• #141 – Dr Conal Monaghan on Dimensional Models of Personality Disorder

    In this episode of Better Thinking, Nesh Nikolic speaks with Dr Conal Monaghan about dimensional models of personality disorder as well as the limitations and merits in the current diagnostic method. Dr Conal Monaghan was conferred his PhD (Clinical Psychology) from the ANU in 2019. He also graduated with a degree in marketing with a…

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  • #140 – Professor Nick Haslam on ‘Concept Creep’

    In this episode of Better Thinking, Nesh Nikolic speaks with Nick Haslam about “concept creep” in the field of psychology and how it has reshaped many aspects of modern society. Nick Haslam is Professor of Psychology at the University of Melbourne. He received his BA(Hons) from the University of Melbourne, his MA and PhD from…

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  • #139 – Dr Janet Hall on Practical Solutions to Sexual and Relationship Issues

    In this episode of Better Thinking, Nesh Nikolic speaks with Dr Janet Hall about user-friendly strategies offering practical solutions to sexual and relationship issues. Dr. Janet Hall is a retired psychologist of 40 years and still working as a, hypnotherapist, sex therapist, author, professional speaker, trainer, and media consultant. Dr Jan consults regularly with print…

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  • Trauma Informed Practice/Therapy

    What is Trauma Informed Practice/Therapy? Trauma informed practice/therapy encompasses various psychological interventions that can target trauma, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), exposure therapy, and eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR). These therapeutic approaches aim to provide education about trauma, equip individuals with stress management techniques, and assist them with facing distressing memories and challenging situations…

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  • Mindfulness

    What is Mindfulness? Mindfulness is a practice of paying attention to the present moment in a non-judgmental way. It involves being fully aware of your thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations, and the surrounding environment. By cultivating mindfulness, you can develop a greater sense of self-awareness, enhance your ability to manage stress, and improve overall well-being. When…

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  • #138 – Rebecca Collie on Fostering Thriving Environments for Teachers and Students

    In this episode of Better Thinking, Nesh Nikolic speaks with Rebecca Collie about promoting and understanding educational settings to help both teachers and student thrive. Rebecca Collie is a Scientia Associate Professor of Educational Psychology in the UNSW School of Education. She conducts research in the areas of motivation, wellbeing, and social-emotional development using quantitative…

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  • #137 – Paul Fitzgerald on Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Treatment

    In this episode of Better Thinking, Nesh Nikolic speaks with Paul Fitzgerald about the development of novel brain stimulation treatment options including repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) for patients with depression, schizophrenia, obsessive compulsive disorder, PTSD, autism and Alzheimer’s disease. Paul Fitzgerald is the Head of the School of Medicine and Psychology at the Australian…

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  • #136 – Dr Divna Haslam on The Findings of the Australian Child Maltreatment Study

    In this episode of Better Thinking, Nesh Nikolic speaks with Divna Haslam about child maltreatment and the findings of the Australian Child Maltreatment Study, which conducted the first prevalence data of child maltreatment in Australia. Dr Divna Haslam is a clinical psychologist and family researcher based in the Faculty of Law at Queensland University of…

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  • #135 – Helen Joyce on Navigating the Transgender Experience

    In this episode of Better Thinking, Nesh Nikolic speaks with Helen Joyce about the transgender experience, exploring the complexities of identity, reality, and ideology. Helen Joyce is an Irish journalist and critic of the transgender rights movement. She studied as a mathematician and worked in academia before becoming a journalist. Joyce began working for The…

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  • Rational Emotive Behavioural Therapy (REBT)

    What is Rational Emotive Behavioural Therapy? Rational Emotive Behavioural Therapy (REBT) is a type of therapy that helps people understand and change their thoughts, feelings, and behaviours.  It focuses on the idea that our thoughts and beliefs affect how we feel and act. By identifying and challenging irrational beliefs, REBT aims to replace them with…

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  • Panic Attack Tip Sheet

    A panic attack is a feeling of an overwhelming sense of sudden fear and anxiety. Almost all conditions of anxiety can have panic attacks in their presentation.  However these attacks most commonly affect those who suffer from panic disorder. A common sign or symptom of Panic Disorder occurs when a person experiences repeated panic attacks.…

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  • Anxiety Disorders Tip Sheet

    It is normal to feel anxious or worried at times. However for some people, the feeling of anxiety can be so persistent and overwhelming that people feel controlled by their anxiety, which can be quite debilitating. When someone is feeling persistently anxious in objectively safe situations, it can be described as an anxiety disorder. Such…

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  • Bipolar Disorder Tip Sheet

    Bipolar Disorder is a mood disorder in which a person experiences episodes of clinical depression and mania. Effects differ from person to person, with some experiencing normal living periods with small periods of episodes, and some experiencing constant cycles of depression and mania. People with Bipolar Disorder may find that it affects their everyday life.…

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  • #134 – Dr Jodie Fleming on Chronic Illness Management and Psycho-Oncology

    In this episode of Better Thinking, Nesh Nikolic speaks with Dr Jodie Fleming about understanding chronic illness management to finding values during difficult times. Jodie Fleming is a Clinical & Health Psychologist with a special interest in chronic illness management and psycho-oncology. Jodie interned in the Psycho-oncology service at The Mater Hospital and worked at…

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  • #133 – Ilan Dar-Nimrod on The Effects of Perceived Genetic Aetiology

    In this episode of Better Thinking, Nesh Nikolic speaks with Ilan Dar-Nimrod about the effects of perceived genetic aetiology for various phenomena. Dr. Ilan Dar-Nimrod is an Associate Professor at the School of Psychology, University of Sydney. Ilan has completed his BA with a double major at Haifa University and his MA and PhD (social…

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  • #132 – Kristie Miller on The Nature of Time

    In this episode of Better Thinking, Nesh Nikolic speaks with Professor Kristie Miller about the nature of time, perspectives of time, and temporal experience. Professor Kristie Miller took up an Australian Research Council Postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Queensland in Jan of 2006. In July of that 2006 Prof Miller moved to Sydney with…

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  • #131 – Alexander Holcombe on The Causes of The Replication Crisis

    In this episode of Better Thinking, Nesh Nikolic speaks with Alexander Holcombe about the replication crisis, trust in science, and the causes of the replication crisis. Alex Holcombe is a professor at the University of Sydney, who received his PhD in psychology from Harvard University in 2000. He has a strong interest in improving scientific…

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  • #130 – Dr Celine Van Golde on Reliability of Children as Eyewitnesses

    In this episode of Better Thinking, Nesh Nikolic speaks with Dr. Celine van Golde about the reliability of children as eyewitnesses and how that research has informed memory for repeated crimes (such as domestic violence) in adults. Dr. Celine van Golde is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Psychology at the University of Sydney.…

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  • #129 – Fiona Kumfor on Understanding Dementia and Other Neurodegenerative Diseases

    In this episode of Better Thinking, Nesh Nikolic speaks with Dr Fiona Kumfor about social cognition in clinical syndromes with a focus on dementia and other neurodegenerative diseases. Dr Fiona Kumfor holds a Masters of Clinical Neuropsychology from Macquarie University and a PhD in Neuroscience from University of New South Wales. She is currently an…

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  • #128 – Dr Micah Goldwater on The Psychology Of Pseudoscience And Conspiracy Theories

    In this episode of Better Thinking, Nesh Nikolic speaks with Dr Micah Goldwater about understanding the psychology of pseudoscience and conspiracy theories. Dr Micah Goldwater received his BA in Linguistics from the University of Rochester in 2003, completed his PhD in Psychology at the University of Texas at Austin in 2009, and then held a…

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  • #127 – Stephen Hinshaw on Developmental Psychopathology

    In this episode of Better Thinking, Nesh Nikolic speaks with Professor Stephen Hinshaw about his work on developmental psychopathology, clinical interventions with young people and addressing mental illness stigma in the community. Stephen Hinshaw is Distinguished Professor of Psychology at the University of California, Berkeley, where he was Department Chair from 2004-2011. He is also…

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