Dr Joseph Allan SakdalanClinical Psychologist & Clinical NeuropsychologistBSc MA(CounsPsych) MSc(ForPsych) MPH MD PhD(ClinPsych) PGDipNeuroPsych PGCertForPsychCertified Schema Therapist • Accredited EMDR Practitioner
Specialist in Forensic, Clinical and Neuropsychological Assessment and Treatment across New Zealand and Australia — serving individuals, legal counsel, courts, and health professionals.
AHPRA / Psychology Board Australia Clinical, Counselling & Neuropsychology
Current Role
Principal Psychologist for Court Reports Forensicare, Melbourne
Academic Role
Senior Lecturer & Supervisor The Cairnmillar Institute
Based in
Auckland & Melbourne
About Dr Sakdalan
Expertise at the intersection of psychology, neuroscience and law
I am a registered clinical psychologist, counselling psychologist, and clinical neuropsychologist with dual registration in New Zealand and Australia. I maintain a private practice at 4 Paget Street, Ponsonby, Auckland 1011, New Zealand and in Melbourne, Australia, working with individuals referred by health professionals, courts, lawyers, and self-referred clients.
My specialist training spans forensic assessment, neuropsychological evaluation, and a broad range of psychological treatments — including Cognitive and Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, EMDR, Schema Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and Psychodynamic Therapy. I have served as an expert witness in the Youth, District, Family, High Court and Court of Appeal in New Zealand, and in the Magistrates', County and High Courts in Australia.
I have an active academic role as Senior Lecturer and Supervisor at The Cairnmillar Institute in Melbourne and have presented at local and international conferences, published peer-reviewed journal articles, and contributed chapters to specialty books. I also provide clinical supervision to psychologists and other health professionals.
My clinical work is grounded in evidence-based practice, drawing on a broad range of psychological modalities and frameworks, including trauma-informed practice. I have a strong commitment to a neurodiversity-affirming approach when working with neurodivergent clients and co-occurring conditions, recognising neurodivergence as a difference rather than a deficit.
I have pioneered the development of offence-specific and offence-related programmes for offenders with cognitive impairment, which have been implemented locally and internationally. I have served as an expert witness and provided expert testimony at the Melbourne County and Supreme Courts in Victoria and across multiple court levels in New Zealand.
I enjoy teaching advanced clinical psychological assessments and specialty topics in forensic mental health and intellectual disability, neuropsychology, neurodevelopmental disorders, and psychological treatment of clients with complex presentations. My research interests include the treatment of clients with neurodevelopmental disorders, forensic disability, programme development and evaluation, and the assessment and treatment of offenders.
NZ College of Clinical Psychologists (NZCCP) — Full Member
Australian Psychological Society (APS) — College of Clinical Psychologists & Clinical Neuropsychologists
National Academy of Neuropsychology (NAN) — Professional Member
Australia New Zealand Association of Psychiatry, Psychology and the Law (ANZAPPL)
All fees are listed in Australian dollars (AUD) and are exclusive of GST. Medicare rebates may be available for eligible clients in Australia. Please contact me to discuss fee arrangements.
Criminal Forensic Assessment
AUD $300
per hour · excl. GST
Includes work with Youth, Family, District and High Courts. Covers competency, sentencing, risk, and neuropsychological assessments.
Civil Forensic Assessment
AUD $300
per hour · excl. GST
Mental health, occupational health, immigration, PPPR Act, and Family Court assessments. Length agreed in advance.
Psychological Therapy
POA
contact for rates
Individual therapy sessions. Medicare rebates available in Australia. Please contact to discuss fee arrangements.
Clinical Supervision
AUD $220
per session
Individual clinical supervision for psychologists and other health professionals. AHPRA Board-approved supervisor.
The number of sessions required depends on the nature and complexity of the presenting issues and the client's therapeutic goals. Assessment timeframes can be agreed in advance. Lawyers may seek advice on matters within my areas of expertise; referrals to colleagues can be arranged where appropriate.
Confidentiality & Professional Ethics
As a registered clinical psychologist with both the NZ Psychologists Board and Psychology Board of Australia (AHPRA), I strictly adhere to the relevant professional Code of Ethics, which upholds therapist–client confidentiality. In limited circumstances — including specific court reports, serious risk to self or others, or safety matters — confidentiality may be appropriately managed. In such cases, I provide a clear rationale and work collaboratively with the client to develop an agreed plan wherever possible.
Qualifications & Registrations
Academic credentials, professional licensures and memberships across three jurisdictions.
Academic Qualifications
–BSc — Bachelor of Science
–MA (CounsPsych) — Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology
–MSc (ForPsych) — Master of Science in Forensic Psychology
–MPH — Master of Public Health
–MD — Doctor of Medicine
–PhD (ClinPsych) — Doctor of Philosophy in Clinical Psychology
–PGDipNeuroPsych — Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Neuropsychology
–PGCertForPsych — Postgraduate Certificate in Forensic Psychiatry
–Psychology Board of Australia (AHPRA) — Endorsements in Clinical, Counselling & Clinical Neuropsychology. Board Approved Supervisor. Reg. No. PSY0002036485
Professional Memberships
–Australian Psychological Society (APS) — Fellow of the College of Clinical Psychologists (FCCP) and College of Clinical Neuropsychologists (FCCN)
Full Member: 2017 – present
–New Zealand College of Clinical Psychologists (MNZCCP)Full Member: 2002 – present
–National Academy of Neuropsychology (NAN)Professional Member: 2012 – present
–Australia and New Zealand Association of Psychiatry, Psychology, and the Law (ANZAPPL)Full Member: 2012 – present
–EMDR Association of Australia (EMDRAA) — Accredited EMDRAA Practitioner
Full Member: 2022 – present
–The International Society of Schema Therapy — Certified Schema Therapist
Full Member: 2020 – present
Publications
Peer-reviewed journal articles, book chapters, and other scholarly contributions.
Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles
Most Recent
Strang, M., & Sakdalan, J. A. E. (2025). Neurodiversity-Affirming Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (NDA-DBT) Informed Group Skills Training Programme for Autistic Adults: A Pilot Study. Neurodiversity, 3.https://doi.org/10.1177/27546330251400335
A pilot study examining the preliminary impact of the NDA-DBT group skills training programme on emotion regulation difficulties, psychological distress, mindfulness, and quality of life in autistic adults. The first study of a neurodiversity-affirming adaptation of DBT. Ethics approved by The Cairnmillar Institute Human Research Ethics Committee.
Sakdalan, J. A., & Maxwell, Y. (2022). The application of adapted dialectical behaviour therapy concepts and skills in the treatment of adults with autistic spectrum disorder who display challenging or offending behaviours. Advances in Autism, 9(2), 132–149. https://doi.org/10.1108/AIA-01-2022-0002
Adapted DBTAutism / ASDOffending Behaviour
Sakdalan, J., Buchwald, K. & Visser, S. (2024). IQ Thresholds and Influence of the Assessor’s Professional Discipline on fitness to stand trial assessment outcomes in Aotearoa New Zealand. Psychiatry, Psychology and the Law (online ahead of print). https://doi.org/10.1080/13218719.2023.2280525
Fitness to Stand TrialIQ ThresholdsAotearoa New Zealand
Buchwald-Mackintosh, K. V., Williams, M. W., & Sakdalan, J. (2019). Effects of the Presser and legislative criteria on classifying New Zealand’s fitness to stand trial court outcomes. Psychiatry, Psychology and Law.
Fitness to Stand TrialNew Zealand Law
Sakdalan, J. A., & Mitchell, B. (2023). Development of an evidence-based violence rehabilitation program for offenders with intellectual disability. International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology.
Intellectual DisabilityViolenceRehabilitation
Sakdalan, J. A., & Collier, V. (2012). Piloting an evidence-based group treatment programme for high risk sex offenders with intellectual disability in the New Zealand setting. New Zealand Journal of Psychology, 41(2), 5–11.
Sex OffendingIntellectual DisabilityNew Zealand
Sakdalan, J. A., Shaw, J., & Collier, V. (2010). Staying in the here-and-now: A pilot study on the use of dialectical behaviour therapy group skills training for forensic clients with intellectual disability. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 54(6), 568–572.
DBTIntellectual DisabilityForensic
Sakdalan, J. A., & Gupta, R. (2012). Wise Mind – Risky Mind: An adapted DBT coping skills programme for high risk sex offenders with intellectual disability. [New Zealand Journal of Psychology, 41(3)]
DBTSex OffendingIntellectual Disability
Selected Conference Presentations
2024 — British Psychological Society, DFP Conference
‘The neurodivergent dilemma: A move towards a Neurodiversity-Affirming Approach to Assessment and Treatment of Forensic Clients with Complex Presentations’
International — Various
Presented at local and international conferences on forensic psychology, intellectual disability, DBT adaptation, neurodevelopmental disorders, and offender rehabilitation.
Note: This list reflects confirmed publications identified from public sources. If you have additional publications to add, please contact to update this page.
Conference Presentations
2025
Paper
Sakdalan, J.A. & Leung, V. (2025, Dec 4–6). Neurodivergence and the Verdins Principles: A clinical perspective on the impact of a diagnosis of autism and sentencing outcomes.
Australian and New Zealand Psychiatry, Psychology and the Law Congress, Hobart, Australia.
Paper
Simsion, D., Wood, M. & Sakdalan, J.A. (2025, Dec 4–6). Personality Disorder and Sentencing Practice: Lessons for Clinicians from Court Decisions.
Australian and New Zealand Psychiatry, Psychology and the Law Congress, Hobart, Australia.
2024
Keynote
Sakdalan, J.A. (2024, Jul 1–3). The neurodivergent dilemma: A move towards a neurodiversity-affirming approach to assessment and treatment of forensic clients with complex presentations.
Division of Forensic Psychology Conference 2024, British Psychological Society, UK.
Workshop
Sakdalan, J.A. (2024, Jun 18–20). Neurodiversity Affirming Forensic Assessment and Treatment.
2024 International Association of Forensic Mental Health Services (IAFMHS) Conference, San Francisco, USA.
Paper
Sakdalan, J.A. (2024, Jun 18–20). Dialectical Behaviour Therapy for Autistic Adults with Offending Behaviours.
2024 International Association of Forensic Mental Health Services (IAFMHS) Conference, San Francisco, USA.
Paper
Sakdalan, J.A. (2024, Jun 18–20). Violence Reduction Program for Offenders with Intellectual Disability.
2024 International Association of Forensic Mental Health Services (IAFMHS) Conference, San Francisco, USA.
Paper
Sakdalan, J.A. & Visser, S. (2024, Jun 18–20). IQ threshold and fitness to stand trial in New Zealand.
2024 International Association of Forensic Mental Health Services (IAFMHS) Conference, San Francisco, USA.
Paper
Sakdalan, J.A. (2024, Jun 18–20). The neurodivergent dilemma: A move towards a neurodiversity-affirming approach to forensic assessment of clients with complex presentations.
2024 International Association of Forensic Mental Health Services (IAFMHS) Conference, San Francisco, USA.
Workshop
Sakdalan, J.A. (2024, Nov 20–23). Working with neurodivergence in forensic settings.
42nd Australian and New Zealand Psychiatry, Psychology and the Law Congress, Melbourne, Australia.
Paper
Sakdalan, J.A. (2024, Nov 20–23). Dialectical Behaviour Therapy for Autistic Adults with Offending Behaviours.
42nd Australian and New Zealand Psychiatry, Psychology and the Law Congress, Melbourne, Australia.
Paper
Sakdalan, J.A. (2024, Nov 20–23). Development of a Violence Rehabilitation Program for Offenders with Intellectual Disability.
42nd Australian and New Zealand Psychiatry, Psychology and the Law Congress, Melbourne, Australia.
Paper
Sakdalan, J.A. & Visser, S. (2024, Nov 20–23). IQ threshold and fitness to stand trial in New Zealand.
42nd Australian and New Zealand Psychiatry, Psychology and the Law Congress, Melbourne, Australia.
Paper
Sakdalan, J.A. (2024, Nov 20–23). Schema therapy in sexual offender treatment.
42nd Australian and New Zealand Psychiatry, Psychology and the Law Congress, Melbourne, Australia.
Paper
Wood, M. & Sakdalan, J.A. (2024, Nov 20–23). Improving quality, utility, and expertise of psychological and psychiatric reports to the Courts: Recent training, professional development, and quality assurance initiatives at Forensicare.
42nd Australian and New Zealand Psychiatry, Psychology and the Law Congress, Melbourne, Australia.
Paper
Loft, N., McGregor, K. & Sakdalan, J.A. (2024, Nov 20–23). EMDR in forensic settings.
42nd Australian and New Zealand Psychiatry, Psychology and the Law Congress, Melbourne, Australia.
2023
Workshop
Sakdalan, J.A. (2023, Jun 20–23). Development of a Violence Reduction Program for Offenders with Cognitive Impairment.
International Association of Forensic Mental Health Services Conference, Sydney, Australia.
2019
Workshop & Paper
Sakdalan, J.A. & Maxwell, J. (2019, Aug 6–9). The use of Dialectical Behaviour Therapy with clients with Autistic Spectrum Disorder.
World Congress of the International Association for the Scientific Study of Intellectual Disability and Developmental Disabilities, Glasgow, UK.
International — Various Years
International Association of Forensic Mental Health Services (IAFMHS)
Presentations on forensic assessment, intellectual disability, offender rehabilitation, and adapted DBT programmes.
National — Various Years
Australia & New Zealand Association of Psychiatry, Psychology and the Law (ANZAPPL)
Annual conference presentations across NZ and Australian chapters on forensic psychology, intellectual disability, and risk assessment.
National — Various Years
NZ Psychological Society (NZPsS) Annual Conference
Presentations on forensic assessment, neuropsychology, and specialist treatment programmes for complex forensic populations.
National — Various Years
Australian Psychological Society (APS) Annual Conference
Presentations on forensic mental health, neurodevelopmental disorders, personality disorders, and DBT adaptations.
International — Various Years
International Congress of Applied Psychology (ICAP) & Other International Congresses
Presented on intellectual disability, sex offender treatment, and forensic neuropsychology at multiple international congresses.
The conference list above reflects confirmed public records. If you would like specific presentations added or years updated, please get in touch.
Training Workshops
Specialist training for mental health professionals working with complex forensic populations.
Upcoming Workshop
Adapted Dialectical Behaviour Therapy for Cognitively Impaired Clients with Challenging or Offending Behaviours
Date
20–21 August 2026
Format
Two-day intensive online workshop — AUD $749
Audience
Mental health professionals: psychologists, counsellors, social workers, occupational therapists, psychiatrists, nurses
Overview
Originally designed by Dr Marsha Linehan for Borderline Personality Disorder, DBT has been expanded to a range of clinical populations including those with cognitive impairment. This workshop presents an adapted DBT framework specifically developed for adults and adolescents with intellectual disability, acquired brain injury, severe mental illness, or Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder who exhibit challenging or offending behaviours.
Learning Objectives
1.Knowledge and skills on DBT reconceptualisation for cognitively impaired clients with challenging/offending behaviours
2.Techniques in the use of DBT coping skills with individuals with challenging/offending behaviours
3.Introduction to the adapted DBT coping skills group programme for individual and group-based treatment
4.Incorporating DBT reconceptualisation and skills into risk and behaviour management plans
Complexities in the Assessment of Adults with ADHD
Date
18 September 2026
Format
One-day intensive virtual workshop — AUD $429
Audience
Psychologists and psychiatrists seeking to develop knowledge and skills in ADHD assessment, particularly with clients with complex presentations
Overview
This workshop emphasises that an ADHD assessment extends well beyond diagnosis. ADHD frequently co-occurs with other neurodevelopmental disorders — notably ASD — as well as psychiatric conditions including depressive disorders, anxiety disorders, substance use disorders, conduct disorders, and personality disorders. Participants learn to comprehensively assess these co-occurring conditions to develop the most effective collaborative treatment plans.
The workshop covers cognitive bias and errors in assessments, the complexities of evaluating co-morbid conditions, transdiagnostic issues, the potential for feigning ADHD, and the application of psychometric tools for assessing ADHD and its co-morbidities. Group discussions and case studies facilitate applied learning.
What Participants Receive
–PowerPoint handouts and relevant articles
–Access to psychometric tests in the public domain for assessing ADHD and co-morbid conditions
–Additional resources for ongoing clinical practice
Neurodiversity-Affirming Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (NDA-DBT) for Autistic Clients
Date
15–16 October 2026
Based on peer-reviewed research: This workshop is grounded in the pilot study published in Neurodiversity (Strang & Sakdalan, 2025) — the first empirical study of a neurodiversity-affirming DBT adaptation.
Format
Two-day live virtual workshop — AUD $749 Co-delivered with Nimasha Weerakoon
Audience
Mental health professionals working with autistic adults experiencing emotional dysregulation, challenging behaviours, or offending behaviours
Overview
Traditional DBT, while effective, was not designed with autistic clients in mind and can inadvertently lead to masking, burnout, and invalidation when applied without adaptation. The NDA-DBT programme is a thoughtfully reconceptualised framework co-developed with lived-experience clinicians and autistic participants. It places neurodivergence at the centre of care — reframing autistic traits as differences rather than deficits, and offering a strengths-based, inclusive, and clinically accessible alternative.
What Participants Receive
–Comprehensive NDA-DBT manual and clinical resources
–Hands-on tools for neurodiversity-affirming DBT delivery
ID Sex Offender Treatment Programme
Training for the Disability and Supported Pathways Specialised Offender Assessment and Treatment Service, Department of Corrections Victoria, Australia
Forensic Disability Service, Queensland
Training on ID sexual offender treatment and adapted dialectical behaviour therapy programmes
Annual Virtual Workshop
Specialist one-day virtual training workshop delivered annually on forensic assessment and treatment topics
Risk Assessment & ADHD Assessment Training
Local and international workshops on adapted DBT, sex offender treatment programmes, risk assessment, and ADHD assessments
Get in touch
For referrals, enquiries about assessments or treatment, expert witness preparation, or supervision, please reach out by email or use the form. I aim to respond within two business days.
