Mental Work

Bron is joined by Karen Knight and Courtney McKee, two experienced psychologists with lived experience of blindness. We dive into 👉 their personal journey with psychology, including their passions, the challenges, and the opportunities for psychologists living with disability 👉🏽 accessibility, technology, and advocacy 👉🏿 the strengths and unique perspectives they bring to their work. The epis...

Bron chats with Georgina about her journey of gaining her psychologist registration in Australia before moving to the UK. We chat about the differences between healthcare systems in Aus and the UK, the challenges and rewards of working internationally, managing imposter syndrome, and the benefits of diverse career experiences. This was a fantastic chat which I think our early-career listeners will...

Bron and Danielle dive into animal assisted therapy! Danielle tells us how animals, especially dogs, can be integrated into therapy to support psychological treatment. Danielle shares her journey into animal assisted therapy, the science behind it, and its benefits for both children and adults, especially those with trauma histories. We also cover practical aspects of implementing animal assisted...

As mental health workers, we are so used to giving to others that our own needs can be neglected, especially our physical health. In this episode, exercise physiologist Jamie tells us about how to keep physically healthy, including 👉 myths around 'correct' posture 👉🏿 the role of incidental exercise 👉🏽 integrating movement into a busy workday 👉🏼 and BONUS! Jamie chats about the positives and...

Bron and Sam chat about how to work well with clients who come to therapy with religious trauma. They chat about 👉🏽 Sam's experience and passion for this area 👉 Therapeutic approaches for religious trauma 👉🏿 Balancing respecting clients' beliefs and addressing harm 👉🏾 Misconceptions and biases therapists may have 👉🏻 supporting LGBTQIA+ people. This was a deeply engaging chat -- I learned...

Bron and Shane (Community Psychologist) dive into Community Psychology! We talk about 👉🏽 the role and functions of community psychologists 👉🏻 the discipline's focus on addressing societal and systemic issues 👉 Shane's personal journey and experiences within the profession 👉🏿 the decreasing number of community psychologists in Australia 👉🏾 the integration of political and social advocacy w...

Bron and James talk about organisational psychology! We cover how org psychs apply psychological principles in the workplace, the differences between org psychs and HR managers, and what jobs are available in org psych. We also touch on portfolio careers, psychosocial hazards, and how to get involved in org psych. Thanks for the very interesting insight into this fascinating field, James! Guest: J...

Writing a good case report is an essential skill for mental health workers but it's a hard one to master! Annie Slater has seen  so many case reports in her role as Director of the Provisional Psychologist Network and knows exactly what makes a great case report. In this ep, she describes the common mistakes she sees, essential tips, resources for improving the process, and how to make the task mo...

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...