James N. Kirby, Ph.D., is a Senior Lecturer, Clinical Psychologist, and the Co-Director of the Compassionate Mind Research Group at the University of Queensland. He has broad research interests in compassion, but specifically examines factors that facilitate and inhibit compassionate behavior. He also examines the clinical effectiveness of compassion focused interventions, specifically in how they help with self-criticism and shame that underpin many depression and anxiety disorders.
I completed my clinical psychology training at the University of Queensland and was fortunate to complete placements in a range of settings including hospitals, private practices, as well as chronic pain clinics. My PhD was focused on the relationship between parents and grandparents in helping raise grandchildren. Since graduating, I have focused my training in compassion-based approaches, in particular Compassion Focused Therapy. In 2016, I completed a Fellowship at the Center for Compassion & Altruism Research & Education at Stanford University, before returning to the University of Queensland.
