Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Psychology (Distinction, Victoria) 2014
MSc Psychology (Distinction, Victoria) 2013
BA Hons Psychology (First Class, Victoria) 2012
BA Psychology and English (Otago) 2011
Research Fellow
Contact details
Email zara.mansoor@otago.ac.nz
Research interests
- Child, adolescent and family mental health
- Parent/whānau based interventions
- Evaluating mental health interventions in real world settings
- Co-design
- Child development
- Cross-cultural psychology
Current projects
Zara is a Clinical Psychologist specialised in working with young people and their whānau. Alongside current research projects, she has a small private practice and is Co-Director at Whānau in Mind, an organisation that aims to provide evidence-based support for parents and whānau in the community.
Parent and whānau involvement in adolescent mental health interventions
Currently completing a PhD thesis under a Health Research Council NZ Clinical Research Practice Fellowship on supporting parents of early adolescents (10–14 years) in mental health services. This thesis includes a systematic review; co-design with young people and parents on research outcomes; and a feasibility randomised-control trial in Child Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) in the Wellington region evaluating the Tuning in to Teens programme for parents. Supervised by Professor James Stanley (Otago), Associate Professor Elliot Bell (Massey) and Dr Sarah Fortune (Auckland).
Evaluation of a new Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy training programme at Otago
Research Fellow on an evaluation led by Professor Susanna Every-Palmer (Otago) and Associate Professor Elliot Bell (Massey). This is an evaluation of the first NZ developed EMDR training programme and one of the first university-based programmes globally.
For information on the course, visit:
Study EMDR Therapy at Otago
Supporting the health and wellbeing of rangatahi living with psychosis
Research Fellow on a project led by Dr Matthew Jenkins (Otago) that aims to support and enhance the health and wellbeing of those experiencing early psychosis. This includes co-design with rangatahi impacted by psychosis and development of a physical health intervention. Selected outputs and updates for this project can be found at Moving with Psychosis
Research communication
- Conversation article: The transition into adolescence can be brutal for kids’ mental health – but parents can help reduce the risk
- RNZ interview and article: How to be an emotion coach for your teen
Publications
Rendell, J., Mansoor, Z., Flewett, T., Every-Palmer, S., Daniel, B., & Bell, E. (2025). Community stakeholder and trainee patients’ perspectives on hybrid in-person and distance-delivered EMDR training in Aotearoa New Zealand. Proceedings of the 30th International Council for Open and Distance Education (ICDE) World Conference. (pp. 187). Retrieved from https://icde.org Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Bell, E., Mansoor, Z., Stevens, M., Flewett, T., Every-Palmer, S., & Daniel, B. (2025). Development of a novel distance taught university-based training in EMDR therapy. Proceedings of the 30th International Council for Open and Distance Education (ICDE) World Conference. (pp. 72-87). Retrieved from https://icde.org Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Full paper
Volkova, A., Mansoor, Z., Every-Palmer, S., Daniel, B., & Bell, E. (2025). Educator and trainee (clinician) experiences of a novel hybrid in-person and distance-delivered university EMDR training programme. Proceedings of the 30th International Council for Open and Distance Education (ICDE) World Conference. (pp. 193). Retrieved from https://icde.org Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Siu, J., Mansoor, Z., Every-Palmer, S., Flewett, T., Daniel, B., de Terte, I., & Bell, E. (2025). Post-course uptake and client clinical outcomes for graduates of a hybrid in-person and distance-delivered university EMDR training course: Study protocol. Proceedings of the 30th International Council for Open and Distance Education (ICDE) World Conference. (pp. 189). Retrieved from https://icde.org Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Mansoor, Z., Every-Palmer, S., Flewett, T., Daniel, B., & Bell, E. (2025). Partnering with community stakeholders to co-design outcome evaluation for hybrid in-person and distance delivered university training in EMDR therapy. Proceedings of the 30th International Council for Open and Distance Education (ICDE) World Conference. (pp. 182). Retrieved from https://icde.org Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract