Mental Work

In line with Mental Work's aim to shine a light on the important yet under-discussed aspects of being an early-career psychologist, Bron shares the lessons she has learned from a complaint received two years ago. She outlines key knowledge gaps in the hopes that others can avoid her missteps, including understanding transference and countertransference, the impact of personal history and neurodivergence on practice, repairing ruptures, navigating complex ethical situations, and managing emotional dysregulation. Finally, she provides suggestions on how to increase knowledge in these areas, and highlights the need for collegiality amongst psychologists to promote a compassionate space for those still growing in their practice.

THE END BITS

Mental Work is your companion to early-career psychology, hosted by Dr Bronwyn Milkins.

Support the show by buying me a virtual coffee ☕

Don't have cash to splash but want to support the pod? You can rate & review us on Apple and Spotify or share this episode with a mate.

Facebook / Instagram / YouTube (with captions & transcript) / Website / Apply to be a guest / Email Bron

CREDITS

Producer: Michael English

Music: Home

Disclaimer: The Mental Work podcast adheres to the APS Code of Ethics, the National Law, and relevant legislation. It provides informational and entertainment content. Content should not be considered a replacement for professional consultation or therapy. The Mental Work podcast is not a psychological service and being a listener or participant does not establish a therapeutic relationship. All views expressed are personal, subject to change, and do not represent those of any affiliated service or organisation. Efforts are made to ensure accuracy, but opinions may not always align with fact. Listeners are encouraged to thoughtfully assess the information presented and report any inaccuracies or concerns via email. Further information can be found here.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bron and Daniela chat about the value of knowing your own stuff when you're a therapist. We explore 👉🏿 why therapists need to engage in their own self-reflection 👉 debunk myths around therapists doing inner work 👉🏾 share practical tips for integrating self-awareness and self-care into practice. Daniela is such an insightful and joyful guest so I know you'll love listening to this one!

Guest: Daniela Ho Tan, Clinical Psychologist and Advanced Accredited Schema Therapist at Mindwealth Psychology

LINKS

• Check out Daniela's other Mental Work episodes here
• Daniela's passion project, Project Horizen, which aims to bridge the gaps between Western therapy principles and Eastern cultural values. Daniela runs workshops!

THE END BITS

Mental Work is your companion to early-career psychology, hosted by Dr Bronwyn Milkins.

Support the show by buying me a virtual coffee ☕

Don't have cash to splash but want to support the pod? You can rate & review us on Apple and Spotify or share this episode with a mate.

Facebook / Instagram / YouTube (with captions & transcript) / Website / Apply to be a guest / Email Bron

CREDITS

Producer: Michael English

Music: Home

Disclaimer: The Mental Work podcast adheres to the APS Code of Ethics, the National Law, and relevant legislation. It provides informational and entertainment content. Content should not be considered a replacement for professional consultation or therapy. The Mental Work podcast is not a psychological service and being a listener or participant does not establish a therapeutic relationship.

Opinions expressed are personal and subject to change, and do not represent those of any affiliated organisation. Efforts are made to ensure accuracy, but opinions may not always align with fact. Listeners are encouraged to thoughtfully assess the information presented and report any inaccuracies or concerns via email. Further information can be found here.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bron chats with Danielle about the ups and downs of her journey towards registration, her passion for equine therapy and holistic approach to healing 🐎, and her transition into solo private practice. Danielle also talks what it felt like to receive an AHPRA complaint as a provisional psychologist and what helped her through the process. This was a fantastic, uplifting chat that you definitely won't want to miss! 🤩

Guest: Danielle Rancie, Psychologist/Equine Psychotherapist at Liberty Wellness Australia

LINKS

• Interested in equine psychotherapy? You'll want to check out the Equine Psychotherapy Institute and read the book, 'Thinking Like a Horse' by Grant Golliher.

THE END BITS

Mental Work is your companion to early-career psychology, hosted by Dr Bronwyn Milkins.

Love the podcast? Please rate & review on Apple and Spotify.

Support the show by buying me a virtual coffee ☕ Thank you to Alison for the recent coffees, you are SO appreciated! 🥰💖

Facebook / Instagram / YouTube (with captions & transcript) / Website / Apply to be a guest / Email Bron

CREDITS

Producer: Michael English

Music: Home

Disclaimer: The Mental Work podcast adheres to the APS Code of Ethics, the National Law, and relevant legislation. It provides informational, and entertainment content. Content should not be considered a replacement for professional consultation or therapy. The Mental Work podcast is not a psychological service and being a listener or participant does not establish a therapeutic relationship.

Opinions expressed are personal and subject to change, and do not represent those of any affiliated organisation. Efforts are made to ensure accuracy, but opinions may not always align with fact. Listeners are encouraged to thoughtfully assess the information presented and report any inaccuracies or concerns via email. Further information can be found here.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bron and Carollyne unpack how complaints about psychologists are managed by AHPRA and the Psychology Board of Australia. We chat about how notifications are initiated, common complaints, the aims of the complaints process, and how to minimise the risk of receiving a complaint. We round off with some practical tips and emphasise the importance of social and professional support if you have received a notification. We know that this topic is really scary for a lot of psychologists 😨, and hope you feel more at-ease and confident by the end of the episode! 😊

Guest: Dr Carollyne Youssef, Principal Forensic Psychologist at PsychOrium

LINKS

• Checklist to help practitioners manage feedback and complaints in their practice
• Support services for practitioners who have received a notification

THE END BITS

Mental Work is your companion to early-career psychology, hosted by Dr Bronwyn Milkins.

Love the podcast? Please rate & review on Apple and Spotify.

Support the show by buying me a virtual coffee ☕

Facebook / Instagram / YouTube (with captions & transcript) / Website / Apply to be a guest / Email Bron

CREDITS

Producer: Michael English

Music: Home

Disclaimer: The Mental Work podcast adheres to the APS Code of Ethics, the National Law, and relevant legislation. It provides informational, and entertainment content. Content should not be considered a replacement for professional consultation or therapy. The Mental Work podcast is not a psychological service and being a listener or participant does not establish a therapeutic relationship.

Opinions expressed are personal and subject to change, and do not represent those of any affiliated organisation. Efforts are made to ensure accuracy, but opinions may not always align with fact. Listeners are encouraged to thoughtfully assess the information presented and report any inaccuracies or concerns via email. Further information can be found here.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Recent studies have found that up to 62% of counselling professionals are receiving harmful supervision... but no-one is talking about it. In this episode, Bron unpacks what harmful supervision is, its impact on supervisee wellbeing and professional development, and what to do if you're receiving harmful supervision. Bron also discusses how to recognise inadequate vs harmful vs helpful supervision.

LINKS

• Narratives of harmful clinical supervision: Synthesis and recommendations (2017)
• Narratives of harmful clinical supervision (2017)
• Post-degree clinical supervision for licensure: Occurrence of inadequate and harmful experiences among counselors (2021)
• Supervisees’ Perspectives of Inadequate, Harmful, and Exceptional Clinical Supervision: Are We Listening? (2023)
• The good, the bad, and the less than ideal in clinical supervision: a qualitative meta-analysis of supervisee experiences (2022)
• Supervision agreement (includes rights and responsibilities of supervisors and supervisees)

THE END BITS

Mental Work is your companion to early-career psychology, hosted by Dr Bronwyn Milkins.

Love the podcast? Please rate & review on Apple and Spotify.

Support the show by buying me a virtual coffee ☕

Facebook / Instagram / YouTube (with captions & transcript) / Website / Apply to be a guest / Email Bron

CREDITS

Producer: Michael English

Music: Home

Disclaimer: The Mental Work podcast adheres to the APS Code of Ethics, the National Law, and relevant legislation. It provides informational, and entertainment content. Content should not be considered a replacement for professional consultation or therapy. The Mental Work podcast is not a psychological service and being a listener or participant does not establish a therapeutic relationship.

Opinions expressed are personal and subject to change, and do not represent those of any affiliated organisation. Efforts are made to ensure accuracy, but opinions may not always align with fact. Listeners are encouraged to thoughtfully assess the information presented and report any inaccuracies or concerns via email. Further information can be found here.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bron and Marie chat about working well with couples on common issues like sexual desire discrepancies, communication, and conflict. Marie shares her approach to using the Gottman method for assessment and intervention, stressing the need for balancing conflict resolution with positive interactions. They also chat about 👉🏽 handling countertransference 👉🏻 Challenges of retention in couples therapy 👉 The value of therapists being aware of their own limitations 👉🏿 Avoiding triangulation.

Guest: Marie Vakakis, Accredited Mental Health Social Worker (MHSW), and Family & Couples Therapist at The Therapy Hub 

LINKS

• When should you refer an individual to couples therapy? Blog post by Marie.
• This Complex Life - Marie's podcast where she delves into the messiness of wellbeing and relationships.
• Sign-up to Marie's professional development workshops and live events for professionals working with couples, families, and relationships.
• Books: Come Together by Emily Nagoski, Mating in Captivity by Esther Perel, Eight Dates by John and Julie Gottman
• Interested in couples therapy training? Gottman Therapy and Emotionally Focused Therapy are common evidence-based approaches!

THE END BITS

Mental Work is your companion to early-career psychology, hosted by Dr Bronwyn Milkins.

Love the podcast? Please rate & review on Apple and Spotify.

Support the show by buying me a virtual coffee ☕

Facebook / Instagram / YouTube (with captions & transcript) / Website / Apply to be a guest / Email Bron

CREDITS

Producer: Michael English

Music: Home

Disclaimer: The Mental Work podcast adheres to the APS Code of Ethics, the National Law, and relevant legislation. It provides informational, and entertainment content. Content should not be considered a replacement for professional consultation or therapy. The Mental Work podcast is not a psychological service and being a listener or participant does not establish a therapeutic relationship.

Opinions expressed are personal and subject to change, and do not represent those of any affiliated organisation. Efforts are made to ensure accuracy, but opinions may not always align with fact. Listeners are encouraged to thoughtfully assess the information presented and report any inaccuracies or concerns via email. Further information can be found here.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bron and Daniela chat about the pressure🔥 and process to become certified or accredited in a particular therapy like Schema, IFS, or EMDR. Daniela shares her experiences with schema therapy certification, including the benefits as well as the time and financial commitments. We also chat about how to decide if certification is right for you and some more ~taboo~ topics, like, 'Does certification guarantee expertise?' and 'Is certification legit or just a way of getting more money from therapists?' Enjoy!

Guest: Daniela Ho Tan, Clinical Psychologist and Advanced Accredited Schema Therapist at Mindwealth Psychology

LINKS

• Check out Daniela's other Mental Work episodes here
• Daniela's passion project, Project Horizen, which aims to bridge the gaps between Western therapy principles and Eastern cultural values. Daniela runs workshops!

THE END BITS

Mental Work is your companion to early-career psychology, hosted by Dr Bronwyn Milkins.

Love the podcast? Please rate & review on Apple and Spotify.

Support the show by buying me a virtual coffee ☕ Thanks Molly, Alecia, Bridget, Jemma, and 'Someone' for buying coffees recently! 🥹 You are the BEST! 

Facebook / Instagram / YouTube (with captions & transcript) / Website / Apply to be a guest / Email Bron

CREDITS

Producer: Michael English

Music: Home

Disclaimer: The Mental Work podcast adheres to the APS Code of Ethics, the National Law, and relevant legislation. It provides informational, and entertainment content. Content should not be considered a replacement for professional consultation or therapy. The Mental Work podcast is not a psychological service and being a listener or participant does not establish a therapeutic relationship.

Opinions expressed are personal and subject to change, and do not represent those of any affiliated organisation. Efforts are made to ensure accuracy, but opinions may not always align with fact. Listeners are encouraged to thoughtfully assess the information presented and report any inaccuracies or concerns via email. Further information can be found here.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bron and Amy discuss Amy's career journey as a forensic psychologist. We chat about 👉🏽 What forensic psychology is and how to become a forensic psychologist 👉🏻 Motivations behind criminal behaviour 👉 Challenges and rewards of working with clients who have committed a crime 👉🏿 Misconceptions about forensic psychology and criminal populations.

Guest: Amy Brandler, Forensic Psychologist and Director of Receptive Psychology

LINKS

• Podcast: "Forensic Minds Australia"
• Podcast: "Beyond the Crime: A Psychological Analysis"

THE END BITS

Mental Work is your companion to early-career psychology, hosted by Dr Bronwyn Milkins.

Love the podcast? Please rate & review on Apple and Spotify.

Support the show by buying me a virtual coffee ☕

Facebook / Instagram / YouTube (with captions & transcript) / Website / Apply to be a guest / Email Bron

CREDITS

Producer: Michael English

Music: Home

Disclaimer: The Mental Work podcast adheres to the APS Code of Ethics and relevant legislation. It provides educational, informational, and entertainment content. Content should not be considered a replacement for professional consultation or therapy. The Mental Work podcast is not a psychological service and being a listener or participant does not establish a therapeutic relationship.

Opinions expressed are personal and subject to change, and do not represent those of any affiliated organisation. Efforts are made to ensure accuracy, but opinions may not always align with fact. Listeners are encouraged to thoughtfully assess the information presented and report any inaccuracies or concerns via email. Further information can be found here.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bron and Matthew chat about career opportunities in psychology beyond the therapy chair and, if you're already a qualified psychologist, beyond completing the Registrar program. We refer to ✨shiny✨ new research from researchers at the University of Canberra and the Australian National University showing that the skills gained during a psychology degree are in-demand across a range of industries (hooray!). We reckon this episode is a good antidote to existential dread about your future career, so give it a crack!

Guest: Matthew Jackson, Psychologist and Board-Approved Supervisor

LINKS

• "Understanding industry demand for Australia's psychology graduates" (2024) - Research conducted by researchers at the University of Canberra & Australian National University
• Natalie Kladnitski offers coaching to psychologists interested in creating online programs
• Psychology-related paid job ideas by Maddie Brygel & contributors

THE END BITS

Mental Work is your companion to early-career psychology, hosted by Dr Bronwyn Milkins.

Love the podcast? Please rate & review on Apple and Spotify.

Support the show by buying me a virtual coffee ☕

Facebook / Instagram / YouTube (with captions & transcript) / Website / Apply to be a guest / Email Bron

CREDITS

Producer: Michael English

Music: Home

Disclaimer: The Mental Work podcast adheres to the APS Code of Ethics and relevant legislation. It provides informational, and entertainment content. Content should not be considered a replacement for professional consultation or therapy. The Mental Work podcast is not a psychological service and being a listener or participant does not establish a therapeutic relationship.

Opinions expressed are personal and subject to change, and do not represent those of any affiliated organisation. Efforts are made to ensure accuracy, but opinions may not always align with fact. Listeners are encouraged to thoughtfully assess the information presented and report any inaccuracies or concerns via email. Further information can be found here.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bron and Phoebe chat about how to help clients have healthy romantic relationships and develop a secure attachment style. Phoebe tells us about her additional postgrad training in relationship counselling, how therapy has been essential to her personal growth, and how she went about setting up an online group therapy program.

Guest: Phoebe Rogers, Clinical Psychologist and Women's Dating and Relationship Coach at The Relationship Space

THE END BITS

Mental Work is your companion to early-career psychology, hosted by Dr Bronwyn Milkins.

Love the podcast? Please rate & review on Apple and Spotify.

Support the show by buying me a virtual coffee ☕

Sponsor the show for $2 a month on Patreon

Facebook / Instagram / YouTube (with captions & transcript) / Website / Apply to be a guest / Email Bron

CREDITS

Producer: Michael English

Music: Home

Disclaimer: The Mental Work podcast adheres to the APS Code of Ethics and relevant legislation. It provides educational, informational, and entertainment content. Content should not be considered a replacement for professional consultation or therapy. The Mental Work podcast is not a psychological service and being a listener or participant does not establish a therapeutic relationship.

Opinions expressed are personal and subject to change, and do not represent those of any affiliated organisation. Efforts are made to ensure accuracy, but opinions may not always align with fact. Listeners are encouraged to thoughtfully assess the information presented and report any inaccuracies or concerns via email. Further information can be found here.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.