In this month’s newsletter, we would like to introduce PhD graduate, Alex Canty from the College of Education, Psychology and Social Work.

Alex’s recently submitted thesis, “Using Experience Sampling Methodology (ESM) to improve our understanding of day-to-day intrusion experiences and persistent post-trauma impacts in survivors of trauma” received outstanding results from the examiners.

We asked Alex to share what led her to a Phd and why it is important, the most enjoyable and hardest parts of a PhD journey and what the future holds.

What was the topic of your PhD and why was it important to you?

My PhD was about the cognitive symptoms of PTSD and how they interact on a daily basis. When I first started this was just a topic I was interested in and wanted to know more about to hopefully be able to help people one day, but the more I learnt about the research that guides current PTSD treatments and the emerging ideas of how we can investigate those relationships in more detail, the more passionate I became about the questions we may be able to answer.

Tell us about your research

In simple terms a lot of the research about how PTSD develops and is maintained was conducted in studies that measured key variables every few weeks or months. This means that the current theories of PTSD that inform our treatment approaches have linked important factors like intrusions, distress, avoidance, and negative thoughts over extended time frames, but we don’t fully understand how these factors interact for individuals in the moment. My research used online diary approaches to measure these factors several times each day and explored how momentary fluctuations were related to each other. The results showed that individuals experienced significant fluctuations in and relationships between intrusion related distress, avoidance coping, and negative thoughts across assessments that longer gaps between assessments would miss. The findings also indicated that the distress someone feels in response to an intrusion is a more important determinant for how they respond, and potentially maintain the disorder, than how often those intrusions happen.

Tell us about yourself

I am an enthusiastic, driven, and social person who always has a lot going on. None of my friends or family are surprised I am pursuing a career where I will be paid to talk to people. While completing my own research in PTSD I also worked with other Flinders researchers on studies related to resilience in first responders, adolescent trauma treatment, and assessments of autism spectrum disorder. Outside of university I am also a competitive cheerleader and recently competed at the world championships in Florida.

What led you to undertake a PhD? What inspired or motivated you?

I have wanted to be a psychologist for many years and applied to complete a PhD to learn more and get closer to this goal.

What was been one of the most enjoyable parts of the journey?

Getting to present my research in the 3MT competition and various conferences. It was really encouraging to see that other people were also interested in my work and very valuable to talk about research with like-minded and passionate people.

What was been one of the hardest parts of the journey?

I started my PhD in 2020, so as soon as I started, I encountered a lot of changes and setbacks related to COVID-19. It was very challenging to figure out the expectations for post-graduate study compared to my undergraduate classes, how much I should do independently and when to ask for guidance, as well as how that would look when working from home and adapting to a more isolated experience.

How did you overcome any challenges of doing a PhD?

I think a combination of having balanced interests, a lot of support from my friends and family, and the idea that quitting wasn’t an option kept me going. So even when I felt like I was really struggling in my PhD I had other areas of my life where I felt good and I would just keep trying, even if the progress didn’t feel like enough at the time it kept me moving towards my goal.

What was highlight of your student life at Flinders?

The friends I have made along the way and all the memories we made while struggling through classes.

How did your supervisors support you during your candidature?

From the start of my PhD my supervisors had more faith in me than I had in myself. They encouraged me to explore any avenue I encountered and pushed me to be the expert in my own work but also were there to help me get things under control when I felt overwhelmed.

What advice would you give to those who are about to undertake a PhD?  

It will be a challenging experience as well as rewarding, so make sure you know why you want to do it and set yourself up well with good people around you as well as ways you can support yourself. Everyone feels like they may not be able to finish their PhD or are too behind at least once, but as long as you don’t give up you are still on your way.

How has your PhD helped you in the role you are in now?

The knowledge and experiences I gained throughout my PhD have certainly helped me in approaching the clinical content of my current course. I also feel that the challenges in and perseverance through my PhD have given me a greater sense of my resilience and more confidence in my abilities more generally.

How has your PhD influenced your future career? Where do you see your career heading in the future?

While I did always want to go into psychology, my PhD has shaped a passion for working with people who have had traumatic experiences, and I would love to continue this in clinical practise. I also found an enjoyment in research that I didn’t expect and am now a lot more open to a career that involves both a clinical and research element.

What have you been doing since you completed?

I have immediately jumped into another degree and am currently one semester into a Master of Clinical Psychology. This degree should hopefully be my last step to becoming a clinical psychologist and taking on my career!

Have you published anything?

While completing my PhD thesis I was able to publish my first study (link below) and am currently working on publishing the other research included in my final thesis as separate manuscripts.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0005791623000885 [Canty, A. R., Windsor, T. D., & Nixon, R. D. (2024). Using experience sampling methodology (ESM) to improve our understanding of day-to-day intrusion frequency and related distress in survivors of trauma. Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry, 82, 101921.]