Chris Thornton
Chris Thornton is a clinical psychologist who has specialised in the treatment of patients with eating disorders for nearly 25 years. Chris is the Clinical Director and Principal Clinical Psychologist of The Redleaf Practice. He provides supervision and case consultation to all receiving treatment at The Redleaf Practice.
Chris has held positions at the major private eating disorders units in NSW, at The Northside Clinic, The Peter Beumont Centre for Eating Disorders at Wesley Hospital, and the The Hills Private Hospital. He was actively involved in the design and implementation of the psychological therapy in those hospital's eating disorders service. He was responsible for the supervision of the Clinical Psychologists working on the program and for training Doctorate of Clinical Psychology Interns on their eating disorders rotation.
Chris has been at the forefront of developing a comprehensive continuum of care in eating disorders services. He has pioneered the use of day program treatment for eating disorders in Australia. The model of care that he and his colleagues developed is now considered the standard of care nationally and internationally. Chris has previously been a consultant clinical psychologist providing supervision to the day program teams in Sydney, Adelaide, Central Coast (NSW), Newcastle, Westmead Hospital, as well as Auckland.
Chris is a Past President of the Australia and New Zealand Academy of Eating Disorders. ANZAED is the peak body representing and supporting the activities of all professionals working in the field of eating disorders and related issues. Chris has now coordinated 4 ANZAED Conferences. He has presented workshops on Motivational Enhancement Therapy; Acceptance and Commitment Therapy; Day Program Treatment; Non Negotiable in Eating Disorders Treatment; Mirror Exposure for Body Image Treatment; and the Treatment of Shame in Complex Eating Disorders. He is the only clinician to present six clinical workshops in the 15 year history of ANZAED. Chris has also presented his work in other national and international conferences.
Clinically, Chris is well known for his work on increasing patients’ motivation for change, his use of advanced cognitive behavioural therapy techniques, including mindfulness based interventions. He has published his research in leading scientific journals and through numerous book chapters. He conducts training workshops nationally and internationally on the treatment of eating disorders.
In 2012 Chris presented at the Mind and its Potential Conference in Sydney. You can see a video of his presentation here.
In 2017 Chris presented at the "at Home with Eating Disorders" Conference with Dr Mandy Goldstein. They presented on the "Core Principles of Treatment" in both Adults and Children.
In 2018 Chris presented on an Introduction to Eating Disorders for the National Eating Disorders Collaboration. You can see his slides here.
Chris co-authored the Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Psychological Treatment of Anorexia Nervosa and is the co-author of the successful book “How to Recover from Anorexia Nervosa and Other Eating Disorders”. Chris is an Adjunct Supervisor with the School of Psychology at Macquarie University.
Chris can be contacted on chris.thornton@theredleafpractice.com
Chris has held positions at the major private eating disorders units in NSW, at The Northside Clinic, The Peter Beumont Centre for Eating Disorders at Wesley Hospital, and the The Hills Private Hospital. He was actively involved in the design and implementation of the psychological therapy in those hospital's eating disorders service. He was responsible for the supervision of the Clinical Psychologists working on the program and for training Doctorate of Clinical Psychology Interns on their eating disorders rotation.
Chris has been at the forefront of developing a comprehensive continuum of care in eating disorders services. He has pioneered the use of day program treatment for eating disorders in Australia. The model of care that he and his colleagues developed is now considered the standard of care nationally and internationally. Chris has previously been a consultant clinical psychologist providing supervision to the day program teams in Sydney, Adelaide, Central Coast (NSW), Newcastle, Westmead Hospital, as well as Auckland.
Chris is a Past President of the Australia and New Zealand Academy of Eating Disorders. ANZAED is the peak body representing and supporting the activities of all professionals working in the field of eating disorders and related issues. Chris has now coordinated 4 ANZAED Conferences. He has presented workshops on Motivational Enhancement Therapy; Acceptance and Commitment Therapy; Day Program Treatment; Non Negotiable in Eating Disorders Treatment; Mirror Exposure for Body Image Treatment; and the Treatment of Shame in Complex Eating Disorders. He is the only clinician to present six clinical workshops in the 15 year history of ANZAED. Chris has also presented his work in other national and international conferences.
Clinically, Chris is well known for his work on increasing patients’ motivation for change, his use of advanced cognitive behavioural therapy techniques, including mindfulness based interventions. He has published his research in leading scientific journals and through numerous book chapters. He conducts training workshops nationally and internationally on the treatment of eating disorders.
In 2012 Chris presented at the Mind and its Potential Conference in Sydney. You can see a video of his presentation here.
In 2017 Chris presented at the "at Home with Eating Disorders" Conference with Dr Mandy Goldstein. They presented on the "Core Principles of Treatment" in both Adults and Children.
In 2018 Chris presented on an Introduction to Eating Disorders for the National Eating Disorders Collaboration. You can see his slides here.
Chris co-authored the Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Psychological Treatment of Anorexia Nervosa and is the co-author of the successful book “How to Recover from Anorexia Nervosa and Other Eating Disorders”. Chris is an Adjunct Supervisor with the School of Psychology at Macquarie University.
Chris can be contacted on chris.thornton@theredleafpractice.com