Meet Asian Australian Clinical Psychologist, Dr. Leona Chun

We know that it's not always easy trying to work out which therapist we might like to work with: Because the decision isn't just about where they're located and when they're available, but there's a bit more of a human, relational element to the decision too.

So here at Shapes and Sounds, we want to help make that process just a little easier.

Every month, we'll be introducing a therapist from the Asian Australian Mental Health Practitioner List to help you gain a bit more insight into who you feel might be a good fit for you or someone that you know.

This month we're excited to connect you with Dr. Leona Chun who is a clinical psychologist working at Dr Leona Chun, Clinical Psychologist (offering services in QLD and Telehealth sessions Australia-wide). We hope you enjoy connecting with Leona below!

~

1. What led you to choosing psychology as a career?

I have always had an interest in human behaviour and helping others so naturally, I was drawn to psychology as a career pathway. Along with my personal experiences of navigating between two cultures (Hong Kong Chinese and Australian) and recognising the stigma of mental health issues among Asian communities, I was driven to pursue a career in Clinical Psychology to better understand and support the mental health needs of our community. I think having immigrant parents who instilled the values of hard work and collectivism also contributed to my passion of bettering the mental health of our Asian Australian and culturally and linguistically diverse communities.

After spending almost 7 years in private practice as a therapist, I decided to take my career to the next level by relinquishing my private practice in January 2023 to pursue a role at the Queensland Transcultural Mental Health Centre (a public mental health consultation-liaison service within Queensland Health). I hope to broaden the impact of my work by improving the mental health care and outcomes for our multicultural communities through clinical education. As the new Workforce Development and Clinical Educator, I am eager to educate and inspire the current and new mental health workforce in becoming more culturally responsive with our multicultural clients at a state-wide level.

2. What is your unique cultural heritage?

I was born and raised in Brisbane, Australia. My parents are from Hong Kong. I was raised in a Cantonese speaking household so I am bilingual. I would consider myself as someone who integrates both Chinese and Australian cultural values into my identity (although this is something that I am still navigating and will probably do so for the rest of my life). I am proud to be an Asian Australian.

3. What are your areas of specialty and what kind of frameworks do you work from?

Since graduating from my postgraduate Clinical Psychology training in 2016, I have primarily worked as a therapist in private practice utilising an Integrative Psychotherapy approach founded upon Cognitive-Behavioural frameworks. My practice is also informed by Treatment and Outcome-informed treatment approaches, deliberative practice, Schema Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Circle of Security Parenting and Systems theory. In addition to my work as a therapist, I have been supervising postgraduate Clinical Psychology trainees and registrars, as well as General Psychologists as a Board-Approved supervisor since 2020. In 2021, I also did some work in conducting cognitive (mainly IQ and learning) and diagnostic assessments.

4. What kind of clients are you best able to support?

Currently I am not taking on therapy clients (sorry! it was very hard to say goodbye to many of my Asian clients, some of whom were seeing me for years) given that I am now working full-time in the workforce development and clinical education space in the public sector. However, I still have a small caseload of supervisees (telehealth only) in my own private practice so I am open to providing supervision to mental health workers (not restricted to psychologists) who work in either the private or public sectors.

5. If you could be your own therapist right now, what do you think you would say to yourself?

I would say to be kind to myself and embrace the new changes that I have welcomed into my life in recent times. Appreciate the new challenges the lie ahead and always remember to be my true and authentic self.

~

Connect with Leona via our Asian Australian Mental Health Practitioner List HERE.

Alternatively, if you feel like Eunice may be a good fit for someone that you know, be sure to forward this page on to them too. Let us continue to not only support ourselves but all those around us too!

If you require urgent assistance, please do not contact Leona or any of the practitioners on this list. Instead, please call emergency services on 000 or call Lifeline on 13 11 14.

Shapes and Sounds does not recommend or endorse Leona or any of the practitioners listed on the Asian Australian Mental Health Practitioner List.

Please always consult your GP before making changes to your mental health care plan.