A warm welcome to our newest member of Brisbane Wellbeing Psychologists, General Psychologist John Hannan. John is consulting on Thursday’s and Friday’s, and has already hit the ground running!
John is a warm and compassionate Psychologist experienced in assisting clients with anxiety, depression, trauma and PTSD. John has been a first responder to some of the traumatic natural disasters
that have taken place in Qld over the past few years and works comfortably across all demographics and cultures. He holds a Masters of Business Administration and is highly experienced and passionate about effective communication, management coaching, support and professional development of staff on all levels. He has a demonstrated history in managing difficult HR issues and workplace conflict.
Now, a few words from John, to personally introduce himself to our team and clients, new and existing.
Hi there. What a lovely organisation this is. What a great city. I love catching the ferry and grabbing a coffee to walk down Queen Street Mall to work. The whole process is just incredibly civilised. Despite some early living in Adelaide, Scotland and short stints in Indonesia, I would say I grew up in Melbourne as a rebellious teenager; middle class suburbs but with my share of teenage angst. I was drawn to psychology early and spent spare time reading textbooks but not taking the rest of life too seriously. In the middle of the Victorian recession of 1992 I packed my things and headed to Cairns. Once there I became engaged in white water rafting where I worked for twelve years. Besides daily tours I was fortunate enough to run extended helicopter rafting tours in World Heritage Rainforest. I worked for six months rafting in Japan before being asked to manage an operation in rural Bali for twelve months. They had had an incident in which three people had died. There was trauma and it was a tough place to gain managerial experience. After a year there I returned to eight years in a management role with the parent company in Cairns. I have always been incredibly interested in workplace culture, management, and communication. I have made all the mistakes that new managers make.
After completing an MBA, I decided to make a formal return to my original passion in psychology. It had never left me. Graduating in 2008 I went to work with the Royal Flying Doctor Service for over a decade. We worked with trauma after cyclones, trauma after floods, trauma in rural farming communities and trauma in Indigenous communities. I worked with clients and in management; and with clients who were in management. I spent time working with severe mental health at Queensland Health and with adolescents at Headspace.
I have always missed being close to a surf coast. When my daughter decided to stay in Brisbane after studying here, I was quick to follow. I have a long-standing hypothesis in evolutionary psychology that requires a PhD investigation. I am currently at the University of Queensland doing a research PhD and have a half-written book on the same topic. I believe completely in the human capacity for growth. I understand personal pain and approach working with clients with a well-founded optimism, a grounded empathy and a sadly increasing longevity of experience.
To get to know John better we asked some hard-hitting questions!
What motivated you to become a psychologist?
I was interested in psychology for as long as I can remember. After being distracted from this with youthful activities it was an easy decision to come back to study. I consider it a privilege to be trusted into the most important parts of people’s lives.
Where is the most interesting place in the world that you have visited?
Wow that’s tricky. Borneo, Cambodia, Borrobodur on Java? Aurukun on Cape York is amazing. Scuba diving in a shark swarm in the Coral Sea is pretty intense. Maybe sitting contemplating life amongst unburied skulls at the Temple of the Dead, Lake Batur, Bali.
If you were a tree what type of tree would you be and why?
When I first arrived in Cairns I was walking in Mossman Gorge. I was fascinated by a giant Strangler Fig with masses of vertical roots growing down from the canopy. I made a decision that day to live in the rainforest. I worked in that environment for years. I believe there is an important part of humans that needs to connect with nature.
What is your favourite Arnott’s Biscuits?
Tim Tams. Duh!!
If you think John would be a good match for you and your goals, book online or give us a call on 3532 8954.