Better Thinking

In this episode of Better Thinking, Nesh Nikolic speaks with Adam Ferrier about behavioural economics and the role of consumer psychology. Adam Ferrier is a consumer psychologist and the global chief strategy officer and partner at independent agency Cummins & Partners. Adam is a regular commentator on consumer behaviour on TV and radio, including a regular spot on ABC’s Gruen series.  Adam Ferrier is a multi-award winning advertising creative and founder of the agency Thinkerbell. He is also a leading Australian consumer psychologist, an expert brand strategist and an authority on Behavioural Economics. Adam is the author of The Advertising Effect and part of The Australian Creatives’ Power 20; a regular on the Gruen series and has featured on The Project, Celebrity Apprentice and ABC Radio. A dynamic, insightful keynote speaker, he hands delegates the keys to sky rocketed motivation – whether to buy, perform or change – through cognitive behavioural psychology and a deep understanding of behavioural economics. He is also chair of the APS consumer psychology interest group. His book, The Advertising Effect: How to Change Behaviour, was published in 2014. Episode link at https://neshnikolic.com/podcast/adam-ferrier See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Better Thinking, Nesh Nikolic speaks with Dr Alan Davis about evidenced-based treatments such as motivational interviewing, cognitive behavioral therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, and psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy. Dr. Alan K Davis is an Assistant Professor of Social Work at The Ohio State University and an Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Psychedelic Research Unit at Johns Hopkins University. Dr. Davis’s clinical experience includes working with people diagnosed with trauma-based psychological problems such as addiction, PTSD, depression, and anxiety. His clinical expertise includes providing evidenced-based treatments such as motivational interviewing, cognitive behavioral therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, and psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy. Consistent with his clinical interests, his research interests and expertise focus on contributing to the knowledge of and ability to help those suffering with substance use and mental health problems, understanding how to improve clinical outcomes through examining new treatments, and developing ways to conceptualize substance use and mental health problems through a strengths-based approach. Psychedelic research focuses on clinical trials with psilocybin for people with depression and exploring psychological mechanisms by which psilocybin improves mental health and functioning. Upcoming studies include exploring the use of short-acting psychedelics in laboratory and naturalistic settings and assessing the application of psychedelics in vulnerable populations including people of color who have experienced racial trauma and native Spanish-speaking individuals. Episode link at https://neshnikolic.com/podcast/alan-davisSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Better Thinking, Nesh Nikolic speaks with Professor Matthew Sanders about development, implementation, evaluation, and dissemination of population based approaches to parenting and family interventions. Matthew Sanders is a Professor of Clinical Psychology and Director of the Parenting and Family Support Centre at the University of Queensland. He has been an consulting Professor at The University of Manchester, a visiting Professor at the University of South Carolina, and has held adjunct Professorships at Glasgow Caledonian University and The University of Auckland. As the founder of the Triple P-Positive Parenting Program, Professor Sanders is considered a world leader in the development, implementation, evaluation and dissemination of population based approaches to parenting and family interventions. Triple P is currently in use in 35 countries worldwide. Professor Sanders’ work has been widely recognised by his peers as reflected a number of prestigious awards. In 2007, he received the Australian Psychological Society’s President’s Award for Distinguished Contribution to Psychology and in 2004 he received an International Collaborative Prevention Science award from the Society for Prevention Research in the US. In 2007 he received a Trailblazers Award from the Parenting and Families Special Interest Group in the Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Therapy and in 2008 was became a fellow of the New Zealand Psychological Society. Professor Sanders has also won a Distinguished Career Award from the Australian Association for Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, was named Honorary President of the Canadian Psychological Association (2009), and Queenslander of the Year (2007). He is a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences in Australia, the Australian Psychological Society, the New Zealand Psychological Society and the Australian Association for Cognitive Behaviour Therapy. He received a Queensland Greats Award from the Queensland Government in 2018. Episode link at https://neshnikolic.com/podcast/matthew-sandersSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Better Thinking, Nesh Nikolic speaks with Sally Kenney about promoting mental health education and contributing to policy development in schools. Sally Kenney is an Educational and Developmental Psychologist who has worked in Catholic and Independent schools since 2005. She strives to support schools to be places where young people can thrive and achieve their potential. Sally combines one-on-one student support with teacher and parent consultation, policy and curriculum development, school program design and implementation and staff professional development. She has presented to parent groups and professional bodies. Sally is a Fellow of the College of Educational and Developmental Psychologists and a member of the National Committee of the CEDP, contributing to the CEDP Advocacy Working Group. Sally also is a Board-Approved supervisor, providing supervision to registrars, registered psychologists and Masters students, and is an honorary Fellow of the Melbourne Graduate School of Education. Episode link at https://neshnikolic.com/podcast/sally-kenneySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Better Thinking, Nesh Nikolic speaks with Richard Hill and Matthew Dahlitz about their new book, The Practitioner's Guide to the Science of Psychotherapy. Richard Hill, MA, MEd, MBMSc, DPC, has emerged from a diverse and fascinating journey to become an innovative speaker on the mind, brain and the human condition. From an early career in the creative arts, Richard returned to intellectual studies at 42 (1996) beginning with a Bachelor of Arts majoring in linguistics. This triggered a curiosity that led to a diploma in counselling and a new career in psychotherapy. Studying continued and he has added three Masters degrees – an MA in Social Ecology; an MEd in Social Ecology; and a Masters in Brain and Mind Sciences (MBMSc) from Sydney University. Richard is also fortunate to be mentored by the esteemed Ernest Rossi PhD who has invited Richard into the International Psychosocial Genomics Research Team to study the impact of therapeutic practice on the genetic level. Matthew Dahlitz is both university trained and an autodidactic, whose knowledge spans across the arts, technology, psychology, neuroscience, emergency medicine, and business. Studied psychology at the University of Queensland and gained a Master of Counselling postgraduate degree – now a specialist in neuropsychotherapy and the Editor-in-Chief of The Neuropsychotherapist, has taught post-graduate courses in neuropsychotherapy, and is author of the book The Psychotherapists’s Essential Guide to the Brain. Matthew, like Richard, has a musical bent, having studied at the Queensland Conservatorium of Music in both music technology and master of composition – having scored for film and produced a number of albums of original music he has also been a producer in a film production company. Matthew has also been an Advanced Care Paramedic for a decade, managed commercial property and property development projects in the tens of millions of dollars, is the Editor-in-Chief of the technology magazine Age of Robots, covering the technology and the social and psychological impacts of this second machine age, and runs a media and publishing company with an emphasis on cutting edge science and technology. Matt’s life is rather full! Episode link at https://neshnikolic.com/podcast/richard-hill-matt-dahlitzSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Better Thinking, Nesh Nikolic speaks with Professor Kenneth Pakenham about the processes that foster personal growth in the context of health adversities and the power of embracing inner pain. Kenneth Pakenham, PhD, is an Emeritus Professor of clinical and health psychology in the School of Psychology at The University of Queensland, Australia. His research and clinical practice in psychology spans 40 years. Inspired by the resilience of some people with serious illnesses, he has committed much of his career to investigating the processes that foster personal growth in the context of health adversities, and to translating his findings into interventions that help people live fully with illness. This passion has driven his empirical, theoretical and translational research, curriculum development, and clinical training and supervision. Importantly, his work has included not only the person with chronic illness, but also his or her network, particularly the carer. Through his 160+ publications, over 70 conference presentations, 3 research awards, and more than 3 million dollars of competitive grant funding, he has become a leader in the application of positive health frameworks to several chronic illnesses, and to caregiving in these contexts. His research has helped to inform government policies, particularly those related to carers, and establish interventions and assessment protocols within government and community services. The "living fully with illness" theme integrates his early research in stress/coping theory, his mid-career shift to incorporate the rise of positive psychology, and his current and future focus on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). Using ACT to extend his research on living fully with illness has also invigorated his teaching. He developed the first ACT university course in Australia. This course integrates training in therapist competencies and self-care skills and shows published empirical evidence of fostering competent and resilient clinicians. Episode link at https://neshnikolic.com/podcast/kenneth-pakenhamSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Better Thinking, Nesh Nikolic speaks with Virginia Slaughter about the controversial topic of whether newborns have the ability to imitate. Virginia Slaughter is Professor of Psychology at the University of Queensland, Australia, where she founded the Early Cognitive Development Centre. Her research focuses on social and cognitive development in infants and young children, with particular emphasis on social behaviour in infancy, theory-of-mind development and the acquisition of peer interaction skills. She is a Fellow of the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia and a Fellow of the Association for Psychological Science. Episode link at https://neshnikolic.com/podcast/virginia-slaughterSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Better Thinking, Nesh Nikolic speaks with Winnifred R. Louis about ways on how to create a successful activism campaign. Winnifred R. Louis is a Professor in the School of Psychology at the University of Queensland. Her research interests focus on the influence of identity and norms on social decision-making. She has studied this broad topic in contexts from politics and community activism to health and environmental choices. She is a Fellow of the Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues, a Fellow of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, and a Fellow of the Australian Psychological Society. Winnifred has served or is serving on the editorial board of journals including Peace and Conflict: The Journal of Peace Psychology, the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, Journal of Social and Political Psychology, and Behavioral Sciences of Terrorism and Political Aggression. She is a member of numerous professional associations including the Centre for Research in Social Psychology, at the University of Queensland; the Association for Psychological Science; the Society for Personality and Social Psychology; and the Society for Australasian Social Psychology. Episode link at https://neshnikolic.com/podcast/winnifred-louisSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Better Thinking, Nesh Nikolic speaks with Dr Eli Kotler about the use of psychedelics as a therapeutic aid to trauma and addiction. Dr Eli Kotler is a consultant psychiatrist, holds an academic position at Monash University through the Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre, and is the medical director of Malvern Private Hospital, the first addiction hospital in Australia. He is a member of the Australasian Professional Society on Alcohol and other Drugs (APSAD). Clinically, Eli is interested in the deep connections between trauma and addiction and works within a neuro-psychoanalytic framework. Dr Eli has overseen the development of a clinical program for addictions focused on trauma, particularly developmental trauma. This has led to an interest in medication-assisted trauma therapy. Eli worked for many years researching neurodegenerative diseases and was the principle investigator on numerous trials for novel therapeutics. He is founding member of the Melbourne Neuropsychoanalytic Group and welcomes new members. Through involvement with Monash University, Eli oversees the addiction rotation for medical students. Dr Eli graduated from the first intake of the Certificate in Psychedelic-Assisted Therapies (CPAT) in June 2021. He has also been recently appointed as the Principal Investigator to lead Emyria’s upcoming MDMA trial. Episode link at https://neshnikolic.com/podcast/eli-kotlerSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Better Thinking, Nesh Nikolic speaks with Lyn Worsley about understanding, practicing, and developing resilience. Lyn Worsley is the author and director of the Resilience Doughnut. As a clinical psychologist and registered nurse, her experience in a number of contexts such as hospitals, correctional facilities, child care, schools and allied health care services, informs her application of the model. She is a dynamic teacher and psychologist with a practical edge to her use of research and theory. Training as well as therapy are key strengths for Lyn, working with over 200 schools, business, corporate and community organisations to build personal resilience, helping people to flourish and thrive. Lyn is also the director of the Resilience Centre in Sydney Australia, which has a reputation for innovative solution-focused approaches to client change through individual and group therapies for over 21 years. At the Resilience Centre, Lyn supervises specialist psychologists, and coordinates community seminars, training workshops, and resilience groups for people of all ages. Lyn has a dynamic style of relating and teaching across disciplines, and her teaching focus is on personal application to enhance learning. She is also the author of “The Resilience Doughnut Book – The Secret of Strong Kids” and “The Resilience Doughnut Book – The Secret of Strong Adults”. Episode link at https://neshnikolic.com/podcast/lyn-worsleySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.