Full CV

Dr Vivienne Cass

PhD, MPsych, BPsych, Teach.Cert., SchMus.Dip.

Adjunct Assoc.  Prof., Curtin University (2009-2015)

Qualifications

  • Doctor of Philosophy (Murdoch University, 1986)
  • Master of Psychology – Clinical (University of Western Australia, 1975)
  • Bachelor of Psychology (University of Western Australia, 1973)
  • Teachers Certificate, Diploma of School Music (Edith Cowan University, 1969)

Further Professional Training

Gestalt Therapy, EMDR, Psychodrama, Feldenkreis, on-going professional development in various clinical areas

Professional Memberships (current and previous)

  • Member, the International Academy of Sex Research
  • Member, the New York Academy of Science (USA)
  • Member, the World Association of Sexual Health
  • Member, the Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality (USA )
  • Member, the International Society for the Scientific Study of Women’s Sexual Health
  • Member, the Women’s Sexual Health Foundation (USA)
  • Member, the Australian Society of Authors (AUS)
  • Member, the Australian Psychological Society (AUS)
  • Honorary Life Member, the Institute of Clinical Psychologists (AUS)
  • Member, the West Australian Sexology Society (AUS)
  • Member, the Australian Society, Sex Educators, Researchers and Therapists (AUS)
  • Registered clinical psychologist, Australia
  • Member, Editorial Board, Journal of Homosexuality
  • Member, Editorial Board, Gay & Lesbian in Psychology Review

Professional Employment

  • Current
    Consultant clinical psychologist
    Consultant sexual therapist/sexologist
    Guest lecturer, master classes in sexual therapy
  • Previous 
  • Adjunct associate professor, Curtin University, Western Australia
  • Private Practice 1979 – 2007
    Consultant corporate psychologist
    Lecturer (academic), all universities in Western Australia
    Guest Lecturer (non-academic), various topics in psychology
    University clinical tutor and supervisor
    Founder, AIDS counselling service (Perth)
    Workshop and seminar presenter (academic, corporate and general public)
    External academic supervisor and dissertation examiner
    Reviewer, journal article submissions
    Consultant, organisational reviews
    Clinical psychologist, Mental Health Services
  • Other
    Public speaker
    Publisher
    Magazine columnist
    Media interviewee
    Teacher
    Founder, Gay & lesbian counselling service (Western Australia)

Areas of clinical work

  • Individual development
  • Marriage/relationship issues
  • Stress
  • Life crises
  • Women’s and men’s issues
  • Health issues
  • Sexuality: sexual dysfunction, sexual assault/ harassment, sexual offences, sexual orientation, sexual identity
  • Gender identity, transgender issues

Lecture, seminar and presentation topics: examples

  • All areas of sexuality: dysfunction, couples, offences, abuse, sexual orientation, minorities, gender, transgender
  • Human relations/psychology – various areas
  • AIDS – Burnout amongst health workers; AIDS and identity issues; women & AIDS
  • Corporate topics: team building training, post-merger integration in the workplace; conflict management, manager training and development; women & management; dealing with employment loss

Committee/organisational involvement

  • Current
    Mentor (education and clinical), Refugee children in school, Western Australia
  •  Previous
    Ministerial Committee on Lesbian and Gay Law Reform, Attorney-General’s Department of Western Australia
    Editorial Board, Journal of Lesbian Studies
    Australian Psychological Society, Media Subcommittee
    Professional Advisory Committee, Gay and Lesbian Counselling Service
    Commonwealth AIDS Research Grants Committee
    National AIDS Counsellors Association
    National Advisory Committee on AIDS
    Legal and Social Subcommittee, National Advisory Council on AIDS
    Advisory Committee, Women’s Studies Courses, Edith Cowan University
    AIDS Task Force, Australian Psychological Society
    Australian Psychological Society Committee, review Sexual Assault Referral Centre
    Western Australian Advisory Council, Australian Broadcasting Commission
    Professional Advisory Committee, Psychodrama Institute of Western Australia,
    Founder, self-help groups for married gay and men/lesbians and their spouses, teenagers

Media Consultancy

  • Current
    Media contact person, Australian Psychological Society
    Invited media interviewee, all media types
  • Previous
    Co-host, weekly one hour radio programme on human relations
    Series consultant & presenter, Channel 7 series on human relations

Awards

  • Semi-finalist and Honourable Mention Recipient: 2005 Independent Publishers Book Awards, for The Elusive Orgasm 2005
  • Semi-finalist, Hugo Beigel Research Award: Selected by the Journal of Sex Research for “research excellence”. 1981
  • Theory Development Award: Presented by the Gay Academic Union of America for “development of theory promising to significantly contribute to an understanding of gay-related issues”. 1979

Publications 

(PDF versions of some papers available on website under ‘Publications’)

  • Cass, VC            Preface. In Orientations: Teaching about Identity, Attraction & Behaviour. T Clark, T Gilbert & K. Rayne (Eds). Centre for Sex Education. 2020
  • Cass, V.C.          The Myth of Asexual Motherhood. In Mothers, sex and sexuality. H. Zwalf, M.Walks & J. Mortenson (Eds).  Demeter Press NJ  2020.
  • Cass, V.C.          A Quick Guide to the Cass Theory of Lesbian & Gay Identity Formation. EBook Edition, Brightfire Press, 2015  (More Info)
  • Cass, V.C.         Explore Women’s Sex. Sex Education App. Brightfire Press, 2011.
  • Cass, V.C.         The Elusive Orgasm: A woman’s guide to why she can’t and how she can orgasm  Albesa Editorial (Spanish edition) 2011
  • Cass, V.C.         The Elusive Orgasm: A woman’s guide to why she can’t and how she can orgasm  Editions in Chinese (Katebook), Czech (Computer Press ), Russian (Ripoli), Polish 2009
  • Cass, V.C.       The Elusive Orgasm: A woman’s guide to why she can’t and how she can orgasm (Updated Edition) Rockpool Publishing 2009 (More Info)
  • Cass, V.C.       The Elusive Orgasm: A woman’s guide to why she can’t and how she can orgasm (North American Edition)   Perseus Books 2007
  • Cass, V.C.       Sexual orientation and the place of psychology: side-lined, side-tracked or should that be side-swiped?  Gay and lesbian issues and psychology review.   2006, Vol 2(1), 25-37
  • Cass, V.C.       Who is influencing whom? The relationship between identity, sexual orientation and indigenous psychology.  Gay and lesbian issues and psychology review. 2005, Volume 1, no 2, 47-52
  • Cass, V.C.       The Illustrated Clitoris. Set of educational diagrams. Brightfire Press, 2005. (More Info)
  • Cass, V.C.       The Elusive Orgasm: A woman’s guide to why she can’t and how she can orgasm (First Edition)  Brightfire Press, 2004
  • Cass, V.C.       Sexual orientation, culture and the construction of gay and lesbian identities.  In Out in the Antipodes: Australian & New Zealand perspectives on gay and lesbian issues in psychology Eds D Riggs & G Walker, Brightfire Press 2004
  • Cass, V.C.       Current perspectives on sexual orientation Connect (Publication of Western Australian Department of Health), 2001
  • Cass, V.C.       Bringing psychology in from the cold: Framing psychological theory and research within a constructionist psychology framework.  In J. Bohan & G.  Russell, Psychology and Sexual Orientation: The Meanings We Make – Conversations about Psychology and Sexual Orientation NY University Press 1999
  • Cass, V.C.       Why People Are Homosexual, Heterosexual or Bisexual Pamphlet written for the Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality (USA) 1999
  • Cass, V.C.       Homosexuality, in E. Knobil & J. Neill (Eds) Encyclopedia of Reproduction NY American Academic Press, 1998
  • Cass,V.C.        Sexual orientation identity formation: A Western phenomenon, In R. Cabaj & T. Stein (Eds), Textbook of Homosexuality and Mental Health  American Psychiatric Press, Washington, 1996
  • Cass, V.C .      Understanding Homosexuality and Bisexuality , in F. Maltby, N. Gage & D. Berliner, Educational Psychology: An Australian and New Zealand Perspective  Brisbane: John Wiley & Sons  1995
  • Cass, V.C.       The implications of homosexual identity formation for the Kinsey model and scale of sexual preference. Chapter in D. McWhirter, S Sanders & R. Reinisch (Eds), Heterosexuality-Homosexuality: Concepts of Sexual Orientation  N.Y.: Oxford Press 1990
  • Cass, V.C.       There’s More To Sex Than AIDS:  The A To Z Guide To Safe Sex  Greenhouse Press  1988
  • Cass, V.C.       Homosexual Identity Questionnaire in C. Davis, W. Yarber & S. Davis (Eds) Sexuality-Related Measures: A Compendium Graphic Publishing Co., 1988
  • Ross, M., Carson, J., Cass, V., Hart, J. & Wilson, P.        Knowledge of AIDS in Australia: a national study Health Education Research, 1988, 3(4), 367-373
  • Cass, V.C.       Homosexual identity: A concept in need of definition.  Journal of Homosexuality, 1983/4, 9(2/3), 105 – 126
    Also in:
    DeCecco, J.P. & Shively, M.G.(Eds.)  Bisexual and homosexual identities: Critical theoretical issues, New York: The Haworth Press, 1984
  • Cass, V.C.       Homosexual identity formation: Testing a theoretical model.  Journal of Sex Research, 1984, 20, 143 – 167
  • Cass, V.C.       Homosexual identity formation: A theoretical model.  Journal of Homosexuality, 1979, 4(3), 219 – 234

Unpublished Manuscripts

  • Cass, V.C.       Age of Consent for sexual activity: Findings from the scientific literature to support equality of age of consent for same-sex and different-sex sexual behaviours Paper prepared for the Committee on Gay And Lesbian Law Reform, Western Australian Government 2001
  • Cass, V.C.       Homosexual identity formation: The presentation and testing of a socio-cognitive model. Unpublished Doctoral Thesis, Murdoch University, 1986
  • Cass, V.C.       Assessment of mental health needs and resources available to residents of New South Wales in relation to Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) and related conditions.  Report commissioned by the Health, Media and Education Unit, the Department of Health, New South Wales Government. December 1984
  • Cass, V.C.       Eysenck’s Theory of Crime and Personality Unpublished Master’s Thesis  1975  University of Western Australia

Conference and seminar papers and community presentations

  • Cass, V.C.       Is your work with lesbian, gay and bisexual clients as effective as it could be? Professional Development Seminar given to the Clinical College of the Australian Psychological Society, October 2011
  • Cass, V.C.       Sex and motherhood  Keynote address given to the Perinatal Mental Health Association.  October 2010
  • Cass, V.C.       Transgender: Dealing with the hard issues Talk given to the Chameleon Association of Western Australia, October 2010
  • Cass, V.C.       Female orgasm: the causes and treatment of women’s difficulties with orgasm. Invited paper given at the Sexuality Symposium of the 45th Congress of the Psychiatric Association of Turkey, October 2009
  • Cass, V.  C.     Sensate Focus: Advanced Workshop for the Clinical Practitioner Workshop given at the Sexuality Symposium of the 45th Congress of the Psychiatric Association of Turkey, October 2009
  • Cass, V.C.       Understanding women’s sexuality Talk given at Conscious Living Expo, Perth, August 2009
  • Cass, V.C.       Good sex can keep you healthy (Or an orgasm a day keeps the doctor away) Presentation to the Western Australian Sexology Society   November 2008
  • Cass, V.C.       Lesbian and gay identity in the twenty-first century: Do we need the identity concept any more?  Paper given at the World Congress of Sexual Health, Sydney, April 2007.
  • Cass, V.C.       Working with sex offenders: A role for psychotherapists in private practice Invited keynote address given at the World Congress of Psychotherapy, Kuala Lumper, August 2006
  • Cass, V.C.       Introduction to Sexual Therapy for Psychotherapists Workshop presented at the World Congress of Psychotherapy, Kuala Lumper, August 2006
  • Cass, V.C.       Mystery story or jigsaw puzzle: what is women’s sexuality? Invited address to the Sexual Health Society of Queensland, Brisbane, August 2006
  • Cass, V.C.       Sexual orientation development: gay, lesbian and bisexual identity formation. Presentation to post-graduate psychology seminar, Edith Cowan University, Western Australia, July 2006
  • Cass, V.C.       The elusive orgasm: taking a ‘whole woman’ approach in the treatment of women’s orgasm difficulties Paper presented at the New Zealand Sexual Dysfunction Conference, Queenstown, April 2006
  • Cass, V.C.       Disclosing identity as a cross-dresser Talk given to the Chameleon Society, Western Australia, June 2006
  • Cass, V.C.       The joy of (publishing) sex.  Talk to the Women In Publishing group of Western Australia, May 2006
  • Cass, V.C.       Women’s sexual health.  Panel Discussant at Women of the West Luncheon, Perth Western Australia, October 2005
  • Cass, V.C.       Love, food and wine: The science of love  Presentation via telecast to regional centres of Western Australia as part of National Science Week, August 2005
  • Cass, V.C.       A chat about women’s sexuality Talk given to Corrigan Country Women’s Group, Western Australia, August 2005
  • Cass, V.C.       A career in sexology   Presentation given at the World Congress of Sexology conference, Montreal July 2005
  • Cass, V.C.       Understanding women’s difficulties with sex. Invited Paper presented to the 12th Annual Women’s Health Conference, Gold Coast, Australia, February 2005
  • Cass, V.C.       Working effectively with sexual difficulties in relationships.  Invited Paper presented to the 12th Annual Women’s Health Conference, Gold Coast, Australia, February 2005
  • Cass, V.C.       The truth about women’s sexuality.  Talk given to Women’s Executive Forum, Perth, Western Australia, April 2005
  • Cass, V.C.       Sexcess in the city: the relationship between sexuality and success.  Talk given to Momentum Women’s Forum, Perth, Western Australia, August, 2005
  • Cass, V.C.       The Elusive Orgasm: Taking a ‘whole woman’ approach in the treatment of women’s orgasm difficulties.  Paper presented to the National Sexology Conference, University of Sydney, Australia, November 2004
  • Cass, V.C.       Overview of psychological perspectives of cross-dressing for counsellors and professionals. Talk given at the Awareness & Understanding Seminar (Chameleon Society), Western Australia, April 2004
  • Cass, V.C.       The elusive orgasm: women’s difficulties with orgasm.  Paper presented to meeting of the Western Australian Sexology Society, Western Australia, 2004
  • Cass, V.C.       The elusive orgasm: myths and new discoveries in women’s sexuality.  Talk given at the Conscious Living Expo, Western Australia, 2004
  • Cass, V.C.       Understanding the impact of Hepatitis C on relationships.  Talk given to the Hepatitis Association, Western Australia, 2004
  • Cass, V.C.       Preparing for retirement.  Talk given to the Jewish Women’s Conference, Western Australia, 2004
  • Cass, V.C.       Who is influencing whom? The relationship between identity, sexual orientation and indigenous psychology.  Paper presented to the Australian Psychological Society annual conference, Western Australia, 2003
  • Cass, V.C.       Sexual orientation and the place of psychology: Side-lined, side-tracked or should that be side-swiped?  Invited Keynote Address presented to the Australian Psychological Society: Gay and Lesbian Issues and Psychology Interest Group: Changing their minds: Celebrating our Diversity conference Melbourne, Australia, October 2003
  • Cass, V.C.       How psychology can help with Inflammatory Bowel Disease.  Paper given at the national conference of the Australian Crohn’s & Colitis Association, Western Australia, 2003
  • Cass, V.C.       A day in the life of a psychologist.  Talk given to Orientation Seminar for Chinese Doctors, Curtin University, Western Australia, 2003
  • Cass, V.C.       Cross-dressing and depression.  Paper given to the annual conference of the Chameleon Society, Western Australia, 2003
  • Cass, V.C.       An update on research into women’s sexuality.  Invited Paper given to the conference of the Australian Society of Sex Educators, Researchers & Therapists, Sydney, New South Wales, 2002
  • Cass, V.C.       Identify formation in intersexed and transgendered individuals. Paper and workshop given to Intersexions II conference:  Beyond medicine, Western Australia, October 2001
  • Cass, V.C.       Working with sexual relationships: common pitfalls experienced by psychologists.  Paper given to the Australian Psychological Society (WA branch) conference, September 2001
  • Cass, V.C.       Sexual orientations: issues for the health professional.  Paper given to Health Department (Western Australia) professional development seminar, 2001
  • Cass, V.C.       A theory of homosexual identity formation and its implications for therapists.  Paper given at the 4th National Conference of the Institute of Private Clinical Psychologists (Western Australia), April 2001
  • Cass, V.C.       Understanding the impact of Herpes on relationships.  Talk to the Herpes Association, Perth, Western Australia, 2001
  • Cass, V.C.       The impact of identity research on our understanding of sexual orientation. Invited Paper given to the European Sexology Congress, Berlin, Germany, June 2000
  • Cass, V.C.       Current transgender issues in clinical practice. Talk given to the Western Australian Sexology Association, Perth 2000
  • Cass, V.C.       Fame and infamy: memoirs of a (living) sex therapist.  Dinner speech given to the Australian Psychological Society, Division of Independently Practising Psychologists, Perth 2000
  • Cass, V.C.       Effective people management during periods of change in practice management.  Invited Paper given to the Australasian Dental Congress, Perth, Western Australia, March 1998
  • Cass, V.C.       Working effectively with gay, lesbian and bisexual youth. Invited Paper given to the Western Australian School Psychologists’ Conference, August, 1997
  • Cass, V.C.       Lesbian identity formation: do we take a specific or generalist approach? Invited Paper given to the 1996 Conference of the National Lesbian and Gay Health Association Conference,  Seattle, Washington, July 17th 1996
  • Cass, V.C.       Same question – different answer: The impact of social constructionist psychology on the study of sexual orientation. Invited Key Session Paper given to the 1995 Conference of the Society For The Scientific Study of Sexuality: The Science of Sexual Orientation, Palm Springs, USA, April 1995
  • Cass, V.C.       Burnout: Easy to catch, not so easy to treat. Invited Paper given to Australian Society for HIV in Medicine Conference, Sydney, New South Wales, 1994
  • Cass, V.C.       Lesbian/Gay Identity Formation and Coming Out Invited Paper to Lesbian and Gay Health Issues Conference, Sydney, New South Wales, September, 1992
  • Cass, V.C.       Homosexual identity and its development: Implications of current theory and research for the Kinsey model and scale of sexual preference. Invited Paper presented at the Second Kinsey Symposium, Indiana University, May 1986
  • Cass, V.C.       Feminist therapy, women’s therapy, nonsexist therapy:  What’s in a name?  Invited Keynote Address to the fourth national Women and Therapy Conference held in Perth, Western Australia, August 1986
  • Cass, V.C.       Human relations programmes:  Implications for educational policy.             Paper  prepared for the Western Australian Advisory Council of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation,  February, 1984
  • Cass, V.C.       Gay parents and their children: new counselling directions for the helping professional.   Paper presented to the Fourth National Conference of the Australian Society for Sex Educators, Researchers and Therapists, Perth, Western Australia, May 1983
  • Cass, V.C.       A theory of homosexual identity formation and its application in the counselling situation.  Paper presented to the Third National Conference of the Australian Society for Sex Educators, Researchers and Therapists, Victoria, 1982
  • Cass, V.C.       The position of the lesbian mother and her children within the judicial system. Invited Paper given to the First Congress for Psychiatry, Psychology and the Law, Victoria, 1981
  • Cass, V.C.       Homosexual identity formation: A preliminary study to test a theoretical model.   Invited Paper to Congress for Australian and New Zealand Academy of Arts and Sciences, South Australia, May 1980

Magazine articles (topic examples)

  • Mothering and sex
  • When a twosome is not enough
  • Sex education: to tell or not to tell
  • Lasting the distance: sex in long-term relationships
  • Romantic obsessions
  • Lesser known sexual difficulties
  • An affair to remember: the effects of affairs on relationships
  • Sex and the career woman
  • Getting over a break-up
  • Ouch that hurts: pain during sex
  • Sex: the perfect health product
  • Partners and use of pornography
  • Stress and sex
  • Sex with a much older partner
  • Gay dads
  • Sex and the older person
  • Bisexuality

Radio and TV interviews (topic examples)

  • Children and sexuality: Naming sexual body parts
  • Mid-life crises.
  • Child murderers
  • Female orgasm.
  • Medicalisation of sexuality.
  • The science of love
  • Sex with a much younger/older  partner
  • Older sex
  • Cheating on your partner
  • Sex offenders
  • Romance and long-term relationships
  • Can you be friends with your ex-?
  • Commitment
  • Faking it

Contact Us

Postal Address:

PO Box 1127 Bentley DC 6983 Western Australia

Contact Details:

Email: contact@brightfire.com.au