Potential Psychology

Today's guest and I are separated by 13,000 km and the mighty Pacific Ocean but thanks to the wonders of technology we chat in this episode as though we're in the same room.
Eileen Lenson is in California and she is talking to us about adversity, resilience, courage, hope and her recently published book Overcoming Adversity: Conquering Life's Challenges.
In her words, 'No one searches for adversity. Bad experiences are simply part of life. Yet how many of us will know what to do to prevent our lives from spiralling out of control when we encounter traumatic events that threaten our safety, careers, emotions, health, or relationships?'
In this episode Eileen and I explore: 
Eileen's experience as a Medical Social Worker specialising in trauma in a number of US hospitals and how this led her to write Overcoming Adversity.The nature of resilience and why two people who face similar trauma might cope and emerge from the experience so differently.Stories of forgiveness, courage, perspective, perseverance and hope in the face of sometimes unimaginable challenge.Eileen's tips and strategies for learning to manage our feelings and respond to both devastating events and every day difficulties.How to develop the skills you need to seek healthy coping options and change your life for the better.It's a practical, positive conversation that weaves Eileen's professional experience in trauma assistance with true stories from her book and the science of positive psychology. 
Have a listen!

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Hi, it's Ellen. I'm taking this opportunity to give you a glimpse into the hive of behind the scenes activity that is taking place as we await the launch of Season 2 of the Potential Psychology Podcast. Guest interviews are in full swing. I'm not going to ruin the surprise by giving away any names but listen in to this mini-episode to get an insight into the wealth of amazing topics we'll cover in the coming weeks.

Season 2 launches on 6 June 2018. Looking forward to seeing you then.

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This is such a fun interview with exuberant and engaging coaching and clinical psychologist Cassandra Dunn. Cass and I chat, laugh and explore our way around career paths, taking chances, reframing risk and finding happiness.
We examine:

•The long and winding road that Cass has taken to find her passion and purpose
•The uncertain but exciting nature of careers and how following your curiosity can take you to where you need to be
•Life coaching - what it is and how does it help you?
•High expectations, anxiety and letting go of jugdgement,
•and Cass's tips for success, wellbeing and happiness.Ellen also shares her gratitude to those who have made Season One of the Potential Psychology Podcast a rewarding and successful experience.

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Welcome to Episode 9 of the Potential Psychology Podcast!
In this episode I chat to the delightful Laura Braid from The Sweet Life. Laura started her career as a forensic psychologist in Scotland, delivered ground breaking programs with offenders in the New Zealand prison system and now runs her private practice, the gorgeously named, The Sweet Life, in Auckland.
Our discussion delves into therapy, courage, vulnerability, acceptance and happiness.
We discuss:

•Mindfulness and how to let judgement exit stage left
•Acceptance and Commitment Therapy as a tool for a happier life
•How to keep psychologically flexible so that our 'negative' thoughts don't take control, and
•Getting out of our heads and into our lives!

It's a wonderful, in-depth discussion filled with humour, insight, ideas and self revelation!
Enjoy.

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In Episode 8 of the Potential Psychology Podcast we take a fascinating little side path into the world of food, cooking, simplicity and wellbeing.
My guest is Jules Clancy from StoneSoup: Simple Weeknight Dinners. Jules is a food scientist, a former winemaker, an author, a photographer,  founder of the StoneSoup Virtual Cookery School, and a passionate advocate of minimalism and simplicity, especially in the kitchen.
Jules and I start with a conversation about meals and recipes for a busy family. We traverse minimalism and de-cluttering for mental health, self experimentation in everyday life, 'tree changes' and our mutual relief at living traffic-free. We end up 45 minutes later deep in discussion about mindful eating and what triggers our hunger cues.
Along the way you will learn about:

•How to think about your weekly rather than daily nutrition.
•The role of a food scientist and life on the 'Tim Tam' team.
•Decluttering your kitchen and what to do when your toaster breaks,
•Reframing your cooking and kitchen tasks to reduce overwhelm, increase your joy and improve marital harmonyIt's a magical, meandering episode through fascinating, functional topics.

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Dr Tess Crawley is a clinical and forensic psychologist from Hobart, Tasmania. She has spent over ten years mentoring other psychologists and she's seen the challenges that even the experts face in balancing work and life and wellbeing. Tess is a former university lecturer, actor and theatre-company owner and now the Director of a busy multi-location private psychology practice. 
In this episode of the Potential Psychology Podcast Tess and Ellen talk about her mentoring program for mental health professionals, the challenges of becoming a leader, how to make successful transitions in life and the importance of passion and purpose in motivation and achieving your goals.

They also discuss:


•Tips for building confidence as a new leader 

•The future of psychology

•Tess's book recommendations for self-belief, new ventures and success

•Gary Vaynerchuk, Mel Robbins and Brene Brown

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Dr Sarah McKay is an Oxford educated neuroscientist who hung up her lab coat 10 years ago to teach, write and speak about brain health and applied neuroscience. She's also the author of recently released and fascinating read, 'The Women's Brain Book: The neuroscience of health, hormones and happiness.'
In this entertaining and informative episode Ellen and Sarah discuss:

•Nature, nurture and neuroplasticity
•Baby brain, menopause and the life of the female brain
•PMS - Myth or reality?
•The science of napping, and
•The secret to a long and flourishing life.Sarah also her shares her tips for a happy, healthy brain.
Come and listen in!

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In this episode Suzy discusses 'performance and character strengths' - a foundation of positive psychology - and how they inform our career choices and energise us in the workplace. She shares inspiring stories of helping people to discover their strengths at work and the confidence, joy and awe that this brings.
Suzy and Ellen also discuss:

•Positive Education and the work that The Positivity Institute does to bring strengths and the science of wellbeing to students, teachers and school communities
•Why Suzy feels that as a psychologist she has a duty of care to help kids to understand their emotions, themselves and others in order to prevent episodes of mental illness in the future
•Suzy's journey from early school leaver to world leader in her field, and
•The Positivity Institute's mission to increase worldwide wellbeing.

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In this episode Ellen talks to Chelle Taylor, child and family psychologist, about helping kids to manage stress and anxiety. Chelle is an expert in neurodevelopment and she explains how our brain responds to stress and why, for some kids, that response can be extreme.
Chelle shares her tips for helping kids to manage their emotions - tips that apply to grown ups too - and she encourages us all to learn more about how our brain and emotions work in order to live happier and calmer lives.
Chelle and Ellen also explore:
How jumping on the trampoline or eating a crunchy apple can help to calm kids down
Some counter-intuitive ideas for behaviour management
​The ways our kids tell us, without words, when they're doing it tough, and
Great books for understanding kids' brains and behaviour.

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In this episode of the Potential Psychology Podcast Ellen chat's to Mel Schilling, psychologist and relationship coach. You might know Mel as one of the experts on Married At First Sight Australia. As well as being a TV psychologist, Mel also works with organisations, individuals and the media on all things 'relationship', so everything from dating and intimacy through to business negotiation and influencing. In this episode Ellen and Mel explore:


•Power posing

•Building confidence and self belief

•Women and the workplace

•Mel's tips for relationships, new and old, and

•How she juggles a family in Bali with work in Australia.

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This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit potentialpsychology.substack.com