On 1 Feb the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) announced that - from the 1st July 2023 - the medical use of MDMA and Psilocybin will be rescheduled from Schedule 9 (prohibited substances) to Schedule 8 (controlled medicines) of the Poisons Standard. This will enable authorised psychiatrists to prescribe these substances for treatment-resistant depression and treatment resistant post-traumatic stress disorder.

Training The Next Generation of Psychedelic Assisted Therapists with Peter Hunt from Mind Medicine Australia

Dr Stephen Bright is a clinically trained psychologist and senior lecturer on addiction at Edith Cowan University. Dr. Bright is the director of PRISM, the Psychedelic Research in Science and Medicine organisation which is a not for profit, independent research charity developing medical and legal processes for the application of psychedelic medicines for improved well being in Australia.

Psychedelic Therapy Research in Australia With Dr. Stephen Bright from PRISM

Today we’re speaking with Dr. Tracey Sletten, a senior research fellow from the Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health at Monash University.

Shift Work and Sleep with Dr. Tracey Sletten

At 16 Emma attempted suicide and was left paralyzed. Now, at 21, Emma is a passionate mental health advocate. She take us on a journey of what led up to her attempt and her thought processes immediately before, during and after and ultimately her recovery. Emma reflects on meaningful ways in which to reach out and support someone that may be at risk. She now uses her story as a powerful instrument to support others.

I Shot Myself at 16 and Survived - Emma Benoit’s Story

Today we continue speaking with Professor Sean Drummond, a Cognitive Neuroscientist and Clinical Psychologist at the Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health at Monash University.

Can Poor Sleep Cause Mental Illness? with Prof Sean Drummond

Today we’re speaking with Professor Sean Drummond, a sleep expert, Cognitive Neuroscientist and Clinical Psychologist at the Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health at Monash University.

Four Tips for Better Sleep with Sleep Expert Prof Sean Drummond Part 1

Today we’re speaking with Dr. Jarrod White, a Clinical Psychologist working in private practice at The Viewpoint clinic in Caulfield Melbourne. During Dr. White's research he had the opportunity to conduct face to face interviews with holocaust survivors and Sudanese genocide survivors. During our conversation, Dr. White shares some of his research and the key themes of how trauma is processed and expressed differently within different cultures.

How Culture Affects Trauma with Dr. Jarrod White

Today we speak with Professor Paul Fitzgerald who has been involved in the development, evaluation and clinical implementation of new treatments for mental health disorders for 2 decades. He pioneered the use of TMS in Australia and is internationally renowned as a leader in the field of brain stimulation and device based treatments in psychiatry. 

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation with Prof Paul Fitzgerald

Today we talk to Phil Armstrong, CEO of the Australian Counselling Association (ACA), about the ethics of client patient dynamics and what happens when a clinician develops romantic feelings towards their client or visa versa. Phil, as the head of the ACA, is in the perfect position to provide some guidance and boundaries on these sorts of ethical questions. As you’ll hear from our conversation, Phil draws on his own clinical experience as well as that of their 7000 members.

If You Fall In Love With Your Therapist with Phil Armstrong of the ACA

We’ll be taking a break over December and Jan and will post our next podcast in Feb.

Year End Message

What is the difference between a counsellor and a psychotherapist? Today we’re speaking with Dr. Di Stow, the President of the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA) who will explain this in detail. PACFA is a leading national peak body and professional association for counsellors and psychotherapists in Australia with over 4500 members nationwide and as one of the leaders of this organisation, Dr. Stow is well placed to explore the similarities and differences between these two mental health professionals.

Counsellors Vs. Psychotherapist with Dr. Di Stow of PACFA

Today we’re speaking with Dr Zac Seidler is a clinical psychologist, researcher and leading men’s mental health expert. Zac currently holds dual roles as Director of Mental Health Training at Movember and Research Fellow with Orygen at the University of Melbourne.

Men and Mos with Dr. Zac Seidler of Movember

Dr. Gery Karantzas, is an Associate Professor and Director of the Science of Adult Relationships (SoAR) Laboratory at Deakin University and is one of Australia’s leading relationships experts. Prof Gery has edited and authored over 100 publications including a handbook and co-authored text on relationships. Gery writes for the Conversation and Psychology Today, and is regularly contacted by the media to discuss all matters on relationships. He is also the founder of Relationship Science Online, a website that curates and delivers the science of relationships to target the needs of relationship counsellors and the general public.

Research Insights on Relationships and Conflicts with Prof Gery Karantzas

Today we’re speaking with Dr. Ranjani Utpala, the Clinical Director of The Butterfly Foundation. Dr. Ranjani Utpala is the clinical psychologist who has specialised in working with eating disorders of the course of her career, working both in the public and private sectors.

Eating Disorders with Dr. Utpala from The Butterfly Foundation

We’ll take a deep dive in Personality Disorder, specifically looking at Borderline Personality Disorder again. We’ll be speaking with Prof. Andrew Chanen, a psychiatrist. He is Head, Personality Disorder Research and Director of Clinical Programs and Services at Orygen and a Professorial Fellow at the Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne. He is a Board Director of NEABPD Australia and a past President of ISSPD (International Society for the Study of Personality Disorders).

Borderline Personality Disorder with Prof Andrew Chanen

Today we speak with 'Lucy' (not her real name) about her journey of living with, and managing, a mother with borderline and bipolar. We look at the impact a serious mental illness can have on family members. It’s a raw, real and honest chat.

Case study: The Time I Thought Mum Would Kill Me

Prof James Ogloff is a University Distinguished Professor of Forensic Behavioural Science and Director at the Centre for Forensic Behavioural Science at Swinburne University of Technology. In this chat we deep dive into the dark and complex world of psychopaths. We look at what a psychopath is, how they are made, how the tests for psychopathy work and psychopathy in criminal contexts. Prof. Ogloff reflects on some of his clinical and personal experience of working with a broad spectrum of psychopaths over his long career.

Psychopaths with Professor James Ogloff

Amber Rules is the co-founder and director at Rough Patch - one of the few brick and mortar mental health social enterprises in Australia. Amber is a psychotherapist and a supervisor for other clinicians. She is a passionate about subsidising the cost of mental health for those that need it most.

Is Low Cost Mental Health Support Possible with Amber Rules

Prof David Coghill is a child and adolescent psychiatrist who holds the Chair of Developmental Mental Health at the University of Melbourne. Professor Coghill has a particular interest in ADHD, disruptive behaviours and psychopharmacology (the study of the use of medications in treating mental disorders). In this conversation we cover what ADHD / ADD is, how it's diagnosed, the difference between child and adult cases and the difference between how males vs females express their ADHD. We talk about how it's treated, the medication and what it means to have ADHD.

ADHD with Professor David Coghill

Emma Cholakians is a psychologist and director of a private practice in Melbourne, Australia (Couples Therapy) that specialises in relationship counselling and therapy. We discuss couples therapy as a specific treatment type, what is involved, the costs and level of buy-in required from each person. We also do a deep dive into cheating and what some of the themes are that Emma has observed in her clinical practice.

Couples Therapy and Cheating with Emma Cholakians

Wendy Coombe is the founder of the Australian Peak Body and charitable organisation, Animal Therapies Ltd with the goal to advance the understanding, acceptance and accessibility of animal-assisted services for those suffering trauma, disability and adversity. In our conversation Wendy explores how animals from lamas to lizards and miniature ponies on airplanes can help people cope with different challenges. We discuss how we can now use dogs to detect seizures up to 45 mins before the event, help regulate insulin in patients suffering from diabetes (they can smell insulin levels in your blood) and detect ingredients in food that some may be dangerously allergic to.

Animal Assisted Therapies with Wendy Coombe of Animal Therapies

Dr Sam Vaknin is a Professor of Psychology at Southern Federal University, Rostov-on-Don in Russia. He is also a Professor of Finance and Psychology in SIAS-CIAPS (Centre for International Advanced and Professional Studies). Dr Sam has a PhD in quantum Mechanics and he is a medical doctor. He is the author of many books but, amongst others, Malignant Self Love, Narcissism Revisited which is considered by most as the authoritative guide on narcissism. Sam has a Youtube Chanel with over 170 thousand subscribers and over 35 million views. In his capacity as a psychologist, he is one of the world’s leading experts on Narcissistic Personality Disorder and is responsible for much of what we know about narcissism, as well as the popular vocabulary that most clinicians use to describe narcissistic behaviour today.

Narcissism with Professor Sam Vaknin

Professor Steve Ellen is an honorary Professor of Psychiatry and the Director of the Psychosocial Oncology Program at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre in Melbourne. In this role, Steve and his team support and work with patients suffering from cancer as well as their families. Steve is the co-author of “Mental - Everything you Never Knew you Needed to Know about Mental Health". In this episode Steve shares his own personal mental health crisis and shares how he, as a Professor of Psychiatry, navigated this path forward. We touch on personality disorders and what people suffering from cancer most often reach out for in terms of mental health support.

Mental with Professor Steve Ellen of the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre

Dr. Graham Wong is a consultant psychiatrist and the Medical Director of the Epworth Hospital Mental Health Unit and the Director of the Electro Convulsive Therapy (ECT) Service in Melbourne. Dr. Wong explains how ECT (formerly referred to as “electroshock therapy”) is used in a modern context in the treatment of severe Major Depressive Disorder.

Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) with Dr Graham Wong of the Epworth Hospital

Bianca Lebenholc is a Clinical Psychologist and runs a private psychological practice in Melbourne called Brighter Skies Psychology. Bianca has worked across a range of settings with children, adolescents, and young adults. We take a deep dive into the world of eating disorders as Bianca reflects on some of her time working at an in-patient unit admitting some of the most severe cases of eating disorders.

Eating Disorders with Clinical Psychologist Bianca Lebenholc

Georgina Mitchell is a clinical hypnotherapist and counsellor with 10 years of experience helping her clients out of destructive or unhelpful habits and patterns. Georgina runs a private practice in Melbourne called Hypfocus Therapy and walks us through the process of hypnotising someone, what to expect and how it all works. 

Hypnotherapy with Clinical Hypnotherapist Georgina Mitchell

Jo Baker is one of the Bereavement Counsellors responsible for intake calls and support groups at the Australian Centre for Grief and Bereavement.  Through her extensive experience and deep empathy Jo shares what she has learnt about grief and how people can deal differently with it. The Australian Centre for Grief and Bereavement is an organization providing a service for people who have experienced death related loss. 

Dealing with Grief and Loss with Jo Baker of the Australian Centre for Grief and Bereavement

Our biggest sex organ is our mind. We speak with sexologist and sex therapist, Dr. Linda Kirkman about sex and the psychology of pleasure. Dr. Kirman is also the current Victorian President of the Society of Australian Sexologists.

Sexology and Sex Therapy with Dr. Linda Kirkman of the Society of Australian Sexologists

As a GP with over 25 years of experience and the lead clinical advisor for the not for profit organisation Beyond Blue, Prof. Grant knows a thing or two about depression, anxiety and the human experience. Prof. Grant is an Associate Professor at the Nossal Institute and the Melbourne Sustainable Society Institute at the University of Melbourne. He is an Honorary Professor at Luohu Hospital Group in Shenzhen, China and is a Fellow of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners.

Depression and Anxiety with Professor Blashki of Beyond Blue

A guided mindfulness meditation episode with mindfulness expert and Psychologist Anna Davies.

BONUS Guided Mindfulness with Anna Davies

Anna Davies is a Psychologist, Mindfulness Trainer and Yoga and Meditation Teacher. Anna runs a private practice called Ubuntu Wellness. Ubuntu is a South African philosophy which states that “I am who I am because of who we all are”. Ubuntu speaks of the very essence of being human; our capacity for openness, understanding, respect and compassion. Human beings are social creatures; we influence each other, depend on each other and can grow and expand together in the most powerful ways. This philosophy guides much of Anna’s works and it is her belief that by finding peace within ourselves, we allow ourselves to be in peace with the world around us. 

Mindfulness with Psychologist Anna Davies

It is with sadness that Dr. Harte has passed away. Dr. Harte was a leader and educator of Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT), an evidence based therapy used to help people with emotional injury and trauma. Dr. Harte spoke through the identification of emotions during therapy (there are 7 primary emotions: sadness, joy, anger, fear, disgust, interest/curiosity and shame). Dr. Harte explained how a trained therapist emotionally tunes into the feelings of their clients and helps process what they are feeling as well as using other cues to identify the emotions that someone may be experiencing.

BONUS Dissociative Identity Disorders with Dr. Melissa Harte

It is with sadness that Dr. Harte has recently passed away. Dr Harte was a leader and educator of Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT), an evidenced based therapy mainly used to help people with emotional injury and trauma. Dr. Harte walked us through the identification of emotions during therapy (there are 7 primary emotions, sadness, joy, anger, fear, disgust, interest/curiosity and shame). Dr. Harte explained how a trained therapist emotionally tunes into the feelings of their clients and helps process what they are feeling as well as using other queues to identify the emotions that someone may be experiencing.

Emotion Focused Therapy with Dr. Melissa Harte

Tara mentioned that each of us experience a varying degree of hardship over a lifetime. When this hardship evokes emotion that is too intense for us to handle it can cause emotional injury to the brain. This emotional injury is known as trauma. Trauma falls into one of two categories, including little ‘t’ traumas (disruption to a healthy bond between a parent and a child, loss of a significant relationship, bullying, harassment, or other non-life-threatening events) and Big ‘T’ traumas (abuse, neglect, violence and other life-threatening events).

The Purpose of Emotions with Psychologist Tara Hicks

Over 2018 to 2019 the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) designated psilocybin (one of key ingredients in psychoactive mushrooms) and MDMA (one of the key ingredients in ecstasy) with “breakthrough status” given the huge promise they’ve both shown in the first stages of clinical trials. Psilocybin showed incredible promise for Major Depressive Disorder (something affecting up to 15% of people living in developed countries at some point in their life). MDMA showed significant promise for Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome. One of the most curious things about the proposed therapies are that they’re once-off or just a few dosed sessions that could cause lifelong changes unlike existing antidepressant medication.

Psychedelic Assisted Therapy with Dr. Alana Roy of Mind Medicine Australia

(Part 2 of 2) This week we complete our conversation about Borderline Personality Disorder, possibly one of the most misunderstood and confusing of mental illnesses. Dr. Yvette Vardy speaks specifically about an evidence-based-treatment for Borderline Personality Disorder called “Dialectical Behavior Therapy” (DBT). Find out what this therapy is and how it can be used to help those who have Borderline Personality Disorder.

2/2 Borderline Personality Disorder with Dr. Yvette Vardy (Part 2 of 2)

(Part 1 of 2) This week we talk about Borderline Personality Disorders, possibly one of the most misunderstood and confusing of mental illnesses. Dr. Yvette Vardy helps us navigate this topic with skill, sensitivity and a huge amount of insight. As a clinical psychologist with a doctorate in the area, Dr. Vardy is passionate about a specific treatment called “Dialectical Behavior Therapy”. Find out what Borderline Personality Disorder is and how it can be managed.

1/2 Borderline Personality Disorders with Dr. Yvette Vardy (Part 1 of 2)

Professor Dan Lubman is an addictions expert. He is a Professor of Psychiatry at Monash University, the director of Monash Addiction Research Centre, and the director of a not for profit, Turning Point, that helps people struggling with addictions. This is part 2 of a 2 part conversation. In this part, we talk about social media addictions specifically.

Social Media Addictions with Professor Dan Lubman of Turning Point (Part 2 of 2)

Professor Dan Lubman is an addictions expert. He is a Professor of Psychiatry at Monash University, the director of Monash Addiction Research Centre, and the director of a not for profit, Turning Point, that helps people struggling with addictions. This is part 1 of a 2 part conversation. First up we chat alcohol, drugs and gambling. 

Addictions with Professor Dan Lubman of Turning Point (Part 1 of 2)

It turns out that sometimes having a baby brings things to the forefront that you may not have noticed before. In the case of Josie, her General Anxiety expressed itself as a birth related anxiety and depression with both of her kids. Now, a passionate ambassador for perinatal depression and anxiety, Josie is sharing her story online, through her platform, “Smiling After PND”. Josie has featured on major publications, websites and is a public presenter, visiting workplaces and institutions as she continues her quest to increase awareness and remove sigma.

Case Study: Perinatal Depression and Anxiety with Josie

You are more likely to develop a mental illness during a pregnancy or in the 12 months after birth according to Dr. Nicole Highet of the Centre of Perinatal Excellence (COPE). Dr. Highet takes us through the difference between baby blues and perinatal depression and anxiety.

Baby Blues, Perinatal Depression and Anxiety with Dr. Nicole Highet of the Centre Of Perinatal Excellence (COPE)

Perinatal depression and anxiety is experienced by 1 in 5 new mother’s and 1 in 10 new fathers/partners. Having a baby is a big change for a mother and their partner. Not only will the baby impact the mother physically, emotionally, socially and their relationships, it will also impact hormones and the mental space of both the mother and their partner. We speak with Julie Borninkhof, CEO of Perinatal Anxiety and Depression Australia (PANDA) about this transition. PANDA offer the only national helpline focusing on perinatal anxiety and depression. Julie reflects on what they’ve observed and heard from mothers, partners and friends via their support line as well as the services available to new families.

Perinatal Anxiety and Depression with Julie Borninkhof of PANDA

Jane takes us on a journey of how she uses horse assisted therapy (see episode 7) with Gestalt therapy to bring about awareness in her clients of their reactions and their emotions to ultimately empower them to have more choice in how they respond to external and internal triggers. Jane has a master’s degree in Gestalt Psychotherapy and owns and runs Equine Assisted Therapy Australia in the hinterland of tropical Queensland. Jane is also a registered nurse and yoga instructor.

How Awarenes Brings Choice with Jane Faulkner (Part 2 of 2)

Horses are large, imposing animals. For Jane Faulker, they are an amazing partner to effective therapy. Hear how Jane uses horse assisted therapy (also called equine assisted therapy) to help people ground themselves in the present moment and to start the healing process. Among many topics, we also discuss negative emotions and the role that a therapist and an animal such as a horse can play in helping someone sit with, and process, heavy emotions.

Horse Assisted Therapy with Jane Faulkner (Part 1 of 2)

Anyone can call themselves a "counsellor" and start seeing clients. Unlike psychology and psychiatry, counselling is not government regulated and this makes finding the right counsellor tricky. What makes this even harder to navigate is that counsellors range from having no formal training through to having PhD's as well as those who have no experience through to those with decades. Confused? It's hard not to be. That's where peak bodies like the Australian Counselling Association (ACA) come in.

How to Find the Right Counsellor with Philip Armstrong of the Australian Counselling Association

Family doctors (General Practitioners) can be the gate keepers to connect the community to the right mental health support. Hear directly from Dr. Chris Fildes - a family doctor for 37 years. We speak about depression and antidepressant medication, anxiety and benzodiazepines, and about the process of seeing a mental health practitioner. Dr. Fildes explains how government supported Mental Health Care plans work, how much they fund and what to expect out of the whole process of reaching out and speaking with a professional.

Antidepressants, Benzos and Mental Health Care Plans with Dr Fildes

Rhiannon Thomas shares some of her experience in responding to and working with Bipolar and Borderline Personality Disorders. Rhiannon is a clinical psychologist and works in the public sector responding to acute mental health cases.

Bipolar and Borderline Personality Disorders (Part 3 of 3 with Rhiannon Thomas)

Rhiannon Thomas shares some of her experience in responding to and working with adolescents suffering from psycosis. Rhiannon is a clinical psychologist and works in the public sector responding to acute mental health cases.

Psychosis (Part 2 of 3 with Rhiannon Thomas)

Clinical Psychologist Rhiannon Thomas shares some of her experience in responding to and working with adolescents at risk of suicide and self harm. Rhiannon is a clinical psychologist and works in the public sector responding to acute mental health cases.

mental health by talklink