The Thinking Mind Podcast: Psychiatry & Psychotherapy

Dr. Rebecca Lawrence is an addictions psychiatrist and blogger.  On her blog doctor-and-patient.com she writes about the challenges of working in mental health whilst also having a diagnosis of bipolar disorder. On this episode she discusses being both a doctor and a patient, receiving treatment for her condition with both medications (such as Lithium) and ECT (electro-convulsive therapy).  Interv...

Alex chats with Dr Julian-Pascal Saadi about tribalism, therapy, cognitive dissonance and many other topics in the first in-person ML podcast since the pandemic began.  Dr Julian-Pascal Saadi is a Counselling Psychologist working within the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust. Alongside his clinical work, he has a special interest in critical psychology and the philosophies underpinning...

Robert Plomin is MRC Research Professor in Behavioural Genetics at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London. He is the author of the book Blueprint: How DNA Makes us Who We Are. In this episode we discuss the genetics behind personality, psychopathology and many of the other factors that make us who we are, as well as Robert's thoughts on the DNA revolut...

In this upcoming interview Alex talks to Robert Plomin about the the genetic influences of psychological traits, the DNA revolution and much more. Robert Plomin is MRC Research Professor in Behavioural Genetics at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London. He is the author of the book Blueprint: How DNA Makes us Who We Are Interviewed by Dr. Alex Curmi - Give...

Alex chats about DBT with Michelle Batcock, an Accredited DBT Therapist & Member of the Board of Accreditation for the Society for DBT. DBT is a modified form of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy with pronounced influence fom Zen Buddhist ideas.  In this episode they discuss:  - What DBT is  - How it can help people  - How it can help the therapist as much as the client  - The difference between pai...

How should we think about our emotions? What purpose do they serve? In this podcast we examine 9 common Emotions:  Sadness, Anger, Disgust, Joy, Love, Fear, Guilt, Shame and Regret. We also discuss some factors that modify our emotions as well as the basics of emotional intelligence.   Audio-essay by Dr. Alex Curmi. Dr. Curmi is a specialist registrar in General Adult psychiatry in the South Londo...

Dr. Adrian James is the President of the Royal College of Psychiatrists and a Consultant Forensic Psychiatrist.  In this episode we discuss the path to psychiatry, the first 6 months of his Presidency, the way the Mental Health act is changing, the role of prevention in healthcare, the relationship between ethnic minorities and mental health services, the role of psychotherapy in mental health ser...

This is an analysis of the Netlfix Film Marriage Story (2019), directed by Noah Baumbach.  Audio-essay by Dr. Alex Curmi. Dr. Curmi is a specialist registrar in General Adult psychiatry in the South London and Maudsley NHS foundation trust with a special interest in psychotherapy and mindfulness meditation. Interviewed by Dr. Alex Curmi - Give feedback here - thinkingmindpodcast@gmail.com -  Follo...

What's the difference between wisdom and intelligence? Why does it matter?  Audio-essay by Dr. Alex Curmi. Dr. Curmi is a specialist registrar in General Adult psychiatry in the South London and Maudsley NHS foundation trust with a special interest in psychotherapy and mindfulness meditation. Interviewed by Dr. Alex Curmi - Give feedback here - thinkingmindpodcast@gmail.com -  Follow us here:...

Florian Ruths is a consultant psychiatrist in adult mental health at the Maudsley. He is also clinical lead for mindfulness-based therapy at South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust.  Florian has been leading the Maudsley Mindfulness Service at the Maudsley Hospital in London for the last 10 years, teaching mindfulness to colleagues and treating patients with mindfulness-based interventions....

Audio-essay by Dr. Alex Curmi. Dr. Curmi is a specialist registrar in General Adult psychiatry in the South London and Maudsley NHS foundation trust with a special interest in psychotherapy and mindfulness meditation. Interviewed by Dr. Alex Curmi - Give feedback here - thinkingmindpodcast@gmail.com -  Follow us here: Twitter @thinkingmindpod Instagram @thinkingmindpodcast SUPPORT: buymeacoffee.co...

What can this disturbing contemporary horror film teach us about ourselves and others? St. Maud Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXs2-TY9qok Audio-essay by Dr. Alex Curmi. Dr. Curmi is a specialist registrar in General Adult psychiatry in the South London and Maudsley NHS foundation trust with a special interest in psychotherapy and mindfulness meditation. Interviewed by Dr. Alex Curmi - G...

Dr. James Rucker is a consultant psychiatrist currently leading the psychedelic trials group at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience at King’s College London. He is currently leading a randomised control trial invesitgating the safety and efficacy of the active component of magic mushrooms (psilocybin) for use in treatment resistant depression.  Interviewed by Dr. Alex Curmi...

Audio-essay by Dr. Alex Curmi. Dr. Curmi is a specialist registrar in General Adult psychiatry in the South London and Maudsley NHS foundation trust with a special interest in psychotherapy and mindfulness meditation. Give feedback here - thinkingmindpodcast@gmail.com -  Follow us here: Twitter @thinkingmindpod Instagram @thinkingmindpodcast SUPPORT: buymeacoffee.com/thinkingmind Give feedback her...

Professor Robin Murray is a Scottish psychiatrist and Professor of Psychiatric Research at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience at King's College London. In this episode we discuss psychotic illnesses such as schizophrenia, the risk factors, the genetics as well as the various environmental factors which affect it's development.  Interviewed by Dr. Alex Curmi - Give f...

Audio-essay by Dr. Alex Curmi. Dr. Curmi is a specialist registrar in General Adult psychiatry in the South London and Maudsley NHS foundation trust with a special interest in psychotherapy and mindfulness meditation.  Interviewed by Dr. Alex Curmi - Give feedback here - thinkingmindpodcast@gmail.com -  Follow us here: Twitter @thinkingmindpod Instagram @thinkingmindpodcast SUPPORT: buymeacoffee.c...

Dr. Posporelis is a Consultant Liaison Neuropsychiatrist at King’s College Hospital London and an Honorary Clinical Senior Lecturer at the IoPPN. Check out his webinar series Braincast here - https://maudsleylearning.com/insights/braincast-webinar-series/ Interviewed by Dr. Alex Curmi - Give feedback here - thinkingmindpodcast@gmail.com -  Follow us here: Twitter @thinkingmindpod Instagram @thinki...

Dr. Niall Docherty has recently completed his PhD at the Centre for Critical Theory, University of Nottingham, and will be pursuing his postdoctoral research within the Social Media Collective, Microsoft Research New England. His thesis examines the material and discursive construction of Facebook’s ideal users, linking normative designations of “healthy” usership to neoliberal histories of govern...

Baffour Ababio is a psychoanalytic intercultural psychotherapist and clinical supervisor in private practice and at Nafsiyat Intercultural Therapy Centre. Nafsiyat is an intercultural therapy centre, committed to providing effective and accessible psychotherapy and counselling services to people from diverse religious, cultural and ethnic communities in London. Learn more about Nafsiyat's boo...

Dr Walter Busuttil is a Consultant Psychiatrist and Director of Medical Services for Combat Stress, a charity providing mental health support for military veterans. Walter served for 16 years in the Royal Air Force, working on fast-jet air bases as well as taking part in operational deployments. He was instrumental in the setting up of PTSD mental health rehabilitation programmes designed for serv...

Dr. Camilla Tooley works as a Clinical Educator and Relationship therapist as well as within a London perinatal psychotherapy team. In this interview we discuss her experiences working within the confines of quarantine whilst experiencing pregnancy of the first time herself, and we think about what could be learned from these experiences - for individuals, for couples and for those who are expecti...

This is an excerpt from interview #2 with Dr. Lisa Conlan, a practising community psychiatrist within the South London and Maudsley NHS foundation trust. Alongside her clinical work, she has an academic special interest in both Philosophy of Psychiatry and Medical Education, and has an M.Sc in Philosophy of Mental Disorder from King’s College London. Interviewed by Dr. Alex Curmi. Feedback - think...

Have you ever been convinced of something, beyond all doubt? Many people have a strong sense that their views are right and couldn't possibly be wrong. So how do we come to hold strong convictions and why is it hard to consider we could be mistaken? American Christian radio host Harold Camping stated that Judgement Day would take place on May 21, 2011  "beyond the shadow of a doubt"...

Audio-essay by Dr. Alex Curmi. Dr. Curmi is a specialist registrar in General Adult psychiatry in the South London and Maudsley NHS foundation trust with a special interest in psychotherapy and mindfulness meditation. Email us at thinkingmind podcast@gmail.com If you find the show valuable here's how you can support it: https://buymeacoffee.com/thinkingmind Follow us on Social Media: Twitter...

Dr. Farrugia is an infectious disease registrar currently working at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow. He is a member of the Royal College of Physicians with a Masters in Research (MRes) in mycology and fungal immunology. Interviewed by Dr. Alex Curmi.  Questions comments and feedback can be sent to thinkingmindpodcast@gmail.com If you find the show valuable here's how you can s...