Better Thinking

In this episode of Better Thinking, Nesh Nikolic speaks with Dr Kevin Polk about the the ACT Matrix and its application in both individual and clinical settings.

Kevin Polk, PhD, is a clinical psychologist and creator of the ACT Matrix. He spent approximately 17,000 hours simplifying Acceptance and Commitment Therapy down to the two lines of the matrix, which is now used across the United States and internationally. Individuals, therapists and hospitals use the ACT Matrix to improve communication and solve conflicts.

Kevin also co-hosts The Art of Being podcast with good friend, and fellow psychologist, Phil Tenaglia.

Episode links at https://neshnikolic.com/podcast/kevin-polk

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Better Thinking, Nesh Nikolic speaks with Dr Erika Penney on the research and treatment of Narcissistic & Borderline Personality Disorder in psychology.

Dr Erika Penney is a lecturer, clinical psychologist, and external placement coordinator with the master of clinical psychology program at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS). She has particular interests in complex trauma, developmental trauma, stigma, and personality disorders. She has taught at a number of leading universities on personality disorders and has published papers in the areas of anxiety, stigma, and personality.

In addition to her work at UTS, Erika is a Board Approved Supervisor and supervises clinical psychologists who have particular interests in Schema Therapy, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, personality disorders, and trauma.

In 2016 Erika founded the Foresight Psychology practice in Sydney which continues today under new leadership with a team of passionate psychologists dedicated to effective practice and trauma-informed care.

Episode links at https://neshnikolic.com/podcast/erika-penney

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Better Thinking, Nesh Nikolic speaks with Graeme Cowan about how small, and often overlooked, rituals can make a significant impact in personal and professional life.

In his early career, Graeme Cowan worked in senior leadership positions with Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer, and AT Kearney. Then in 2000 began a 5-year episode of depression that his psychiatrist described as the worst he had ever treated.

He emerged from this crisis with a different view about how we can increase our resilience, mood and performance.

Graeme is the author of 4 books including the internationally acclaimed Back from the Brink, which has a testimonial from the former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair. These days you will find Graeme working with leaders and teams to be more caring, resilient and growth-oriented though his workshops and presentation.

Episode links at https://neshnikolic.com/podcast/graeme-cowan

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Better Thinking, Nesh Nikolic speaks with Dr Alan Castel about his new book, Better with Age: The Psychology of Successful Aging, and the many myths and paradoxes about the aging process.

Alan Castel is a Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of California, Los Angeles. He studies learning, memory, and aging, and is interested in how people can selectively remember important information. He received his PhD from the University of Toronto, did a fellowship at Washington University in St. Louis, and has been at UCLA since 2006. He lectures internationally to people of all ages, and has received several teaching awards. His work has been featured in the New York Times and Time Magazine. His new book is entitled Better with Age: The Psychology of Successful Aging. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife and three children.

Episode links at https://neshnikolic.com/podcast/alan-castel

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Better Thinking, Nesh Nikolic speaks with Senior Sergeant Daryl Elliot Green about his horrific experience of being ambushed on duty and shot in the face at close range, the dark years that followed and his path to recovery.

At 3:50am on 1 May 2000, in a dark Brisbane cul-de-sac, Senior Sergeant Daryl Elliot Green and his colleagues were ambushed by a gun wielding neighbour and shot numerous times. Daryl was shot in the face at close range and again in the arm.

From this horrific experience, Daryl learned what most people don't have to: how to be resilient in the face of extreme circumstances.

The legacy of Daryl’s shooting was a harrowing ten-year road to recovery despite being honoured with the Queensland Police Service’s highest accolade for bravery, the Valour Award, and a Group Bravery Citation from the Governor-General, Sir Peter Cosgrove.

Today, Daryl shares powerful life lessons through his TWICE SHOT talks, workshops and programs. He speaks on resilience, courageous conversations, leadership and brave decisions. He also talks passionately, and from personal experience, about mental health and post-traumatic stress.

Episode links at https://neshnikolic.com/podcast/daryl-elliot-green

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Better Thinking, Nesh Nikolic speaks with Mary Andreadis about emotional intelligence and how it can impact us in the workplace, relationships and personal decision-making.

Nesh Nikolic is a Canberra-based clinical psychologist with over 15,000 hours of one-on-one therapy experience. He has trained in a number of therapy modes including Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) and Schema Therapy and he is also recognised by Medicare Australia as a qualified provider of specialist clinical psychology services. His therapeutic passion lies in utilising Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) for his clients and has trained clinicians around Australia in ACT.

Nesh holds a Masters Degree in Clinical Psychology and is a member of the Australian Psychological Society (APS), Association for Contextual Behavioural Science and Fellow of the APS College of Clinical Psychologists.

Mary Andreadis is a Melbourne-based provisional psychologist. She has completed a Bachelors and Honours Degree in Psychology and is completing a Masters Degree in this field to become a qualified psychologist. Mary has worked as a mental health community support worker, counsellor and facilitated monthly anxiety support groups. Alongside all of this, she also writes a blog at MindIntertwined.com.

Episode links at https://neshnikolic.com/podcast/nesh-nikolic-emotional-intelligence 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Better Thinking, Nesh Nikolic speaks with Dr Benjamin Habib about how a panic attack on live television became a turning point in his personal battle with anxiety.

Dr Benjamin Habib is a Lecturer in Politics and International Relations at La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia. Ben is an internationally published scholar with a current research interest in intersections between grassroots sustainability and regeneration projects, environmental movements and international climate politics. Previously he as researched the political economy of North Korea’s nuclear program, East Asian security, and international politics of climate change.

Episode links at https://neshnikolic.com/podcast/benjamin-habib

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Better Thinking, Nesh Nikolic speaks with psychologist Natalie Cross about her personal experience of multiple pregnancy losses.

Natalie Cross is a registered psychologist working in Sydney. She previously worked at Strategic Psychology (Nesh’s practice) in Canberra. She was kind enough to reach out and offer to share her experience of multiple pregnancy losses in the hope it can help other women and families going through a similar situation.

Episode links at https://neshnikolic.com/podcast/natalie-cross

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Better Thinking, Nesh Nikolic is interviewed by Mary Andreadis on understanding stress and burnout and mechanisms for managing.

Nesh Nikolic is a Canberra-based clinical psychologist with over 15,000 hours of one-on-one therapy experience. He has trained in a number of therapy modes including Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) and Schema Therapy and he is also recognised by Medicare Australia as a qualified provider of specialist clinical psychology services. His therapeutic passion lies in utilising Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) for his clients and has trained clinicians around Australia in ACT.

Nesh holds a Masters Degree in Clinical Psychology and is a member of the Australian Psychological Society (APS), Association for Contextual Behavioural Science and Fellow of the APS College of Clinical Psychologists.

Mary Andreadis is a Melbourne-based provisional psychologist. She has completed a Bachelors and Honours Degree in Psychology and is completing a Masters Degree in this field to become a qualified psychologist. Mary has worked as a mental health community support worker, counsellor and facilitated monthly anxiety support groups. Alongside all of this, she also writes a blog at MindIntertwined.com.

Episode links at https://neshnikolic.com/podcast/nesh-nikolic-stress-burnout

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Better Thinking, Nesh Nikolic speaks with Dr Kirk Strosahl about an alternative approach when working with suicidal patients.

Dr Kirk Strosahl is a leading innovator in the field of clinical psychology, and in 2009 received an award for outstanding innovations in psychology from the American Psychological Association.

Dr Strosahl has a long-standing interest in developing an evidence-based model for assessing and treating suicidal behaviour and, together with colleague John Chiles MD, co-authored the book Clinical Manual for Assessment and Treatment of Suicidal Patients.

His empirically-based approach to treating suicidal behaviour has been adopted by many mental health systems of care, as well as practicing therapists. He continues to conduct workshops in this innovative approach in the US and internationally.

Episode links at https://neshnikolic.com/podcast/kirk-strosahl

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.