Dr Sophie Li is Practice Director at Peter Walker & Associates and a highly experienced Clinical Psychologist and Research Fellow at the Black Dog Institute, University of New South Wales (UNSW) Sydney.

With over 15 years of specialised experience in youth mental health, Sophie is a leading expert in treating mood and anxiety disorders and sleep problems in young people aged 10-30.

Given increased vulnerability in neurodiverse individuals to develop these conditions, she is currently supplementing her expertise by completing advanced training in neuropsychology at UNSW Sydney, and now offers comprehensive assessments for neurodevelopmental conditions such as ADHD and autism spectrum disorder (ASD), ensuring thorough and accurate diagnoses for her clients.

Sophie is deeply interested in understanding the neural, behavioural, and cognitive mechanisms that underlie mental disorders to enhance existing treatments and develop new ones through digital health innovations. She led a significant $2.8M project to develop ClearlyMe, a CBT smartphone app designed for adolescent depression and anxiety. Additionally, she adapted Sleep Ninja, a CBT app for adolescent insomnia, for younger users aged 10-12, and is currently leading its evaluation.

These initiatives showcase her leadership in the advancement of mental health interventions and their real-world impact to benefit youth mental health.

Sophie’s impressive academic contributions include securing over $5M in grant funding and publishing in prestigious journals such as The Lancet Psychiatry, The Lancet Child Adolescent Health, and the Journal of Child Psychology & Psychiatry.

Her expertise is widely recognised and has been featured in media outlets like The Conversation, ABC TV, ABC News Radio, SMH, Weekend Sunrise, and National Geographic, highlighting her as a trusted voice in the field. She recently featured as the youth mental health expert on ABC’s Old People’s Home for Teenagers.

In addition to her clinical and research work, Sophie is a sought-after educator, regularly presenting seminars, workshops, and lectures at UNSW, the University of Technology Sydney, and the Australian Museum. She holds a PhD in behavioural neuroscience, a Masters in Clinical Psychology, and a Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) from UNSW Sydney, underscoring her strong academic foundation.

As a Psychology Board of Australia-approved supervisor, Sophie provides clinical supervision to Clinical Psychology Registrars and Clinical Psychologists, and consults on the development of mental health services.