Dr. David H. Demmer
Dave received his undergraduate degree (with honours) in psychology and his Doctorate of Psychology (Clinical) from Deakin University and was named Australian Psychologist of the Year in 2023. Dave strongly focuses his practice within the LGBTQIAP+ community. He has a clinical and research background in how gender and sexuality influence mental health. Dave works across most psychological disorders but has a particular interest in issues related to trauma, attachment, self-worth/self-esteem, substance-related issues (particularly crystal methamphetamine), and relationship problems. Dave is an advanced level Certified Schema Therapist, and his main approaches are schema therapy, Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), EMDR, and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). He is also trained in couples therapy (Gottman Therapy) and holds a diploma of clinical hypnosis.
Dave regularly conducts training for clinicians in the area of queer mental health, including LGBTQIAP+ affirmative practice and training clinicians to provide WPATH assessments to their trans, gender diverse, and non binary clients. As a AHPRA PsyBA board-approved supervisor, Dave is available to provide supervision to clinicians, including psychologists completing their clinical endorsement program.
Dave previously held the position of lecturer at Deakin University, where he chaired the counselling and coaching units. He has been the principle researcher on numerous areas of clinical research into the relationships between gender, sexuality, and mental health, and continues to supervise postgraduate students completing research in this area. Dave also consults to Movember as a mental health Subject Matter Expert.
Dave is currently on overseas sabbatical and is unable to see new clients.
Bachelor of Psychology (Honours)
Doctorate of Psychology (Clinical)
Diploma of Clinical Hypnosis
Member of The World Professional Association for Trans Health (WPATH)
Member of The Australian Professional Association for Trans Health (AusPATH)
Member of The Australian Clinical Psychology Association (ACPA)
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.