Episodes

Bron is joined by Julie Waller (Counselling Psychologist) to unpack what it's like working rurally. They unpack 👉🏽 What led Julie to working rurally 👉🏻 Managing tricky ethical dilemmas including multiple relationships and professional boundaries 👉🏾Why errybody should work rurally at least once in their career 👉 What you need to know if you're thinking about rural work. Mental Work is the podcast unpacking the challenges faced by early career psychologists, so they don’t have to go it alone. Hos...

WE'RE GOING RURAL, BABY! Bron is joined by Lauren Vines (early-career psychologist) to tell us what it's really like to work rurally, where you are sometimes hundreds of kilometres from your nearest colleague. They unpack 👉🏽 What led Lauren to working rurally 👉 Best things, most challenging things, and most ~surprising~ things about working rurally. Mental Work is the podcast unpacking the challenges faced by early career psychologists, so they don’t have to go it alone. Hosted by Dr Bronwyn Mi...

Bron is joined by Neeraja Shankar (Clin Psych registrar/PhD Candidate) to unpack getting comfortable with making mistakes as an early-career psych. They chat about 👉🏽 How being human means you're gonna make mistakes, and - take a deep breath - that's ooooook 👉🏿 What counts as a mistake in therapy? 👉 How to see mistakes as growth opportunities 👉🏻 The mistakes we've made and how we've survived. Mental Work is the podcast unpacking the challenges faced by early career psychologists, so they don’...

Bron is joined by Rebecca Black (Clin Psych at Nourish, Heal, Grow & sustainable career coach) to unpack how to build a sustainable psychology career. Yes, it IS possible to have a profitable career, friends/family, and even hobbies without burning out 😮! They chat 👉🏽 Over-preparing for sessions 👉🏻 How many clients per day is too many? 👉 Tips if you struggle with unrelenting standards and self-sacrificing schemas. Mental Work is the podcast unpacking the challenges faced by early career psych...

Today on Mental Work, by popular request Bron returns to the topic of emotional labour with guests Anthony Joffe (Psychologist/PhD Candidate) and James Clarke (Clinical Psychologist/PhD Candidate). They chat about 👉🏽 Surface acting vs deep acting vs natural expression 👉🏻 Surface acting and burnout 👉 Why authenticity is key 👉🏿 How emotional labour shows up in James' and Anthony's therapy work 👉🏾 The emotion regulation strategies they use in and out of sessions. Mental Work is the podcast unpac...

If you cry a little inside every time you think about treatment planning, then this episode is for you. Bron is joined by Amanda Moses (Psychologist) to unpack treatment planning in an easy-to-understand, bite-sized way. They chat about: 👉🏻 How to formulate using the 5 P's 👉 How to treatment plan for depression 👉🏿 Ways to deliver CBT for depression 👉🏾 Getting the right balance between over-planning and under-planning for sessions. Mental Work is the podcast unpacking the challenges faced b...

Today on Mental Work, Bron is joined by Carly Dober (Psychologist and Director of AAPi) to unpack the question, 'Can I be a good therapist if I have lived experience?' They chat about 👉🏽 How having lived experience can inform your work as a psych 👉🏻 Myths about therapists with mental illness 👉 Changes in attitudes among psychs towards lived experience practitioners 👉🏿 Why peer-led work is super cool. Mental Work is the podcast unpacking the challenges faced by early career psychologists, so t...

Do you feel like you'll never be a 'good enough' therapist? Do you over-prepare for sessions, or procrastinate on reports? You might be a perfectionist. Today on Mental Work, Bron is joined by Kate Christie (Psychologist in schools and private practice) to unpack perfectionism among therapists. They touch on 👉🏽 The role that perfectionism plays in burnout 👉🏻 How perfectionism shows up in the therapy room 👉 The benefits of perfectionism 👉🏿 Practical tips for reducing the downsides of perfectionis...

Today on Mental Work, Bron is joined by Nicole Young (Educational and Developmental Psychologist) to unpack everything diagnosis and assessment. They touch on 👉🏽 What are the benefits of diagnosis? 👉🏻 Getting comfortable with *not* taking on every assessment referral 👉 Managing client expectations with diagnosis 👉🏾 The importance of adequate training and practice in assessments. Mental Work is the podcast unpacking the challenges faced by early career psychologists, so they don’t have to go it ...

Today on Mental Work, Bron is joined by Sahra O'Doherty (Psychologist and Director of AAPi) to unpack the dilemma of 'What can I wear to work?' They touch on 👉🏽 What does it mean when a supervisor directs you to 'Dress Professionally'? 👉🏻 How our ideas of 'professionalism' may exclude psychs with diverse body shapes/sizes and cultural diversity 👉 All the taboos! Tattoos, coloured hair, piercings, and bright clothes. Mental Work is the podcast unpacking the challenges faced by early career psy...

We've been taught that clients are supposed to enter therapy, get better, and then graciously leave therapy... but what about all those clients who *don't* get better? Today on Mental Work, Bron is joined by Brian Cheng (Psychologist) to unpack the dilemma of what to do when client's don't get better in therapy. They unpack 👉🏽 What accounts for change in therapy (the 'common factors' model) 👉🏻 Practical ways you can get 'unstuck' with complex clients in therapy 👉 How to take care of yourself whe...

Today on Mental Work, Bron is joined by Betty Farrell (Provisional Psychologist) to unpack how to cope with confusing, ambiguous, and sometimes mean feedback from supervisors. We chat about 👉🏽 How to cope with feedback in the moment 👉🏻 How to not ruminate endlessly 👉 Growth vs fixed mindset 👉🏿 Tough feedback experiences we've had and how we've gracefully and not-so-gracefully dealt with them. Mental Work is the podcast unpacking the challenges faced by early career psychologists, so they don’...

The journey to registration should be straight-forward, right... right? Today on Mental Work, Bron is joined by Rebecca Harris (early-career Psychologist) to share the ups and downs, twists and turns of her pathway to registration and provide handy tips that she learned along the way 😎. We touch on 👉🏽 Working rurally 👉🏻 Leaving unsupportive internships 👉 Transferable skills 👉🏿 Why lowering the pressure on yourself to get registration ASAP really helps to get through. Mental Work is the podcast ...

Bron is joined by Dr Catherine Hart (Clinical Psychologist, Board Approved Supervisor) to unpack five tricky supervision dilemmas we've received from listeners. We touch on 👉🏽 What is the purpose of supervision? 👉🏻 What if your supervisor doesn't seem interested in supervising you? 👉 What if your supervisor is jealous of you? 👉🏿 What if your supervisor is also your workplace manager? Mental Work is the podcast unpacking the challenges faced by early career psychologists, so they don’t have to...

Bron is joined by Carly Dober (Psychologist, Director of AAPi) to unpack the taboo world of getting therapy as a therapist. We talk about 👉🏽 Does getting therapy mean you're not suited to the profession? 👉🏻 Does psych training get in the way of being helped by therapy 👉 How personal therapy informs us as professionals 👉🏿 Practical tips for getting therapy (finding a psych, getting a mental health plan). Mental Work is the podcast unpacking the challenges faced by early career psychologists, s...

Did you know: Australia is one of the most culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) countries in the world. Yep! 3 in 10 were born overseas, and 1 in 5 speak a language other than English at home. People from CALD backgrounds are at risk of poorer health outcomes compared to other Aussies, so it's real important that us psychs know the ins and outs of working with this population. Today on Mental Work, Bron is joined by Neeraja Shankar (Clinical Psychology Trainee/PhD Candidate) to unpack wh...

Bron is joined by James Clarke (Clinical psychologist/PhD candidate) to unpack emotional labour. Get ready for a huge dose of validation as James confirms that delivering therapy is not just 'tea and biscuits' - it's REALLY hard work! They chat about 👉🏽 The unique emotional labour that psychologists undertake👉🏻 Strategies to manage emotional labour in session 👉 How to decompress outside of sessions 👉🏿 Why we are self-compassion converts. Mental Work is the podcast unpacking the challenges fac...

When was the last time you had a decent break from clinical work? We all need breaks, but many of us struggle with the practicalities of doing so. In this ep, Bron unpacks 👉🏽 What a good break looks like vs a bad break 👉🏻 How many breaks to take each year 👉 How long to break for 👉🏿 Tips on how to prepare for a break. Mental Work is hosted by Dr Bronwyn Milkins, an Australian-based early career psychologist. THE END BITS Thanks for listening. Mental Work is the podcast unpacking the challenges ...

Bron is joined by experienced School Psychologist Brian Cheng to unpack how to fill in gaps in knowledge and skills following the undergrad psych degree. They unpack 👉🏽 How to relate to clients like a fellow human, not a textbook 👉🏻 The importance of reflecting on how you feel in client interactions 👉 the Medical Model vs Systemic Practice - what are they and why it's good to know about both. Mental Work is hosted by Dr Bronwyn Milkins, an Australian-based early career psychologist. THE END BI...

Bron is joined by Dr Ines Pandzic (PhD, Clin Psych Registrar) to unpack how to manage being a parent alongside the intense training required to become a psychologist. They chat about 👉🏽 Ines' experience of having a baby during her Masters program 👉🏻 What worked for Ines in juggling study, placement, and parenting 👉 Recommendations for early career psychs considering a family in the future. Thanks to listener Claire for this episode suggestion! Mental Work is hosted by Dr Bronwyn Milkins, an Aust...

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 competence. Mental Work is hosted by Dr Bronwyn Milkins, an Australian-based early career psychologist. T...

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. Mental Work is hosted by Dr Bronwyn Milkins, an Australian-based early career psychologist. THE END BITS ...

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 in sessions The free app I used to use to keep time (great if you share an office!) THE END BITS Than...

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 Bronwyn Milkins, an Australian-based early career psychologist. Connect with Eloise on Insta: https://ww...