Better Thinking

In this episode of Better Thinking, Nesh Nikolic speaks with Carlos Turini about why mediation is a smart alternative to resolving family disputes and how to prepare for mediation. Carlos Turini is an accredited specialist in family law, nationally accredited mediator and part of the Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee for the ACT Law Society. With his extensive experience and knowledge of Fa...

In this episode of Better Thinking, Nesh Nikolic speaks with Jacki Short about the benefits of play therapy when working with children.  Jacki Short is the owner and director of Sydney Centre for Creative Change. She is a registered counselling psychologist, play therapist and supervisor with over 25 years of clinical experience with children, young people and adults. Her work involves counse...

In this episode of Better Thinking, Nesh Nikolic speaks with Dr John Gray about what’s changed in relationships since Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus was released almost 30 years ago. Dr John Gray is the author of the most well-known and trusted relationship book of all time, Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus . USA Today listed his book as one of the top 10 most influential boo...

In this episode of Better Thinking, Nesh Nikolic speaks with Travis Rieder, PhD, about his struggle with prescription opioid withdrawal after a motorcycle accident. Although Travis had access to world-leading doctors and a supportive partner, going through withdrawal took his thoughts to dark and dangerous places. Travis Rieder, PhD, is a faculty member at the Johns Hopkins Berman Institute of Bio...

In this episode of Better Thinking, Nesh Nikolic speaks with Danny Shannon about life after addiction, his work in helping others through their addiction journey, and his transition into entrepreneurship with Encapsulator. Danny Shannon is the founder of Encapsulator , an app for securely recording your future hopes, dreams and aspirations, into a time-locked vault to be discovered at a later date...

In this episode of Better Thinking, Nesh Nikolic speaks with Danny Shannon about his life as a heroin addict and the journey to recovery. Danny Shannon is the founder of Encapsulator , an app for securely recording your future hopes, dreams and aspirations, into a time-locked vault to be discovered at a later date. Danny is also a recovering addict who has not had a drink or a drug since the 15th...

In this episode of the Better Thinking podcast, Nesh Nikolic speaks with Dr Steven Hayes about his new book, A Liberated Mind: How to Pivot Toward What Matters, and applications of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy in modern society. Dr Steven C. Hayes is Nevada Foundation Professor in the Behavior Analysis program at the Department of Psychology at the University of Nevada. An author of 44 books...

In this episode of the Better Thinking podcast, Nesh Nikolic speaks with Dr Richard N. Landers about artificial intelligence, game-thinking, privacy and how data is used in organisational psychology. Dr Richard N. Landers is an Associate Professor of Psychology at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, MN, USA. He is also holder of the John P. Campbell Distinguished Professorship of Industria...

In this episode of the Better Thinking podcast, Nesh Nikolic speaks with John Flanagan on infidelity: how it begins, how it progresses and, most importantly, how to recover from an affair. John Flanagan was the first social worker in Australia to become a Gottman Therapist and along with Trish Purnell-Webb, are still the only Australians to hold the title of Certified Gottman Marital Therapist, Ma...

In this episode of the Better Thinking podcast, Nesh Nikolic speaks with Glen Tanner, a clinical psychologist registrar, about his beginnings into a career in psychology. Glen Tanner recently graduated from Western Sydney University with a Master of Clinical Psychology. Since graduating, Glen has relocated to Newcastle, and is working as a psychologist in a bustling private practice. Glen has a sp...

In this episode of Better Thinking, Nesh Nikolic speaks with Dr Bruno Cayoun about research of Mindfulness-integrated Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (MiCBT) and its application in clinical and private settings. Dr Bruno Cayoun is a Clinical Psychologist and principal developer of Mindfulness-integrated Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (MiCBT). He is Director of the MiCBT Institute, a leading provider of M...

In this episode of the Better Thinking podcast, Nesh Nikolic speaks with Kym Robinson about modern-day challenges in the bedroom techniques for rebooting your sex life. Kym Robinson began her career as a Registered Nurse (RN) and completed her bachelor of nursing at the University of Canberra. She combines more than 15 years’ experience working both locally and internationally with a Master&...

In this episode of the Better Thinking podcast, Nesh Nikolic speaks with ACT Minister for Mental Health, Shane Rattenbury, about mental health services and how politics works to improve policy and implementation. Shane Rattenbury is the Minister for Mental Health and Minister for Climate Change and Sustainability. Since he was first elected in 2008, he has promoted important issues including clean...

In this episode of the Better Thinking podcast, Nesh Nikolic speaks with Trish Purnell-Webb about practical strategies that go to the heart of what makes relationships strong, meaningful and connected. Trish Purnell-Webb is a Clinical Psychologist and Certified Gottman Marital Therapist, Master Trainer and Consultant. Trish and her business partner, John Flanagan, founded Relationship Institute Au...

In this episode of the Better Thinking podcast, Nesh Nikolic speaks with Professor Joseph Ciarrochi about aggressive versus pro-social behaviour and the benefits of being anti-social. Joseph Ciarrochi, PhD , is a professor at the Institute of Positive Psychology and Education at the Australian Catholic University. He has published over 100 scientific journal articles and many books, including the...

In this episode of the Better Thinking podcast, Nesh Nikolic speaks with Randolph Sparks about effective pain management treatments. Randolph explains why pain is necessary for survival, how the brain receives signals and interesting experiments in pain management. Randolph Sparks is a clinical psychologist and runs a successful private practice in Canberra, Top Psychology. He completed his clinic...

In this episode of the Better Thinking podcast, Nesh Nikolic speaks with Professor Bruce Stevens about his life in forensic psychology. The discussion ranges from treating murderers and psychopaths to schema therapy for couples.  Professor Bruce Stevens obtained his PhD at Boston University in 1987. He is Wicking Professor of Aging and Practical Theology at Charles Sturt University and was pr...

In this episode of the Better Thinking podcast, Nesh Nikolic speaks with Anya Aidman on family separation, coparenting, domestic violence, spousal maintenance and stories of the good, the bad and the ugly of separation. Anya Aidman is a qualified Independent Children’s Lawyer specializing in working with families going through separation. She completed Master of Laws at the Australian Nation...

In this mini episode of the Better Thinking podcast, Nesh Nikolic answers Dr Antonio Di Dio’s question on how he works with clients and their symptoms. "I don't care for symptom reduction because a lot of what we experience in life will never go away." – Nesh Nikolic See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of the Better Thinking podcast, Nesh Nikolic speaks with Dr Antonio Di Dio about mental health, hospital beds and acute care in Australia's capital. Dr Antonio Di Dio is the Australian Medical Association's ACT branch president and general practitioner in his Canberra-based private practice. He is actively involved in helping medical practitioners and government entities to work cl...

In this episode of the Better Thinking podcast, Nesh Nikolic speaks with Rachel Menzie about death anxiety and links to mental health disorders. Rachel Menzies is a registered psychologist and lead editor of the book Curing the Dread of Death: Theory, Research and Practice, published by Australian Academic Press in 2018. She has published extensively on the causes of various disorders, including d...

In this episode of the Better Thinking podcast, Nesh Nikolic speaks with Dr Richard Humle about treating complex trauma using Schema Therapy and Mindfulness-integrated Cognitive Behaviour Therapy. Dr Richard Humle is a clinical psychologist with experience in working with a broad range of psychological challenges including trauma, substance-related and addiction challenges, depression and bipolar...

In this episode of the Better Thinking podcast, Nesh Nikolic speaks with NeLi Martin about the relationship and integration of yoga, mindfulness and psychology. NeLi Martin is a psychologist in private practice based in Noosa, Australia. She uses mindfulness and evidence-based interventions in her clinical work. She also teaches yoga, dance and meditation, with a focus on integrating body and mind...

In this episode of the Better Thinking podcast, Nesh Nikolic speaks with Gregg Chapman about the Gottman Method approach to relationship counselling. Gregg Chapman is a psychologist with 38 years of experience working with children, adolescents, adults and couples. He previously worked as a teacher and school counsellor in primary and secondary schools and was a specialist Regional Assessment Scho...

In this episode of the Better Thinking podcast, Nesh Nikolic speaks with Dr Kylie King about ABC’s ‘Man Up’ documentary, masculinity and suicide rates in Australia. Kylie King is a research fellow at the Centre for Mental Health in the Melbourne School of Population and Global Health at the University of Melbourne. She is also a psychologist. Her research focuses on male mental h...