DR DANIELLE EINSTEIN

Dr Danielle Einstein

Clinical Psychologist, Speaker, Researcher, Author

With nearly three decades of expertise, Dr Danielle Einstein is a renowned authority on the intersection of technology and mental health.

An Adjunct Fellow at Macquarie University, she actively researches the connection between device use and wellbeing. In Private Practice, she provides treatment for anxiety disorders and speaks to school communities.

In 2024, Dr Einstein provided critical evidence at the Australian Parliament’s Senate Inquiry into the Social Media Age legislation. She was quoted in The French Report, briefed state and federal advisers & members of parliament, supported parents in the 36 month campaign, and served as an invited expert at the Social Media Summits. Her work scrutinising the evidence and explaining the underpinnings of development led global change.

Featured In:

Honorable mention in parliament

Australian Federal Parliament

The Hon. David Coleman recognises Danielle's contribution 'Dr Einstein lived up to her name' November, 2024.

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10th October 2024

Dr Einstein explains FoMO and procrastination at the NSW Social Media Summit

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Critical evidence - Australian parliament house

Senate Inquiry

"This is important because it changes the norms"

Dr Einstein sets out faults in the research at the final Australian Senate Inquiry.

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ABOUT

BSc (Psychol) (Hons) MPsychol (Clinical) PhD MAPS MACPA MAACBT

A Leader in Anxiety and OCD Treatment

Dr Danielle Einstein is a Clinical Psychologist with nearly three decades of experience specialising in the treatment and prevention of anxiety and OCD. An Adjunct Fellow at Macquarie University, Dr Einstein was the first Australian Clinical Psychologist to advocate for a phone ban in schools, based on her 2013 research linking emotional health with tolerance for uncertainty.

Pioneering Roles and Research

From 1996 to 2002, Dr Einstein led the Anxiety Clinic at Westmead Hospital before establishing her private practice in 2003. Her research spans a wide range of topics, including the impact of FoMO (fear of missing out) and social media on adolescent mental health. She has also developed wellbeing initiatives for schools and co-authored internationally recognised programs for anxiety and depression, such as Chilled Plus and the Climate Social Anxiety program.

Advocacy and Resources for Healthy Technology Use

In 2019, Dr Einstein authored The Dip: A Practical Guide to Managing Device Use and founded TheDip.com, a resource hub for families to improve their relationship with technology. Her expertise featured prominently in the 2023 Australian documentary Disconnect Me, and she was invited to deliver the prestigious Professor Margot Prior public lecture for the Australian Clinical Psychology Association on integrating device use management into clinical practice. Her next event is a Keynote at the International Coalition of Girls Schools 2025 symposium.

Collaborations and Global Impact

Dr Einstein has collaborated with leading organisations like Bell Shakespeare and worked with many prominent schools both in Australia and overseas. She continues to lead advanced training workshops, including OCD training programs with Professor
Jessica Grisham.

Widely cited in mainstream media, Dr Einstein's latest research on digital literacy in schools was published in October 2024, with her program and book pushing back on anxiety also released in 2024.

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Raising Anxiety

RESEARCH

Dr Danielle Einstein's research commenced with a theory which explored how humans can respond in healthy ways to uncertainty. She examined how some responses created psychological difficulties and detailed ways in which these can be addressed in treatment. Based on published peer reviewed papers, her academic work continues to explore ways in which anxiety and depression can be prevented. Factors studied include social media use, perfectionism, fear of social threat, the tendency to compare, and fear of uncertainty.

MACQUARIE UNIVERSITY

Chief Investigator | Controlled Trial of The Insights Program

Research Aim: To empower and build resilience in young people.

Exploring ways to alter discomfort with uncertainty within the school system.
Reducing catastrophic thinking in adolescence.

Online treatment using Chilled Plus

Chilled Plus is an online program that provides treatment for adolescents suffering from comorbid anxiety and depression. Chilled Plus was delivered to secondary school students attending over 80 schools across Australia. These include schools from the following sectors: public, private, distance education, Catholic and Independent. The program was funded by Australian Rotary Health. Work commenced on this program in 2008 in collaboration with Dr Carolyn Schniering (lead author) and Professor Ron Rapee.

Dr Einstein collaborates with a range of researchers from Macquarie University, University of Sydney, Curtin University, Australian Catholic University; and internationally with researchers from the University of Manchester and the University of Regina. Danielle has led research, and/or clinical teams to deliver universal prevention programs with staff at the following secondary schools: Riverside Girls High School, Pymble Ladies College, Presbyterian Ladies College, Queenwood, Radford College, Santa Sabina, St Aloysius College, Wenona, Loreto Normanhurst, Marist Sisters College, Woolwich, The Kings School, Tudor House, Kambala, Cranbrook, Arden Anglican School, St James College.

Podcasts & Radio

The Anxiety Epidemic
Comfortably Uncomfortable Podcast; Dr Andrew Greenfield, Child and Educational Psychologist
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An Expert's Thoughts on the Social Media Ban
The Real Story with Joe Hildebrand
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Radio Interview with Mark Levy 2GB
2GB Sydney with Mark Levy
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Life Education: Helping our kids thrive with Dr Judith Locke, Tracey Challenor and Dr Danielle Einstein
Episode 20; 18th December 2024
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Social Media and Mental Health with Dr Danielle Einstein
The Viewpoints Podcast
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Managing One's State of Mind Despite Huge Change and Uncertainty
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Clinical Psychologist Urges Students to Avoid "Uncertainty Bombs"
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The 6 Month Slump: How Do We Stay Motivated In An Uncertain World?
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