Associate Professor Fiona Mathieson

2026

Journal - Research Article

Mathieson, F., Cumming, R., Stubbe, M., & Jenkin, G. (2026). What's it like? What service user metaphors reveal about experiences of acute mental health inpatient facilities. Current Psychology, 45, 864. doi: 10.1007/s12144-026-09295-z

2025

Journal - Research Article

Zaia, S., Huthwaite, M., & Mathieson, F. (2025). Perceived benefits and limitations of a generative AI chatbot for mental health support: An exploratory mixed-methods study. New Zealand Medical Student Journal, (39), 24-30. doi: 10.57129/001c.144919

2024

Journal - Research Article

McKenzie, S. K., Mathieson, F., Das, T., Genuchi, M. C., & Oliffe, J. L. (2024). Understanding men's lived experience of mental distress through metaphors. American Journal of Men's Health, 18(3). doi: 10.1177/15579883241260920

Dowell, A., Stubbe, M., Dunlop, A., Fedchuk, D., Gardiner, T., Garrett, S., Gordon, S., Hilder, J., Mathieson, F., & Tester, R. (2024). Evaluating success and challenges of a primary care youth mental health programme using complexity, implementation science, and appreciative inquiry. Cureus, 16(4), e58870. doi: 10.7759/cureus.58870

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Cooney, E., Brittain, E., Mathieson, F., & Patel, R. (2024). \Feeling like I could take a big breath\: Evaluation of a supervision group for Indigenous Māori and culturally diverse health professionals within a cognitive behaviour therapy training course. In S. Stankovic, M. Mitković Vončina & N. Petrović (Eds.), European Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Therapies (EABCT) 54th Annual Congress: New Age of CBT: Challenges and Perspectives. (pp. 228-229). Retrieved from https://eabct2024.org

Cooney, E., Mathieson, F., & Barnfield, T. (2024). Zooming into the unknown: A comparison of CBT teaching outcomes for online and in-person classes during the pandemic. In S. Stankovic, M. Mitković Vončina & N. Petrović (Eds.), European Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Therapies (EABCT) 54th Annual Congress: New Age of CBT: Challenges and Perspectives. (pp. 160-161). Retrieved from https://eabct2024.org

Mathieson, F., Stubbe, M., & Jordan, J. (2024). Meaning through metaphors in CBT. Proceedings of the 44th National Conference of the Australian Association for Cognitive and Behaviour Therapy (AACBT). (pp. 170-171). AACBT. Retrieved from https://www.aacbt.org.au/

2023

Journal - Research Article

Mathieson, F., Garrett, S., Stubbe, M., Hilder, J., Tester, R., Fedchuk, D., Dunlop, A., & Dowell, A. (2023). Therapist voices on a youth mental health pilot: Responsiveness to diversity and therapy modality. International Journal of Environmental Research & Public Health, 20, 1834. doi: 10.3390/ ijerph20031834

Wilson, R., Pryymachenko, Y., Abbott, J. H., Dean, S., Stanley, J., Garrett, S., Mathieson, F., Dowell, A., & Darlow, B. (2023). A guideline-implementation intervention to improve the management of low back pain in primary care: A difference-in-difference-in-differences analysis. Applied Health Economics & Health Policy, 21, 253-262. doi: 10.1007/s40258-022-00776-3

Conference Contribution - Poster Presentation (not in published proceedings)

Das, T., Mathieson, F., & McKenzie, S. (2023, January). "Tunnelling into blackness": Metaphors men use to describe their lived experience with mental distress. Poster session presented at the University of Otago Summer Student Showcase, Wellington, New Zealand.

2022

Chapter in Book - Research

Mathieson, F., Bennett, S., Cargo, T., & Froggatt, W. (2022). Cognitive behavioral therapy in Aotearoa/New Zealand. In M. D. Terjesen & K. A. Doyle (Eds.), Cognitive behavioral therapy in a global context. (pp. 9-30). Cham, Switzerland: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-82555-3_2

Journal - Research Article

Mair, R., Every-Palmer, S., Mathieson, F., & Jenkin, G. (2022). ‘My work matters’: A qualitative exploration of why staff love working in acute mental health. International Journal of Environmental Research & Public Health, 19, 13619. doi: 10.3390/ijerph192013619

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Mathieson, F. (2022, July). Integrating ACT components in CBT training: Trainee appetite and supervisor preparedness. Verbal presentation at the 50th Annual Conference of the British Association for Behaviour and Cognitive Psychotherapies, London, UK.

2021

Journal - Research Article

Watson, S., Mathieson, F., & Huthwaite, M. (2021). Integrating ACT components in CBT training: Trainee appetite and supervisor preparedness. New Zealand Journal of Psychology, 50(3), 46-54.

Gordon, S., Dowell, T., Fedchuk, D., Gardiner, T., Garrett, S., Hilder, J., Mathieson, F., Stubbe, M., & Tester, R. (2021). Reflections on allyship in the context of a co-produced evaluation of a youth-integrated therapies mental health intervention. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 18(4), 571-585. doi: 10.1080/14780887.2020.1769240

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Stubbe, M., Hilder, J., Tester, R., Garrett, S., Dunlop, A., Gardiner, T., Fedchuk, D., Mathieson, F., Gordon, S., & Dowell, A. (2021, April). Transitioning to tele-health talking therapies for youth during the COVID 19 lockdown. Verbal presentation at the International Conference on Communication in Healthcare (ICCH) 2020 Part 2, [Online].

2020

Journal - Research Article

Mathieson, F., Jordan, J., & Stubbe, M. (2020). Recent application of metaphor research in cognitive behaviour therapy. Metaphor & the Social World, 10(2), 199-213. doi: 10.1075/msw.00003.mat

2019

Journal - Research Article

Darlow, B., Stanley, J., Dean, S., Abbott, J. H., Garrett, S., Wilson, R., Mathieson, F., & Dowell, A. (2019). The Fear Reduction Exercised Early (FREE) approach to management of low back pain in general practice: A pragmatic cluster-randomised controlled trial. PLoS Medicine, 16(9), e1002897. doi: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1002897

Mathieson, F., Stanley, J., Collings, C., Tester, R., & Dowell, A. (2019). Cluster randomised controlled trial of a guided self-help mental health intervention in primary care. BMJ Open, 9(2), e023481. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2018-023481

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Dowell, A., Stubbe, M., Gordon, S., Mathieson, F., Hilder, J., Garrett, S., Tester, R., Fedchuk, D., Gardiner, T., & Stanley, J. (2019). Evaluation of the Piki Pilot: Integrated therapies for 18-25 year olds. Proceedings of the Academic General Practice & Primary Care Research Symposium. (pp. 7). Waikato, New Zealand: University of Waikato. [Abstract]

Darlow, B., Stanley, J., Dean, S., Abbott, H., Garrett, S., Wilson, R., Mathieson, F., & Dowell, T. (2019). The Fear Reduction Exercised Early (FREE) approach to management of low back pain in general practice: A pragmatic cluster-randomised controlled trial. Proceedings of the Academic General Practice & Primary Care Research Symposium. (pp. 6-7). Waikato, New Zealand: University of Waikato. [Abstract]

Awarded Doctoral Degree

Mathieson, F. (2019). Metaphor in cognitive behaviour therapy (PhD). University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/10523/9720

2018

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Mathieson, F., & Stubbe, M. (2018). Using metaphors to enhance cognitive behavioural psychotherapy. Proceedings of the 12th International Researching and Applying Metaphor (RaAM) Conference. (pp. 153-154). Retrieved from http://www.raam.org.uk/

2017

Journal - Research Article

Mathieson, F., Jordan, J., Merrick, P., & Stubbe, M. (2017). Juicy conceptualizations: Increasing alliance through attending to client metaphoric language. Behavioural & Cognitive Psychotherapy, 45(6), 577-589. doi: 10.1017/s1352465817000339

Journal - Research Other

Darlow, B., Stanley, J., Dean, S., Abbott, J. H., Garrett, S., Mathieson, F., & Dowell, A. (2017). The Fear Reduction Exercised Early (FREE) approach to low back pain: Study protocol for a randomised controlled trial. Trials, 18, 484. doi: 10.1186/s13063-017-2225-8

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Mathieson, F., Stubbe, M., Jordan, J., & Merrick, P. (2017). Metaphoric language in cognitive behaviour therapy. Proceedings of the Primary Health Care and General Practice Research Weekend. Retrieved from http://www.otago.ac.nz/wellington/departments/primaryhealthcaregeneralpractice/research/

Mathieson, F., Stubbe, M., Jordan, J., & Merrick, P. (2017). Virtuoso CBT: Attending to client metaphors to enhance conceptualisation. Proceedings of the British Association for Behavioural & Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP) Annual Conference. (pp. 89-90). Retrieved from http://babcpconference.com/index.htm

2016

Journal - Research Article

Darlow, B., Perry, M., Dean, S., Mathieson, F., Baxter, G. D., & Dowell, A. (2016). Putting physical activity while experiencing low back pain in context: Balancing the risks and benefits. Archives of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, 97(2), 245-251. doi: 10.1016/j.apmr.2015.09.020

Mathieson, F., Jordan, J., Carter, J. D., & Stubbe, M. (2016). Nailing down metaphors in CBT: Definition, identification and frequency. Behavioural & Cognitive Psychotherapy, 44(2), 236-248. doi: 10.1017/S1352465815000156

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Mathieson, F., Stubbe, M., Merrick, P., & Jordan, J. (2016, June). Breathing life into case conceptualisations: Use of client metaphor in CBT. Verbal presentation at the 8th World Congress of Behavioural and Cognitive Therapies, Melbourne, Australia.

Mathieson, F., Stubbe, M., Merrick, P., & Jordan, J. (2016, October-November). Increasing alliance and collaboration in case conceptualisations through attending to client metaphors. Verbal presentation at the Aotearoa New Zealand Association for Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (AnzaCBT) Conference, Wellington, New Zealand.

Mathieson, F. (2016, August). Metaphor-enhanced cognitive behaviour therapy: Does it improve therapeutic alliance and collaboration? Verbal presentation at the Postgraduate Research Student Symposium, Wellington, New Zealand.

2015

Journal - Research Article

Mathieson, F., Jordan, J., Carter, J. D., & Stubbe, M. (2015). The metaphoric dance: Co-construction of metaphor in cognitive behaviour therapy. Cognitive Behaviour Therapist, 8, e24. doi: 10.1017/S1754470X15000628

Collings, S., Mathieson, F., Dowell, A., Stanley, J., Hatcher, S., Goodyear-Smith, F., Lane, B., & Munsterman, A. (2015). Clinical effectiveness of an ultra-brief intervention for common mental health syndromes in primary care: Study protocol for a cluster randomized controlled trial. Trials, 16, 260. doi: 10.1186/s13063-015-0778-y

MacDonald, J., Garvie, C., Gordon, S., Huthwaite, M., Mathieson, F., Wood, A.-J., & Romans, S. (2015). 'Is it the crime of the century?': Factors for psychiatrists and service users that influence the long-term prescription of hypnosedatives. International Clinical Psychopharmacology, 30(4), 193-201. doi: 10.1097/yic.0000000000000073

Darlow, B., Dean, S., Perry, M., Mathieson, F., Baxter, G. D., & Dowell, A. (2015). Easy to harm, hard to heal: Patient views about the back. Spine, 40(11), 842-850. doi: 10.1097/brs.0000000000000901

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Darlow, B., Dean, S., Perry, M., Mathieson, F., Stanley, J., Melloh, M., Baxter, G. D., & Dowell, A. (2015). Low back pain: Exploring underlying beliefs and how these have been influenced. Physiotherapy, 101(Suppl. 1), (pp. e295-e296). doi: 10.1016/j.physio.2015.03.489

Conference Contribution - Poster Presentation (not in published proceedings)

MacDonald, J., Garvie, C., Gordon, S., Huthwaite, M., Mathieson, F., Wood, A. J., & Romans, S. (2015, July). Exhortation does not equal education: From evidence to practice. Poster session presented at the Association for the Study of Medical Education (ASME) Annual Scientific Meeting: Inspiration and Innovation in Healthcare Education, Edinburgh, UK.

Mathieson, F., Jordan, J., & Stubbe, M. (2015, July). Exploring metaphor use in CBT: Identification method and co-construction of shared metaphors. Poster session presented at the British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP) 43rd Annual Conference, Warwick, UK.

2014

Journal - Research Article

Darlow, B., Dean, S., Perry, M., Mathieson, F., Baxter, G. D., & Dowell, A. (2014). Acute low back pain management in general practice: Uncertainty and conflicting certainties. Family Practice, 31(6), 723-732. doi: 10.1093/fampra/cmu051

Darlow, B., Perry, M., Stanley, J., Mathieson, F., Melloh, M., Baxter, G. D., & Dowell, A. (2014). Cross-sectional survey of attitudes and beliefs about back pain in New Zealand. BMJ Open, 4(5), e004725. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2013-004725

Darlow, B., Perry, M., Mathieson, F., Stanley, J., Melloh, M., Marsh, R., Baxter, G. D., & Dowell, A. (2014). The development and exploratory analysis of the Back Pain Attitudes Questionnaire (Back-PAQ). BMJ Open, 4(5), e005251. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2014-005251

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Darlow, B., Perry, M., Stanley, J., Mathieson, F., Melloh, M., Baxter, G. D., & Dowell, A. (2014). The attitudes and beliefs of New Zealanders about back pain: A cross-sectional survey. Physiotherapy New Zealand Conference: Linking the Chain. (pp. 76). Wellington, New Zealand: Physiotherapy New Zealand. [Abstract]

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Mathieson, F., Jordan, J., & Stubbe, M. (2014, October). The metaphoric dance: Co-construction of metaphor in CBT. Verbal presentation at the Aotearoa New Zealand Association for Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (AnzaCBT) Conference, Christchurch, New Zealand.

Mathieson, F., Stubbe, M., & Jordan, J. (2014, June). Nailing down jelly: Exploring metaphor use in cognitive behaviour therapy. Verbal presentation at the 10th Conference of the Association for Researching and Applying Metaphor (RaAM): Metaphor in Communication Science and Education, Cagliari Sardinia, Italy.

2013

Journal - Research Article

Darlow, B., Dowell, A., Baxter, G. D., Mathieson, F., Perry, M., & Dean, S. (2013). The enduring impact of what clinicians say to people with low back pain. Annals of Family Medicine, 11(6), 527-534. doi: 10.1370/afm.1518

Mathieson, F., Collings, S., Dowell, A., Goodyear-Smith, F., Stanley, J., & Hatcher, S. (2013). Collaborative research: A case example of dissemination of CBT in primary care. Cognitive Behaviour Therapist, 6, e4. doi: 10.1017/S1754470X13000093

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Mathieson, F. (2013, November). Use of metaphor in CBT. Verbal presentation at the Aotearoa New Zealand Cognitive Behavioural Therapies (AnzaCBT) Annual Conference, Wellington, New Zealand.

2012

Journal - Research Article

Mathieson, F., Mihaere, K., Collings, S., Dowell, A., & Stanley, J. (2012). Maori cultural adaptation of a brief mental health intervention in primary care. Journal of Primary Health Care, 4(3), 231-238. doi: 10.1071/HC12231

Collings, S., Mathieson, F., Dowell, A., Stanley, J., Jenkin, G., Goodyear-Smith, F., & Hatcher, S. (2012). Acceptability of a guided self-help mental health intervention in general practice. Family Practice, 29(1), 43-49. doi: 10.1093/fampra/cmr066

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Darlow, B., Dowell, A., Dean, S., Fullen, B. M., Hurley, D. A., Mathieson, F., & Baxter, G. D. (2012). The battle for hearts and spines. Proceedings of the Neuro Orthopaedic Institute (NOI) Neurodynamics & the Neuromatrix Conference. Retrieved from http://www.noi2012.com/programme.htm

Mathieson, F., Mihaere, K., Collings, S., Dowell, A., & Stanley, J. (2012). Māori adaptation of a low intensity mental health intervention in primary care. Proceedings of the New Zealand Psychological Society (NZPsP) & New Zealand College of Clinical Psychologists (NZCCP) Joint Conference: Tūtahitanga: Standing Together As One. (pp. 37). Retrieved from http://www.psychology.org.nz/cms_show_download.php?id=1585

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Mathieson, F. (2012, August). Use of metaphor in cognitive behaviour therapy. Verbal presentation at the Primary Care and General Practice Research Weekend, Martinborough, New Zealand.

2011

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Mathieson, F. (2011, June). A cultural adaptation of a low intensity intervention for sub threshold mental health problems in primary care. Verbal presentation at the 7th International Congress of Cognitive Psychotherapy: “Clinical Science”, Istanbul, Turkey.

2010

Journal - Research Article

Mathieson, F. M., Beaumont, G. R., & Barnfield, T. V. (2010). Making it stick: Factors that help and hinder ongoing practice after cognitive therapy training. New Zealand Journal of Psychology, 39(3), 7-11.

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Mathieson, F. (2010, November). An ultra brief guided self help intervention for sub-threshold mental heath syndromes in primary care. Verbal presentation at the Aotearoa New Zealand Association for Cognitive Behavioural Therapies (AnzaCBT) Conference: Cognitive Behavioural Therapies Aotearoa-Style: Innovative & Indigenous Practice, Auckland, New Zealand.

Mathieson, F. (2010, Feburary). Working with emotion through metaphor. Verbal presentation at the 21st National Conference of the New Zealand College of Clinical Psychologists (NZCCP): Emotion Laid Bare, Christchurch, New Zealand.

Mathieson, F. M., Collings, S., Dowell, T., Stanley, J., Goodyear-Smith, F., & Hatcher, S. (2010, June). How low can you go? An ultra brief guided self management intervention for sub threshold mental health problems in primary care. Verbal presentation at the World Congress of Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, Boston, USA.

2009

Journal - Research Article

Mathieson, F., Barnfield, T., & Young, G. (2009). What gets in the way of clinical contact? Student perceptions of barriers to patient contact. New Zealand Medical Journal, 122(1292). Retrieved from http://journal.nzma.org.nz/journal/122-1292/3530/content.pdf

Mathieson, F. M., Barnfield, T., & Beaumont, G. (2009). Are we as good as we think we are? Self-assessment versus other forms of assessment of competence in psychotherapy. Cognitive Behaviour Therapist, 2, 43-50. doi: 10.1017/S1754470X08000081

Journal - Research Other

Mathieson, F., Collings, S., & Dowell, A. (2009). Sub-threshold mental health syndromes: Finding an alternative to the medication of unhappiness [Essay]. Journal of Primary Health Care, 1(1), 74-77.

2008

Journal - Research Article

Mathieson, F. (2008). Cognitive conceptualisation of procrastination: A review of the literature, proposed model and suggestions for treatment. New Zealand Clinical Psychologist Journal, Autumn, 2-8.

2007

Journal - Research Article

Barnfield, T. V., Mathieson, F. M., & Beaumont, G. R. (2007). Assessing the development of competence during postgraduate cognitive-behavioral therapy training. Journal of Cognitive Psychotherapy, 21(2), 140-147.

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Mathieson, F. (2007, November). Putting it off: Working with procrastination. Verbal presentation at the New Zealand College of Clinical Psychologists (NZCCP) Annual Conference: Therapy Uncorked, Nelson, New Zealand.

2002

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Barnfield, T., Beaumont, G. R., & Mathieson, F. M. (2002). Do we do it differently downunder? A preliminary study into CBT training in New Zealand. British Association of Cognitive Psychotherapy 30th Annual Conference. [Abstract]

Beaumont, G. R., Barnfield, T., & Mathieson, F. M. (2002). Measuring the development of therapist competence in psychotherapy: a pilot study. Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists and Mental Health Nurses, section of the New Zealand Nurses Conference. [Abstract]