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About Dr Leah Giarratano

Biography: Dr Leah Giarratano B.A. (Hons.), M.Psych., D.Psych.

If you wish to contact Leah Giarratano, please send a detailed enquiry to her assistant using this form

 

Leah Giarratano is an Australian registered clinical psychologist and an author of fiction and nonfiction books. As a psychologist she has vast clinical and teaching expertise in traumatology, working in this area in since 1995, across many trauma populations and utilising several treatment modalities. Leah currently provides training and limited clinical supervision to mental health professionals globally. 

 

Education

  • Doctor of Clinical Psychology, University of Wollongong, 2005
  • Master of Clinical Psychology, (Awarded with Merit) University of Sydney, 1994 
  • Bachelor of Arts (with majors in English and Psychology) and honours (in Psychology), University of Sydney, 1991

Memberships

  • Psychology Board of Australia Registration Number: PSY0001302405 (registered continuously since 31/08/1994)
  • Australian Psychological Society (APS)
  • Fellow APS College of Clinical Psychologists
  • International Affiliate of the American Psychological Association (APA)
  • International Affiliate of the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA)
  • International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ISTSS)


Leah is a foundation team member of an Australian national award-winning inpatient PTSD treatment program and is the author of several sell-out trauma education programs for mental health professionals. She has conducted specialised programs for the Australian and New Zealand Defence Forces, many corporate entities, including insurance, juvenile and adult forensic settings, and community mental health. She conducted a nationally accredited Cognitive Behaviour Therapy training program for medical practitioners between 1995 and 2008.


Leah has supervised various mental health professionals and clinical psychologists since 1996 and was a Psychology Board of Australia approved supervisor until 21 March 2023. She has been a Medical Assessor for the NSW Motor Accidents Authority and was an Authorised Report Writer for NSW Victims Services until the end of 2015. She has held appointments as a Clinical Supervisor for the University of Sydney, Macquarie University, University of NSW and the University of Wollongong, for their Master of Clinical Psychology Programs.


In 2006, Random House Australia (now Penguin Australia) acquired Leah's first two crime novels. Her first novel 'Vodka Doesn't Freeze', was published in July 2007 and her second, 'Voodoo Doll' in July 2008. Two further novels in the series were acquired by Random House in 2007; 'Black Ice' was published in July 2009 and 'Watch the World Burn' was published in June 2010. Although her crime novels are works of fiction, they are inspired by her experiences working in the field of psychological trauma.

 

In 2008, Screentime Australia contracted Leah to host an eight, one-hour episode, prime-time documentary series 'Beyond the Darklands' as an expert delving into the minds of some of Australia's infamous criminals. The series aired in Australia on Channel 7 from March 18, 2009 and on television networks internationally in 2010.

 

In 2010, Penguin Australia acquired Leah’s first three young adult novels: an urban fantasy series. The first book 'Disharmony: The Telling' was published in 2012 and the remaining two 'Disharmony: The Laeduin' and 'Disharmony: Immortal Combat' were published in 2013.


Publications

Non Fiction

  • Giarratano, L. (2025) Clinical Skills for Managing Trauma Across Cultures: Risk, Response, and Treatment Strategies, Talomin Books, Cairns Australia, ISBN 9781920902117
  • Giarratano, L. (2018 revised in 2022) Clinical Skills for Managing Complex Traumatisation, Talomin Books, Cairns Australia, ISBN 978192090210
  • Giarratano, L. (2004 revised in 2018) Clinical Skills for Managing PTSD: Proven Practical Techniques for Treating Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Talomin Books, Sydney Australia, ISBN 9781920902001
  • Giarratano, L. (2004 revised in 2018) Clinical Skills for Managing Acute Psychological Trauma: Effective Early Interventions for Treating Acute Stress Disorder, Talomin Books, Sydney Australia, ISBN 9781920902025 
  • Giarratano, L. (2004 revised in 2018) Clinical Skills for Treating Traumatised Adolescents: Evidence Based Treatment for PTSD, Talomin Books, Sydney Australia, ISBN 9781920902032 
  • Giarratano, L. (2004 revised in 2018) Managing Psychological Trauma: Clinician and Client Resources for the Clinical Skills Series, Talomin Books, Sydney Australia, ISBN 9781920902049 
  • Giarratano, L (2013) 'Mad, bad and dangerous to know' in If I tell you... I'll have to kill you: Australia's leading crime writers reveal their secrets Edited by Michael Robotham, Allen & Unwin, Sydney Australia, ISBN 9781743313480
  • Giarratano, L. (2004) Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Strategies for use in General Practice: Effective Psychological Strategies for Medical Practitioners, Talomin Books, Sydney Australia, ISBN 9781920902018 
  • Giarratano, L. (2004) CBT for GPs: GP and Patient Resources, Talomin Books, Sydney Australia, ISBN 9781920902056 
  • Humphreys, L., Westerink., J, Giarratano, L., & Brooks, R. (1999). An intensive treatment program for chronic posttraumatic stress disorder: Two-year outcome data. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 33, 848-854.
  • Westerink, J. & Giarratano, L. (1999). The impact of posttraumatic stress disorder on partners and children of Australian Vietnam veterans. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 33, pp.841-847.
  • Giarratano, L. & Tate, R. (1994). 'The frontal lobes, organisation and memory functioning' in Treatment Issues and Long-Term Outcomes: Proceedings of the 18th Annual Brain Impairment Conference Hobart, Australia 1994, Eds. Fourez, J. & Page, N. Australian Society for the Study of Brain Impairment, ISBN 9781875378180


Fiction

  • Giarratano, L. (2013) Disharmony: Immortal Combat, Penguin Group, Melbourne Australia, ISBN 9780143565703 
  • Giarratano, L. (2013) Disharmony: The Laeduin, Penguin Group, Melbourne Australia, ISBN 9780143565697 
  • Giarratano, L. (2012) Disharmony: The Telling, Penguin Group, Melbourne Australia, ISBN 9780143565680 
  • Giarratano, L. (2010) Watch The World Burn, Random House, Sydney Australia, ISBN 9781741668148
  • Giarratano, L. (2009) Black Ice, Random House, Sydney Australia, ISBN 9781741668094
  • Giarratano, L. (2008) Voodoo Doll, Random House, Sydney Australia, ISBN 9781863255899
  • Giarratano, L. (2007) Vodka Doesn't Freeze, Random House, Sydney Australia, ISBN 9781863255837 

 

Titles available at talomin books:

Training:

  • Treating PTSD (Day 1-2) with Dr Leah Giarratano
  • Treating Complex Trauma (Day 3-4) with Dr Leah Giarratano
  • Trauma Education (Day 1-4) with Dr Leah Giarratano

Books:

  • Clinical Skills for Managing Trauma Across Cultures: Risk, Response and Treatment Strategies
  • Clinical Skills for Managing Complex Traumatisation
  • Clinical Skills for Managing PTSD: Proven Practical Techniques for Treating Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
  • Clinical Skills for Treating Traumatised Adolescents: Evidence Based Treatment for PTSD
  • Clinical Skills for Managing Acute Psychological Trauma: Effective Early Interventions for Treating Acute Stress Disorder
  • Managing Psychological Trauma: Clinician and Client Resources for the Clinical Skills Series
  • Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Strategies for use in General Practice: Effective Psychological Strategies for Medical Practitioners
  • CBT for GPs: GP and Patient Resources
  • Disharmony: Immortal Combat Book 3
  • Disharmony: The Laeduin Book 2
  • Disharmony: The Telling Book 1
  • Watch the World Burn
  • Black Ice
  • Voodoo Doll
  • Vodka Doesn't Freeze