In this episode of Better Thinking, Nesh Nikolic speaks with Dr Erika Penney on the research and treatment of Narcissistic & Borderline Personality Disorder in psychology. Dr Erika Penney is a lecturer, clinical psychologist, and external placement coordinator with the master of clinical psychology program at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS). She has particular interests in complex trauma, developmental trauma, stigma, and personality disorders. She has taught at a number of leading...
Nov 24, 2019•1 hr 25 min
In this episode of Better Thinking, Nesh Nikolic speaks with Graeme Cowan about how small, and often overlooked, rituals can make a significant impact in personal and professional life. In his early career, Graeme Cowan worked in senior leadership positions with Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer, and AT Kearney. Then in 2000 began a 5-year episode of depression that his psychiatrist described as the worst he had ever treated. He emerged from this crisis with a different view about how we can increas...
Nov 21, 2019•1 hr 14 min
In this episode of Better Thinking, Nesh Nikolic speaks with Dr Alan Castel about his new book, Better with Age: The Psychology of Successful Aging, and the many myths and paradoxes about the aging process. Alan Castel is a Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of California, Los Angeles. He studies learning, memory, and aging, and is interested in how people can selectively remember important information. He received his PhD from the University of Toronto, did a fellowship...
Nov 17, 2019•1 hr 8 min
In this episode of Better Thinking, Nesh Nikolic speaks with Senior Sergeant Daryl Elliot Green about his horrific experience of being ambushed on duty and shot in the face at close range, the dark years that followed and his path to recovery. At 3:50am on 1 May 2000, in a dark Brisbane cul-de-sac, Senior Sergeant Daryl Elliot Green and his colleagues were ambushed by a gun wielding neighbour and shot numerous times. Daryl was shot in the face at close range and again in the arm. From this horri...
Nov 14, 2019•1 hr 22 min
In this episode of Better Thinking, Nesh Nikolic speaks with Mary Andreadis about emotional intelligence and how it can impact us in the workplace, relationships and personal decision-making. Nesh Nikolic is a Canberra-based clinical psychologist with over 15,000 hours of one-on-one therapy experience. He has trained in a number of therapy modes including Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) and Schema Therapy and he is also recognised by Medicare Australi...
Nov 06, 2019•1 hr 13 min
In this episode of Better Thinking, Nesh Nikolic speaks with Dr Benjamin Habib about how a panic attack on live television became a turning point in his personal battle with anxiety. Dr Benjamin Habib is a Lecturer in Politics and International Relations at La Trobe University , Melbourne, Australia. Ben is an internationally published scholar with a current research interest in intersections between grassroots sustainability and regeneration projects, environmental movements and international c...
Oct 30, 2019•1 hr 18 min
In this episode of Better Thinking, Nesh Nikolic speaks with psychologist Natalie Cross about her personal experience of multiple pregnancy losses. Natalie Cross is a registered psychologist working in Sydney. She previously worked at Strategic Psychology (Nesh’s practice) in Canberra. She was kind enough to reach out and offer to share her experience of multiple pregnancy losses in the hope it can help other women and families going through a similar situation. Episode links at https://neshniko...
Oct 24, 2019•1 hr 15 min
In this episode of Better Thinking, Nesh Nikolic is interviewed by Mary Andreadis on understanding stress and burnout and mechanisms for managing. Nesh Nikolic is a Canberra-based clinical psychologist with over 15,000 hours of one-on-one therapy experience. He has trained in a number of therapy modes including Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) and Schema Therapy and he is also recognised by Medicare Australia as a qualified provider of specialist clini...
Oct 16, 2019•1 hr 13 min
In this episode of Better Thinking, Nesh Nikolic speaks with Dr Kirk Strosahl about an alternative approach when working with suicidal patients. Dr Kirk Strosahl is a leading innovator in the field of clinical psychology, and in 2009 received an award for outstanding innovations in psychology from the American Psychological Association. Dr Strosahl has a long-standing interest in developing an evidence-based model for assessing and treating suicidal behaviour and, together with colleague John Ch...
Oct 09, 2019•1 hr 9 min
In this episode of Better Thinking, Nesh Nikolic speaks with Carlos Turini about why mediation is a smart alternative to resolving family disputes and how to prepare for mediation. Carlos Turini is an accredited specialist in family law, nationally accredited mediator and part of the Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee for the ACT Law Society. With his extensive experience and knowledge of Family Law, Carlos is committed to achieving the best results for his clients, in the first instance b...
Sep 26, 2019•1 hr 14 min
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, wel...
Sep 18, 2019•1 hr 7 min
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 book...
Sep 11, 2019•1 hr 14 min
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 ethica...
Sep 04, 2019•1 hr 5 min
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 20...
Aug 28, 2019•1 hr 45 min
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 empoweri...
Aug 21, 2019•1 hr 14 min
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 lan...
Aug 14, 2019•1 hr 8 min
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...
Aug 07, 2019•1 hr 6 min
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 W...
Jul 31, 2019•1 hr 27 min
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...
Jul 24, 2019•1 hr 19 min
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 i...
Jun 27, 2019•1 hr 28 min
In this episode of the Better Thinking podcast, Nesh Nikolic speaks with Kym Robinson about modern-day challenges in the bedroom techniques for rebooting your sex life. Kym Robinson began her career as a Registered Nurse (RN) and completed her bachelor of nursing at the University of Canberra. She combines more than 15 years’ experience working both locally and internationally with a Master’s of Science in Medicine (MScMed) in Sexual Health Counselling from the University of Sydney. She is a cer...
Jun 21, 2019•59 min
In this episode of the Better Thinking podcast, Nesh Nikolic speaks with ACT Minister for Mental Health, Shane Rattenbury, about mental health services and how politics works to improve policy and implementation. Shane Rattenbury is the Minister for Mental Health and Minister for Climate Change and Sustainability. Since he was first elected in 2008, he has promoted important issues including clean energy, marriage equality, and major public transport. Episode links at https://neshnikolic.com/pod...
Jun 12, 2019•1 hr 3 min
In this episode of the Better Thinking podcast, Nesh Nikolic speaks with Trish Purnell-Webb about practical strategies that go to the heart of what makes relationships strong, meaningful and connected. Trish Purnell-Webb is a Clinical Psychologist and Certified Gottman Marital Therapist, Master Trainer and Consultant. Trish and her business partner, John Flanagan, founded Relationship Institute Australasia, an organisation with a guiding principle to utilise sound, evidenced-based approaches to ...
Jun 04, 2019•1 hr 3 min
In this episode of the Better Thinking podcast, Nesh Nikolic speaks with Professor Joseph Ciarrochi about aggressive versus pro-social behaviour and the benefits of being anti-social. Joseph Ciarrochi, PhD , is a professor at the Institute of Positive Psychology and Education at the Australian Catholic University. He has published over 100 scientific journal articles and many books, including the widely acclaimed Emotional Intelligence in Everyday Life and Mindfulness, Acceptance, and Positive P...
May 23, 2019•58 min
In this episode of the Better Thinking podcast, Nesh Nikolic speaks with Randolph Sparks about effective pain management treatments. Randolph explains why pain is necessary for survival, how the brain receives signals and interesting experiments in pain management. Randolph Sparks is a clinical psychologist and runs a successful private practice in Canberra, Top Psychology. He completed his clinical training at the Australian National University and continues an association there teaching in the...
May 15, 2019•1 hr 10 min
In this episode of the Better Thinking podcast, Nesh Nikolic speaks with Professor Bruce Stevens about his life in forensic psychology. The discussion ranges from treating murderers and psychopaths to schema therapy for couples. Professor Bruce Stevens obtained his PhD at Boston University in 1987. He is Wicking Professor of Aging and Practical Theology at Charles Sturt University and was previously Associate Professor in Clinical and Forensic Psychology in the Clinical Psychology program at the...
May 08, 2019•53 min
In this episode of the Better Thinking podcast, Nesh Nikolic speaks with Anya Aidman on family separation, coparenting, domestic violence, spousal maintenance and stories of the good, the bad and the ugly of separation. Anya Aidman is a qualified Independent Children’s Lawyer specializing in working with families going through separation. She completed Master of Laws at the Australian National University (ANU). In addition to being a family lawyer, Anya is a qualified and Nationally Accredited M...
May 01, 2019•1 hr 9 min
In this mini episode of the Better Thinking podcast, Nesh Nikolic answers Dr Antonio Di Dio’s question on how he works with clients and their symptoms. "I don't care for symptom reduction because a lot of what we experience in life will never go away." – Nesh Nikolic See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Apr 25, 2019•4 min
In this episode of the Better Thinking podcast, Nesh Nikolic speaks with Dr Antonio Di Dio about mental health, hospital beds and acute care in Australia's capital. Dr Antonio Di Dio is the Australian Medical Association's ACT branch president and general practitioner in his Canberra-based private practice. He is actively involved in helping medical practitioners and government entities to work closer together for a better doctor / patient outcome. Episode links at https://neshnikolic.com/podcas...
Apr 17, 2019•1 hr 22 min
In this episode of the Better Thinking podcast, Nesh Nikolic speaks with Rachel Menzie about death anxiety and links to mental health disorders. Rachel Menzies is a registered psychologist and lead editor of the book Curing the Dread of Death: Theory, Research and Practice, published by Australian Academic Press in 2018. She has published extensively on the causes of various disorders, including depression, OCD, panic disorder, illness anxiety, social anxiety, agoraphobia, generalised anxiety di...
Apr 10, 2019•52 min
