Mental Work
Episodes
Failing the National Psychology Exam (with Betty Farrell)
03 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Bron chats with Betty about her experiences of failing the National Psychology Exam. Betty shares the emotional toll of failing, the financial implica...
"Why I chose contract work" (with Jordan Turner)
27 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Bron chats with Jordan about why she chose to work as a contractor and how she knew it was time to open her own private practice. We also unpack what ...
Trauma-informed therapy for eating disorders (with Sherry-Lee Smith)
20 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Bron and Sherry-Lee explore the application of trauma-informed approaches, particularly Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy, ...
How to help clients with an eating disorder (with Harriet Iles)
13 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Eating disorders are complex but don't stress, we're here to help. Bron and Harriet chat about 👉🏿 The critical roles that body dissatisfaction, ...
Upskilling in culturally-responsive practice for Asian clients (with Daniela Ho Tan)
06 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Bron and Daniela talk about how to ensure that therapy is culturally responsive, particularly for clients of Asian heritage. They chat about 👉🏽 ...
Should you join a professional association? (with Sahra O'Doherty and Carly Dober)
27 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
You might have heard that professional associations exist for psychologists -- but what exactly do they do, and what are the benefits of joining one? ...
How to REALLY process what clients share with us (with Matthew Jackson)
21 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Clients often share information that hits us right in the feels: Things that are sad, traumatic, angering, devastating, and everything in between. Bro...
Using deliberate practice to improve your therapy skills and confidence (with Aaron Frost)
14 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Bron and Dr Aaron Frost discuss the importance of deliberate practice in the development of psychologists. They highlight that psychologists can relia...
BONUS: Insights from an NDIS participant on living with a disability (with Cameron Milkins)
11 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Bron chats with her brother, Cameron, who is an NDIS participant and lives with cerebral palsy. They discuss his experiences, his preferences when wor...
Disability and working effectively in the NDIS (with Dr Katherine Elliston)
07 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Bron and Katherine demystify the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and working effectively with people with a disability. They chat about 👉...
PhD curious? Everything you wanted to know (with Dr Michael English)
31 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Dr Bron and Dr Michael deep dive into the world of PhDs. They chat about 👉🏽 their very different experiences of doing a PhD 👉🏻 How doing a...
"You can define your own pathway": Coming to psychology from a corporate career (with Nick Gotsis)
24 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Bron is joined by listener Nick to chat about his unique transition into psychology at a later stage of life and while he was a full-time Executive Di...
Family therapy: The basics and an intro to relational dynamics (with Marie Vakakis)
17 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Bron and Marie unpack family therapy using the hypothetical case study of the Wilson family, who are finding it hard to be in the same room without ar...
How to reclaim the joy of being a psychologist (with Matthew Jackson)
10 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Happy New Year Mental Workers, and welcome back a new season of the Mental Work podcast - it's great to be back! 🥳⭐ In this ep, Bron and Matthew ...
“Why am I doing this again?” Celebrating the positives of being a psychologist
13 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
It's our last episode for 2023! Thanks SO much for listening ❤️ Bron thought she would treat you to some uplifting content to round off the year. ...
End-of-year burnout and developing your burnout prevention plan
06 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Bron unpacks what end-of-year burnout looks like for therapists and her 🔥 red hot 🔥strategies for preventing burnout (book your leave for next y...
How to feel confident when working with parents (with Marie Vakakis)
29 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Nervous about including parents in therapy? Wish you could run the other way when a parent asks to speak with you? Our guest today, Marie Vakakis, wan...
When the therapist ends therapy
22 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Bron unpacks saying 'goodbye' to clients when the therapist is the one who is ending the relationship. Otherwise known as 'therapist-led termination' ...
LISTENER STORY: Being a queer therapist, importance of authenticity, leaving the clinical bridging program (with Matthew Jackson)
15 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Bron and Matthew unpack 👉🏽 Being part of the LGBTIQA+ community as a psychologist 👉🏻 The importance of being authentic inside and outside ...
LISTENER STORY: "The problem is the problem" (with Allison O'Leary)
08 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Bron is joined by Allison to unpack the highs and lows of Allison's journey to licensure. Allison went through some downright scary experiences as a t...
LISTENER STORY: Teacher to psych transition, managing complex cases, supporting gender diverse youth (with Natalie Shamir)
01 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Bron and Natalie unpack her 4+2 journey as a school provisional psych. They chat about 👉🏽 Natalie's transition from primary school teacher to pr...
Treating anxiety: CBT vs Schema Therapy (with Amanda Moses)
25 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Bron and Amanda unpack treating generalised anxiety disorder by applying two treatment approaches (CBT and Schema Therapy) to the same hypothetical ca...
"Can I have a personality on social media?" (with Sahra O'Doherty)
18 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Bron and Sahra unpack whether it's okay to be yourself on social media. They chat about 👉🏽 challenges and responsibilities that psychologists ha...
"Will clients take me seriously if I'm young?" (With Kathleen Rippon)
11 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Bron and Kathleen unpack whether you can make it as a psychologist in your 20s. They chat about 👉🏽 Strengths and challenges when you're a young ...
Diversifying your work to achieve your financial goals (with Dr Hayley Kelly)
04 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Bron and Hayley unpack the career pathways that psychologists can take to achieve their financial goals. They chat about 👉🏽 Pros and cons of the...
How to do Behavioural Activation well (with Amanda Moses)
27 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Bron and Amanda get passionate about the deceptively simple CBT technique of behavioural activation. They unpack 👉🏽 How to maximise outcomes for...
Why is it so hard to find a placement? (with Dr Averil Cook)
20 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Bron and Averil unpack why it is so bloody hard to find a placement as a provisional/registrar psychologist. They chat about 👉🏽 Why universities...
Taking up space in psychology & tackling imposter syndrome (with Dr Catherine Hart)
13 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
How experienced do you have to be to contribute to discussion about the Psychology profession? This episode is all about that imposter syndrome-y self...
When clients share offensive views in the therapy room (with Brian Cheng)
06 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Bron and Brian unpack what to do when a client shares offensive views in the therapy room. They chat about 👉🏿 What even IS an offensive view and...
Neurodiversity affirming schema therapy (with Dr Emma DeCicco)
30 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Bron and Emma unpack how to adapt therapy to neurodiverse clients, using Schema Therapy as the example. They chat about 👉🏽 The new Schema Therap...
Recording sessions
23 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Therapists usually experience shock! horror! and despair! when they think about recording a therapy session. So let's talk about it. In this episode, ...
Is it possible to be financially secure and avoid burnout? (with Carly Dober)
16 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Bron and Carly unpack a spicy listener question: Is it possible to be financially secure and avoid burnout? They chat about 👉🏽 Valuing the skill...
Working with kids and parents (with Jordan Turner)
09 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Bron and Jordan unpack working with kids. They chat 👉🏽 How to get kids engaged in therapy and build rapport with them 👉🏻 When and how to u...
How to be neurodiversity affirming (with Amanda Moses)
02 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Bron and Amanda unpack neurodiversity affirming practice. They chat about 👉🏽 The social model of disability 👉🏻 How CBT and other CBT-umbre...
Surviving 'nothing' sessions (with Kate Christie)
26 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
You've prepped a great session for your client but they seem completely uninterested in all of your suggestions - what do you do? Bron and Kate unpack...
Unethical placements and workplaces (with Amanda Moses)
19 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Bron and Amanda unpack the tell-tale signs that you're in an unethical placement or workplace. They chat about 👉🏽 Fair pay 👉🏻 Reasonable c...
Gender and leadership in psychology (with Sahra and Averil)
12 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Bron is joined by Averil Cook (Clinical psychologist and Director of Bodhi & Psychology) and Sahra O'Doherty (Psychologist and Director of AAPi) t...
LISTENER STORY: From self-doubt to doing therapy her own way (with Sarah Glover)
05 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Bron is joined by long-term listener Sarah Glover (recently registered Psychologist) to share their registration journey with us. They unpack the less...
How to talk about sex with clients (with Emma St John)
28 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Bron is joined by Emma St John (Sexologist & clinical psych registrar) to unpack how early-career psychs can apply their existing skills to talk a...
Do you need a niche? (Episode 9 rerun)
22 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
[Rerun] Bron takes listeners through the dilemma of choosing an area of practice to niche in. She talks about 👉 Feeling pressured to niche from col...
Money-making stigma (Episode 6 Rerun)
08 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
[Rerun] Bron takes us through the topic that therapists love to avoid: Money 💵. She highlights the negative attitudes embedded in the mental health...
End of Season 3 and what's coming after the break!
02 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Thanks for listening, Mental Workers! Season 3 has wrapped up and shiny new episodes will be released in just a few weeks! ✨ SUPPORT THE POD THAT SU...
Studying for the National Psychology Exam (with Amanda Moses)
24 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The National Psychology Exam (NPE) is a big ass exam that provisional psychologists doing the 4+2 and 5+1 pathways must pass to gain full registration...
LISTENER STORY: Working while pregnant & building rapport (with Jordan Turner)
17 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Heck yes, it's a listener story! 🥳 Bron is joined by Jordan Turner (Psychologist & Ed/Dev Registrar) to share her lessons from the first 2 year...
How to get the most out of supervision (with Annie Slater)
10 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Bron is joined by Annie Slater (Psychologist and Director at Annie Slater Psychology) to unpack getting the most out of supervision. They chat about 👉...
More experiences with rural work (with Julie Waller)
03 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Bron is joined by Julie Waller (Counselling Psychologist) to unpack what it's like working rurally. They unpack 👉🏽 What led Julie to working rur...
Experiences with rural work (with Lauren Vines)
26 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 so...
Getting comfy with mistakes (with Neeraja Shankar)
19 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Bron is joined by Neeraja Shankar (Clin Psych registrar/PhD Candidate) to unpack getting comfortable with making mistakes as an early-career psych. Th...
Building a sustainable career (with Rebecca Black)
12 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Bron is joined by Rebecca Black (Clin Psych at Nourish, Heal, Grow & sustainable career coach) to unpack how to build a sustainable psychology car...
More emotional labour (with Anthony & James)
05 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Today on Mental Work, by popular request Bron returns to the topic of emotional labour with guests Anthony Joffe (Psychologist/PhD Candidate) and Jame...
Treatment planning 101 (with Amanda Moses)
29 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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) ...
Can I be a therapist if I have lived experience? (with Carly Dober)
22 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 l...
Never good enough: Therapist perfectionism (with Kate Christie)
15 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 perfectionis...
Can I diagnose? (with Nicole Young)
08 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Today on Mental Work, Bron is joined by Nicole Young (Educational and Developmental Psychologist) to unpack everything diagnosis and assessment. They ...
Beyond the cardigan: What can I wear? (with Sahra O'Doherty)
01 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 t...
Working with clients who don't get better (with Brian Cheng)
22 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 *d...
Coping with challenging feedback (with Betty Farrell)
15 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Today on Mental Work, Bron is joined by Betty Farrell (Provisional Psychologist) to unpack how to cope with confusing, ambiguous, and sometimes mean f...
LISTENER STORY: 4+2 registration journey (with Rebecca Harris)
08 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The journey to registration should be straight-forward, right... right? Today on Mental Work, Bron is joined by Rebecca Harris (early-career Psycholog...
Supervision dilemmas (with Dr Catherine Hart)
01 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Bron is joined by Dr Catherine Hart (Clinical Psychologist, Board Approved Supervisor) to unpack five tricky supervision dilemmas we've received from ...
Therapists in therapy (with Carly Dober)
25 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Bron is joined by Carly Dober (Psychologist, Director of AAPi) to unpack the taboo world of getting therapy as a therapist. We talk about 👉🏽 Doe...
Working with culturally diverse clients (with Neeraja Shankar)
18 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Emotional labour (with James Clarke)
11 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Bron is joined by James Clarke (Clinical psychologist/PhD candidate) to unpack emotional labour. Get ready for a huge dose of validation as James conf...
How to ACTUALLY have a good break
21 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Filling in the gaps following undergrad psych (with Brian Cheng)
15 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Bron is joined by experienced School Psychologist Brian Cheng to unpack how to fill in gaps in knowledge and skills following the undergrad psych degr...
Being a new parent while studying (with Dr Ines Pandzic)
07 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Being a culturally competent therapist (with Dr Averil Cook)
30 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 t...
Is the undergrad psych degree a good foundation for new practitioners? (with Neeraja Shankar)
23 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Bron is joined by Neeraja Shankar (Clinical Psychology Trainee/PhD Candidate) to unpack whether the undergraduate psychology degree really prepares us...
Ending sessions on time
16 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Bron unpacks the common dilemma of ending sessions on time (like, everyone struggles with this one!). She talks about: 👉🏽 Excellent reasons to e...
Branching out after burnout (with Eloise Tomkins)
09 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Bron is joined by psychologist Eloise Tomkins to unpack how to return to mental health work after experiencing burnout. They chat about: 👉🏽 What...
Recognising workplace exploitation (with Carly Dober)
02 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Bron is joined by psychologist and AAPi director Carly Dober to unpack the challenge of workplace exploitation. They discuss 👉🏽 How to recognise...
The two-tier Medicare system and other issues in the psychology profession (with Sahra O'Doherty)
26 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Bron is joined again by Sahra O'Doherty, psychologist and director for the Australian Association of Psychologists Inc (AAPI), to unpack the issues fa...
LISTENER STORY: From special ed teacher to working in prisons
19 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 s...
Developing your professional identity as an advocate (with Sahra O’Doherty)
12 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Psychology has traditionally focused on diagnosing mental distress in individuals, but with issues like climate change, racial injustice, and inequita...
What to do when delivering therapy is not for you (with Belinda Radnidge)
05 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 the...
How fair is contract work? (with Dr Catherine Hart)
28 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Bron is joined by Clinical Psychologist Dr Catherine Hart to unpack contracting work. Our popular Season 1 ep with Catherine focused on what contracto...
When crisis hits and you've got an active caseload (with Ceara Rickard)
21 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 👉🏽...
Working as an ADHD psychologist
14 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Bron unpacks how ADHD shows up in her work as an early-career psychologist. She talks about 👉🏽 Challenges that ADHDers can face at work 💪 Str...
A workplace that 'works' (with Emma DeCicco)
07 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Bron is joined by Clinical Psychologist Dr Emma DeCicco to unpack what goes into building a workplace that ACTUALLY works for early career psychologis...
What do early career therapists need? (with Kirstin Bouse)
31 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Bron is joined by Clinical and Forensic Psychologist Kirstin Bouse to unpack the needs of early career therapists. We talk about 👉🏽 "Maslow's hi...
INTRODUCING - Mental Work
28 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Hosted by Dr Bronwyn Milkins, Mental Work is the Australian podcast unpacking the challenges faced by early-career psychologists, so they don't have t...
Early career therapists are a vulnerable population
21 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 motiva...
Enforcing your cancellation policy
13 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Bron unpacks the dilemma of setting limits with clients, especially in relation to charging cancellation fees! She talks about 👉🏽 why we find it...
Managing professional isolation (with Rebecca Cuskelly)
06 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Bron is joined by Clinical Psychologist Rebecca Cuskelly to unpack the unique feeling of isolation among mental health professionals. Rebecca and Bron...
How much can you earn in private practice? A case study... mine!
29 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Salary expectations for contractors (with Catherine Hart)
22 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Bron is joined by Clinical Psychologist Dr Catherine Hart to unpack salary expectations and contracting in private practice. Bron & Catherine talk...
"I feel like I'm not helping anyone!"
14 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 unpac...
Joining a group private practice (with Nicole Withers)
09 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Bron is joined by Clinical Psychologist Nicole Withers to unpack all things group private practice. Bron & Nicole talk about 👉🏽 Different wa...
When all the clients cancel
12 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Bron unpacks what to do when all the clients cancel. She talks about 👉🏽 what it feels like when clients cancel 👉🏻 therapy and non-therapy ...
Should you get another qualification?
04 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 qualifica...
Clients who want to be friends
27 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Bron unpacks the dilemma of when your client wants to be friends with you (their therapist) and vice versa. She talks about 👉🏽 what a therapeuti...
Surviving your internship
14 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Many trainees are required to undertake intensive internships to get qualified. Bron unpacks the dilemma of making an internship work when it's not go...
Note taking doesn't have to be dreadful
04 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Do you hate notes? Me too. This episode unpacks the dilemma of keeping up with notes. Bron unpacks about 👉🏽 what goes into clinical notes 👉🏻...
Getting qualified when you're cash-strapped
17 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Trying to get qualified but don't have cash to splash? Bron unpacks the dilemma of paying for tuition, supervision, and everything else on the journey...
Thinking about quitting?
03 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Ever thought of calling it a day? Bron unpacks the dilemma of when you can't stop thinking about quitting working in mental health. She talks about 👉...
Practising when you're neurodivergent (with Monique Mitchelson)
24 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Bron is joined by Clinical Psychologist & Autistic woman, Monique Mitchelson, to unpack how to thrive as a neurodivergent mental health profession...
To niche or not to niche
18 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Bron takes you through the dilemma of choosing an area of mental health to specialise in. She talks about 👉 Feeling pressured to niche from colleag...
Are you a good fit for your client?
03 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
As early-career mental health professionals, we can't possibly know everything and be able to help everyone. So what do you do when you're not a good ...
Money-making stigma
20 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Bron takes us through the topic that therapists love to avoid: Money 💵. She highlights the negative attitudes embedded in the mental health profess...
Starting out in private practice
05 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Bron takes us through the challenges and successes of her first year as a private practice psychologist. Listen in for a jam-packed episode full of ge...
Very good and very bad supervision
28 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Why is good supervision so hard to find? And what can you do if you’re not getting what you need from supervision? Bron & Rach talk about their ...