Dr John Dileo

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PhD and Master of Psychology (Clinical Child), University of Melbourne 

Member of ACPA, APS, AACBT

Psychology Board Approved Clinical Supervisor

John is a Clinical Psychologist with over 20 years experience working in mental health in Melbourne Australia, with a strong and compassionate focus on youth and family intervention. His PhD in the area of developmental/ complex trauma, and over a decade of treating children, adolescents and adults with maltreatment histories, has affirmed this focus. 

John takes a warm and person centred approach to therapy, helping people understand the difficulties they are presenting with, and working together to use evidence-based methods to support their healing and growth. He has experience in treating a range of presenting difficulties including: 

• Anxiety disorders: including generalised anxiety, panic disorder, social anxiety, health anxiety and phobias.
• Mood disorders: including persistent sadness, anger, depression and bipolar disorder.
• Trauma and stress related disorders: from school or work related stress, to single event trauma, to complex/developmental trauma.
• Personality disorders: treatment of enduring patterns of limiting thinking and behaviour, that often stem from early life adversity.
• Challenging behaviours: such as compulsions, aggression, impulsivity and addiction/substance misuse.
• Adjustment issues and life transitions: including changing schools or jobs, starting/ending relationships and grief and breavement.
• Living with neurodiversity: helping people learn and grow with their understanding of neurodiversity
• Thinking difficulties: including trouble with concentration, obsessive thinking, intrusive memories, unusual ideas or challenges coping with the demands of day-to-day life.

John is trained with a systemic lens to psychological assessment and intervention, adjusting to each persons needs and circumstances. Typically, this means treating mature adolescents and adults more independently through individual therapy, and considering a range of approaches including consultation with parents/carers, schools and young people directly during their earlier development. 

John has engaged in extensive post-doctoral clinical training, with experience in the following treatment methods:

• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
• Schema Focused CBT (or Schema Therapy)
• Mindfulness based therapy (e.g. Mindfulness Based CBT; Mindful Self-Compassion)
• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
• Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)

Through his research and clinical experience, John has particular clinical interests in working with people with; a history developmental adversity (e.g. child/adolescent trauma and neglect), emotional difficulties (e.g. anxiety, low mood and anger), and mens mental health. 

John is also experienced as a Board Approved Supervisor, having supported students in their Clinical Psychology Masters training, supervised general and Clinical Psychologists, and other allied health professionals.

Publications

Dileo, J.F., Brewer, W., Northam, E., Yucel, M, & Anderson, V. (2016), Investigating the neurodevelopmental mediators of aggression in children with a history of child maltreatment: An exploratory field study​, Child Neuropsychology: A Journal on Normal and Abnormal Development in Childhood and Adolescence​, published online May 31st, 2016.

Brewer, W.J., Lambert, T.J., Witt, K., Dileo, J., Duff, C., Crlenjak, C., McGorry, P.D., & Murphy, B.P (2015), Intensive case management for high-risk patients with first-episode psychosis: service model and outcomes, Lancet Psychiatry, 2(1), 29-37. 

Dileo, J.F., Brewer, W. J., Hopwood, M., Anderson, V., & Creamer, M. (2008).Orbitoprefrontal Dysfunction, Aggression and Impulsivity in War Veterans with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Journal of Psychological Medicine, 38, 1-9.

Bunston, W. & Dileo, J.F. (2006). Last but never least: Evaluation. In Bunston, W., & Heynatz, A. (Eds), (2006), Addressing Family Violence Programs; Groupwork Interventions for infants, children and their parents, The Royal Children’s Hospital Mental Health Service, Australia.

Bunston, W. & Dileo, J.F. (2006). Progress and Evaluation Report of Operation Newstart Western 1999-2006, The Royal Children’s Hospital Mental Health Service, Australia.