Mental Work

Bron and Marie talk about the pressure some solo private practitioners feel to start a group practice. Bron and Marie talk about wise and not-so-wise reasons to become a group practice owner, the importance of having an entrepreneurial mindset, dealing with financial insecurity and the importance of business coaching. Marie shares her own journey from solo to group practice owner, and Bron shares...

Bron and Jordan talk about everything educational and developmental psychology! We chat about how ed/dev psychologists apply psychological principles to enhance learning across the lifespan and Jordan's passion for supporting neurodivergent and gifted/twice-exceptional folks. We also get real about some of the challenges of ed/dev psychology, including the financial burdens of the registrar progra...

Mindfulness is one approach that therapists often recommend to clients but might not embrace for themselves. Matthew was kind enough to come on the pod to chat about what mindfulness is and how a regular practise can help us as therapists. Matthew shares his journey from skeptic to mindfulness-embracer, and offers practical advice for therapists interested in giving mindfulness a go. Listen in for...

It's a listener story!! 😍 Bron is joined by Kaedee who generously shares their journey to registration while managing complex chronic health conditions and working with a visible aid. Kaedee shares personal experiences of living with Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, gastric dysmotility, and other health issues, discussing the impact on their career and identity. We talk about self-disclosure and the need...

It's a listener story, wahooo! 🤩⭐ Bron is joined by Fabian, a newly registered psychologist (congrats Fabian!) who talks about his journey towards registration and the valuable lessons learned along the way. Fabian shares what it was like to study psychology internationally, their work in gender-affirming therapy 🏳️‍⚧️, overcoming imposter syndrome, balancing academic and work life, and his futu...

Want to get your client off to a good start in therapy but feeling lost? Bron and Marie talk about how to nail these crucial sessions. We cover 👉🏽 Setting expectations 👉🏿 Creating safety and hope 👉 Talking to clients about their goals, strengths, and learning styles 👉🏻 The importance of clear admin processes. Guest: Marie Vakakis, Accredited Mental Health Social Worker (MHSW), and Family &a...

Bron and Dr Catherine Hynes (Clinical Psychologist and EMDR Consultant) cover the essentials of complex trauma. They chat about 👉🏽 Understanding and formulating complex trauma 👉🏻 The differences between PTSD and complex PTSD 👉 Strategies for creating a safe therapeutic space for clients 👉🏿 Managing vicarious trauma as a therapist 👉🏾 Catherine's preferred therapeutic methods for complex tr...

Mental Work is on a short break and will be back soon! 🌈🌴 In the meantime, please enjoy this verrrry popular previous episode which has been polished up to improve the sound and editing! The original episode was released 31/8/2023. == SHOW NOTES == Bron and Emma unpack how to adapt therapy to neurodivergent clients, using Schema Therapy as the example. They chat about: 👉🏽 The new Schema Therap...

Hey Mental Workers! Just letting you know that the podcast is on break 🌴🌊 and we'll have new episodes for you later in the year. Take it easy and make sure you 'Follow' the podcast on Spotify or in your podcast app so you don't miss new episodes when they drop! Thanks HEAPS for listening! 😊 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bron and Matt chat about the challenge of maintaining boundaries when family and friends seek therapeutic advice. We explore: 👉🏽 differences between professional and personal roles 👉🏻 what to do when you're tempted to give therapy advice 👉 practical boundary-setting strategies 👉🏿 how therapist training can change our personal interactions. Matthew's humour and authenticity shines through in...

In line with Mental Work's aim to shine a light on the important yet under-discussed aspects of being an early-career psychologist, Bron shares the lessons she has learned from a complaint received two years ago. She outlines key knowledge gaps in the hopes that others can avoid her missteps, including understanding transference and countertransference, the impact of personal history and neurodive...

Bron and Daniela chat about the value of knowing your own stuff when you're a therapist. We explore 👉🏿 why therapists need to engage in their own self-reflection 👉 debunk myths around therapists doing inner work 👉🏾 share practical tips for integrating self-awareness and self-care into practice. Daniela is such an insightful and joyful guest so I know you'll love listening to this one! Guest:...

Bron chats with Danielle about the ups and downs of her journey towards registration, her passion for equine therapy and holistic approach to healing 🐎, and her transition into solo private practice. Danielle also talks what it felt like to receive an AHPRA complaint as a provisional psychologist and what helped her through the process. This was a fantastic, uplifting chat that you definitely won...

Bron and Carollyne unpack how complaints about psychologists are managed by AHPRA and the Psychology Board of Australia. We chat about how notifications are initiated, common complaints, the aims of the complaints process, and how to minimise the risk of receiving a complaint. We round off with some practical tips and emphasise the importance of social and professional support if you have received...

Recent studies have found that up to 62% of counselling professionals are receiving harmful supervision... but no-one is talking about it. In this episode, Bron unpacks what harmful supervision is, its impact on supervisee wellbeing and professional development, and what to do if you're receiving harmful supervision. Bron also discusses how to recognise inadequate vs harmful vs helpful supervision...

Bron and Marie chat about working well with couples on common issues like sexual desire discrepancies, communication, and conflict. Marie shares her approach to using the Gottman method for assessment and intervention, stressing the need for balancing conflict resolution with positive interactions. They also chat about 👉🏽 handling countertransference 👉🏻 Challenges of retention in couples thera...

Bron and Daniela chat about the pressure🔥 and process to become certified or accredited in a particular therapy like Schema, IFS, or EMDR. Daniela shares her experiences with schema therapy certification, including the benefits as well as the time and financial commitments. We also chat about how to decide if certification is right for you and some more ~taboo~ topics, like, 'Does certification g...

Bron and Amy discuss Amy's career journey as a forensic psychologist. We chat about 👉🏽 What forensic psychology is and how to become a forensic psychologist 👉🏻 Motivations behind criminal behaviour 👉 Challenges and rewards of working with clients who have committed a crime 👉🏿 Misconceptions about forensic psychology and criminal populations. Guest: Amy Brandler, Forensic Psychologist and Di...

Bron and Matthew chat about career opportunities in psychology beyond the therapy chair and, if you're already a qualified psychologist, beyond completing the Registrar program. We refer to ✨shiny✨ new research from researchers at the University of Canberra and the Australian National University showing that the skills gained during a psychology degree are in-demand across a range of industries...

Bron and Phoebe chat about how to help clients have healthy romantic relationships and develop a secure attachment style. Phoebe tells us about her additional postgrad training in relationship counselling, how therapy has been essential to her personal growth, and how she went about setting up an online group therapy program. Guest: Phoebe Rogers, Clinical Psychologist and Women's Dating and Relat...

Bron and Jordan chat about how to know if private practice is for you, and if you are ready for this big step! We discuss the financial aspects, practical skills needed, and the importance of good work-life boundaries. Jordan shares her recent journey of moving from group to solo practice, and Bron offers her perspective from the past three years of being a solo private practitioner. Enjoy! Guest:...

Bron and Kate chat about the challenges and rewards of working therapeutically with children under the age of 10. 👉🏼 Kate shares her journey into child psychology 👉🏾 Innovative therapeutic techniques such as Lego therapy 👉🏿 How to maintain boundaries and confidentiality in sensitive family situations 👉 The importance of liking and understanding children 👉🏻 Practical advice for early-caree...

Bron and Brede chat about MUSIC THERAPY! 🎶 We discuss 👉🏽 Who music therapy can help 👉🏻 How creativity is therapeutic 👉 How to become a Registered Music Therapist 👉🏿 Common misconceptions about music therapy aaand 👉🏾 Practical advice for psychologists interested in incorporating music into their therapeutic practices. Guest: Brede Davis , Registered Music Therapist & Co-Chair of the A...

Bron and Marie explore how to work effectively with teenage clients. We cover 👉🏽 The importance of getting to the root cause of behaviours like vaping or excessive phone-use 👉🏻 Managing parents' expectations 👉 Ethical complexities when working with young people 👉🏿 TikTok self-diagnosis 👉🏾 Ways to build rapport with teens. I learned HEAPS when recording this ep, and I hope you do too! Gues...

Bron and Rebecca explore all things joy, play, and fun! They chat about the importance of joy for sustainability in our careers, the common challenges of therapist schemas like self-sacrifice and unrelenting standards, and practical ways that therapists can bring joy into their work to keep burnout at bay. This was a delightful chat and I definitely felt ready to make more space for joy and play i...