Modern Therapist Dilemmas Episodes

Bron is joined by Dr Hayley Kelly for an honest conversation about why therapist visibility matters now more than ever, especially for early-career professionals. Hayley challenges the status quo, calling for innovation in the mental health profession to meet the growing community need for evidence-based expertise and support. She explores why many therapists feel the urge to shrink, and how to break free from staying small. Hayley also shares the story behind her viral social media post that le...

Bron is joined by specialist in workplace psychosocial hazards, Jason van Schie, to talk about the kinds of psychosocial hazards mental health workers may encounter at work, their impacts, and practical steps to protect your wellbeing at work. Jason also highlights the shared responsibility between employers and employees in managing these risks and offers valuable advice for those feeling the strain. Tune in to learn how to navigate workplace challenges and maintain mental health in demanding e...

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 client loss on mental health professionals often goes unspoken,...

Bron is joined by Dr Carollyne Youssef, Forensic Psychologist, to chat about how to respond well when a subpoena comes. We cover legal obligations, maintaining client confidentiality, practical tips for navigating subpoenas, common mistakes psychologists can make, and the importance of seeking legal advice and support through supervision. This is such a jam-packed episode with so much good information - I know you will love it and feel reassured by Carollyne's clear guidance! Thank you so muc...

Bron and Carol unpack how complaints about psychologists are managed by AHPRA and the Psychology Board of Australia. We chat about how notifications are initiated, common complaints, the aims of the complaints process, and how to minimise the risk of receiving a complaint. We round off with some practical tips and emphasise the importance of social and professional support if you have received a notification. We know that this topic is really scary for a lot of psychologists 😨, and hope you feel...

Bron and Daniela chat about the pressure🔥 and process to become certified or accredited in a particular therapy like Schema, IFS, or EMDR. Daniela shares her experiences with schema therapy certification, including the benefits as well as the time and financial commitments. We also chat about how to decide if certification is right for you and some more ~taboo~ topics, like, 'Does certification guarantee expertise?' and 'Is certification legit or just a way of getting more money from therapists?...

Bron and Jordan chat about how to know if private practice is for you, and if you are ready for this big step! We discuss the financial aspects, practical skills needed, and the importance of good work-life boundaries. Jordan shares her recent journey of moving from group to solo practice, and Bron offers her perspective from the past three years of being a solo private practitioner. Enjoy! Guest: Jordan Turner, Educational & Developmental Psychologist Registrar LINKS Jordan's private pra...

Clients often share information that hits us right in the feels: Things that are sad, traumatic, angering, devastating, and everything in between. Bron and Matthew explore how to go about actually processing the emotional impact of therapy sessions. They chat about 👉🏽 Ways to lessen the risk of vicarious trauma 👉🏻 Managing the challenge of not being able to talk about client sessions with loved ones due to our ethical obligations 👉🏿 Our strategies for processing sessions. Guest: Matthew Jacks...

Bron and Sahra unpack whether it's okay to be yourself on social media. They chat about 👉🏽 challenges and responsibilities that psychologists have in managing their online presence 👉🏻How to be authentic online while managing risk 👉 What clients think of their therapists' social media. Guest: Psychologist and Co-Director of Mindscape Psychology / Director of the Australian Association of Psychologists Inc (AAPi) LINKS Research talked about in the episode (subscription-only access): Client dis...

Bron and her guest unpack whether you can make it as a psychologist in your 20s. They chat about 👉🏽 Strengths and challenges when you're a young psychologist 👉🏻 Questions that clients may pose 👉 Our experiences and how we've navigated them 👉🏾 How to not feel like an imposter when you are a young professional. THE END BITS Mental Work is the podcast unpacking the challenges faced by early career psychologists, so they don’t have to go it alone. Hosted by Dr Bronwyn Milkins. Love the podcast...

Bron and Brian unpack what to do when a client shares offensive views in the therapy room. They chat about 👉🏿 What even IS an offensive view and when could it become something to address in therapy 👉 Our favourite phrases to use 👉🏽Therapist self-care and permission to refer out. Guest: Brian Cheng, Psychologist THE END BITS Mental Work is the podcast unpacking the challenges faced by early career psychologists, so they don’t have to go it alone. Hosted by Dr Bronwyn Milkins. Love the podcast?...

Today on Mental Work, Bron is joined by Carly Dober (Psychologist and Director of AAPi) to unpack the question, 'Can I be a good therapist if I have lived experience?' They chat about 👉🏽 How having lived experience can inform your work as a psych 👉🏻 Myths about therapists with mental illness 👉 Changes in attitudes among psychs towards lived experience practitioners 👉🏿 Why peer-led work is super cool. Mental Work is the podcast unpacking the challenges faced by early career psychologists, so t...

Today on Mental Work, Bron is joined by Sahra O'Doherty (Psychologist and Director of AAPi) to unpack the dilemma of 'What can I wear to work?' They touch on 👉🏽 What does it mean when a supervisor directs you to 'Dress Professionally'? 👉🏻 How our ideas of 'professionalism' may exclude psychs with diverse body shapes/sizes and cultural diversity 👉 All the taboos! Tattoos, coloured hair, piercings, and bright clothes. Mental Work is the podcast unpacking the challenges faced by early career psy...

We've been taught that clients are supposed to enter therapy, get better, and then graciously leave therapy... but what about all those clients who *don't* get better? Today on Mental Work, Bron is joined by Brian Cheng (Psychologist) to unpack the dilemma of what to do when client's don't get better in therapy. They unpack 👉🏽 What accounts for change in therapy (the 'common factors' model) 👉🏻 Practical ways you can get 'unstuck' with complex clients in therapy 👉 How to take care of yourself whe...

Bron is joined by psychologist and AAPi director Carly Dober to unpack the challenge of workplace exploitation. They discuss 👉🏽 How to recognise exploitation using Carly's experiences 👉🏻 Characteristics that increase early career psychs' vulnerability to exploitation 👉 What to do if you are unsure about an offer or workplace. Mental Work is hosted by Dr Bronwyn Milkins, an Australian-based early career psychologist. THE END BITS Thanks for listening. Mental Work is the podcast unpacking th...

Bron is joined by Psychologist Ceara Rickard to unpack how to manage sudden illness when you also have an active therapy caseload. We talk about 👉🏽 Ceara's personal experiences with illness 👉🏻 How Ceara navigated disclosure with her clients 👉 What helped Ceara the most during the early stages of diagnosis and treatment 👉🏿 What her job looks like now. Mental Work is hosted by Dr Bronwyn Milkins, an early-career psychologist. Learn more about Ceara and connect with her here: https://www.linkedin...

Bron unpacks the dilemma of when your client wants to be friends with you (their therapist) and vice versa. She talks about 👉🏽 what a therapeutic relationship is vs a friendship 👉🏻 signs that a client wants to be your friend 👉 what to do if you want to be friends with your client 👉🏿 ways to think about why it's important to maintain a professional relationship. Mental Work is hosted by Dr Bronwyn Milkins, an early-career psychologist. THE END BITS Thanks so much for listening. Mental Work is t...