Mental Work

Content warning: This episode includes discussion of suicide and its emotional impacts. Specific methods or cases are not discussed. Please take care while listening, and we encourage you to pause or stop listening as needed.

Every day in Australia, an average of 9 people die by suicide and their loss is felt deeply by their family, loved ones, communities, and the mental health professionals involved in their care. The impact of c...

It's a listener story! 🥳 Tess is a provisional psychologist studying her Master of Clinical Psychology and in this ep, she shares exactly what it's like including overcoming perfectionism, imposter syndrome, the value of supportive peers and supervisors, juggling study and work, and other thoughts on her journey towards full registration as a psychologist. Tess also talks about her deeply important Masters research on postpartum p...

Hello! Bron here - I'm looking for new episode ideas and guests. This podcast is for you, so I want to hear from you! If you would like to be a guest to chat about a topic that early-career mental health workers should know about, I'd love to hear from you!

• Topic and guest suggestions: Contact me at mentalworkpodcast.com/contact or DM me on Instagram @_mentalworkpodcast
• Be a guest: Apply at mentalworkpodcast.com/p/guest
• Email ...

Bron is joined by Dr Alix Woolard, a Senior Research Fellow at The Kids Research Institute, to give us an insider peek into the world of being a youth mental health researcher. Along the way, we chat about how research and clinical work can complement each other, the challenges and triumphs of research, and the importance of a supportive team. We also discuss practical steps for early-career mental health professionals interested i...

Not all mental health professionals experience burnout, but if they do, they might not realise just how bad it is. Matthew returns to the pod to chat with Bron about the five phases of burnout, starting from the honeymoon phase to the habitual burnout phase. Drawing from personal experiences and research, Matthew provides practical strategies for early career mental health workers to identify and manage burnout. Bron and Matthew al...

Raimy-Rose joins Bron to discuss her journey as a disability advocate and personal trainer specialising in Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS). Raimy shares her journey from traditional work environments to running her own business serving a community she is deeply passionate about. We talk about the challenges people with disability face in standard work settings, the benefits and flexibility entrepreneurship provides, and the importance...

Bron and Jordan are two neurodivergent psychologists, and in this episode we chat about the strengths we bring to the role and challenges we have faced in light of our neurodivergence. We talk about attention to detail, hyperfocus, empathy, self-doubt, rejection sensitivity, the decision to disclose neurodivergence, maintaining professional boundaries, and how to maximise strengths and minimise challenges - this episode has it all!...

Bron is joined by Liz, a clinical and counseling psychologist & IVF coach to chat about the unique challenges neurodivergent people face during IVF treatment (that's In Vitro Fertilisation treatment), and how we can best support them. Liz shares her personal experiences as a late-diagnosed autistic woman and highlights the sensory overload, emotional stress, and medical trauma involved. Tune in to learn about practical strategi...

We welcome our first occupational therapist guest, Emma Craske! 🥳 Bron and Emma chat about what it's like working as an OT before turning to Emma's passion topic, sensory modulation therapy. Emma talks about how sensory modulation can help clients with a range of challenges and gets specific about the techniques that might be used in a session. I really enjoyed learning about this creative and practical approach to helping client'...

Bron is joined by Rosemary Gattuso (Trauma-Informed Family Mediator) to talk about the role of a mediator in the family court and Rosemary's special interest in helping people manage overthinking. We chat about what family mediation is, what it involves (and what it doesn't), and then go on to practical strategies for managing overthinking that early-career mental health professionals can apply to themselves and use in their work. ...

Bron is joined by Samantha to unpack imagery rescripting and reprocessing therapy (IRRT), a technique well-known in Germany but relatively unknown in Australia. We also talk about Samantha's journey of moving to Australia to practice psychology and interesting differences in how therapy is delivered. Samantha also shares the importance of finding a therapeutic approach that resonates with you, rather than feeling pressured to learn...

In this solo ep, Bron reflects on five years of registration as a psychologist. She shares her Top 10 reflections and what she wishes she had known starting out. From shifts in professional identity, changes in approaches to therapy, and thoughts on finding your professional tribe, Bron offers her reflections on her early-career years (which she hopes will prompt your own reflections!).

THE END BITS

Mental Work is the Australian po...

Many of us have been told to 'follow your passion' when it comes to choosing a career, but is that good advice? Bron and Marie look into the research-backed factors that predict whether you'll think your job is a dream or a flop.

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

LINKS

• Article discussed in this episode: "We reviewed over 60 studies about w...

Bron and creative arts therapist Abi Jenkins chat about her journey from full-time employment to private practice as an early-career dance therapist. Abi shares her insights on balancing creativity with financial sustainability, the importance of setting boundaries, and the unique challenges and opportunities that come with working in aged care and private practice. We also chat about dance therapy and tips for making the leap into...

Prompted by the upcoming Australian Federal election, in this solo ep Bron unpacks whether psychologists should speak up about political issues or remain politically neutral. Bron also walks through the AHPRA code of conduct, AHPRA social media guidelines, and other considerations for those who want to advocate for change. Tune in for a thought-provoking discussion on the intersection of psychology and politics!

LINKS

• Wells, R...

Bron is joined by Shane (Community Psychologist) to chat about reflective practice groups and how they can be a great tool for preventing burnout in early-career clinicians. We chat about what reflective practice groups involve, how they can reduce feelings of isolation (that "I'm the only one experiencing this" feeling), and how you can implement reflective practices in our workplace, supervision group, or regular peer consultatio...

Bron and Dr. Kate Jackowski (Forensic Psychologist) chat about working within Australia's family court system. We talk about what it's like to write court reports, the intricacies of family court assessments, what Kate finds rewarding about this line of work, and how to maintain objectivity and self-care when working with sensitive subject matter. Bron had a lot of beginner questions about the Family Court, which makes the epi...

Bron is joined by Caitlin Bell (Copywriter and clinical psychologist) to chat about her unique career path. That's right, it's a listener story! 🥳 Caitlin shares her journey from a winding educational path to finding a home in her creative passion for copywriting. We talk about imposter syndrome, burnout, professional identity, and the challenges of balancing dual careers - this episode has it all!

Guest: Caitlin Bell, Copywriter ...

Last year, Bron participated in a week-long program called "Pathways to Politics", which aims to equip women with the skills and confidence to run for office. Before going in, Bron knew as much about politics as many people, in that it usually involves intense debates, democracy sausages, and a fair bit of drama. She left the program knowing so much more, and felt very inspired to share with you what the program involves, what she ...