About
Dr Alex Bowden is a specialist psychiatrist and psychotherapist working from Cairns. Dr Bowden provides specialist outpatient psychiatric care and individual psychotherapy.
Dr Bowden grew up in Townsville and attended medical school at James Cook University in Cairns. He initially trained in General Practice, obtained fellowship and worked as a GP for several years. He developed a particular interest in mental healthcare while working in general practice, and subsequently decided to retrain in psychiatry. After a period living in Melbourne, Dr Bowden returned to Far North Queensland for the lifestyle and community spirit.
Dr Bowden completed his specialist psychiatric training across both Melbourne and Far North Queensland. He brings a breadth of experience from work in major metropolitan hospitals and quaternary referral services to remote psychiatry practiced in Cape York. Dr Bowden has special interests in complex trauma and has undertaken additional training in this field. He also has an interest in functional disorders and medically unexplained illnesses. Dr Bowden also has sub-specialist experience in the assessment of neurodevelopmental disorders, having worked within the neurodevelopmental disorders service at Orygen in Victoria.
Dr Bowden has been practicing as a psychotherapist since 2020. He has been an accredited Eye Movement Desensitisation Reprocessing (EMDR) therapist since 2020 and is currently completing further advanced advanced training in individual psychodynamic therapies.
Approach & Ethos
Dr Bowden's care places the relationship between the doctor or therapist and patient at the centre, with a strong alliance built on curiosity, mutual understanding and shared goals. Dr Bowden places an emphasis on providing compassionate, holistic care that addresses all parts of mental health, including biological interventions, psychological therapies and addressing your unique social circumstances.
Dr Bowden also brings a wealth of experience from his experience as a general practitioner to his psychiatric care. His care emphasises the bidirectional relationship between physical and mental health.
Professional Qualifications
Bachelor of Medicine Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) with Honours
Master of Psychiatry
Fellow of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners
Fellow of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists
Full Member of EMDR Association of Australia (EMDRAA)