Dr James Tranter
Dr James Tranter is a Melbourne-based Consultant Psychiatrist who works alongside adolescents (13 years and older), young people, and adults as they navigate emotional distress, life transitions, and questions of identity and wellbeing. He is known for his warm, thoughtful, and collaborative style, and takes time to understand each person’s story before exploring treatment options together. James supports individuals and families across a wide range of mental health concerns, with particular interests in psychotherapy, trauma-informed care, neurodevelopmental differences, and the emotional challenges that arise during adolescence and early adulthood.
James completed most of his psychiatric training at The Alfred Hospital in Melbourne, working across inpatient, community, and specialised services. During his advanced training, he focused on Child and Youth Mental Health, developing experience working closely with young people and their families. He also trained at Royal Darwin Hospital, where he gained valuable experience working with First Nations patients and within services with limited resources. While in Darwin, he founded a Complex Trauma Program.
Since 2021, he has been a Senior Research Consultant and therapist with the Monash Clinical Psychedelic Lab, Monash University. He is currently a PhD candidate at Monash University’s HER Centre, researching the relationship between reputation and mental health. James is a Fellow of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP), an Associate Fellow of RACMA, and holds subspecialty qualifications in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.
Approach to Mental Health Care
James’ approach to mental health care is grounded in compassion, curiosity, and honesty. He believes recovery is different for each person, and that effective care involves offering a range of therapeutic tools and working collaboratively to discover what fits best. Working with James involves building a trusting relationship, taking a holistic view of mental and physical wellbeing, and gently exploring patterns, meanings, and skills that support lasting change.
Areas of Focus
James works with adolescents, young people, and adults experiencing depression, anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, trauma and complex trauma, ADHD, autism spectrum presentations, personality difficulties, grief and loss, and adjustment disorders. He also has a strong interest in school-related distress, family difficulties, and longer-term psychotherapeutic work.
Outside of medicine
Outside of his clinical work, James is a qualified yoga teacher and values movement as an important part of wellbeing. He enjoys long-distance running and is currently training for his next ultramarathon, as well as scuba diving. He also values time spent with his wife and their two much-loved sausage dogs.
Areas of Expertise
Psychotherapy and psychoanalysis, adolescent psychiatry, trauma and complex trauma, ADHD and autism spectrum presentations, mood and anxiety disorders, personality disorders, grief and loss, family-based therapy, EMDR, MBT, DBT, Schema Therapy, and holistic approaches that integrate body-based and mindfulness principles.