Episodes

Bron unpacks how ADHD shows up in her work as an early-career psychologist. She talks about 👉🏽 Challenges that ADHDers can face at work 💪 Strengths that ADHD practitioners bring to their work 👉 Ways ADHDers can modify their work environment to suit their neurotype. Even if you do not have ADHD yourself, listen in to better understand your ADHD colleagues and your own executive strengths and weaknesses. Mental Work is hosted by Dr Bronwyn Milkins, an early-career psychologist. LINKS The timer ...

Bron is joined by Clinical Psychologist Dr Emma DeCicco to unpack what goes into building a workplace that ACTUALLY works for early career psychologists. They talk about 👉🏽 the challenging landscape that early-career psychs are currently facing 👉 core emotional needs of early-career psychs 👉🏿 ways that workplaces can reduce burnout 👉🏾 finding a workplace that works for you! Mental Work is hosted by Dr Bronwyn Milkins, an early-career psychologist. Find our more about Emma and her psycholog...

Bron is joined by Clinical and Forensic Psychologist Kirstin Bouse to unpack the needs of early career therapists. We talk about 👉🏽 "Maslow's hierarchy of early-career needs" 👉🏻 the basics of business that early career therapists need to understand 👉 signs you're in a crappy workplace and how to get out 👉🏿 why personal development is essential for early career therapists. Mental Work is hosted by Dr Bronwyn Milkins, an early-career psychologist. You can learn more about Kirstin at the Psycholo...

Hosted by Dr Bronwyn Milkins, Mental Work is the Australian podcast unpacking the challenges faced by early-career psychologists, so they don't have to go it alone. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

IT'S THE END OF SEASON 1! 🎉 Bron reflects on the season, gives a sneak peek into what's coming up in Season 2, and does a deep-dive into her motivation for starting the podcast. Thanks so much to everyone who has listened, shared, reviewed, joined the Patreon, bought me a virtual coffee (links below), and sent me a kind message or email. Your time and generosity is valued and appreciated 💖 Mental Work will be back better than ever in 4 weeks! Stay tuned in hit 'subscribe' in your podcast app s...

Bron unpacks the dilemma of setting limits with clients, especially in relation to charging cancellation fees! She talks about 👉🏽 why we find it hard to set limits with clients 👉🏻 tips for setting limits, especially with cancellation fees 👉 how to have a helpful mindset to help you set limits. Mental Work is hosted by Dr Bronwyn Milkins, an early-career psychologist. THE END BITS Thanks so much for listening. Mental Work is the Australian podcast for early career therapists that unpacks the ev...

Bron is joined by Clinical Psychologist Rebecca Cuskelly to unpack the unique feeling of isolation among mental health professionals. Rebecca and Bron chat about 👉🏽 What professional isolation feels like and the impact on our work 👉🏻 Ways to reduce professional isolation 👉 Ways that your employer should be helping you with reducing professional isolation 👉🏾 The benefits of working in a multidisciplinary team 👉🏿 How to communicate with professionals that early-career folk tend to feel scared of (...

Ever thought about how much you could make in private practice? Then this is the episode for you. Bron is joined by finance nerd Michael to unpack the reality of earnings in private practice, using Bron's first year as the case study. Bron and Michael discuss 👉🏽 My earnings (actual $$ amounts!) and ways to increase earnings in private practice 👉🏻 My expenses and what cost the most 👉 Ways to reduce expenses 👉🏿 Tips to help you become more aware of your finances. Mental Work is hosted by Dr Bronw...

Bron is joined by Clinical Psychologist Dr Catherine Hart to unpack salary expectations and contracting in private practice. Bron & Catherine talk about 👉🏽 Getting realistic with earnings in private practice 👉 The difference between an employee vs contractor 👉🏻 Things to think about if you're considering contracting. Mental Work is hosted by Dr Bronwyn Milkins, an early-career psychologist. LINKS Are you an employee or a contractor? Take the ATO questionnaire! Fair Work Australia - Info f...

If you're a Helping Professional you're supposed to be helping people, right? So what happens when you feel like you're not helping anyone. Bron unpacks what to do when you're struggling with self-doubt. She talks about 👉🏽 What the research says about professional self-doubt and client outcomes 👉🏻 How to get a reality check on your self-doubt 👉 Using progress measures 👉🏿 Getting feedback from clients 👉🏾 Recognising the value of the therapeutic relationship 👉🏼 Her own experiences with feelings of...

Bron is joined by Clinical Psychologist Nicole Withers to unpack all things group private practice. Bron & Nicole talk about 👉🏽 Different ways to work for a group private practice - employee, contractor, or room hire arrangement 👉🏻 Points of negotiation with practice owners 👉🏾 Ways group practices can reduce isolation and burnout 👉 How to work out if a group practice is a good fit for *you* 👉🏿 Your responsibilities vs practice owner's responsibilities. Mental Work is hosted by Dr Bronwyn Milkin...

Bron unpacks what to do when all the clients cancel. She talks about 👉🏽 what it feels like when clients cancel 👉🏻 therapy and non-therapy reasons why clients cancel 👉 practical ways to minimise client cancellations. Mental Work is hosted by Dr Bronwyn Milkins, an early-career psychologist. THE END BITS Thanks so much for listening. Mental Work is the podcast for early-career mental health professionals that unpacks the everyday challenges they face, so they don’t have to go it alone. Love the...

You're a newly minted, fully qualified mental health professional. You set off to get a job in the field... except employers don't want your qualification, they want a different one. Bron unpacks the dilemma of what to do if you're faced with this situation. She talks about 👉🏽 asking yourself what you really want in your mental health career 👉🏻 reasons to go back to uni 👉 reasons to create your own space 👉🏿 valuing your qualification, even if an employer doesn't. Mental Work is hosted by Dr Bro...

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...

Many trainees are required to undertake intensive internships to get qualified. Bron unpacks the dilemma of making an internship work when it's not going so well. She talks about 👉🏽 what an ideal internship looks like for a trainee 👉🏻 what to do when you're not getting enough support in the internship 👉 internship Red Flags including doing too much unpaid preparation, lengthy and complex reports, and exploitation 👉🏿 what to do if there's a conflict between you and your internship supervisor/empl...

Do you hate notes? Me too. This episode unpacks the dilemma of keeping up with notes. Bron unpacks about 👉🏽 what goes into clinical notes 👉🏻 practical strategies for keeping up with notes 👉 how to get more efficient at taking notes (electronic vs paper). Mental Work is hosted by Dr Bronwyn Milkins, an early-career psychologist. LINKS Taking notes on iPad tutorial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-I2MWtwDgTk My notes template: Template - Progress Notes.pdf THE END BITS Thanks so much for liste...

Trying to get qualified but don't have cash to splash? Bron unpacks the dilemma of paying for tuition, supervision, and everything else on the journey to becoming a mental health professional. She talks about 👉🏽 her experience of managing the unanticipated costs of training 👉🏻 why working for free is a no-go zone 👉 how training privileges the wealthy and able, which reduces diversity in our field 👉🏿 practical ways to reduce costs. Mental Work is hosted by Dr Bronwyn Milkins, an early-career psy...

Ever thought of calling it a day? Bron unpacks the dilemma of when you can't stop thinking about quitting working in mental health. She talks about 👉🏽 the stigma of quitting among mental health professionals 👉🏻 reasons why the urge to quit is understandable and (shock horror) normal 👉 options available to you 👉🏿 pros and cons of quitting your job vs leaving the profession 👉🏾 practical ways to reduce the urge to quit in the first place. Mental Work is hosted by Dr Bronwyn Milkins, an early-car...

Bron is joined by Clinical Psychologist & Autistic woman, Monique Mitchelson, to unpack how to thrive as a neurodivergent mental health professional. We talk about 👉🏽 avoiding burnout as an autistic/ADHDer 👉🏻 finding your tribe 👉 creating a workplace environment that fits your neurodiversity 👉🏿 knowing your executive strengths and weaknesses 👉🏾 self-acceptance. Mental Work is hosted by Dr Bronwyn Milkins, an early-career psychologist. THE END BITS Thanks so much for listening. Mental Work ...

Bron takes you through the dilemma of choosing an area of mental health to specialise in. She talks about 👉 Feeling pressured to niche from colleagues 👉🏼 Benefits of niching 👉🏾 Why you don't have to niche 👉🏻 What Bron feels now after Googling the crap out of niching. THE END BITS Thanks so much for listening. Mental Work is the podcast taking a closer look at the everyday challenges faced by early-career mental health professionals, so they don’t have to go it alone. Love the podcast? You ...

As early-career mental health professionals, we can't possibly know everything and be able to help everyone. So what do you do when you're not a good fit for your client? Bron takes us through why professional 'fit' is important, how to know when a client is a 'good fit' and a 'bad fit', and provides practical tips for how to navigate difficult conversations in the workplace and in private practice. THE END BITS Thanks so much for listening. Mental Work is the podcast taking a closer look at th...

Bron is joined by Mental Health Nurse, Stephanie, to talk us through how to discuss medication with clients when you're not medically trained. Steph also gives some guidance on how to not let your personal biases enter the room. Bron leaves feeling reassured and less likely to freak out in the future. THE END BITS Thanks so much for listening. Mental Work is the podcast taking a closer look at the everyday challenges faced by early-career mental health professionals, so they don’t have to go it...

Bron takes us through the topic that therapists love to avoid: Money 💵. She highlights the negative attitudes embedded in the mental health profession and shares the experiences that have taught her that wanting a liveable salary is not only okay, but necessary. 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. THE END BITS Love the podcast? Keep it alive by joining our Patreon for $2 a mont...

Bron takes us through the challenges and successes of her first year as a private practice psychologist. Listen in for a jam-packed episode full of generously shared tips, tricks, and all the things Bron wishes she had known before starting out. All shared in the spirit of giving you a helping hand if you're thinking of diving into private practice. THE END BITS Thanks so much for listening. Mental Work is the podcast taking a closer look at the everyday challenges faced by early-career mental...