Better Thinking

In this episode of Better Thinking, Nesh Nikolic speaks with Dr Celin Gelgec about treating obsessive compulsive disorder and other related disorders including anxiety and depression. Dr Celin Gelgec is a clinical psychologist and the director of Melbourne Wellbeing Group. She works with people affected by obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), and other related disorders including anxiety (social anxiety, generalised anxiety, agoraphobia, health anxiety and panic disorder), and depression. Her interest in OCD began in 2010 while undertaking the Clinical doctorate program at Deakin University. After her final placement with the OCD inpatient program at The Melbourne Clinic, she remained with the program for another four years. During this time, she honed her knowledge and skills and developed treatment programs using exposure and response prevention, acceptance and commitment therapy, dialectical behaviour therapy and cognitive behaviour therapy. While working concurrently in private practice at Melbourne Wellbeing Group, she expanded her experience to include virtual reality in treatment as well as conducting assessments for behavioural and educational purposes. In addition to conducting research into OCD’s impact on lives, Celin also supervises clinicians and students, runs lectures for university students, as well as professional workshops for psychologists, healthcare professionals and students regarding the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of OCD. Celin is also the author of a treatment manual she wrote called Treating OCD: A Clinician's Guide to Getting Unstuck. Episode link at https://neshnikolic.com/podcast/celin-gelgecSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Better Thinking, Nesh Nikolic speaks with Joe Coyne about the Circle of Security Parenting Course and The Attachment Theory. Joe Coyne has worked for 20 years in the area of child and family psychology. He is particularly interested in the developmental processes involved in healthy outcomes and the impacts of parenting and life events on personal trajectories. In recent years he has been exploring the benefits of incorporating attachment theory and research into contemporary treatment approaches for parents, children and adults. Joe Coordinates the Master of Psychology (Educational and Developmental) at QUT and he is an Endorsed Clinical Psychologist and Endorsed Educational and Developmental Psychologist. In the past he has worked in Health services delivering family and parenting interventions, and supervising clinical staff, and prior to that in a trauma focused family service. He is an accredited therapist and supervisor for the Circle of Security Intervention. Episode link at https://neshnikolic.com/podcast/joe-coyneSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Better Thinking, Nesh Nikolic speaks with Joel Sardi about regaining the quality of life after spinal cord injury. Joel Sardi had a fall and broke his C2 & C5, T3, T4 AND T5 vertebrae, also breaking his sternum on the 31st of August 2014. The injury caused irreparable spinal cord damage. He underwent a 6 hour surgery after the accident where the surgeons were able to stabilise his neck fractures and prevent any further spinal cord damage by inserting a titanium cage and fusing C4 to C6. Joel is classified as a “C-5'“ Quadriplegic. The injury that night left Joel a C5 quadriplegic, meaning that there are still some messages getting through the spinal cord and the extent of his recovery is unknown. Joel is paralysed from the shoulders down, has no movement in his legs and his upper body can only activate his biceps, forearms and wrists.  With the injury originally occurring in Adelaide where Joel was working, he was brought to the Royal Adelaide Hospital where he stayed for 10 days, before being airlifted to Melbourne's Austin Hospital. He spent the next 12 months at The Royal Talbot Rehabilitation Hospital where he underwent extensive rehab sessions to further improve his skills and learn to adjust to life as a quadriplegic before moving home in August 2015. Episode link at https://neshnikolic.com/podcast/joel-sardiSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Better Thinking, Nesh Nikolic speaks with Dr Louise Byrne about the lived experience workforce development, better access to mental health services, and all about mental health issues we have today. Dr Louise Byrne is a Vice-Chancellor’s Senior Research Fellow at RMIT. Previously Louise was awarded a prestigious Fulbright Postdoctoral Scholarship and inaugural RMIT Fulbright fellowship, to conduct research on the Lived Experience mental health workforce in the United States. Louise’s Fulbright research was based at Yale University, where she holds an adjunct position. Louise is recognised internationally as a thought leader in the area of Lived Experience mental health workforce development. Louise has over 30 journal publications on this topic and has been awarded several times for outstanding contributions to research and teaching, held expert/advisory roles with State and National Mental Health Commissions and led policy development at State and National levels, including the National Lived Experience (Peer) Workforce Development Guidelines. Louise, is a translational researcher with deep knowledge of organisational issues relevant to Lived Experience employment. Louise specialises in highly inclusive engagement and collaboration with diverse stakeholders. Louise's work is informed and shaped by her on-going relationships with industry and a commitment to meaningful, timely and impactful research. Louise's own experiences of mental health diagnosis, service use and periods of healing, as well as working in a variety of Lived Experience roles, form the perspective from which she works. Episode link at https://neshnikolic.com/podcast/louise-byrneSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Better Thinking, Nesh Nikolic speaks with Scott Harris about the physical and mental challenges of living with an injured brain. Scott B Harris is a keynote speaker, author, and resilience expert. In 2008, Scott was involved in a motorbike accident that caused lasting injuries including a Traumatic Brain Injury. This was due to a severe Closed Head Injury, which resulted in extensive facial fractures, requiring a facial reconstruction. To reconstruct his face, 11 titanium plates were bolted to his skull. The Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) was so severe that he sustained extremely severe Frontal Lobe Damage and shearing of the brain. This has left Scott with paralysis on the right side of his body from shoulder to toes, causing major instability issues. He also has a Brachial Plexus injury to his right arm involving three severed nerves. After the accident, rehab became Scott’s full-time job – a job he took very seriously. The intense physical and mental rehabilitation which he continues to this day is the reason he is still alive and has achieved so much. Scott has discovered that setting and achieving goals, both mental and physical, keeps you looking forward rather than backwards and fills you with purpose. Episode link at https://neshnikolic.com/podcast/scott-harrisSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Better Thinking, Nesh Nikolic speaks with Gaj Ravichandra about developing mental toughness and increasing mental resilience. Gaj Ravichandra is a mindset and leadership coach, organizational psychologist, and co-founder and Managing Partner at Kompass Consultancy. Gaj is a highly sought-after performance coach recognized for his effective leadership training techniques and passion for helping clients reach higher potential. For 20 years, Gaj has worked with leading organizations and individuals to enhance productivity, maximize performance, and accelerate growth. As a registered psychologist, Gaj leans on his psychology training to deliver the most effective evidence-based solutions to his clients. Gaj leads individuals, sporting teams, and educational institutions to success with cutting-edge learning techniques and disruptive growth strategies that are proven to enhance potential and performance. Recognized as an authority in peak performance and mental toughness, Gaj has spearheaded and contributed to countless programs, including executive coaching, career transitioning, mental toughness performance coaching, talent management and executive talent acquisition, employee engagement, and mentoring. Gaj has extensive global experience, having delivered best-in-class training to clients in Australia, Middle East, Levant, UK, Europe, and Asia. His industry experience covers a wide range of sectors, including telecom, finance, healthcare, aviation, technology, industrial, consulting, retail, education, government, and oil and gas.  Episode link at https://neshnikolic.com/podcast/gaj-ravichandraSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Better Thinking, Nesh Nikolic speaks with Dr Christopher Love about Erectile Dysfunction and how much this condition can take a toll on men’s mental health. Dr Christopher Love is one of Australia’s most experienced Urological Surgeons, and the foremost Penile Implant and Peyronie’s Disease Surgeon in Australia. With over 35 years’ experience, Dr Love is known throughout the industry and by his patients as a caring, thoroughly professional and experienced surgeon with exceptional outcomes. Dr Love specialises in Erectile Dysfunction Treatment including Penile Implant Surgery, Peyronie’s Disease and Penile Curvature, Enlarged Prostate (BPH) treatment including Minimally Invasive Surgical Therapies (MIST), and other urological conditions and issues related to sexual health, prostate, bladder, kidneys, no-scalpel vasectomy, and general urology issues like urinary bleeding, stones and scrotal problems. Dr Christopher Love graduated from Monash University, Australia, in 1978. He spent his early training years in Melbourne, Australia before moving to Sydney, Australia to commence training as a urologist. He completed his Urology training in Melbourne in 1986, and then did post-fellowship training in San Francisco., USA. He became involved in Men’s Health in 1987 and has been a major penile implant surgeon in Australia since that time and is now the highest volume implant surgeon in Australia. He is regarded as a leading national expert in the field of prosthetic urology. Dr Love is a mentor for International urologists who choose to come and do a post-graduate Fellowship programme with Dr. Love. Dr Love has trained urologists from USA, Canada, Israel and England. These urologists spend one year with Dr Love and his colleagues learning about the latest treatments and operations in his sub-speciality field. Episode link at https://neshnikolic.com/podcast/christopher-loveSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Better Thinking, Nesh Nikolic speaks with Dr Jon Lieff about how it’s our cells communicating with each other that causes feelings, sickness, thoughts, and diseases in our bodies. Dr. Jon Lieff is a neuropsychiatrist with a BA in Mathematics from Yale University and an MD from Harvard Medical School. He pioneered the creation of integrated treatment units that focus on complex patients with combined medical, psychiatric, and neurological problems. For ten years, Dr. Lieff has produced a weekly blog, called Searching for the Mind, where he summarized the latest scientific findings in brain science, immunology, molecular biology, animal intelligence, plant intelligence, microbes including viruses, and cellular intelligence. Dr. Lieff has written and edited multiple books and has lectured widely over the years on a variety of subjects. His recently published book, The Secret Language of Cells, is the result of his years of work researching scientific literature for his blog. The book has received excellent reviews and endorsements, including Andrew Weil, MD who called it "a new paradigm for health and disease" and Ray Kurzweil who said "it is a must-read for anyone to understand modern biology and advanced medical science" Furthermore, he is an expert and innovator in developing specialized, innovative treatment programs for brain-injured patients and is able to make complex scientific information easy to understand. Episode link at https://neshnikolic.com/podcast/jon-lieffSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Better Thinking, Nesh Nikolic speaks with Prof Angela Martin about promoting workplace positivity and how we can actively manage mental health issues in the workplace. Angela Martin is a Professorial Research Fellow of Work & Mental Health, Menzies Institute for Medical Research, and an Adjunct Professor of Management, School of Business and Economics, at the University of Tasmania.  She is also a Director and the founder of Pracademia, a knowledge translation consultancy organisation. Her PhD is in the area of industrial and organisational psychology and she is well known nationally and internationally for her research on mental health in the context of working life and for developing mental health management capabilities in leaders, managers and employees. She has authored over 100 peer-reviewed publications and been an investigator on several nationally competitive funded research grants for studies of interventions that aim to create healthier working environments. Her consulting work has been undertaken in diverse settings including government, small businesses, large corporations, blue collar occupations, first responder and not for profit organisations.  Episode link at https://neshnikolic.com/podcast/angela-martinSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Better Thinking, Nesh Nikolic speaks with Michael Ronin about masculinity and the challenges of the modern men. Michael Ronin is an interdisciplinary cultural commentator, pulling together the threads of an unraveling world to provide clarity amidst all the Crazy. If there is a single objective truth, then it is found between many different trains of thought. Therefore, he generates insights that shed light onto that “truth” from diverse angles and viewpoints. He’s spent a large proportion of his adult life trying to see the world as it really is and coming to his own conclusions. Conclusions about everything he’s been told or have learned from others. Most people, especially nowadays through their social media preferences, live in an echo chamber. Strangely, he finds there aren’t enough groups or people out there whose thinking is closely mirrored by his own. He finds himself constantly and intentionally challenging his thinking by reading and reviewing stuff from all over the informational map. He digests as much as possible from as wide an array of rock-solid sources as he can, picking and choosing those that make the most sense to him, and then synthesizing it all into something coherent. As he ingests information and perspectives, he tries to accept and acknowledge his own limited ability to fully understand everything and, instead, embrace a growth mindset, however flawed or imperfect he might be at any moment. He is at war with his level of ignorance. He’s deeply concerned with society and our shared journey together as a species and in particular how it affects men. Even in western cultures, society is “not fit for human consumption.” It in no way works for the benefit of the vast majority of people. He’s both fascinated and disturbed about how the world is screwed up, how it got to be screwed up, how he got to be screwed up, and the parts we all play in creating the best conditions for people and planet. Something seems to have reached a tipping point in our collective consciousness, and people are becoming distressingly polarized and hysterical, if not basket cases. The causal factors for our predicament are, for the most part, available for those who care to look but are largely relegated to the fringe. More than this, he’s speaking out because so many people don’t know they’re being lied to. And they don’t know that they are being manipulated and conditioned in such a way that distracts themfrom realizing their true nature and living harmoniously with each other. Michael feels bereft at the state of the world right now. He feels the cruelty of unconsciousness in this world and the harm it causes. This is the creature from the Black Lagoon that lurks unrecognized by most. He’s also here to speak the truth which, by its very nature, is belligerent— because it stands squarely against a world built on comfortable misperceptions, mild deceptions, and outright lies. The uncomfortable truth stands squarely at the side of the conscious man as his ally in life. Episode link at https://neshnikolic.com/podcast/michael-roninSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.