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#42 — Marcela Lapertosa on Intercultural Learning & Awareness
In this episode of Better Thinking, Nesh Nikolic speaks with clinical psychologist Marcela Lapertosa about what we can learn through our awareness, understanding and respect of different cultures. Marcela Lapertosa is a clinical psychologist and Senior Manager of Education and Development at AFS Intercultural Programs Australia. AFS Intercultural Programs is an international, voluntary, non-governmental, non-profit…
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#41 — Nesh Nikolic on Loneliness & Isolation
In this episode of Better Thinking, Nesh Nikolic speaks with Mary Andreadis about the psychological and contextual aspects of loneliness and isolation. Nesh Nikolic is a Canberra-based clinical psychologist with over 15,000 hours of one-on-one therapy experience. He has trained in a number of therapy modes including Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behaviour Therapy…
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#40 — Prof Devon Polaschek on Treating High-Risk Violent Offenders
In this episode of Better Thinking, Nesh Nikolic speaks with Professor Devon Polaschek about research and treatment of high-risk violent offenders in prisons and on parole. Devon Polaschek is a forensic clinical psychologist, professor of psychology, and Joint Director of the New Zealand Institute for Security and Crime Science at the University of Waikato. She…
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#39 — Janelle Colquhoun: “I’m Blind, Whatever!”
In this episode of Better Thinking, Nesh Nikolic speaks with Janelle Colquhoun about her incredible life before and after blindness. Her “I’m Blind, Whatever!” attitude is contagious and inspiring! At age 10, Janelle Colquhoun was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, which she ignored as she pursued her passion to be on stage. During school she…
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#38 — Prof Edward Watkins on Treatment of Depression & Rumination
In this episode of Better Thinking, Nesh Nikolic speaks with Professor Edward Watkins on his research in effective treatment of mood disorders, depression and rumination. Edward Watkins is Professor of Experimental and Applied Clinical Psychology and Director of Research for Professional Doctorates at the University of Exeter, UK. He is a clinical psychologist currently working…
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#37 — Dr Kevin Polk on the ACT Matrix
In this episode of Better Thinking, Nesh Nikolic speaks with Dr Kevin Polk about the the ACT Matrix and its application in both individual and clinical settings. Kevin Polk, PhD, is a clinical psychologist and creator of the ACT Matrix. He spent approximately 17,000 hours simplifying Acceptance and Commitment Therapy down to the two lines…
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#36 — Dr Erika Penney on Narcissistic & Borderline Personality Disorder
In this episode of Better Thinking, Nesh Nikolic speaks with Dr Erika Penney on the research and treatment of Narcissistic & Borderline Personality Disorder in psychology. Dr Erika Penneyis a lecturer, clinical psychologist, and external placement coordinator with the master of clinical psychology program at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS). She has particular interests…
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#35 — Graeme Cowan: Small Rituals, Big Impact
In this episode of Better Thinking, Nesh Nikolic speaks with Graeme Cowan about how small, and often overlooked, rituals can make a significant impact in personal and professional life. In his early career, Graeme Cowan worked in senior leadership positions with Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer, and AT Kearney. Then in 2000 began a 5-year episode…
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#34 — Dr Alan Castel on Successful Aging
In this episode of Better Thinking, Nesh Nikolic speaks with Dr Alan Castel about his new book, Better with Age: The Psychology of Successful Aging, and the many myths and paradoxes about the aging process. Alan Castel is a Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of California, Los Angeles. He studies learning,…
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How To Get Better Sleep (And Why It Is Vital To Your Mental Health)
It isn’t a health secret that getting a good night’s sleep is beneficial, but what role does your sleep play in your mental health? Studies show that during REM (rapid eye moment) sleep, the individual gains benefits of enhanced learning, memory, and improved emotional health. Sleep disruption, or as we may refer to it ‘a…
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Is this Forever? The Permanency of Diagnosis
If you have recently received or your child has recently received a mental health diagnosis, you may be wondering if this diagnosis will last forever. The label and stigma of a mental health diagnosis can be pressure and temptation enough to want to avoid the entire process. Will this be my label for the rest…
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Divorce: How To Help Your Child Cope With Parental Separation
Experiencing divorce can be complicated for the entire family. As parents, it is uncharted territory as to how to proceed when it comes to topics like shared custody or split time between parents. It can be particularly difficult if a child will be seeing one parent significantly less due to relocation or custody issues. Separation…
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What is a Behavioural Assessment?
Is this normal? Is something wrong? Is this more than typical child- like behaviour? If you are parenting a child who may be exhibiting challenging behaviour then these questions may have crossed your mind a few times, or even a dozen times a day. Behavioural assessments are used to answer these questions, and examine whether…
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Mental Health and Childhood: Where did we go wrong?
It is no mystery that mental health issues are becoming more common in our children. There are staggering statistics that indicate children are experiencing more mental health issues and symptoms then the previous generations. The suicide rate for children 10-14 has doubled in the last decade. There has been a sharp uptick in both depression…
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What is Contempt? What is the Antidote for Contempt?
Contempt is harmful to any relationship. It can surface in anything from familial relationships, professional relationships, friendships, and even in romantic relationships. What exactly is contempt and how can you prevent it from damaging your relationships and your personal wellness? Contempt is defined by Merriam Webster as ‘the act of despising’ or the ‘lack of…
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What is Criticism? What is the Antidote within a Relationship?
Did you know that criticism is one of the four defining behaviours that predict the success of a relationship? But avoiding criticism within a relationship is commonly confused with never vocalising frustrations. There is a very distinct difference between criticism and verbalising frustrations or complaints. Let’s look at the definition of criticism, as well as…
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Navigating Divorce
Divorce has become common in our culture, with almost half of all marriages ending with divorce. It can be a trying time for an entire family, but it can be hard to navigate divorce without some guidelines. Emotions are high, there is an increase in stress and it is the beginning of a major lifestyle…
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What Is Stonewalling? What Is the Antidote in your Relationship?
Stonewalling is a common struggle in relationships. Some may also refer to this as receiving or giving their partner the ‘cold shoulder’. That moment when you or your partner shut down and walk away in the middle of a conflict. Perhaps it surfaces in your relationship as being intentionally avoidant or cold towards your partner. …
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Transitioning From School to the Workforce
Congratulations! You achieved your educational goal and now are a true working professional. Getting your first job is an exciting time of your life that should be celebrated, it may finally feel like you are now in the ‘real world’. Like any big life transition, there can be some struggles and challenges that you may…
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Workplace Bullying
We are lucky that culturally we have begun to focus on the impacts of bullying on children. Many organisations and schools have developed anti-bullying policies or practices. The problem is that the word ‘bullying’ for most of us leads us to think of examples amongst school aged children. What if you are being bullied as…
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The GARS-3 Explained
Another day, another psychological assessment with a complicated acronym. Today, let’s look at the GARS-3 and talk about its function, its effectiveness, and how it is administered. First and foremost, the GARS-3 is an acronym for the Gilliam Autism Rating Scale. The ‘3’ simply means it is the third edition. The psychological community is always…
