Dr Alex George is a medical NHS doctor. He is well known for featuring on Love Island in 2018. Following the show, Alex has become a leading voice in mental health, and uses his platform to make health and medicine more accessible to millennials and beyond. Dr Alex is the UK Governments first Youth Mental Health Ambassador. Dr Alex has launched a campaign requesting the UK Government prioritise mental health amongst children and adolescents. He has also written a book ‘Live Well Every day’ with ...
May 27, 2022•1 hr 5 min
What are some of the useful things to know about the experience of anxiety and depression? Can psychoeducation be helpful? What are ruminations and why might it be useful to take time to acknowledge what thoughts pass through your mind? What are some self-help steps you can take? Alongside my experience working as a psychiatry trainee and the clinicians I've learnt from, these are some books that I think can be helpful: 10 steps to positive living – a very short, easy to read, overview of some c...
May 13, 2022•20 min
Janet Treasure, OBE PhD FRCP FRCPsych, is a British psychiatrist, who specialises in research and treatment of eating disorders. She is currently the Director of the Eating Disorder Unit and Professor of Psychiatry at the Institute of Psychiatry, King's College, London. Studies Mentioned during the Interview: Serotonergic psychedelics and personality: A systematic review of contemporary research: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0149763417303019 Interviewed by Dr. Rebecca W...
Apr 29, 2022•1 hr
Dr. Richard Miller is an American clinical psychologist, author and radio broadcaster. He is the author of the book Psychedelic Medicine and the founder of the Wilbur Hot Springs health maintenance organisation, where he helped over 1500 people to detox from drugs and alcohol. Miller has presented his work at national conferences of the American Psychological Association, the American Academy of Psychotherapists and the White House Conference on Drugs. In addition to continuing his professional ...
Apr 01, 2022•1 hr 8 min
This week we are thrilled to meet Dr Akeem Sule @ak411cam who is a Wolfson College Research Associate and a Consultant Psychiatrist in General Adult Psychiatry at the Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust, co-founder of the Hip Hop Psych movement and facilitates the film club for the Association of Black Psychiatrists. Dr Sule discusses about the exploration of syndemics and addiction in “The Wire”, what “Euphoria” might tell us about the ‘ethical drug dealer’, cultural humility, rac...
Mar 18, 2022•50 min
Why should you engage in conflict in relationships? How should you think about it? Whats the difference between healthy and unhealthy forms of conflict? Audio-essay by Dr. Alex Curmi. Dr. Curmi is a specialist registrar in General Adult psychiatry in the South London and Maudsley NHS foundation trust with a special interest in psychotherapy and mindfulness meditation. Give feedback here - thinkingmindpodcast@gmail.com Follow us here: Twitter @thinkingmindpod Instagram @thinkingmindpodcast SUPPOR...
Mar 04, 2022•32 min
Dr Charles Shepherd is a medical doctor and world renown expert on the subject of chronic fatigue syndrome, also known as Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, or ME. He is the Hon Medical Advisor to the ME association, which is a self-help support charity for people with ME. He was on the Steering Committee of the National ME Observatory , a collaborative research project in the UK, as well as previously on the advising committee for NICE guidelines on ME. He has written a number of books for both patient...
Feb 18, 2022•1 hr 1 min
Dr Lawrence Park is a psychiatrist. He has worked at the Experimental Therapeutics and Pathophysiology Branch at NIMH since 2014 and currently serves as medical director of the Clinical Research Unit. In this conversation, we discuss what ketamine is and what we might be able to learn from it about depression, the current state of research into ketamine as a treatment for unipolar and bipolar depression, what it's like when someone receives a ketamine infusion, the problems with ketamine and the...
Feb 04, 2022•57 min
Nik and Eva Speakman are British therapists and life coaches. They have studied and worked together since 1992 sharing a passion to help people lead happier and less inhibited lives. They have formulated their own psychotherapeutic interventions including (among others) Schema Conditioning Psychotherapy, which are now also the subject of scientific research. They are resident therapists on ITV’s ‘This Morning’ for over a decade and have had their own shows, one of which, ‘The Speakmans’, also ai...
Jan 21, 2022•1 hr 19 min
This podcast is a guide to making any kind of resolution towards long term change and it includes: Intro 00:00 Listener Shout-Out 02:30 Choosing the area you want to work on (what is bothering you?) 03:33 Framing the resolution appropriately 06:15 Making a plan using the zone of proximal development 08:07 Choosing high leverage activities 12:37 Using positive and negative emotions to help you make progress 14:25 Measuring your results correctly to remain reality oriented and motivated 16:50 Not ...
Jan 07, 2022•31 min
In this episode Anya and Alex discuss the psychological significance and historical origins of Christmas, as well as other similar celebrations around the world. They also discuss: nostalgia, social cohesion, why you shouldn't try and change your relatives minds over Turkey, loneliness, New Years resolutions and much more. From the whole team Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! With Dr. Anya Borissova and Dr. Alex Curmi Give feedback here - thinkingmindpodcast@gmail.com Follow us here: Twitter @...
Dec 24, 2021•44 min
Today on the podcast Alex chats with Andrew Jenkinson, author of the book: Why We Eat (Too Much): The New Science of Appetite. Andrew is a consultant bariatric and general surgeon at University College London. He is a member of the British Obesity and Metabolic Surgery Society, the International Federation of Surgery for Obesity, the Association of Upper GI Surgeons and the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. In the podcast they discuss: - The problems with the mainstream views...
Dec 10, 2021•52 min
Professor Scott is the Director of the Institute for Cognitive Neuroscience, and Head of the Speech Communications Group. Her research studies the neural basis of vocal communication - how our brains process the information in speech and voices, and how our brains control the production of our voice. Professor Scott also researches the expression of emotion in the voice, especially laughter. In this episode, we spend some time discussion why we laugh and how this might change with mental illness...
Nov 27, 2021•48 min
Dr. Richard Miller is an American clinical psychologist, author and radio broadcaster. He is the author of the book Psychedelic Medicine and the founder of the Wilbur Hot Springs health maintenance organisation, where he helped over 1500 people to detox from drugs and alcohol. Miller has presented his work at national conferences of the American Psychological Association, the American Academy of Psychotherapists and the White House Conference on Drugs. In addition to continuing his professional ...
Nov 12, 2021•1 hr 38 min
What if you are being held back by fantasies you are scarcely aware of? How can you become more conscious of your fantasies? How can you become more reality oriented? In this episode mental suffering is examined through the lens of Fantasy and Reality, with the help of cognitive behavioural, psychoanalytic and Jungian theories. Audio-essay by Dr. Alex Curmi. Dr. Curmi is a specialist registrar in General Adult psychiatry in the South London and Maudsley NHS foundation trust with a special intere...
Oct 29, 2021•26 min
Dr Amir Englund is a cannabis scientist at King’s College London. He has been involved in and run a number of experimental cannabis, THC, CBD studies. In this episode we discuss the question of can we make cannabis safer with some brand new study results, the effects of CBD in combination with THC, future directions in cannabis harm reduction including the development of a ‘cannabis unit’, the risks of the high street CBD hype and some interesting pharmacology. Interviewed by Dr. Anya Borissova....
Oct 15, 2021•58 min
Dr. Gwen Adshead is a forensic psychiatrist and psychotherapist, previously a consultant at Broadmoor psychiatric hospital. She is a visiting professor of psychiatry at Gresham College, Jochelson and a visiting professor at the Yale School of Law and Psychiatry. She is the author of the Devil You Know: Stories of Human Cruelty and Compassion (2021) a book that seeks to understand violent criminals at their most extreme. She is also the author of A Short Book About Evil (2013). Interviewed by Dr....
Oct 01, 2021•1 hr 23 min
Iain McGilchrist is an author, speaker, psychiatrist and former Oxford literary scholar. McGilchrist came to prominence after the publication of his book The Master and His Emissary in 2010 which concerns the differences between the right and left hemispheres of the brain. His new book The Matter with Things , which concerns epistemology and metaphysics will be out November 2021. Interviewed by Dr. Alex Curmi - Give feedback here - thinkingmindpodcast@gmail.com - Follow us here: Twitter @thinkin...
Sep 16, 2021•1 hr 37 min
In this episode Dr. Marta Di Forti and Professor Sir Robin Murray discuss the link between cannabis use and psychotic illness in depth, including: - How cannabis has changed over recent decades - The effect of cannabis on the incidence of psychosis - How cannabis can produce psychotic symptoms in a laboratory setting - The potential role of the endocannabinoid system in humans - The cannabis clinic run by Dr. Di Forti in the South London and Maudsley NHS trust Dr. Di Forti is a psychiatrist and ...
Sep 01, 2021•1 hr 16 min
Alex chats with new ML Podcast hosts Dr. Anya Borissova and Dr. Rebecca Wilkinson, both training psychiatrists. In this episode they discuss what makes psychiatry different from other medical specialties, the ups and downs of podcasting, the relationship between cannabis and mental illness, the value of psychotherapy and other topics. Give feedback here - thinkingmindpodcast@gmail.com - Follow us here: Twitter @thinkingmindpod Instagram @thinkingmindpodcast SUPPORT: buymeacoffee.com/thinkingmind...
Aug 05, 2021•44 min
Dr. Rebecca Lawrence is an addictions psychiatrist and blogger. On her blog doctor-and-patient.com she writes about the challenges of working in mental health whilst also having a diagnosis of bipolar disorder. On this episode she discusses being both a doctor and a patient, receiving treatment for her condition with both medications (such as Lithium) and ECT (electro-convulsive therapy). Interviewed by Dr. Rebecca Wilkinson - Give feedback here - thinkingmindpodcast@gmail.com - Follow us here: ...
Jul 12, 2021•1 hr 18 min
Alex chats with Dr Julian-Pascal Saadi about tribalism, therapy, cognitive dissonance and many other topics in the first in-person ML podcast since the pandemic began. Dr Julian-Pascal Saadi is a Counselling Psychologist working within the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust. Alongside his clinical work, he has a special interest in critical psychology and the philosophies underpinning clinical practice within the public healthcare model. Interviewed by Dr. Alex Curmi - Give feedback ...
Jun 21, 2021•1 hr 15 min
Robert Plomin is MRC Research Professor in Behavioural Genetics at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London. He is the author of the book Blueprint: How DNA Makes us Who We Are. In this episode we discuss the genetics behind personality, psychopathology and many of the other factors that make us who we are, as well as Robert's thoughts on the DNA revolution, how DNA testing will change everyone's lives. Interviewed by Dr. Alex Curmi - Give feedback here - t...
May 23, 2021•1 hr 38 min
In this upcoming interview Alex talks to Robert Plomin about the the genetic influences of psychological traits, the DNA revolution and much more. Robert Plomin is MRC Research Professor in Behavioural Genetics at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London. He is the author of the book Blueprint: How DNA Makes us Who We Are Interviewed by Dr. Alex Curmi - Give feedback here - thinkingmindpodcast@gmail.com - Follow us here: Twitter @thinkingmindpod Instagram @...
May 19, 2021•30 sec
Alex chats about DBT with Michelle Batcock, an Accredited DBT Therapist & Member of the Board of Accreditation for the Society for DBT. DBT is a modified form of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy with pronounced influence fom Zen Buddhist ideas. In this episode they discuss: - What DBT is - How it can help people - How it can help the therapist as much as the client - The difference between pain and suffering - Setting goals intelligently Interviewed by Dr. Alex Curmi - Give feedback here - thinki...
May 08, 2021•56 min
How should we think about our emotions? What purpose do they serve? In this podcast we examine 9 common Emotions: Sadness, Anger, Disgust, Joy, Love, Fear, Guilt, Shame and Regret. We also discuss some factors that modify our emotions as well as the basics of emotional intelligence. Audio-essay by Dr. Alex Curmi. Dr. Curmi is a specialist registrar in General Adult psychiatry in the South London and Maudsley NHS foundation trust with a special interest in psychotherapy and mindfulness meditation...
Mar 30, 2021•25 min
Dr. Adrian James is the President of the Royal College of Psychiatrists and a Consultant Forensic Psychiatrist. In this episode we discuss the path to psychiatry, the first 6 months of his Presidency, the way the Mental Health act is changing, the role of prevention in healthcare, the relationship between ethnic minorities and mental health services, the role of psychotherapy in mental health services and many other topics. Interviewed by Dr. Alex Curmi - Give feedback here - thinkingmindpodcast...
Mar 10, 2021•1 hr 15 min
This is an analysis of the Netlfix Film Marriage Story (2019), directed by Noah Baumbach. Audio-essay by Dr. Alex Curmi. Dr. Curmi is a specialist registrar in General Adult psychiatry in the South London and Maudsley NHS foundation trust with a special interest in psychotherapy and mindfulness meditation. Interviewed by Dr. Alex Curmi - Give feedback here - thinkingmindpodcast@gmail.com - Follow us here: Twitter @thinkingmindpod Instagram @thinkingmindpodcast SUPPORT: buymeacoffee.com/thinkingm...
Feb 14, 2021•19 min
What's the difference between wisdom and intelligence? Why does it matter? Audio-essay by Dr. Alex Curmi. Dr. Curmi is a specialist registrar in General Adult psychiatry in the South London and Maudsley NHS foundation trust with a special interest in psychotherapy and mindfulness meditation. Interviewed by Dr. Alex Curmi - Give feedback here - thinkingmindpodcast@gmail.com - Follow us here: Twitter @thinkingmindpod Instagram @thinkingmindpodcast SUPPORT: buymeacoffee.com/thinkingmind Give feedba...
Jan 18, 2021•9 min
Florian Ruths is a consultant psychiatrist in adult mental health at the Maudsley. He is also clinical lead for mindfulness-based therapy at South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust. Florian has been leading the Maudsley Mindfulness Service at the Maudsley Hospital in London for the last 10 years, teaching mindfulness to colleagues and treating patients with mindfulness-based interventions. In this episode we discuss Mindfulness meditation, it's role in treating depression and anxiety, how...
Jan 06, 2021•1 hr 1 min
