The Thinking Mind Podcast: Psychiatry & Psychotherapy

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 

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 

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 

Discover a personal journey of sobriety and its profound effects on mental health and social interactions. The discussion reveals how societal views on drinking are shifting, especially among younger generations. Listeners will learn about strategies to combat cravings and refocus on healthier habits. There's an exploration of the impact of alcohol on clarity and emotion management, encouraging a deeper reflection on personal relationships post-alcohol. Insightful tools are shared to support anyone looking to reduce undesirable habits.

Dr. Russell Ramsay is a co-founder of the Penn Adult ADHD Treatment and Research Program, and served as professor of clinical psychology in the department of psychiatry of the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.He is author of many books on ADHD, his most recent book is Rethinking Adult ADHD: Helping Clients Turn Intentions into Actions (2020). In addition he has a popular blog on psychology today, rethinking adult ADHD. Find out more about Dr. Ramsay here - https://www.cbt4adhd.com/about/In today’s episode we discuss, what it means to be diagnosed with ADHD, how patients should consider whether or not to take medication, how ADHD can be treated psychologically, how CBT should be adapted for ADHD, how people can improve their focus and much more. Interviewed by Dr. Alex Curmi. Dr. Alex is a consultant psychiatrist and a UKCP registered psychotherapist in-training.Alex's latest Guardian article: https://www.theguardian.com/books/2025/mar/31/the-big-idea-should-you-trust-your-gutTedX conference tickets: https://tedxlondonbusinessschool.co.uk/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 

Mary Morgan is an individual and couples psychoanalyst, Fellow of the British Psychoanalytical Society and Honorary Member of the Polish Society for Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy. She has written extensively in the field of couple psychoanalysis and teaches and supervises internationally. She is the author of ‘A Couple State of Mind: Psychoanalysis of Couples and the Tavistock Relationships Model’ .In this episode we discuss: - How and why couples commonly run into problems- Typical difficulties with communication people have - The impact of the "romantic ideal" on relationships in the West- How trends like non-monogamy impact modern couples - Red flags a relationship is in trobule - Green flags couples therapy is progressing wellInterviewed 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 

Dr Livia Martucci is a consultant in perinatal psychiatry, and is the clinical lead for perinatal services in South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust. She is experienced in assessment and management of many common and complex mental health problems including anxiety, panic, OCD, depression and other disorders such as Bipolar Disorder as well as psychotic illnesses, both in the perinatal period and more generally in men and women, and has experience of partners/fathers with antenatal and postnatal anxiety or depression. She has worked with mother and infant dyads providing parent infant psychotherapy.She is currently chair of the faculty of perinatal psychiatry for the Royal College of Psychiatrists. 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 Disclaimer: None of the information discussed in this podcast is intended as individual medical advice, changes to medication plans should always be made via discussion with the prescriber.  Abrupt withdrawal of medication can cause serious adverse effects. 

Dr. Awais Aftab, a Cleveland psychiatrist and author of Conversations in Critical Psychiatry, joins this insightful discussion. He delves into the philosophical angles of psychiatry and the challenges of psychiatric diagnoses. Aftab argues for a holistic view of mental health, blending biological, psychological, and social factors. He critiques the rigidity of current classification systems and emphasizes the complexities of depression and anxiety. Aftab also calls for improved pharmaceutical accountability, advocating for a more integrated approach to mental health care.

Professor Brendan Kelly, a leading psychiatrist and author at Trinity College Dublin, delves into the intricacies of happiness and mental health. He critiques the medicalization of unhappiness and the societal influences shaping our well-being. Brendan shares insights on agency in the workplace, the rise of youth suicide rates linked to technology, and the complex relationship between hedonism and contentment. Drawing from Buddhism, he emphasizes the fluid nature of self-identity, urging a shift towards purposeful living.

Join Professor David Taylor, a leading expert in psychopharmacology, as he dives into the effectiveness of antidepressants and the science behind their use. He unpacks common misconceptions about emotional numbing and withdrawal symptoms while advocating for evidence-based prescribing. The conversation touches on emerging treatments like ketamine and psilocybin, and new innovations for psychosis treatment. With insights drawn from over 375 clinical papers, Taylor emphasizes a personalized approach to mental health medication.