Dr. Maria Kangas

Biography

Maria Kangas is a Professor at the School of Psychological Sciences, Macquarie University. She is a registered psychologist with dual endorsements in Clinical Psychology and Counselling Psychology from the Psychology Board of Australia. Maria holds a Bachelor of Arts with Honours and a Master of Clinical Psychology degree from the University of Sydney, as well as a PhD from the University of New South Wales. She has completed a Postdoctoral Fellowship at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York, USA. Maria specializes in the assessment and treatment of stress, PTSD, anxiety, and mood disturbances, particularly in trauma-exposed medical populations. Her research focuses on emotion regulation, coping strategies, and resiliency factors, employing cognitive-behavioral and acceptance commitment therapy approaches tailored to enhance recovery and growth in adversity. Maria is actively involved in international collaborations, exploring the efficacy of physical activity in mitigating depression and addressing various psychological factors influencing treatment outcomes. Additionally, she takes part in multidisciplinary research evaluating the relationship between urban environments and mental health. Maria supervises PhD, Master's, and Honours students in various research areas, including trauma, emotion regulation, and treatment effectiveness.

Research Interests

Experience