The Thinking Mind Podcast: Psychiatry & Psychotherapy
"If you are interested in your mind, emotions, sense of self, and understanding of others, this show is brilliant."Learn something new about the mind every week - With in-depth conversations at the intersection of psychiatry, psychotherapy, self-development, spirituality and the philosophy of mental health. Featuring experts from around the world, leading clinicians and academics, published authors, and people with lived experience, we aim to make complex ideas in the mental health space accessible and engaging. This podcast is designed for a broad audience including professionals, those who suffer with mental health difficulties, more common psychological problems, or those who just want to learn more about themselves and others. Hosted by psychiatrists Dr. Alex Curmi, Dr. Anya Borissova & Dr. Rebecca Wilkinson. Listeners have also said:"Every episode is enlightening, the approach, conversations and depth of information is deeply enriching. So refreshing to hear practitioners with this level of insight into human behaviour. Thank you for the work and for sharing."Podcast related enquiries: thinkingmindpodcast@gmail.com.If you would like to work with Dr. Curmi: alexcurmitherapy@gmail.comDisclaimer: None of the information in the podcast is intended as medical advice for any one invididual.
Latest episodes
Jun 26, 2025 • 48min
What Should You Know about Anti-depressants? (feat. the Lively Minds podcast)
This week Alex goes on the Lively Minds Podcast to chat to hosts Will and Ellie. They take a deep dive into anti-depressants and SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors), which is the most commonly prescribed form of antidepressant in the UK.They discuss what we know about the effectiveness of SSRIs, what we don't, and why there is so much debate about their use.You can check out Lively Minds on Apple, Spotify and every major podcast platform:https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/lively-minds-the-uk-mental-health-podcast/id1670147948Dr. Alex Curmi is a consultant psychiatrist and a UKCP registered psychotherapist in-training.If you would like to invite Alex to speak at your organisation please email alexcurmitherapy@gmail.com with "Speaking Enquiry" in the subject line.Alex is not currently taking on new psychotherapy clients, if you are interested in working with Alex for focused behaviour change coaching , you can email - alexcurmitherapy@gmail.com with "Coaching" in the subject line.Give feedback here - thinkingmindpodcast@gmail.com - Follow us here: Twitter @thinkingmindpod Instagram @thinkingmindpodcast Tiktok - @thinking.mind.podcast Give feedback here - thinkingmindpodcast@gmail.com Follow us here: Twitter @thinkingmindpod Instagram @thinkingmindpodcast
Jun 19, 2025 • 56min
E129 - Living with Bipolar Disorder (w/ Shreevatsa Nevatia)
Shreevatsa Nevatia is an independent journalist. He has worked as the editor of National GeographicTraveller, and has written for the NationHindustan Times, and the Mumbai Mirror and Outlook. He is the author of How to Travel Light: My Memories of Madness and Melancholia, which among other things describes Shreevata's experiences coming to terms with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder in his early twenties. Interviewed by Dr. Alex Curmi. Dr. Alex is a consultant psychiatrist and a UKCP registered psychotherapist in-training.If you would like to invite Alex to speak at your organisation please email alexcurmitherapy@gmail.com with "Speaking Enquiry" in the subject line.Alex is not currently taking on new psychotherapy clients, if you are interested in working with Alex for focused behaviour change coaching , you can email - alexcurmitherapy@gmail.com with "Coaching" in the subject line.Give feedback here - thinkingmindpodcast@gmail.com - Follow us here: Twitter @thinkingmindpod Instagram @thinkingmindpodcast Tiktok - @thinking.mind.podcast Give feedback here - thinkingmindpodcast@gmail.com Follow us here: Twitter @thinkingmindpod Instagram @thinkingmindpodcast
Jun 12, 2025 • 1h 11min
E128 - How do we Treat Insomnia? (w/ Dr. Hugh Selsick)
Dr Hugh Selsick is a consultant psychiatrist treating adults with sleep disorders, he has been involved in Sleep and Sleep Medicine for nearly 30 years. He has also founded and ran the Insomnia and Behavioural Sleep Medicine Clinic at UCLH, having worked for over a decade in the Sleep Disorders Centre at Guy’s & St Thomas’ Hospitals. Dr. Selsick founded and chaired the Sleep Special Interest Group in the Royal College of Psychiatrists and he is a past president of the Sleep Section at the Royal Society of Medicine. He has expertise in treating all sleep disorders and has a special interest in the management of insomnia, nightmares, circadian rhythm disorders and restless legs.Today we discuss:- The serious impact of insomnia on quality of life - Definition, causes, and prevalence of insomnia - Overview of sleep disorders: insomnia, hypersomnia, sleep apnea, circadian disorders, parasomnias, movement disorders- CBT for insomnia... and much more!Interviewed by Dr. Anya Borissova - Give feedback here - thinkingmindpodcast@gmail.com Follow us here: Twitter @thinkingmindpod Instagram @thinkingmindpodcast Tiktok - @thinking.mind.podcast Give feedback here - thinkingmindpodcast@gmail.com Follow us here: Twitter @thinkingmindpod Instagram @thinkingmindpodcastGive feedback here - thinkingmindpodcast@gmail.com Follow us here: Twitter @thinkingmindpod Instagram @thinkingmindpodcast
Jun 5, 2025 • 1h 12min
E127 - Can Tony Robbins Cure Depression? (Talking Research with Dr. Anya Borissova)
Can Tony Robbins self-help course cure depression? Do people prefer ketamine or electroconvulsive treatment for depression and does preference matter? Today Alex and Anya break down mental health studies to deliver fascinating insights from research, discuss the difference between good and bad science, and understand how science can be (for better and worse) leveraged to market products. Tony Robbins Study:https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9107501/Ketamine vs Electroconvulsive Treatment:Primary analysis: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30572160/Secondary analysis: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0165178125000605With Dr. Anya Borissova and Dr. Alex Curmi. Dr. Alex is a consultant psychiatrist and a UKCP registered psychotherapist in-training. Dr. Anya is a psychiatry registrar and academic trainee at the South London and Maudsley NHS foundation trust. If you would like to invite Alex to speak at your organisation please email alexcurmitherapy@gmail.com with "Speaking Enquiry" in the subject line.Alex is not currently taking on new psychotherapy clients, if you are interested in working with Alex for focused behaviour change coaching , you can email - alexcurmitherapy@gmail.com with "Coaching" in the subject line.Give feedback here - thinkingmindpodcast@gmail.com - Follow us here: Twitter @thinkingmindpod Instagram @thinkingmindpodcast Tiktok - @thinking.mind.podcast Give feedback here - thinkingmindpodcast@gmail.com Follow us here: Twitter @thinkingmindpod Instagram @thinkingmindpodcast
May 29, 2025 • 46min
E126 - Is Social Media Dangerous for Kids?
Today Alex discusses the question: is social media harmful for the mental health of young people? In this episode expect to learn: - Why human beings are vulnerable to information overload.- What about social media and smartphone technology could be addictive or harmful?- Super-powers or metaskills we should be cultivating in our children to deal with an AI driven world. - Recommendations around smartphones and social media for young people. Dr. Alex Curmi is a consultant psychiatrist and a UKCP registered psychotherapist in-training.Watch Alex on Adam Lane Smith's youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Dd6GAsZhQ0&t=1529sIf you would like to invite Alex to speak at your organisation please email alexcurmitherapy@gmail.com with "Speaking Enquiry" in the subject line.Alex is not currently taking on new psychotherapy clients, if you are interested in working with Alex for focused behaviour change coaching , you can email - alexcurmitherapy@gmail.com with "Coaching" in the subject line.Give feedback here - thinkingmindpodcast@gmail.com - Follow us here: Twitter @thinkingmindpod Instagram @thinkingmindpodcast Tiktok @thinking.mind.podcastGive feedback here - thinkingmindpodcast@gmail.com Follow us here: Twitter @thinkingmindpod Instagram @thinkingmindpodcast
May 22, 2025 • 1h 4min
E125 - The Path to Productivity with ADHD (w/ Ari Tuckman)
Ari Tuckman, a renowned psychologist and author specializing in ADHD, shares his insights on productivity challenges faced by adults with the condition. He discusses the balance between self-acceptance and the pursuit of improvement, emphasizing the importance of confidence. Tuckman explores the nuances of procrastination specific to ADHD, offering practical strategies for overcoming it. He also highlights the role of visualization techniques in achieving long-term goals and advocates for a comprehensive approach to treatment that includes self-awareness and proactive strategies.
May 15, 2025 • 52min
E124 - How can we Prevent and Treat Dementia? (w/ Dr. Ben Underwood)
Dr Ben Underwood is Assistant Professor in Applied and Translational Old Age Psychiatry at the University of Cambridge and an Honorary Consultant Old Age Psychiatrist. His interests are in translational medicine in dementia, where he has been principal investigator (PI) for academic and pharma led clinical trials.Today we discuss:Trajectories of Common Mental Health Problems into Older Age, how mental health issues such as depression or psychosis evolve as people age.Dementia and Its Different Types, including Alzheimer's disease, vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia, and frontotemporal dementia.Dementia Prevention, strategies for reducing risk and managing symptoms, including lifestyle interventions and early detection.How Dementia is Treated, including pharmacological and non-pharmacological approaches. The Advent of AI in Psychiatric Research, exploring how artificial intelligence is transforming diagnosis, treatment prediction, and mental health monitoring.Interviewed by Dr. Alex Curmi. Dr. Alex is a consultant psychiatrist and a UKCP registered psychotherapist in-training.If you would like to invite Alex to speak at your organisation please email alexcurmitherapy@gmail.com with "Speaking Enquiry" in the subject line.Alex is not currently taking on new psychotherapy clients, if you are interested in working with Alex for focused behaviour change coaching , you can email - alexcurmitherapy@gmail.com with "Coaching" in the subject line.Give feedback here - thinkingmindpodcast@gmail.com - Follow us here: Twitter @thinkingmindpod Instagram @thinkingmindpodcast Tiktok - @thinking.mind.podcast Give feedback here - thinkingmindpodcast@gmail.com Follow us here: Twitter @thinkingmindpod Instagram @thinkingmindpodcast
May 8, 2025 • 58min
E123 - Are You the Victim of your Own Ambition? (w/ Stefan Stern)
Stefan Stern has been writing about management and leadership for over two decades. He has worked for the BBC, Management Today magazine and the Financial Times, He continues to write for the FT, the Guardian and other publications. He is Visiting Professor in management practice at Bayes Business School, City University, London. He was previously the director of the High Pay Centre, a think tank which focuses on the causes and consequences of economic inequality. Stefan is the author of How To Be A Better Leader, the co-author of Myths of Management and most recently has written Fair or Foul: The Lady Macbeth Guide to Ambition. Interviewed by Dr. Alex Curmi. Dr. Alex is a consultant psychiatrist and a UKCP registered psychotherapist in-training.If you would like to invite Alex to speak at your organisation please email alexcurmitherapy@gmail.com with "Speaking Enquiry" in the subject line.Alex is not currently taking on new psychotherapy clients, if you are interested in working with Alex for focused behaviour change coaching , you can email - alexcurmitherapy@gmail.com with "Coaching" in the subject line.Give feedback here - thinkingmindpodcast@gmail.com - Follow us here: Twitter @thinkingmindpod Instagram @thinkingmindpodcast Tiktok - @thinking.mind.podcast Give feedback here - thinkingmindpodcast@gmail.com Follow us here: Twitter @thinkingmindpod Instagram @thinkingmindpodcast
May 1, 2025 • 1h 13min
E122 - Why is an ADHD diagnosis helpful? (w/ Robin Ince)
Robin Ince is a comedian, author, broadcaster and a populariser of scientific ideas. He is best known as the co-host of the BBC Radio 4 series The Infinite Monkey Cage with Professor Brian Cox. His new book Normally Weird and Weirdly Normal: My adventures in neurodiversity is out now. Interviewed by Dr. Anya Borissova and Dr. Alex Curmi - Give feedback here - thinkingmindpodcast@gmail.com Follow us here: Twitter @thinkingmindpod Instagram @thinkingmindpodcastIf you would like to invite Alex to speak at your organisation please email alexcurmitherapy@gmail.com with "Speaking Enquiry" in the subject line.Alex is not currently taking on new psychotherapy clients, if you are interested in working with Alex for focused behaviour change coaching , you can email - alexcurmitherapy@gmail.com with "Coaching" in the subject line.Give feedback here - thinkingmindpodcast@gmail.com - Follow us here: Twitter @thinkingmindpod Instagram @thinkingmindpodcast Tiktok - @thinking.mind.podcast Give feedback here - thinkingmindpodcast@gmail.com Follow us here: Twitter @thinkingmindpod Instagram @thinkingmindpodcast
Apr 24, 2025 • 1h 10min
E121 - Psychoanalysis, Adolescence & the Unconscious Lust for Control (w/ Dr. Alan Baban)
Dr Alan Baban is a writer, psychiatrist and BPC registered psychoanalytic psychotherapist, and he is the Chair of the Art and Psychiatry Special Interest Group at the Royal College of Psychiatry. Today we discuss:- What makes psychoanalysis different from other therapies- Different unconscious drives people have - What a psychoanalytic session looks like- The many benefits of free association - How art can help people understand the human experience- The acclaimed Netflix series Adolescence Interviewed by Dr. Alex Curmi. Dr. Alex is a consultant psychiatrist and a UKCP registered psychotherapist in-training.If you would like to invite Alex to speak at your organisation please email alexcurmitherapy@gmail.com with "Speaking Enquiry" in the subject line.Alex is not currently taking on new psychotherapy clients, if you are interested in working with Alex for focused behaviour change coaching , you can email - alexcurmitherapy@gmail.com with "Coaching" in the subject line.Give feedback here - thinkingmindpodcast@gmail.com - Follow us here: Twitter @thinkingmindpod Instagram @thinkingmindpodcast Tiktok - @thinking.mind.podcast Give feedback here - thinkingmindpodcast@gmail.com Follow us here: Twitter @thinkingmindpod Instagram @thinkingmindpodcast
