Monika is a registered Community and Counselling psychologist, an AHPRA endorsed supervisor and an active committee member in both the National and Victorian College of Community Psychologists of the Australian Psychological Society.

Monika is Co-Chair of the postgraduate Applied Psychology program (Community) and Director of the VU Psychology Clinic.  Her teaching, PhD research and special interests include community health and interventions, professional ethics and psychotraumatology.  

Monika’s professional expertise in providing psychological intervention, training and supervision across a range of trauma related areas exceeds 25 years, having worked in international, national and local settings.

In Melbourne, Monika provided support services at the Coroner’s Court of Victoria and community based training for health and community workers in responding to disaster and emergency settings in the aftermath of the Black Saturday Bushfires of 2009.

In Sweden, Monika provided individuals with clinical interventions at Karolinska hospital and later contributed to training and research in psychotraumatology and to the coordination of the psychosocial support response in the emergency services command organisation of Stockholm.

In The Netherlands, Monika contributed to the development of, and provided Witness and Victims Support and Protection services with the United Nations at the War Crimes Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia.

During 2006 – 2010, and again since 2018, Monika has worked in the VU College of Sport, Health & Engineering as a Lecturer in Psychology. For nine years, in addition to teaching, she held the role of Chair of postgraduate counselling programs.

Recent publications

 

Refereed journal articles

Vania Ranjbar, V., Näslund, M.S., Vingare, E., Hagelthorn, C., Englund, L. & Karlsson, I., (2015) The Swedish Psychotrauma Society: joining forces for a national psychotrauma platform from a multidisciplinary and holistic approach. European Journal of Psychotraumatology, 6: 28546.

Conference presentations

Sharples, J., Shearson, K., Chapin, L., Morda, R. & Naslund, M. (2020) Community Capacity Building and Health Promotion through an Interactive Systems Framework, Paper presented at the 8th International Conference of Community Psychology Committee, Melbourne, Australia.

Naslund, M (2016) An investigation of Psychological and Social Support Services within Regional Emergency and Disaster Preparedness and Planning: Organisation, Competence and Collaboration among Key Agencies, International Society for Stress and Trauma Studies (ISTSS)  Dallas, Texas.

Naslund, M (2016) National conference - Traumadagen, Stockholm, Sweden.

Naslund, M. (2013) An investigation of a Community’s Emergency and Disaster Preparedness Response:  An exploration of the critical elements of collaboration, cooperation and competence in the provision of psychological and social support services. European Congress of Community Psychology, Naples, Italy.

Appearances in the media

Naslund, M (Print):  Dagens Nyheter: The psychological impact of the Paris shooting, Jan 2015

Naslund, M (Television): Sweden Public Television (SVT) National News live studio interview: Psychological impact of Brussels bombing and recommendations on how to manage reactions, April 2016.

Professional memberships

  • Australian Psychological Society
  • Fellow, College of Community Psychologists
  • Fellow, College of Counselling Psychologists
  • Psychology Board of Australia.

Industry experience

  • International Field delegate in psychosocial support, Swedish Red Cross 2012
  • Skills for Psychological Recovery, ACPMH, Australia 2008
  • Community Recovery Following Disaster, Beyondblue, Australia 2008.

Teaching responsibilities

Coordination

Course Co-Chair, Master of Applied Psychology (Community)

Director, Victoria University Psychology Clinic.

Teaching /Unit convening

 

Applied Psychology (Community) course:

  • Foundations in Psychotherapy
  • Interventions 1: CBT
  • Professional Ethics
  • Psychology of Health & Community
  • Community Psychology Interventions
  • Community Psychology Practicum
  • Supervision in Applied Psychology (Community).

Areas of expertise

  • Psychotraumatology
  • Professional ethics

Contact details

(03) 9919 8739