St Vincents Private Hospitals

Biography

A/Prof Paul Rhodes is a psychologist specialising in family-based treatment of eating disorders, family therapy for complex problems and recovery-oriented approaches to eating disorders. He has over 20 years’ clinical experience as a family therapist working with families, including those with a child who has developmental disabilities or anorexia nervosa.

A/Prof Rhodes spent 10 years at Westmead Children's Hospital, managing the Eating Disorders Family-Based Treatment Team and was responsible for implementing the Maudsley model of family-based treatment across both Australia and New Zealand. Alongside his Honorary Senior Clinical Psychologist position at Westmead, he is an academic at the Clinical Psychology Unit at The University of Sydney, past editor of the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Family Therapy, has published widely and is co-author of A Practical Approach to Family Therapy (2013).

One of the aims of his practice and research is to explore innovative therapies, focusing on understanding, not just explanation, and empowerment not just vulnerabilities. A/Prof Rhodes believes that people living with a ‘mental disorder’ must not be objectified or subject to treatments that do not respect the idea that recovery involves the development of the whole person.

A/Prof Rhodes maintains a private practice in couple and family therapy at USpace - the young adult mental health service at St Vincent’s Private Hospital, Sydney.