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Dr Larisa McLoughlin is a registered member of the Australian Psychological Society (APS), and a counselling and youth mental health specialist with nationally recognised expertise in bullying, cyberbullying, and mental health. She was awarded her PhD in 2017 after completing a Bachelor of Behavioural Science (Psychology) Honours and a Master of Arts by Research (with a focus on criminology). Her postgraduate and doctoral research focused on the mental health impacts of cyberbullying in adolescents, including coping and help-seeking behaviours, and was funded through a scholarship by the Young and Well Cooperative Research Centre.
Her work is driven by a deep commitment to supporting individuals and families affected by bullying, cyberbullying, trauma, and personal mental health challenges. This commitment is both professional and personal: she has navigated her own mental health struggles, especially after becoming a parent during the COVID pandemic in 2020, followed by significant life challenges including divorce, which further shaped her perspective and passion for this field. Therefore, she provides an evidence-informed approach that values sensitivity, respect, and practical strategies to improve wellbeing.
Regarding her background, Dr McLoughlin was a key researcher on the national Safe and Well Online Study at the University of South Australia and spent over four years as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Youth Mental Health at the Sunshine Coast Mind and Neuroscience – Thompson Institute, University of the Sunshine Coast. She served as a Chief Investigator on the Longitudinal Adolescent Brain Study (LABS) and developed her own world-first research exploring the neurobiological impacts of cyberbullying using fMRI. She developed the CyPicS (Cyberbullying Picture Series) and a novel fMRI protocol to examine brain responses in cyberbystanders, producing pilot studies and an evidence-based model that now informs prevention and intervention internationally.
Her consulting roles have included commissioning processes, project management, stakeholder engagement, and reporting for nation-wide initiatives. She has presented at national and international conferences, contributed to Commonwealth reporting and the Department of Health, and continues to build a track record of publications and applied outputs.
Dr McLoughlin regularly engages with schools, community groups, and the media as a recognised bullying expert, and has contributed specialist content to the Raising Children Network. She has presented to schools and at symposiums, worked with news outlets, and was honoured with the Society for Mental Health Research Early Career Scholar Award in 2018.
She brings a compassionate, evidence-informed approach that values sensitivity, respect, and practical strategies tailored to individual and community needs.
Dr McLoughlin looks forward to working with you and helping you navigate whatever challenges you are going through.