Better Thinking

In this episode of Better Thinking, Nesh Nikolic speaks with Richard Hill and Matthew Dahlitz about their new book, The Practitioner's Guide to the Science of Psychotherapy. Richard Hill, MA, MEd, MBMSc, DPC, has emerged from a diverse and fascinating journey to become an innovative speaker on the mind, brain and the human condition. From an early career in the creative arts, Richard returned to intellectual studies at 42 (1996) beginning with a Bachelor of Arts majoring in linguistics. This triggered a curiosity that led to a diploma in counselling and a new career in psychotherapy. Studying continued and he has added three Masters degrees – an MA in Social Ecology; an MEd in Social Ecology; and a Masters in Brain and Mind Sciences (MBMSc) from Sydney University. Richard is also fortunate to be mentored by the esteemed Ernest Rossi PhD who has invited Richard into the International Psychosocial Genomics Research Team to study the impact of therapeutic practice on the genetic level. Matthew Dahlitz is b

In this episode of Better Thinking, Nesh Nikolic speaks with Professor Kenneth Pakenham about the processes that foster personal growth in the context of health adversities and the power of embracing inner pain. Kenneth Pakenham, PhD, is an Emeritus Professor of clinical and health psychology in the School of Psychology at The University of Queensland, Australia. His research and clinical practice in psychology spans 40 years. Inspired by the resilience of some people with serious illnesses, he has committed much of his career to investigating the processes that foster personal growth in the context of health adversities, and to translating his findings into interventions that help people live fully with illness. This passion has driven his empirical, theoretical and translational research, curriculum development, and clinical training and supervision. Importantly, his work has included not only the person with chronic illness, but also his or her network, particularly the carer. Through his 160+ publications

In this episode of Better Thinking, Nesh Nikolic speaks with Virginia Slaughter about the controversial topic of whether newborns have the ability to imitate. Virginia Slaughter is Professor of Psychology at the University of Queensland, Australia, where she founded the Early Cognitive Development Centre. Her research focuses on social and cognitive development in infants and young children, with particular emphasis on social behaviour in infancy, theory-of-mind development and the acquisition of peer interaction skills. She is a Fellow of the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia and a Fellow of the Association for Psychological Science. Episode link at https://neshnikolic.com/podcast/virginia-slaughterSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Better Thinking, Nesh Nikolic speaks with Winnifred R. Louis about ways on how to create a successful activism campaign. Winnifred R. Louis is a Professor in the School of Psychology at the University of Queensland. Her research interests focus on the influence of identity and norms on social decision-making. She has studied this broad topic in contexts from politics and community activism to health and environmental choices. She is a Fellow of the Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues, a Fellow of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, and a Fellow of the Australian Psychological Society. Winnifred has served or is serving on the editorial board of journals including Peace and Conflict: The Journal of Peace Psychology, the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, Journal of Social and Political Psychology, and Behavioral Sciences of Terrorism and Political Aggression. She is a member of numerous professional associations including the Centre for Research in

In this episode of Better Thinking, Nesh Nikolic speaks with Dr Eli Kotler about the use of psychedelics as a therapeutic aid to trauma and addiction. Dr Eli Kotler is a consultant psychiatrist, holds an academic position at Monash University through the Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre, and is the medical director of Malvern Private Hospital, the first addiction hospital in Australia. He is a member of the Australasian Professional Society on Alcohol and other Drugs (APSAD). Clinically, Eli is interested in the deep connections between trauma and addiction and works within a neuro-psychoanalytic framework. Dr Eli has overseen the development of a clinical program for addictions focused on trauma, particularly developmental trauma. This has led to an interest in medication-assisted trauma therapy. Eli worked for many years researching neurodegenerative diseases and was the principle investigator on numerous trials for novel therapeutics. He is founding member of the Melbourne Neuropsychoanalytic Group and we

In this episode of Better Thinking, Nesh Nikolic speaks with Lyn Worsley about understanding, practicing, and developing resilience. Lyn Worsley is the author and director of the Resilience Doughnut. As a clinical psychologist and registered nurse, her experience in a number of contexts such as hospitals, correctional facilities, child care, schools and allied health care services, informs her application of the model. She is a dynamic teacher and psychologist with a practical edge to her use of research and theory. Training as well as therapy are key strengths for Lyn, working with over 200 schools, business, corporate and community organisations to build personal resilience, helping people to flourish and thrive. Lyn is also the director of the Resilience Centre in Sydney Australia, which has a reputation for innovative solution-focused approaches to client change through individual and group therapies for over 21 years. At the Resilience Centre, Lyn supervises specialist psychologists, and coordinates comm

In this episode of Better Thinking, Nesh Nikolic speaks with Dr Celin Gelgec about treating obsessive compulsive disorder and other related disorders including anxiety and depression. Dr Celin Gelgec is a clinical psychologist and the director of Melbourne Wellbeing Group. She works with people affected by obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), and other related disorders including anxiety (social anxiety, generalised anxiety, agoraphobia, health anxiety and panic disorder), and depression. Her interest in OCD began in 2010 while undertaking the Clinical doctorate program at Deakin University. After her final placement with the OCD inpatient program at The Melbourne Clinic, she remained with the program for another four years. During this time, she honed her knowledge and skills and developed treatment programs using exposure and response prevention, acceptance and commitment therapy, dialectical behaviour therapy and cognitive behaviour therapy. While working concurrently in private practice at Melbourne Wellb

In this episode of Better Thinking, Nesh Nikolic speaks with Joe Coyne about the Circle of Security Parenting Course and The Attachment Theory. Joe Coyne has worked for 20 years in the area of child and family psychology. He is particularly interested in the developmental processes involved in healthy outcomes and the impacts of parenting and life events on personal trajectories. In recent years he has been exploring the benefits of incorporating attachment theory and research into contemporary treatment approaches for parents, children and adults. Joe Coordinates the Master of Psychology (Educational and Developmental) at QUT and he is an Endorsed Clinical Psychologist and Endorsed Educational and Developmental Psychologist. In the past he has worked in Health services delivering family and parenting interventions, and supervising clinical staff, and prior to that in a trauma focused family service. He is an accredited therapist and supervisor for the Circle of Security Intervention. Episode link at https://

In this episode of Better Thinking, Nesh Nikolic speaks with Joel Sardi about regaining the quality of life after spinal cord injury. Joel Sardi had a fall and broke his C2 & C5, T3, T4 AND T5 vertebrae, also breaking his sternum on the 31st of August 2014. The injury caused irreparable spinal cord damage. He underwent a 6 hour surgery after the accident where the surgeons were able to stabilise his neck fractures and prevent any further spinal cord damage by inserting a titanium cage and fusing C4 to C6. Joel is classified as a “C-5'“ Quadriplegic. The injury that night left Joel a C5 quadriplegic, meaning that there are still some messages getting through the spinal cord and the extent of his recovery is unknown. Joel is paralysed from the shoulders down, has no movement in his legs and his upper body can only activate his biceps, forearms and wrists.  With the injury originally occurring in Adelaide where Joel was working, he was brought to the Royal Adelaide Hospital where h

In this episode of Better Thinking, Nesh Nikolic speaks with Dr Louise Byrne about the lived experience workforce development, better access to mental health services, and all about mental health issues we have today. Dr Louise Byrne is a Vice-Chancellor’s Senior Research Fellow at RMIT. Previously Louise was awarded a prestigious Fulbright Postdoctoral Scholarship and inaugural RMIT Fulbright fellowship, to conduct research on the Lived Experience mental health workforce in the United States. Louise’s Fulbright research was based at Yale University, where she holds an adjunct position. Louise is recognised internationally as a thought leader in the area of Lived Experience mental health workforce development. Louise has over 30 journal publications on this topic and has been awarded several times for outstanding contributions to research and teaching, held expert/advisory roles with State and National Mental Health Commissions and led policy development at State and National levels, including the

In this episode of Better Thinking, Nesh Nikolic speaks with Scott Harris about the physical and mental challenges of living with an injured brain. Scott B Harris is a keynote speaker, author, and resilience expert. In 2008, Scott was involved in a motorbike accident that caused lasting injuries including a Traumatic Brain Injury. This was due to a severe Closed Head Injury, which resulted in extensive facial fractures, requiring a facial reconstruction. To reconstruct his face, 11 titanium plates were bolted to his skull. The Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) was so severe that he sustained extremely severe Frontal Lobe Damage and shearing of the brain. This has left Scott with paralysis on the right side of his body from shoulder to toes, causing major instability issues. He also has a Brachial Plexus injury to his right arm involving three severed nerves. After the accident, rehab became Scott’s full-time job – a job he took very seriously. The intense physical and mental rehabilitation which he con

In this episode of Better Thinking, Nesh Nikolic speaks with Gaj Ravichandra about developing mental toughness and increasing mental resilience. Gaj Ravichandra is a mindset and leadership coach, organizational psychologist, and co-founder and Managing Partner at Kompass Consultancy. Gaj is a highly sought-after performance coach recognized for his effective leadership training techniques and passion for helping clients reach higher potential. For 20 years, Gaj has worked with leading organizations and individuals to enhance productivity, maximize performance, and accelerate growth. As a registered psychologist, Gaj leans on his psychology training to deliver the most effective evidence-based solutions to his clients. Gaj leads individuals, sporting teams, and educational institutions to success with cutting-edge learning techniques and disruptive growth strategies that are proven to enhance potential and performance. Recognized as an authority in peak performance and mental toughness, Gaj has spearheade

In this episode of Better Thinking, Nesh Nikolic speaks with Dr Christopher Love about Erectile Dysfunction and how much this condition can take a toll on men’s mental health. Dr Christopher Love is one of Australia’s most experienced Urological Surgeons, and the foremost Penile Implant and Peyronie’s Disease Surgeon in Australia. With over 35 years’ experience, Dr Love is known throughout the industry and by his patients as a caring, thoroughly professional and experienced surgeon with exceptional outcomes. Dr Love specialises in Erectile Dysfunction Treatment including Penile Implant Surgery, Peyronie’s Disease and Penile Curvature, Enlarged Prostate (BPH) treatment including Minimally Invasive Surgical Therapies (MIST), and other urological conditions and issues related to sexual health, prostate, bladder, kidneys, no-scalpel vasectomy, and general urology issues like urinary bleeding, stones and scrotal problems. Dr Christopher Love graduated from Monash University, Aust

In this episode of Better Thinking, Nesh Nikolic speaks with Dr Jon Lieff about how it’s our cells communicating with each other that causes feelings, sickness, thoughts, and diseases in our bodies. Dr. Jon Lieff is a neuropsychiatrist with a BA in Mathematics from Yale University and an MD from Harvard Medical School. He pioneered the creation of integrated treatment units that focus on complex patients with combined medical, psychiatric, and neurological problems. For ten years, Dr. Lieff has produced a weekly blog, called Searching for the Mind, where he summarized the latest scientific findings in brain science, immunology, molecular biology, animal intelligence, plant intelligence, microbes including viruses, and cellular intelligence. Dr. Lieff has written and edited multiple books and has lectured widely over the years on a variety of subjects. His recently published book, The Secret Language of Cells, is the result of his years of work researching scientific literature for his blog. The book has

In this episode of Better Thinking, Nesh Nikolic speaks with Prof Angela Martin about promoting workplace positivity and how we can actively manage mental health issues in the workplace. Angela Martin is a Professorial Research Fellow of Work & Mental Health, Menzies Institute for Medical Research, and an Adjunct Professor of Management, School of Business and Economics, at the University of Tasmania.  She is also a Director and the founder of Pracademia, a knowledge translation consultancy organisation. Her PhD is in the area of industrial and organisational psychology and she is well known nationally and internationally for her research on mental health in the context of working life and for developing mental health management capabilities in leaders, managers and employees. She has authored over 100 peer-reviewed publications and been an investigator on several nationally competitive funded research grants for studies of interventions that aim to create healthier working environments. Her con

In this episode of Better Thinking, Nesh Nikolic speaks with Michael Ronin about masculinity and the challenges of the modern men. Michael Ronin is an interdisciplinary cultural commentator, pulling together the threads of an unraveling world to provide clarity amidst all the Crazy. If there is a single objective truth, then it is found between many different trains of thought. Therefore, he generates insights that shed light onto that “truth” from diverse angles and viewpoints. He’s spent a large proportion of his adult life trying to see the world as it really is and coming to his own conclusions. Conclusions about everything he’s been told or have learned from others. Most people, especially nowadays through their social media preferences, live in an echo chamber. Strangely, he finds there aren’t enough groups or people out there whose thinking is closely mirrored by his own. He finds himself constantly and intentionally challenging his thinking by reading and reviewing stuff

In this episode of Better Thinking, Nesh Nikolic speaks with Dr Michael Leiter about improving work engagement and combatting burnout. Dr. Michael P. Leiter is Professor of Organisational Psychology at Deakin University in Melbourne Australia. He previously held the Canada Research Chair in Occupational Health at Acadia University. He has published widely on job burnout, work engagement, and workplace civility. His recent initiatives have focused on improving the quality of worklife through enhancing the level of civility and respect among colleagues. His intervention work on improving respect and civility at work has demonstrated a close link of improved collegiality with greater engagement with work. His most recent book with Cary Cooper is the The Routledge Companion to Wellbeing at Work. Episode link at https://neshnikolic.com/podcast/michael-leiterSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Better Thinking, Nesh Nikolic speaks with Dr Arnold Bakker about work engagement, job crafting, playful work design, job stress and burnout, strengths use, and topics about work life balance. Arnold Bakker, PhD. is Full Professor at the Department of Work and Organizational Psychology at Erasmus University Rotterdam, the Netherlands. He is President of the European Association of Work and Organizational Psychology, and a fellow of the American Psychological Society. In addition, he is Adjunct Professor at Lingnan University (Hong Kong), Distinguished Visting Professor at the University of Johannesburg (South Africa), and Extraordinary Professor at North-West University (South Africa). His research interests include positive organizational behavior (e.g., job crafting, playful work design, flow and engagement at work), job demands–resources theory, burnout, work-family balance, and crossover of work-related emotions. Episode link at https://neshnikolic.com/podcast/arnold-bakkerSee omny

In this episode of Better Thinking, Nesh Nikolic speaks with Dr Roy Sugarman about the role of biological perspective in psychology and how those two worlds are coming together. Dr Roy Sugarman is a Fellow of the Australian Psychological Society's Colleges of Clinical Neuropsychology and Clinical Psychology, member of the Royal Charter of Psychologists in the UK, an Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society, Member of the British Psychological Society’s Division of Neuropsychology and Faculty of Paediatric Neuropsychology, and a member of the American Psychological Association.  In the USA he is on the advisory boards of several USA-based entities: as Neuroscience lead with Social Health Innovations and Transhuman Inc, (Sydney and Delaware), Mind Experts International (Fla), as well as directing Applied Neuroscience in the Performance Innovation Team of EXOS (Az).  In this last capacity he served as a mindset coach with the USA National Men's Soccer Team, as well as providing suppo

In this episode of Better Thinking, Nesh Nikolic speaks with Dr Anthony Biglan about his book, The Nurture Effect, which offers evidence-based interventions that can prevent many of the psychological and behavioral problems that plague our society. Anthony Biglan, Ph.D., is a Senior Scientist at Oregon Research Institute. He has been conducting research on the development and prevention of child and adolescent problem behavior for the past 30 years. His work has included studies of the risk and protective factors associated with tobacco, alcohol, and other drug use; high-risk sexual behavior; and antisocial behavior. He has conducted numerous experimental evaluations of interventions to prevent tobacco use both through school-based programs and community-wide interventions. And, he has evaluated interventions to prevent high-risk sexual behavior, antisocial behavior, and reading failure. In recent years, his work has shifted to more comprehensive interventions that have the potential to prevent the entire ran