Mental Work

Bron is joined by Dr Averil Cook (Clinical Psychologist) to unpack the dilemma of how to actually be culturally competent in the therapy space. They talk about 👉🏽 What cultural competence is and why it's essential for early career psychs 👉🏻 How to go about gaining competence in this area, especially with Indigenous Australians 👉 'Decolonising' psychology 👉🏿 Do's and don'ts for cultural comp...

Bron is joined by Neeraja Shankar (Clinical Psychology Trainee/PhD Candidate) to unpack whether the undergraduate psychology degree really prepares us for being a new psychologist. We talk about 👉🏽 the skills needed to enter the psych workforce 👉🏻 the skills the psych bachelor degree provides 👉 Gaps in practical learning and how we can address them 👉🏿 Surviving after your undergrad degree. ...

Bron unpacks the common dilemma of ending sessions on time (like, everyone struggles with this one!). She talks about: 👉🏽 Excellent reasons to end sessions on time 👉🏻 Client-related reasons sessions go over and what to do 👉🏿 Practitioner-related reasons sessions go over and what to do Mental Work is hosted by Dr Bronwyn Milkins, an Australian-based early career psychologist. The clock I use...

Bron is joined by psychologist Eloise Tomkins to unpack how to return to mental health work after experiencing burnout. They chat about: 👉🏽 What burnout is & its impact on early-career psychs 👉🏻 Recovering from burnout 👉 How paying attention to dissatisfaction and interests led Eloise to want to see clients who are looking to grow but aren't necessarily unwell Mental Work is hosted by Dr...

Bron is joined by psychologist and AAPi director Carly Dober to unpack the challenge of workplace exploitation. They discuss 👉🏽 How to recognise exploitation using Carly's experiences 👉🏻 Characteristics that increase early career psychs' vulnerability to exploitation 👉 What to do if you are unsure about an offer or workplace.  Mental Work is hosted by Dr Bronwyn Milkins, an Australian-based e...

Bron is joined again by Sahra O'Doherty, psychologist and director for the Australian Association of Psychologists Inc (AAPI), to unpack the issues facing the psychology profession in Australia with a special focus (as always) on the ones facing early-career psychologists that need to be talked about. We unpack 👉🏽 the two-tier system and its consequences for the profession and our clients 👉🏻 t...

Bron is joined by Provisional Psychologist Betty to unpack her psychologist journey: the highs, the lows, what's helped, what hasn't helped, and how she's getting by in this challenging phase in one piece amidst some significant life upheavals. Betty is an insightful and inspiring individual who I reckon you will love listening to! Mental Work is hosted by Dr Bronwyn Milkins. Do you have an early-...

Psychology has traditionally focused on diagnosing mental distress in individuals, but with issues like climate change, racial injustice, and inequitable access to healthcare having an undeniable impact on the mental wellbeing of communities, how can early-career psychs update our professional identities? Today, Bron is joined by Sahra O'Doherty, psychologist and director for the Australian Associ...

Bron is joined by Psychologist Belinda Radnidge to unpack what to do when you've worked your butt off to get qualified only to discover that doing therapy all day isn't actually your jam. In this reassuring ep Belinda and Bron discuss 👉🏽 signs that client-facing work really isn't for you vs you're experiencing a confidence dip 👉🏻 career alternatives in psychology (there's heaps!) 👉 how to get...

Bron is joined by Clinical Psychologist Dr Catherine Hart to unpack contracting work. Our popular Season 1 ep with Catherine focused on what contractors can expect salary-wise, and this time around we are focusing on how to work out whether your contracting arrangement is more like an employee relationship, why this matters, and what to do if you suspect your working arrangement isn't all that fai...

Bron is joined by Psychologist Ceara Rickard to unpack how to manage sudden illness when you also have an active therapy caseload. We talk about 👉🏽 Ceara's personal experiences with illness 👉🏻 How Ceara navigated disclosure with her clients 👉 What helped Ceara the most during the early stages of diagnosis and treatment 👉🏿 What her job looks like now.  Mental Work is hosted by Dr Bronwyn Mil...

Bron unpacks how ADHD shows up in her work as an early-career psychologist. She talks about 👉🏽 Challenges that ADHDers can face at work 💪 Strengths that ADHD practitioners bring to their work 👉 Ways ADHDers can modify their work environment to suit their neurotype. Even if you do not have ADHD yourself, listen in to better understand your ADHD colleagues and your own executive strengths and we...

Bron is joined by Clinical Psychologist Dr Emma DeCicco to unpack what goes into building a workplace that ACTUALLY works for early career psychologists. They talk about 👉🏽 the challenging landscape that early-career psychs are currently facing 👉 core emotional needs of early-career psychs 👉🏿 ways that workplaces can reduce burnout 👉🏾 finding a workplace that works for you!  Mental Work is...

Bron is joined by Clinical and Forensic Psychologist Kirstin Bouse to unpack the needs of early career therapists. We talk about 👉🏽 "Maslow's hierarchy of early-career needs" 👉🏻 the basics of business that early career therapists need to understand 👉 signs you're in a crappy workplace and how to get out 👉🏿 why personal development is essential for early career therapists.  Mental Work is ho...

Hosted by Dr Bronwyn Milkins, Mental Work is the Australian podcast unpacking the challenges faced by early-career psychologists, so they don't have to go it alone. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

IT'S THE END OF SEASON 1! 🎉 Bron reflects on the season, gives a sneak peek into what's coming up in Season 2, and does a deep-dive into her motivation for starting the podcast. Thanks so much to everyone who has listened, shared, reviewed, joined the Patreon, bought me a virtual coffee (links below), and sent me a kind message or email. Your time and generosity is valued and appreciated 💖 Menta...

Bron unpacks the dilemma of setting limits with clients, especially in relation to charging cancellation fees! She talks about 👉🏽 why we find it hard to set limits with clients 👉🏻 tips for setting limits, especially with cancellation fees 👉 how to have a helpful mindset to help you set limits. Mental Work is hosted by Dr Bronwyn Milkins, an early-career psychologist. THE END BITS Thanks so mu...

Bron is joined by Clinical Psychologist Rebecca Cuskelly to unpack the unique feeling of isolation among mental health professionals. Rebecca and Bron chat about 👉🏽 What professional isolation feels like and the impact on our work 👉🏻 Ways to reduce professional isolation 👉 Ways that your employer should be helping you with reducing professional isolation 👉🏾 The benefits of working in a mult...

Ever thought about how much you could make in private practice? Then this is the episode for you. Bron is joined by finance nerd Michael to unpack the reality of earnings in private practice, using Bron's first year as the case study. Bron and Michael discuss 👉🏽 My earnings (actual $$ amounts!) and ways to increase earnings in private practice 👉🏻 My expenses and what cost the most 👉 Ways to r...

Bron is joined by Clinical Psychologist Dr Catherine Hart to unpack salary expectations and contracting in private practice. Bron & Catherine talk about 👉🏽 Getting realistic with earnings in private practice 👉 The difference between an employee vs contractor 👉🏻 Things to think about if you're considering contracting. Mental Work is hosted by Dr Bronwyn Milkins, an early-career psychologis...

If you're a Helping Professional you're supposed to be helping people, right? So what happens when you feel like you're not helping anyone. Bron unpacks what to do when you're struggling with self-doubt. She talks about 👉🏽 What the research says about professional self-doubt and client outcomes 👉🏻 How to get a reality check on your self-doubt 👉 Using progress measures 👉🏿 Getting feedback fr...

Bron is joined by Clinical Psychologist Nicole Withers to unpack all things group private practice. Bron & Nicole talk about 👉🏽 Different ways to work for a group private practice - employee, contractor, or room hire arrangement 👉🏻 Points of negotiation with practice owners 👉🏾 Ways group practices can reduce isolation and burnout 👉 How to work out if a group practice is a good fit for *...

Bron unpacks what to do when all the clients cancel. She talks about 👉🏽 what it feels like when clients cancel 👉🏻 therapy and non-therapy reasons why clients cancel 👉 practical ways to minimise client cancellations.  Mental Work is hosted by Dr Bronwyn Milkins, an early-career psychologist. THE END BITS Thanks so much for listening. Mental Work is the podcast for early-career mental health pr...

You're a newly minted, fully qualified mental health professional. You set off to get a job in the field... except employers don't want your qualification, they want a different one. Bron unpacks the dilemma of what to do if you're faced with this situation. She talks about 👉🏽 asking yourself what you really want in your mental health career 👉🏻 reasons to go back to uni 👉 reasons to create yo...

Bron unpacks the dilemma of when your client wants to be friends with you (their therapist) and vice versa. She talks about 👉🏽 what a therapeutic relationship is vs a friendship 👉🏻 signs that a client wants to be your friend 👉 what to do if you want to be friends with your client 👉🏿 ways to think about why it's important to maintain a professional relationship.  Mental Work is hosted by Dr...