Mental Work

Bron is joined by Matthew Jackson (Psychologist) to unpack psychologist myths and facts, quickfire style. Bron presents the myths (which Matthew has not heard before!) and Matthew weighs in, from whether therapists secretly judge clients to whether you can only take clients as far as you've gone yourself. They chat about:👉🏽 Judging clients and having favourite clients👉🏻 Does charging a fee for therapy mean you don't care?👉 Feeling lost in sessions and whether the therapeutic relationship is enough👉🏿 Do you need to be smarter than your clients to do good therapy? Guest: Matthew Jackson, Psychologist and Board-Approved Supervisor LINKS Matt's Insta for Matilda Mercury THE END BITS Mental Work is the podcast for psychologists about the realities of working in mental health, with an early-career focus. Hosted by psychologist/researcher Dr Bronwyn Milkins. Support the show by buying me a virtual coffee ☕🍵 Have a question, episode idea or just want to say hi? DM Bron on Instagram, leave a comment on the Spotify episode, or email [email protected] Apply to be a guest / YouTube (with captions & transcript) / Website CREDITS Producer: Michael English Music: Home Commitment: Mental Work believes in an inclusive and diverse mental health workforce. We honour the strength, resilience, and invaluable contributions of mental health workers with lived experiences of mental illness, disability, neurodivergence, LGBTIQA+ identities, and diverse culture and language. We recognise our First Nations colleagues as Traditional Custodians of the land and pay respect to Elders past, present, and emerging. Mental Work is recorded on unceded Whadjuk Noongar boodja. Disclaimer: Mental Work provides informational content. Mental Work is not a psychological service and being a listener or guest does not establish a therapeutic relationship. Content should not be considered a replacement for professional consultation or therapy. All views expressed are personal, subject to change, and do not represent those of any affiliated employer, service, or organisation past or present. 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 is joined by Marie Vakakis (Mental Health Social Worker and couples therapist) to chat about working with couples who stonewall, withdraw, and shut down. Marie unpacks the Gottman Method's "Four Horsemen" and shares exactly what to say and do when a couple's session starts to unravel. I found the episode really helpful for individual work, too! They chat about:👉🏽 The Four Horsemen: Criticism, Defensiveness, Contempt and Stonewalling👉🏻 The specific antidotes to each pattern, including the "I feel, when, I need" formula👉 How to recognise nervous system overwhelm and pause a session safely👉🏿 Common mistakes early-career clinicians make starting out in couples work Guest: Marie Vakakis, Accredited mental health social worker and couples therapist LINKS Marie's practice - The Therapy Hub Marie's podcast - Inside Social Work podcast Marie's other podcast - This Complex Life podcast Marie's website Marie on LinkedIn The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work by John Gottman Fight Right by John and Julie Gottman Marie's previous Mental Work episode on couples work THE END BITS Mental Work is the podcast for psychologists about the realities of working in mental health, with an early-career focus. Hosted by psychologist/researcher Dr Bronwyn Milkins. Support the show by buying me a virtual coffee ☕🍵 Have a question, episode idea or just want to say hi? DM Bron on Instagram, leave a comment on the Spotify episode, or email [email protected] Apply to be a guest / YouTube (with captions & transcript) / Website CREDITS Producer: Michael English Music: Home Commitment: Mental Work believes in an inclusive and diverse mental health workforce. We honour the strength, resilience, and invaluable contributions of mental health workers with lived experiences of mental illness, disability, neurodivergence, LGBTIQA+ identities, and diverse culture and language. We recognise our First Nations colleagues as Traditional Custodians of the land and pay respect to Elders past, present, and emerging. Mental Work is recorded on unceded Whadjuk Noongar boodja. Disclaimer: Mental Work provides informational content. Mental Work is not a psychological service and being a listener or guest does not establish a therapeutic relationship. Content should not be considered a replacement for professional consultation or therapy. All views expressed are personal, subject to change, and do not represent those of any affiliated employer, service, or organisation past or present. 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 is joined by Krasi Kirova (Clinical Psychologist) to chat about identifying coercive control in the therapy room. Krasi shares her own '3Ds' framework, built from years of clinical work, to help clinicians name abuse that doesn't always look obvious. They chat about:👉🏽 Krasi's '3Ds' framework: Disrespect, Disempowerment and Distortion👉🏻 Why coercive control is so often missed by psychologists👉 The concept of "perspecticide" and how abusers distort reality👉🏿 Practical questions to ask clients who might be experiencing it Guest: Krasi Kirova, Clinical psychologist LINKS Learn more with Krasi! She has an online course for psychologists & mental health practitioners on recognising coercive control, available here. Krasi's website DV Alert training - Free training on domestic abuse in Australia Safe and Equal (formerly Domestic Violence Resource Centre Victoria) Safe and Together Institute See What You Made Me Do by Jess Hill - Highly recommended book! Why Does He Do That? by Lundy Bancroft Laura Richards - Resources including the Domestic Abuse, Stalking and Honour Based Violence (DASH 2009-2025) Risk Identification, Assessment and Management Model Emma Katz's Substack on decoding coercive control Ramani Durvasula THE END BITS Mental Work is the podcast for psychologists about the realities of working in mental health, with an early-career focus. Hosted by psychologist/researcher Dr Bronwyn Milkins. Support the show by buying me a virtual coffee ☕🍵 Have a question, episode idea or just want to say hi? DM Bron on Instagram, leave a comment on the Spotify episode, or email [email protected] Apply to be a guest / YouTube (with captions & transcript) / Website CREDITS Producer: Michael English Music: Home Commitment: Mental Work believes in an inclusive and diverse mental health workforce. We honour the strength, resilience, and invaluable contributions of mental health workers with lived experiences of mental illness, disability, neurodivergence, LGBTIQA+ identities, and diverse culture and language. We recognise our First Nations colleagues as Traditional Custodians of the land and pay respect to Elders past, present, and emerging. Mental Work is recorded on unceded Whadjuk Noongar boodja. Disclaimer: Mental Work provides informational content. Mental Work is not a psychological service and being a listener or guest does not establish a therapeutic relationship. Content should not be considered a replacement for professional consultation or therapy. All views expressed are personal, subject to change, and do not represent those of any affiliated employer, service, or organisation past or present. 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 is joined by Mish Kumar-Jonson (Mental Health Social Worker and Chair of the Iceberg Foundation) about bringing anti-oppressive and anti-colonial practice into therapy. Mish shares how their own experience of migration and community shaped a lifelong commitment to supporting LGBTIQASBP+, neurodivergent, and BIPOC communities, and supporting mental health practitioners to unlearn colonial norms in their work. They chat about:👉🏽 How pathologising language and power imbalances show up in everyday therapy👉🏻 Why "neutral" therapy is never actually neutral👉 Practical ways to name structural causes of distress with clients👉🏿 How to sustain joy and community support while doing this work long term Guest: Mish Kumar-Jonson, Mental Health Social Worker and EMDR Consultant LINKS Iceberg Foundation Mish's practice: Niram EMDR and Trauma Counselling Mish on LinkedIn Mish on Instagram THE END BITS Mental Work is the podcast for psychologists about the realities of working in mental health, with an early-career focus. Hosted by psychologist/researcher Dr Bronwyn Milkins. Support the show by buying me a virtual coffee ☕🍵 Have a question, episode idea or just want to say hi? DM Bron on Instagram, leave a comment on the Spotify episode, or email [email protected] Apply to be a guest / YouTube (with captions & transcript) / Website CREDITS Producer: Michael English Music: Home Commitment: Mental Work believes in an inclusive and diverse mental health workforce. We honour the strength, resilience, and invaluable contributions of mental health workers with lived experiences of mental illness, disability, neurodivergence, LGBTIQA+ identities, and diverse culture and language. We recognise our First Nations colleagues as Traditional Custodians of the land and pay respect to Elders past, present, and emerging. Mental Work is recorded on unceded Whadjuk Noongar boodja. Disclaimer: Mental Work provides informational content. Mental Work is not a psychological service and being a listener or guest does not establish a therapeutic relationship. Content should not be considered a replacement for professional consultation or therapy. All views expressed are personal, subject to change, and do not represent those of any affiliated employer, service, or organisation past or present. 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 is joined by Renae Martelli (psychologist, Board-approved supervisor, and former school psychologist) to unpack what school psychology really involves. Renae shares how the role differs from private practice, why the work is more varied than most people expect, and how to figure out if being a school psychologist is for you.  They chat about:👉 What a typical school psychologist's day actually looks like👉 How to get into school psychology and what qualifications you need👉 Navigating multiple relationships and confidentiality within schools👉 The personality traits that suit (or don't suit) school psychology Guest: Renae Martelli, Psychologist at Think Feel Grow and Board-Approved Supervisor LINKS Renae's private practice, Think Feel Grow Renae's Instagram Renae's LinkedIn THE END BITS Mental Work is the podcast for psychologists about the realities of working in mental health, with an early-career focus. Hosted by psychologist/researcher Dr Bronwyn Milkins. Support the show by buying me a virtual coffee ☕🍵 Have a question, episode idea or just want to say hi? DM Bron on Instagram, leave a comment on the Spotify episode, or email [email protected] Apply to be a guest / YouTube (with captions & transcript) / Website CREDITS Producer: Michael English Music: Home Commitment: Mental Work believes in an inclusive and diverse mental health workforce. We honour the strength, resilience, and invaluable contributions of mental health workers with lived experiences of mental illness, disability, neurodivergence, LGBTIQA+ identities, and diverse culture and language. We recognise our First Nations colleagues as Traditional Custodians of the land and pay respect to Elders past, present, and emerging. Mental Work is recorded on unceded Whadjuk Noongar boodja. Disclaimer: Mental Work provides informational content. Mental Work is not a psychological service and being a listener or guest does not establish a therapeutic relationship. Content should not be considered a replacement for professional consultation or therapy. All views expressed are personal, subject to change, and do not represent those of any affiliated employer, service, or organisation past or present. 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.