Barbara Eppingstall

Experience

I began my career in social welfare work and returned to study at Monash University to become a psychologist. After completing my Masters in Psychology (Counselling) I remained with Monash for 14 years in research and teaching. My research focused on aged mental health including dementia, depression and anxiety. I also taught and supervised students. While my years in research were fulfilling, I was keen to commence private work and so in 2012 I started with Nexus Psychology.
My private work has also been a very rewarding experience – assisting clients to realise their potential, utilising their inner strengths and resources to create the changes they want to achieve. I too have continued to build upon my skills to ensure clients are receiving the most appropriate therapy. This has involved ongoing training in various therapies and techniques.

I was fortunate to work for 4 years (2015 – 2019) providing gut focused psychological therapy and gut directed hypnotherapy for people experiencing gastrointestinal issues (e.g. Irritable Bowel Syndrome). It was during this period that I observed the remarkable changes and benefits through the use of hypnosis. With that knowledge and because of a long interest in the area of obesity, weight management and health related illnesses, I extended my training to include weight management therapy* (please see below). I’m now very pleased to provide Virtual Gastric Band hypnosis for those people who have had problems in managing their weight due to over-eating. Note the program does not involve dieting, rather a person becomes satisfied with eating smaller amounts of food as well as introducing further positive lifestyle changes. More recently, I have introduced additional techniques/strategies (including tapping/EFT) to help empower people so that they have further tools to realise their goals, to regain and maintain control of their lives and eating behaviours.

Weight Management Program:

Please note that this program is Not about Dieting

Includes: Assessment/suitability for Virtual Gastric Band program (VGB)

• Introduction to VGB and 8 Golden Rules to effective weight loss
• 4 – 6 weeks of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, VGB program involving hypnosis to enable key psychological & behavioural changes
• Additional health related issues covered in program (e.g. cravings, nutrition, IBS) along with the use of other approaches and techniques (including tapping or EFT)

Research Publications:

• Garland, K., Beer, E., Eppingstall, B. & O’Connor, D. (2007). A Comparison of Two Treatments of Agitated Behavior in Nursing Home Residents with Dementia: Simulated Family Presence and Preferred Music. American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 15, (6), 514-521
• O’Connor, D., Gardner, B., Eppingstall, B. & Tofler, D. (2010). Cognition in elderly patients receiving unilateral and bilateral electroconvulsive therapy: A prospective, naturalistic comparison. Journal of Affective Disorders, 124 (3), 235-240.
• van der Ploeg, E., Eppingstall, B. & O’Connor, D. (2010). The study protocol of a blinded randomised-controlled cross-over trial of lavender oil as a treatment of behavioural symptoms in dementia. BMC Geriatrics, 10, 49.
• Runci SJ, Eppingstall BE & O’Connor DW (2012). A comparison of verbal communication and psychiatric medication use by Greek and Italian residents with dementia in Australian ethno-specific and mainstream aged care facilities. International Psychogeriatrics, 24(5), 733-741.
• van der Ploeg E., Camp CJ. , Eppingstall B., Runci S. & O’Connor D. (2012) The study protocol of a cluster-randomised controlled trial of family-mediated personalised activities for nursing home residents with dementia. BMC Geriatrics. 12:2,
• O’Connor D., Eppingstall B., Taffe J. & van der Ploeg ES. (2013). A randomized, controlled cross-over trial of dermally-applied lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) oil as a treatment of agitated behaviour in dementia. BMC Complementary & Alternative Medicine. 13:315.
• van der Ploeg ES., Eppingstall B., Camp C., Runci S. , Taffe J. & O’Connor D. (2013). A randomized crossover trial to study the effect of personalized, one-to-one interaction using Montessori-based activities on agitation, affect, and engagement in nursing home residents with Dementia. International Psychogeriatrics. 25(4):565-75.
• Runci S., Eppingstall B., van der Ploeg E. & O’Connor DW. (2014). Comparison of family satisfaction in Australian ethno-specific and mainstream aged care facilities. Journal of Gerontological Nursing. 40(4):54-63.
• Davison T.E., Eppingstall B., Runci SJ. & O’Connor DW. (2015). Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for older adults residing in long term care facilities: A pilot trial (submitted)