Better Thinking

In this episode of Better Thinking, Nesh Nikolic speaks with Jacki Short about the benefits of play therapy when working with children.  Jacki Short is the owner and director of Sydney Centre for Creative Change. She is a registered counselling psychologist, play therapist and supervisor with over 25 years of clinical experience with children, young people and adults. Her work involves counselling, supervision, education and research. Jackie has worked in drug and alcohol agencies, hospitals, welfare organisations, schools and private practice. She maintains a small practice in Glebe, Sydney, in counselling and supervision. Episode links at https://neshnikolic.com/podcast/jacki-shortSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Better Thinking, Nesh Nikolic speaks with Dr John Gray about what’s changed in relationships since Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus was released almost 30 years ago. Dr John Gray is the author of the most well-known and trusted relationship book of all time, Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus. USA Today listed his book as one of the top 10 most influential books of the last quarter century. In hardcover, it was the #1 bestselling book of the 1990s. Dr. Gray’s books are translated into approximately 45 languages in more than 100 countries and continues to be a bestseller. He has appeared repeatedly on Oprah, as well as on The Dr. Oz Show, TODAY, CBS This Morning, Good Morning America, and others. He has been profiled in Time, Forbes, USA Today, and People. He was also the subject of a three-hour special hosted by Barbara Walters. Dr. Gray has written over 20 books. His most recent book is Beyond Mars and Venus. His Mars/Venus book series has forever changed the way men and women view their relationships. Episode links at https://neshnikolic.com/podcast/john-graySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Better Thinking, Nesh Nikolic speaks with Travis Rieder, PhD, about his struggle with prescription opioid withdrawal after a motorcycle accident. Although Travis had access to world-leading doctors and a supportive partner, going through withdrawal took his thoughts to dark and dangerous places. Travis Rieder, PhD, is a faculty member at the Johns Hopkins Berman Institute of Bioethics where he directs the Master of Bioethics degree program. His research program concerns ethical and policy issues surrounding America’s opioid epidemic. Travis has published works concerning doctors responsibility for safely weaning patients off prescription opioids and is author of In Pain: A Bioethicist’s Personal Struggle with Opioids. His TED Talk, The agony of opioid withdrawal — and what doctors should tell patients about it, has been viewed over 2 million times. Episode links at https://neshnikolic.com/podcast/travis-riederSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Better Thinking, Nesh Nikolic speaks with Danny Shannon about life after addiction, his work in helping others through their addiction journey, and his transition into entrepreneurship with Encapsulator. Danny Shannon is the founder of Encapsulator, an app for securely recording your future hopes, dreams and aspirations, into a time-locked vault to be discovered at a later date. Danny is also a recovering addict who has not had a drink or a drug since the 15th of September 2009. He is raising awareness through his personal stories about addiction and empowering and educating others about the emotional and social impacts of addiction. He earned a Diploma in Community Services and is in the process of completing a Bachelor of Counselling. He is a Senior Case Manager at Glebe House, a treatment facility for men with addiction issues who are affected by the criminal justice system. Episode links at https://neshnikolic.com/podcast/danny-shannon-2 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Better Thinking, Nesh Nikolic speaks with Danny Shannon about his life as a heroin addict and the journey to recovery. Danny Shannon is the founder of Encapsulator, an app for securely recording your future hopes, dreams and aspirations, into a time-locked vault to be discovered at a later date. Danny is also a recovering addict who has not had a drink or a drug since the 15th of September 2009. He is raising awareness through his personal stories about addiction and empowering and educating others about the emotional and social impacts of addiction. He earned a Diploma in Community Services and is in the process of completing a Bachelor of Counselling. He is a Senior Case Manager at Glebe House, a treatment facility for men with addiction issues who are affected by the criminal justice system. Episode links at https://neshnikolic.com/podcast/danny-shannon-1See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of the Better Thinking podcast, Nesh Nikolic speaks with Dr Steven Hayes about his new book, A Liberated Mind: How to Pivot Toward What Matters, and applications of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy in modern society. Dr Steven C. Hayes is Nevada Foundation Professor in the Behavior Analysis program at the Department of Psychology at the University of Nevada. An author of 44 books and nearly 600 scientific articles, his career has focused on an analysis of the nature of human language and cognition and the application of this to the understanding and alleviation of human suffering. He is the developer of Relational Frame Theory, an account of human higher cognition, and has guided its extension to Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), a popular evidence-based form of psychotherapy that uses mindfulness, acceptance, and values-based methods. Episode links at https://neshnikolic.com/podcast/steven-hayesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of the Better Thinking podcast, Nesh Nikolic speaks with Dr Richard N. Landers about artificial intelligence, game-thinking, privacy and how data is used in organisational psychology. Dr Richard N. Landers is an Associate Professor of Psychology at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, MN, USA. He is also holder of the John P. Campbell Distinguished Professorship of Industrial and Organizational Psychology. His research program concerns the use of innovative technologies in assessment, employee selection, adult learning, and research methods. Recent topics have included big data, game-based learning, game-based assessment, gamification, unproctored Internet-based testing, mobile devices, virtual reality, and online social media. His work has been published in Journal of Applied Psychology, Industrial and Organizational Psychology Perspectives, Computers in Human Behavior, Simulation & Gaming, Social Science Computer Review, and Psychological Methods, among others, and his research and writing have been featured in Forbes, Business Insider, Science News, Popular Science, Maclean’s, and the Chronicle of Higher Education, among others. He is also author of a statistics textbook, A Step-by-Step Introduction to Statistics for Business, editor of Social Media in Employee Selection, and editor of the upcoming Cambridge Handbook of Technology and Employee Behavior. Episode links at https://neshnikolic.com/podcast/richard-landersSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of the Better Thinking podcast, Nesh Nikolic speaks with John Flanagan on infidelity: how it begins, how it progresses and, most importantly, how to recover from an affair. John Flanagan was the first social worker in Australia to become a Gottman Therapist and along with Trish Purnell-Webb, are still the only Australians to hold the title of Certified Gottman Marital Therapist, Master Trainers and Consultants. He is a certified presenter for The Art and Science of Love Couples Workshop, completed his Certificate IV in Workplace Training and Assessment and has delivered a broad range of training in the relationship space. Episode links at https://neshnikolic.com/podcast/john-flanaganSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of the Better Thinking podcast, Nesh Nikolic speaks with Glen Tanner, a clinical psychologist registrar, about his beginnings into a career in psychology. Glen Tanner recently graduated from Western Sydney University with a Master of Clinical Psychology. Since graduating, Glen has relocated to Newcastle, and is working as a psychologist in a bustling private practice. Glen has a special interest in the experiences of new psychologists, and advocates for the improved mental health and general wellbeing of all those within the caring professions. Episode links at https://neshnikolic.com/podcast/glen-tannerSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Better Thinking, Nesh Nikolic speaks with Dr Bruno Cayoun about research of Mindfulness-integrated Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (MiCBT) and its application in clinical and private settings. Dr Bruno Cayoun is a Clinical Psychologist and principal developer of Mindfulness-integrated Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (MiCBT). He is Director of the MiCBT Institute, a leading provider of MiCBT training and professional development to mental health services and professional associations internationally since 2003. Bruno keeps a private practice in Hobart, Australia, undertakes mindfulness research at the MiCBT Institute, and co-supervises several studies in collaboration with various institutions, including Monash University, University of Tasmania, University of Technology Sydney, and Massey University. He has practised mindfulness meditation and undergone intensive training in France, Nepal, India, and Australia since 1989. He is author of three MiCBT books and co-author of The Clinical Handbook of Mindfulness-integrated Cognitive Behavior Therapy: A Step-by-Step Guide for Therapists. Episode links at https://neshnikolic.com/podcast/bruno-cayoun See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.