Martina specialises in Bowen Family Systems Theory in her psychotherapy work with families, couples, adults, and adolescents. This way of ‘thinking systems’ has led her to understand that how we feel, what we do and how we think cannot be separated from our significant relationship systems. You could say that sorting out how people get emotionally caught in their relationships and entangled in their work or family systems is her specialty.
She offers clinical and organisational supervision to mental health clinicians and teams and mental health team leaders. Martina also provides EMDR sessions for people who want to reduce their traumatic or intrusive responses to unresolved issues.
She is currently a trainer at The Family Systems Institute, Australia’s leading training centre in Bowen Family Systems Therapy where she facilitates training for psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, and counsellors, in their Adv.Cert. in Couples and Family Systems Therapy, accredited by the Australian Association of Family Therapy (AAFT) as well as running Family of Origin Courses.
She has worked in youth mental health (headspace Bondi Junction), Drug & Alcohol (Gloo Project) and with the LGTBQI+ community (Aids Council of NSW).
Martina became interested in the work of Dr Murray Bowen in 2013, since then she has been an avid reader and a committed scholar of Bowen Family Systems Theory which she applies to both her clinical work and personal life. Martina has published two articles on the subject in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Family Therapy which were amongst the top 10% downloaded articles in both 2016 and 2018. She has presented her work at symposiums and conferences.
Martina has been embedded in contemplative practices and the healing arts for over twenty years, with experience in the practice and teaching of Yoga, a Diploma in Zen Shiatsu and a long term commitment to meditation in the Theradavan Buddhist tradition.
Martina has a Master of Social Work (MSW), a Grad. Dip. in Gestalt psychotherapy, and an Adv. Cert. in Couples & Family Systems Therapy. She is a member of the Australian Association of Social Work (AASW) and a clinical member of the Australian Association of Family Therapy (AAFT).
Publications:
Palombi, M. (2016). Separations: A Personal Account of Bowen Family Systems Theory. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Family Therapy.
Palombi, M. (2018). From Gestalt Therapy to Family Systems: How Theoretical Frameworks Inform Clinical Applications. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Family Therapy.