Psych for Life with Dr. Amanda Ferguson

We are all familiar with the many difficulties and disasters that can happen when dating...from picking the wrong type, rushing intimacy, feeling unlovable or wondering if Mr or Ms Right will ever appear. For many – it just happens – for others … they may need to make it happen So in this power ep of Psych for Life you’ll learn:- the timeless things about dating – that actually work - why separati...

In this episode, I’m joined by Janice Newnham. Janice is a veterinarian by profession but a farmer, wife, and mother by passion. She and her husband, Robert, operate an Angus cattle farm in a picturesque valley in Walwa, in the Upper Murray of Victoria, Australia. The Newnhams are also communityadvocates and volunteers. The Australian 2019/20 Black Summer Fires devastated the Upper Murray and the...

In this episode, I welcome strategist, Brad Axelrad. Brad’s been an event producer, consultant, strategist and podcast host, producing over 150 live events with top business leaders and best-selling authors. He supports coaches, entrepreneurs, and consultants, to create the business that sets them free to live a life of fulfillment and truth. On his Face Your Dragon Podcast Brad interviews celebri...

There is a lot of focus on the joy and gains of motherhood – however, with all the focus on what a woman gains when baby arrives, it’s easy to forget what they may lose – in particular the loss of a sense of self. The focus often stays on the baby rather than the woman and how to care for her after baby and her developmental issues. So in this episode you'll learn about:·  Matrescence - what...

In this episode, I welcome back cognitive neuroscientist, Professor Mark Williams to chat about his fascinating new book, The Connected Species - How the evolution of the human brain can save the world. This book is a compelling read, with wise and reassuring guidance and an essential guide for all of us in this time – showing how we evolved to our current position and how we can best navigate our...

People often ask me, if you’re in a serious relationship - what are the rules? What’s right and what’s wrong? What’s acceptable behaviour and what is not? Micro cheating can be considered the small harmless things people do that have the potential to cultivate emotional intimacy outside their relationship —without ever physically crossing a line. So in this episode I'll discuss all things mic...

In this episode, I welcome back Ian Westmoreland, founder of Mentoring Men, to talk about his new passion project, the podcast Kintsugi Heroes. This podcast aims to share how those major moments of challenge we face can change the course of our life, making it even more beautiful and fulfilling than ever before. Listen in to hear -- What is Kintsugi - Why the Kintsugi Heroes podcast is a passion p...

You know that negative - often damning - voice inside your head? The one that says...you’re not good enough, you don’t deserve that, you’ll never get there! It's often referred to as our negative ego or inner critic. So where does it come from? What’s it all about? Is it ever a good thing? How do we know? What do we do if it’s clearly holding us back? In this power ep you’ll learn answers to...

In this episode, I chat with Stuart Clark, educator and head of campus (Vision Valley) at Pymble Ladies' College. Stuart has been involved in the education sector for more than 25 years. He’s worked in outdoor, classroom, and adult education, as well as in educational leadership. He holds numerous qualifications, including Master of Teaching and Master of Education degrees. The Residential Pr...

Do you sometimes wish you were more confident? Is there an area of your life where you struggle? In this Psych for Life quick power hit ep, I discuss the internal-external conundrum of building confidence. So if you're keen to understand how confidence is built both internally and externally, and would like some tips to make it happen, pop this ep on now. If you enjoy listening to this podcas...

In this episode, I welcome back Sarah Rusbatch, a certified Women's Health and Wellbeing Coach, accredited Grey Area Drinking Coach and Key-Note speaker sharing her journey to Sobriety and impact of alcohol on mental health to global audiences. She is also the face behind Perth’s growing Alcohol-Free Movement. Listen in to hear -- Why alcohol and sex is a complex relationship- Does alcohol im...

We're all familiar with stress - especially big life stressors - moving house, relationship breakdown, grief and loss, illness, job issues. However, what impact do the little, seemingly insignificant stressors we experience have on us? Microstress, as it is known, can have a snowball effect, impacting our personal and professional lives and, as a result, negatively affecting wellbeing - both...

In this episode, I chat with holistic psychotherapist, Christie Little and somatic psychotherapist, Rob Engels, about the power of nature in healing. More than ever in our fast paced society, we have become disconnected from nature, oftentimes prioritising the convenience and speed of connection via technology over time spent outdoors. So dive in to hear our thought provoking discussion on:- How i...

Think back to a time you strived for the perfect result - maybe in an assignment, exam or work project – did you achieve perfection or was close enough good enough? How did it make you feel? Whilst a little perfectionism can be healthy and help us strive to go the extra mile, too much can have the opposite effect, resulting in imbalance and sometimes unhealthy or unsustainable behaviours. So in th...

In this episode, I chat with Clinical Psychologists, Kaye Frankcom and Dr, Aaron Frost about how to find a good psychologist and how to be one. Their recently released book, Creating Impact:the four pillars of private psychology practice, is a comprehensive guide to building the psychology practice of your dreams in a complex, volatile and uncertain future. Kaye is a Clinical and Counselling Psych...

The world seems to be speeding up in time and keeping us busy and distracted. Increasingly, people are suffering from stress and overwhelm as a result. Many of us need to retrain ourselves to stop when we can – and resist filling every space or time in the day and night with activity. So in this podcast you’ll learn:- The importance of not automatically filling space- How being in charge of our ow...

In this episode, I chat with Jane Caro, a feminist social commentator, writer and lecturer based in Australia. Jane is a Member of the Order of Australia (AM), Walkley award winner, and author of bestseller 'The Mother', a domestic thriller. Listen in to hear our lively and wide ranging chat on:Gender inequality and its impact on society todayCoercive control in relationships and what to...

We can all remember a time when a person or situation hurt us. The emotional pain we feel is in proportion to a lack of understanding – this means when we’re plunged into pain we are typically in shock, confused and have a lot to think through and to comprehend. As we do this, the pain subsides. However, if we get stuck in pain, it's usually because we can’t understand or accept what’s happen...

In this episode, I chat with Diana Morgan, AM - one of our most respected and highly contributing senior stateswomen, living in Melbourne, Australia. Diana is an author of several books, with a long interest and service to the arts. Diana suffered the loss of a loving husband many years ago to cancer and then - 10 years later – the unexpected deaths of two of her four adult children – in separate...

If we are to undertake anything in life – personally or professionally – we will always inevitably encounter failure. If we don’t undertake anything – we are also failing – failing to live, grow and learn. Failing to be happy and fulfilled. So the reality is, we actually can’t avoid failure. In fact - we only get to choose which way to fail – by attempting and doing things - or by not attempting a...

In this episode, I chat with Dr Suzy Green – who is a Clinical and Coaching Psychologist and Founder & CEO of The Positivity Institute, a Sydney-based organisation dedicated to the research and application of the science of optimal human functioning. Suzy is a leader in the complementary fields of Coaching Psychology and Positive Psychology. Listen in to hear -- What is positivity and why it&a...

Working from home or other remote places can bring so many benefits – flexibility, less time and money lost in commuting, and potentially better work-life balance. However, what about the challenges, negatives – and even deficits this creates in our lives? Whilst we may be more connected than ever via tech, we are less connected socially than ever. As fundamentally social beings - most of the stru...

Procrastination...we are all guilty of it at some point. It is usually very frustrating and for some, can be extremely debilitating. When struggling with procrastination, people usually think they need to be harsher with themselves. They try to force or push themselves, get angry with themselves and end up going around in circles : from telling themselves a lot of "should’s" - to doing n...

We all love chemistry – right? It’s a spark, a buzz, it's exciting and makes you feel alive! But… just as chemistry is a spontaneous, magical and unpredictable experience – it is far from simple. And actually has a dark side. So this podcast explores human attraction and the dark side of chemistry. Dive in to hear -- What’s behind the mysterious chemistry of human attraction- Why some chemist...

In this episode, I chat with clinical psychologist, Sally-Anne McCormack. Sally-Anne is the author of two books - "Stomp Out The ANTs - Automatic Negative Thoughts" and "Living With ANTs", is the mother of 4 children and runs a psychology practice in Melbourne, Australia with a particular interest in child and adolescent mental health. Listen in to hear -- how to understand the...