Explore the Brainy Side of What We do!

Welcome to the Research page of Brain Helpers Psychology, where we showcase our commitment to advancing knowledge in psychological assessment and intervention. Here you will find details about our past and current projects spanning critical areas including classroom behaviour management, Autism Spectrum Disorder, and culturally responsive mental health care.

Our newest initiative, the Cultural Wellbeing Hub, sits at the heart of our current work — a free, evidence-informed resource designed to make culturally adapted psychological support more accessible to communities who are too often underserved by mainstream mental health services. It represents our ongoing commitment to ensuring that effective psychological care reflects the diverse lived experiences of the people it serves.

Beyond the Hub, our workshops continue to equip educators and parents with evidence-based strategies, and our participation in national and international conferences reflects our ongoing contribution to the broader psychological community. Browse our publications below to explore our research findings and the insights we are committed to sharing.

Join us in our mission to enhance understanding and support for individuals of all ages facing a range of challenges.

Current Projects

Our current work is driven by a commitment to culturally responsive practice — the belief that effective mental health care must reflect the lived experiences, values, and backgrounds of the people it serves.

The Cultural Wellbeing Hub is our primary active project: a freely accessible, evidence-informed platform offering resources that are adapted for cultural relevance and psychological rigour. It sits at the crossroads of clinical research, community need, and practical application — designed for clients, families, and practitioners alike.

We continue to develop the Hub in response to emerging research and community feedback, with a focus on expanding its reach across diverse cultural groups in Australia and beyond.

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Workshops & Professional Development

Recently (August 2024), I had the privilege of leading a 2-hour Professional Development session titled “Supporting Young Learners: Intervention Strategies & Behavioural Management” for kindergarten teachers, where I shared practical strategies for managing classroom behaviour, creating effective social stories, and fostering emotional regulation among young children. My work in this area highlights my commitment to supporting educators and enhancing learning environments for children.

Key Publications

Mittiga, S. R., Freeman, N. C., Leif, E. S., Furlonger, B. E., & Pattison, E. (2024). Behavior Change Potential of Classroom Behavior Management Mobile Applications: A Systematic Review. Education and Treatment of Children. https://doi.org/10.1007/s43494-024-00122-3

Mittiga, S. R., Freeman, N. C., Furlonger, B. E., Chan, P., & Leif, E. S. (2024). A Content and Quality Evaluation of Mobile Classroom Behavior Management Applications. Journal of Positive Behavior Interventions. https://doi.org/10.1177/10983007241230594

Pattison, E., Ure, A., Mittiga, S. R., Williams, K., & Freeman, N. C. (2022). The feedback session of an autism assessment: a scoping review of clinical practice guideline recommendations. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 52(4), 1821-1840. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-021-05067-9

Conferences

Poster presentation at the 44th Annual ABAI Convention in San Diego in May 2018, for paper titled Teaching Turn-Taking During Conversations for Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Presenter: Brett E. Furlonger, PhD. Poster designed by Sharon Mittiga and Brett E. Furlonger, PhD.

Authors: Furlonger B. E., Mittiga S. R., Butler S., Kaye V., Moore D., Anderson A., & Busacca M.

Presented at the ABAA Annual Conference in Sydney in November 2017, with co-presenter. Paper titled: Teaching Adolescents with an Autism Spectrum Disorder to Take Turns in Conversation. Co-presenters: Butler S, Kaye V.

Authors: Mittiga S. R., Butler S., Kaye V., Furlonger B., Moore D., Anderson A., & M.

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