Dave is a Counselling Psychologist with over 40 years of clinical experience. He is the co-founder and director of Misso Psychology & Consulting, established in 2001. Dave has previously managed one of Australia’s most prominent counselling agencies. He was a member of the Queensland Domestic Violence Council and a trainer for the Queensland Police Service on domestic violence perpetrator typologies. He is a supervisor with the Psychology Board of Australia for the psychology registrar program and a clinical supervisor for the Australian Government’s Veterans and Families Counselling Services.

Dave has integrated various models of practice into his therapeutic approach throughout his career, having trained and established professional relationships with many pioneers in narrative therapy, solution-focused therapy, systems theory, sensorimotor psychotherapy, and transpersonal psychology. He has collaborated and published with Dr Giancarlo Dimaggio, Professor Robert Schweitzer and colleagues on the incorporation of metacognition to enhance treatment interventions for male perpetrators of domestic violence. The theories and research of the late Professor Paul Lysaker have influenced his doctoral work. Their collaboration has contributed significantly to the understanding and application of metacognitive strategies in clinical settings, offering new perspectives on client engagement and treatment efficacy. Dave’s approach to clinical practice is deeply rooted in his belief in personal growth, self-awareness, and the unique subjective experiences of every individual. He adopts a humanistic approach, viewing individuals as complex beings with a rich tapestry of emotions, thoughts, and behaviours. He rejects simplistic categorisations, instead valuing the dynamic and evolving nature of personal narratives. This empathetic understanding forms the foundation of his therapeutic approach.

Dave’s PhD research at Queensland University of Technology (QUT) focuses on developing an integrative approach to address domestic and family violence. This approach aims to reduce the incidence of domestic and family violence and encourage men to engage in a broader conversation about their roles in fostering safety. Dave’s initiative highlights his dedication and passion for promoting positive change and establishing safer communities through innovative therapeutic practices and community involvement. Dave’s expertise in psychology extends beyond therapy. He has demonstrated his leadership and versatility across various industries, leading and facilitating significant change projects. His involvement in organisational strategic and business planning, leadership development, and coaching with executive, senior, and middle-level managers showcase his adaptability and broad skill set. This diverse experience has enriched his understanding of human behaviour and further honed his professional skills. Dave has recently founded the Institute for Integrative Psychotherapies (IIP). IIP trains mental health professionals, facilitates discussions, conducts research, and develops innovative global mental health collaboration and enhancement solutions.

Donna is the co-founder and co-director of Misso Psychology. With nearly thirty years of experience in the human services field, she has held several leadership positions in community initiatives to improve service delivery systems. Her extensive experience and broad perspective in community services have led State and Federal governments to engage her expertise in implementing Quality Assurance Systems. These systems were specifically tailored for government-funded community-based agencies and served as a template for continuous improvement strategies.

Donna has a Bachelor of Human Services, specialising in child and family studies. She also holds qualifications in counselling, expressive therapies, breathwork, and community services management. Over the past two decades, Donna has focused on body-centred therapies, breathwork, meditation, and mindfulness practices. With over 20 years of experience in breathwork, she has co-facilitated workshops utilising this technique in Australia and internationally. Donna’s integrated approach to psychological growth and well-being is based on the understanding that the mind and body are deeply interconnected. Her practice emphasises developing body awareness through breathing and mindfulness techniques. She supports people to recognise and access their inner resources to gain a richer understanding of themselves and their experiences, promoting personal growth and enhanced well-being.

Donna’s extensive experience in facilitating breathwork training led her to collaborate with one of Australia’s initial training programs for mental health professionals interested in psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy. Breathwork was included in the training to give participants first-hand experience on how to support their clients when using psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy; she is also the co-founder of the Institute for Integrative Psychotherapies (IIP), which aims to bring mental health professionals together to collaborate and share knowledge, ideas, and research to improve the quality of mental health care for individuals globally. Donna and her colleagues are currently developing a certificate program for breathwork facilitation training designed for mental health professionals.