0284-7
Demmer, D. H., Hooley, M., Sheen, J., McGillivray, J. A., & Lum, J. A. (2016). Sex differences in the prevalence of oppositional defiant disorder during middle childhood: a meta-analysis. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 1-13. doi: 10.1007/s10802-016-0170-8
Demmer, D. H., Hooley, M., Sheen, J., McGillivray, J. A., & Lum, J. A. (2016). Sex differences in the prevalence of oppositional defiant disorder during middle childhood: A meta-analysis. Paper presented as an oral presentation 22nd International Association for Child & Adolescent Psychiatry and Allied Professions World Congress in Calgary, Canada, 2016, by David Hilton Demmer.