Prevention is Cure

MENTAL HEALTH SERIES Episode 10: In this episode, Prof Grant Schofield speaks with Dr Robin Youngson, a Trauma Therapist, Certified Havening Practitioner and retired Anesthesiologist.

Grant and Robin discuss Robin’s journey initially as an engineer and then into medicine as an anesthesiologist and his disillusionment and drive for change at a really high level in the medical system. Robin has since become a central figure in the field of trauma therapy and is bringing about real change with tools such as the Havening technique as part of his approach to use the latest science to treat psychological ill-health.

"I'm talking about really serious major trauma and extremely disordered lives and whatever is presenting I start to work with and it's like archeology, we gradually dig down the layers and get down to the older and older stuff and it just emerges out of the subconscious bit by bit... we just quietly and patiently work our way and you see the client gradually build more and more resilience, letting go of trauma, losing symptoms ad physical health improving bit by bit." – Dr Robin Youngson

PREKURE provides university level online & interactive short courses & certificates in lifestyle medicine for individuals and professionals. Internationally certified in New Zealand, Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom, PREKURE courses are taught by recognised world experts and academics who share only evidence-based knowledge and tools. Learn more about PREKURE and our Mental Health Solutions. www.prekure.com

MENTAL HEALTH SERIES Episode 9: In this episode, Prof Grant Schofield speaks with Lisa Burch, a PREKURE Health Coach and substance misuse and addictions expert.

Grant and Lisa talk about Lisa's own battle with alcohol over many decades as well as the thought patterns that people struggling with addiction have. They cover the initial hopelessness that comes with addiction as well as the learnings, especially around neuro-plasticity, dopamine and how the brain functions in regards to addictive substances. Lisa's story is powerful, personal and real and shares a unique point of view of someone who not only understands the latest research as a certified Health Coach, but who also carries with her a lifetime of lived experience.

"A third path opened up. I had 'dying' or 'miserable recovering alcoholic' and then suddenly I had this little glimmer of hope that actually, maybe there was another way. Maybe there's life without alcohol. And I can do it, I can get there... And it was tough you know, I had bad days. But certainly I knew I had gained enough that there was no way I was ever, ever going to go back. Life began to get progressively better." – Lisa Burch

PREKURE provides university level online & interactive short courses & certificates in lifestyle medicine for individuals and professionals. Internationally certified in New Zealand, Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom, PREKURE courses are taught by recognised world experts and academics who share only evidence-based knowledge and tools. Learn more about PREKURE and our Mental Health Solutions. www.prekure.com

MENTAL HEALTH SERIES Episode 8: In this episode Prof Grant Schofield speaks with Dr. Katie Holton a nutritional neuroscientist and professor at American University in Washington, DC.

Grant and Katie discuss how she became interested in nutrition and neuroscience and her work on optimising neurological health through diet, particularly her research on the effects of a low glutamate diet on the neurological symptoms of Gulf War Illness.

"Not only are we not seeing any negative side-affects, we see some other positive benefits like blood pressure being reduced even though we weren't aiming to reduce blood pressure, or people losing weight who weren't trying to lose weight at all." – Dr. Katie Holton

PREKURE provides university level online & interactive short courses & certificates in lifestyle medicine for individuals and professionals. Internationally certified in New Zealand, Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom, PREKURE courses are taught by recognised world experts and academics who share only evidence-based knowledge and tools. Learn more about PREKURE and our Mental Health Solutions. www.prekure.com

MENTAL HEALTH SERIES Episode 7: In this episode Prof Grant Schofield speaks with George Henderson a former addict turned self-taught and widely published academic. George describes how boredom and curiosity led him to seek out addictive substances in the 70's, a time when the drug culture was running rampant in New Zealand.

Grant and George discuss the biology of addiction, looking at different substances and delving into the importance of the environment and the neurobiology of addiction, or what's going on in the brain. A thought provoking discussion about what it means to be addicted.

"The disease model of addiction is valid. The way I see it, a substance gets into your brain and hacks your brain cells so you can only sign in using the drug" - George Henderson

PREKURE provides university level online & interactive short courses & certificates in lifestyle medicine for individuals and professionals. Internationally certified in New Zealand, Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom, PREKURE courses are taught by recognised world experts and academics who share only evidence-based knowledge and tools. Learn more about PREKURE and our Mental Health Solutions. www.prekure.com

MENTAL HEALTH SERIES Episode 6: This episode we share a hopeful discussion about the simple things you can do everyday to boost your serotonin, get better at handling stress and live a happier, healthier life. Prof Grant Schofield talks to Dave Wood, an intensive care paramedic and the founder of Woody’s Movement Workshop where he takes a holistic approach to athletic performance.

Dave talks about his experience as an intensive paramedic, his recent move to start Woody’s Movement Workshop, and the importance of training the breathing and nervous systems for optimal health and performance.

Prof Grant and Dave explore lifestyle medicine tools like breath, connecting with the earth, prioritising sleep, eating good food, moving your body, getting cold, and exposing yourself to natural light, and the profound positive effects on mental health.

PREKURE provides university level online & interactive short courses & certificates in lifestyle medicine for individuals and professionals. Internationally certified in New Zealand, Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom, PREKURE courses are taught by recognised world experts and academics who share only evidence-based knowledge and tools. Learn more about PREKURE and our Mental Health Solutions. www.prekure.com

MENTAL HEALTH SERIES Episode 5: This episode Prof Grant Schofield talks to PREKURE'S lead Health Coach and critical care nurse, Sonya English. With 35-years experience in critical care Sonya has had what she terms "a front row seat to human tragedy". She is uniquely placed to talk about life and death and the way we, in our Western society, deal with these concepts and could potentially do a better job of it.

In this podcast Sonya discusses how she uses health coaching techniques like curious questions, to support patients as they navigate our 'sick care system'. Sonya explains the importance of compassion, honesty, and asking people what they really want in a system where they are often told what to do. This podcast shines a light on the importance of putting people back at the centre of our healthcare system and our approaches to treatment.

An illuminating discussion on how we should get back to treating people like people, support them in regaining their agency and give them the tools to make informed decisions. This discussion illustrates how health coaching is the formula to make this happen and allow people to regain power over their health and their life.

PREKURE provides university level online & interactive short courses & certificates in lifestyle medicine for individuals and professionals. Internationally certified in New Zealand, Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom, PREKURE courses are taught by recognised world experts and academics who share only evidence-based knowledge and tools. Learn more about PREKURE and our Mental Health Solutions. www.prekure.com

MENTAL HEALTH SERIES Episode 4: What exactly is a pracademic? This episode Prof Grant Schofield talks with Paul Taylor to answer that question. Join in as they explore the importance of rituals in behaviour change and discuss ancient Stoic philosophies of wellbeing.

Paul is an exercise physiologist, nutritionist, and neuroscientist. Currently pursuing a PhD in psychology, Paul is passionate about translating the science into practice to help people identify practical tools and solutions to live a better life. 

Paul explains the importance of prompts, if-then behaviours, and building self-efficacy in the behaviour change process. He gives practical examples based on his experiences with incorporating the teachings of Standford researcher and author of 'Tiny Habits' BJ Fogg into his own life. 

Tune in as Paul delves into the teachings of ancient Stoic philosophers and discusses the similarities with common psychotherapy tools today including cognitive behavioural therapy and acceptance and commitment therapy. Learn practical tools like the zone 1 and zone 2 concept that you can implement in your life today.

"The Stoics are all about conditioning the mind and the body to deal with whatever life will throw at you". - Paul Taylor

PREKURE provides university level online & interactive short courses & certificates in lifestyle medicine for individuals and professionals. Internationally certified in New Zealand, Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom, PREKURE courses are taught by recognised world experts and academics who share only evidence-based knowledge and tools. Learn more about PREKURE and our Mental Health Solutions. www.prekure.com

MENTAL HEALTH SERIES Episode 3: In this episode Prof Grant Schofield talks to PREKURE’s resident Psychologist Sophia Dawson. Sophia outlines the roles of different mental health professionals and what 'going to a psychologist' might look like. Catch their discussion as they delve into:

"In ACT we don't describe thoughts and feelings to be positive or negative. It's either helpful or unhelpful, workable or unworkable. The idea that suffering being inherent in the human experience certainly isn't new and ACT really just normalises that as a part of being human." - Sophia Dawson

PREKURE provides university level online & interactive short courses & certificates in lifestyle medicine for individuals and professionals. Internationally certified in New Zealand, Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom, PREKURE courses are taught by recognised world experts and academics who share only evidence-based knowledge and tools. Learn more about PREKURE and our Mental Health Solutions. www.prekure.com

MENTAL HEALTH SERIES Episode 2: Prof Grant Schofield discusses nutritional psychology with Prof Julia Rucklidge, Prof Clinical Psychology at University of Canterbury, mental health & nutrition researcher, co-author The Better Brain, TEDx and edX speaker. How what we consume has direct implications on our mental health. Find out how to optimise your micronutrients for daily living and mental wellbeing.

“We asked this question whether people who were better nourished before a stressor came along, do they recover more quickly from a stress of an earthquake? And the answer is yes they do.” – Prof Julia Rucklidge

PREKURE provides university level online & interactive short courses & certificates in lifestyle medicine for individuals and professionals. Internationally certified in New Zealand, Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom, PREKURE courses are taught by recognised world experts and academics who share only evidence-based knowledge and tools. Learn more about PREKURE and our Mental Health Solutions. www.prekure.com

MENTAL HEALTH SERIES Episode 1: Jimi Hunt is an author, mental health advocate and former New Zealander of the year nominee. Prof Grant and Jimi discuss the idea of ‘mental fitness’ and how we have lost our way with mental wellbeing and conventional medicine. How can we become mentally fitter and get back onto the right track?

“The greatest possible benefit of meditation is the understanding that you are not your thoughts, you are an observer of your thoughts.” – Jimi Hunt

PREKURE provides university level online & interactive short courses & certificates in lifestyle medicine for individuals and professionals. Internationally certified in New Zealand, Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom, PREKURE courses are taught by recognised world experts and academics who share only evidence-based knowledge and tools. Learn more about PREKURE and our Mental Health Solutions. www.prekure.com