Psych for Life with Dr. Amanda Ferguson

On this episode of Psych to Life, I chat with Lisa Blair OAM, the fastest person to sail solo, non-stop and unassisted around Antarctica on her yacht Climate Action. She very nearly didn’t live to tell the tale, in a life-threatening dismasting. Lisa is now setting her sights on her upcoming NZ records before focusing on the Arctic Ocean. Tune in to hear our discussion on - - Dealing with uncertainty; whilst we can chart a course, there's always unexpected challenges - How Lisa manages her mindset - The importance of adversity and resilience And so much more as Lisa discusses her amazing solo sailing experiences. To connect with Lisa -  Book: Facing Fear: One woman’s solo voyage around Antarctica Documentary Ice Maiden now available for streaming https://icemaidenfilm.com/ www.LisaBlairSailstheWorld.com www.LisaBlairSpeaks.com

In this episode of Psych for Life, I welcome back Daniel Principe to discuss the series "Adolescence” and the importance of a grounded sense of self. Daniel champions boys across Australia to challenge culture and aspire to live courageous, respectful and empathetic lives. Having presented to tens of thousands of young people across Australia, Daniel is no stranger to the complex challenges that our distracting digital world presents to adolescents: such as toxic influencers, the objectification of women and girls and unrealistic expectations fuelled by pornography culture. Daniel partners with schools and communities, to encourage young people to INSTEAD aspire to healthy relationships built on mutual respect and empathy. Listen in to our chat on - - the impact of nefarious influences on our adolescents - the importance of emotional and relational safety as well as physical safety - why we should celebrate the role of fathers more - what does it mean to notice the "good and gold" in our young men And so much more. Resources - Connect with Daniel via his website - https://www.danielprincipe.com.au/ Podcast Daniel hosts podcast Reimagining Masculinity E-SAFETY WEBSITE

In this episode of Psych for Life I am chatting all about The Beauty Load and its potential self-esteem dealing damage, with author and counsellor, Nicole Mathison. Nicole is a relationship coach, counsellor, couple therapist and author of The Beauty Load. She helps women, men and couples in their intimate relationships both with others and themselves.   Nicole has impacted the lives of thousands of women through her writing, speaking, podcasts and work as a counsellor. In the therapy room, Nicole sees the Beauty Load's negative impact on self-esteem in real time as she helps her clients grapple with not feeling good enough to be loved. Listen in to our chat on -  - how to feel enough in a world obsessed with beauty - how to find your self-worth despite societal expectations on women - what is empowerment for women and what does it actually look like - advice for women who don't feel good enough or beautiful enough to be loved Plus so much more! You can connect with Nicole via -  Website https://nicolemathieson.com    Book “The Beauty Load, How to feel enough in a world obsessed with Beauty.”    Instagram @nicole.mathieson Youtube - @relationship-smart To relationship work with Nicole  (both couples and individuals) connect via her website  Online courses and resources:   - Online courses for couples to do together:   “The 5 big communication mistakes couples make and how to avoid them”   “Safe and Connected communication” - Body image course “From insecurity to body confidence” Liked this topic? Grab a copy of my book, Life Works - Rediscover yourself and transform your relationships and begin your pathway to deeper self-connection and happiness (available from my website and via Booktopia/Amazon). If you enjoy listening to the Psych for Life podcast, please rate, review and subscribe on Apple, Spotify or wherever you're listening now. Is there a pressing issue or topic you'd like me to discuss? Head to my instagram @dramandaferguson and leave a comment or send me a DM! I love hearing from my listeners.

Do you want to Paradigm-shift – or turn the tables – on a tricky relationship? Particularly one in which you feel trapped, controlled, treated like a younger version of yourself?   Then tune in to this Psych for Life power ep, where I share my super effective "dinner party exercise" to help you improve and create healthier, more functional relationships. No longer feel entangled in toxic dynamics. Learn this technique and start applying it to all of the difficult relationships in your life today. Liked this topic? Grab a copy of my book, Life Works - Rediscover yourself and transform your relationships and begin your pathway to deeper self-connection and happiness (available from my website and via Booktopia/Amazon). If you enjoy listening to the Psych for Life podcast, please rate, review and subscribe on Apple, Spotify or wherever you're listening now. Is there a pressing issue or topic you'd like me to discuss? Head to my instagram @dramandaferguson and leave a comment or send me a DM! I love hearing from my listeners.

In this episode of Psych for Life, I welcome back psychologist and one of Australia's most expert leaders and trainers in bullying, Evelyn Field OAM. Evelyn has spent over forty years helping students and adults develop social survival skills to manage school and workplace bullying. Listen in to our insighful conversation about workplace bullying to learn - What is workplace bullying? Why the gap between school and workplace bullying is getting smaller The impacts of bullying as a workplace injury and trauma The difference between overt and covert bullying Why poor management is the main cause Solutions for managing workplace bullying And so much more.  If you would like to connect with Evelyn or access her resources see the links below: www.bullying.com.au Treatment, training, keynotes/ Books: Bully Blocking at Work Strategies for Surviving Bullying at Work Harry the Bully Blocker FACEBOOK - https://www.facebook.com/evelynfield11 INSTAGRAM - https://www.instagram.com/Harrythebullyblocker/ LINKEDIN - https://www.linkedin.com/in/evelyn-m-field-oam-faps-4560aa18/ Liked this topic? Grab a copy of my book, Life Works - Rediscover yourself and transform your relationships and begin your pathway to deeper self-connection and happiness (available from my website and via Booktopia). If you enjoy listening to the Psych for Life podcast, please rate, review and subscribe on Apple, Spotify or wherever you're listening now. Is there a pressing issue or topic you'd like me to discuss? Head to my instagram @dramandaferguson and leave a comment or send me a DM! I love hearing from my listeners.

Did you grow up with a Narcissistic parent? Are you trying to breaking free of them - or another? Did you feel like you were growing up in their shadow – or now living in another’s shadow? Listen in to this power ep to learn -  - What is a co-narcissist - How to recognise an expected or current connection that clouds your view - How to shift out of a co-narcissistic mindset and relationship Liked this topic? Grab a copy of my book, Life Works - Rediscover yourself and transform your relationships and begin your pathway to deeper self-connection and happiness (available from my website and via Booktopia). If you enjoy listening to the Psych for Life podcast, please rate, review and subscribe on Apple, Spotify or wherever you're listening now. Is there a pressing issue or topic you'd like me to discuss? Head to my instagram @dramandaferguson and leave a comment or send me a DM! I love hearing from my listeners.

In this episode of Psych for Life, I chat with Clinical Psychologist, Bart Traynor, who has a particular passion for men's mental health and helping athletes and people become the very best version of themselves. He also consults with and provides training and support to organisations struggling with mental health issues in the workplace. Bart is Head of Operations at Atlantis Recovery Centre in QLD, Australia – which specialises in veteran and NDIS health care, combining clinical treatment with technology to provide a layered approach to care. Listen in to our inspiring chat on:  - the benefits of combing physical movement with psychological treatments for mental health - how paths choose you - the importance of taking action to move forward  - why ships are safe in harbours but it's not what they're built for If you would like to connect with Bart, you can via the below: Atlantis Recovery Centre https://atlantisrc.com.au/ Liked this topic? Grab a copy of my book, Life Works - Rediscover yourself and transform your relationships and begin your pathway to deeper self-connection and happiness (available from my website and via Booktopia). If you enjoy listening to the Psych for Life podcast, please rate, review and subscribe on Apple, Spotify or wherever you're listening now. Is there a pressing issue or topic you'd like me to discuss? Head to my instagram @dramandaferguson and leave a comment or send me a DM! I love hearing from my listeners.

A role model is a person whose behavior, example, or success is admired and imitated by others, particularly by younger people. They serve as a source of inspiration and guidance, influencing values, attitudes, and behaviors. As we grow and develop through life – having good role models can really make us – and not having them may break us!  In this ep you’ll learn the importance of role models for children, adolescents and adults and how to build more of these for your child and yourself. I draw on the recent Netflix series, Adolescence as an example.

In this episode of Psych for Life, I chat with Sarah Martin, author of Dear Psychosis, her first award-winning book describing not only the dramatic rescue of her unwell daughter from Turkey, but the ongoing impact of helping a loved one deal with mental illness.  Despite being an experienced theatre nurse and part of an extended family of medical professionals, nothing could have prepared Sarah for navigating the health system after her daughter Alice began experiencing psychosis and later, bipolar disorder. Listen in to our chat on: Sarah's journey with her 21yo daughter Alice's drug induced psychosis What she learnt as a parent that she wants other parents/families to know The impacts on families navigating mental health challenges If you would like to purchase Sarah's book or connect with her, see the links below: Dear Psychosis has received 1st place in the Goody Business Book Awards and 1st place in the Journey Book Awards. Sarah is currently working on her first fiction book. Website https://sarahmartinauthor.com/ Liked this topic? Grab a copy of my book, Life Works - Rediscover yourself and transform your relationships and begin your pathway to deeper self-connection and happiness (available from my website and via Booktopia). If you enjoy listening to the Psych for Life podcast, please rate, review and subscribe on Apple, Spotify or wherever you're listening now. Is there a pressing issue or topic you'd like me to discuss? Head to my instagram @dramandaferguson and leave a comment or send me a DM! I love hearing from my listeners.

In this episode of Psych for Life, I chat with Australia's leading compassion researcher,  James Kirby, Ph.D.,  an Associate Professor, Clinical Psychologist, Director of the Clinical Programs, and the Co-Director of the Compassionate Mind Research Group at the University of Queensland.  James examines factors that facilitate and inhibit compassionate responding, and the clinical effectiveness of compassion focused interventions, specifically how they help with self-criticism and shame that underpin many depression and anxiety disorders.  James is also an Honorary Associate Professor of the Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education at Stanford University and is an Honorary Member of the Compassionate Mind Foundation UK. In 2022 he authored Choose Compassion, and in 2020 he co-edited Making an Impact on Mental Health. His new book just published by Routledge is called, The Essentials of Compassion Focused Therapy: A Practice Manual for Clinicians. Listen in to our discussion on -  - Why compassion is not just a feeling and more a motivational force shaping our behaviour and relationships - The challenges in becoming a more compassionate person and developing a more compassionate society.  - How self-compassion is part of self-regulation and linked to our health, functioning and performance. And so much more! You can connect with James via - https://jameskirby.com.au/  for books, speaking engagements etc. Liked this topic? Grab a copy of my book, Life Works - Rediscover yourself and transform your relationships and begin your pathway to deeper self-connection and happiness (available from my website and via Booktopia).I If you enjoy listening to the Psych for Life podcast, please rate, review and subscribe on Apple, Spotify or wherever you're listening now. Is there a pressing issue or topic you'd like me to discuss? Head to my instagram @dramandaferguson and leave a comment or send me a DM! I love hearing from my listeners.

In this episode of Psych for Life, I'm talking with Mark Morris about all things transitioning to being a father. Mark is a passionate advocate for positive masculinity and gender equality, an active dad of 2 and volunteers at his children’s school and local football club. With more than 20 years of leadership experience and a degree in Psychology, he specialises in People, is an accredited executive leadership coach, a Board Director, an Adjunct Professor in Leadership and Gender Equality, and is currently leading a number of research initiatives. He encourages a greater focus on equity in schools & early childhood to set children on a better path early on, contributing to reducing the gender pay gap and gender-based violence downstream. Listen in to our chat covering -  - Why the transition to being a father has been Mark's most important role - The difficulties in becoming a parent in today's world -  Where men most need support with parenting - The importance of good role models and consideration of gender roles for boys - Why we should be cancelling the boys will be boys attitude And so much more! If you would like to connect with Mark, you can do via the links below - https://www.mark-morris.me Mark Morris - LinkedIn Liked this topic? Grab a copy of my book, Life Works - Rediscover yourself and transform your relationships and begin your pathway to deeper self-connection and happiness (available from my website and via Booktopia).I If you enjoy listening to the Psych for Life podcast, please rate, review and subscribe on Apple, Spotify or wherever you're listening now. Is there a pressing issue or topic you'd like me to discuss? Head to my instagram @dramandaferguson and leave a comment or send me a DM! I love hearing from my listeners.

Life brings crossroads every so often. When our work conflicts with our mental health – this is a major crossroad – and one that comes to many of us sooner or later in our careers.  Most of us are lucky enough to be able to direct the quality of our lives, and these crossroads are opportunities to take stock, take charge and work out what the next best steps are.  In this episode You’ll take a moment to: - understand what a healthy and unhealthy work-life balance looks like  - identify whether your work is costing too much of your mental health - consider your options for a change of direction and how to make the transition successfully for a healthier life And much more!    Liked this topic? Grab a copy of my book, Life Works - Rediscover yourself and transform your relationships and begin your pathway to deeper self-connection and happiness (available from my website and via Booktopia).I If you enjoy listening to the Psych for Life podcast, please rate, review and subscribe on Apple, Spotify or wherever you're listening now. Is there a pressing issue or topic you'd like me to discuss? Head to my instagram @dramandaferguson and leave a comment or send me a DM! I love hearing from my listeners.

In my first new episode for 2025, I welcomed Dr Emmanuella Noble, a Clinical Psychologist and Sailor who recently completed the classic Sydney to Hobart oceanic yacht race.  Emmanuella is deeply passionate about reducing the stigma of Mental Health in the community and she often talks about health and wellbeing issues.  Listen in to our conversation on - - the realities of racing the Sydney to Hobart - the importance of facing challenges head on, despite difficulty or risk of failure - how to build resilience to face adversity - achieving goals and finding the right ones for you Plus so much more! You can connect with Dr Emmanuella Noble via - www.dremmanuellanoble.com.au Private practice in Macquarie Street, Sydney and Crows Nest (face to face/telehealth) Dr Emmanuella also offers Lunchtime chats on different topics to workplaces, to assist mental health and wellbeing in the workplace. If you enjoy listening to the Psych for Life podcast, please rate, review and subscribe on Apple, Spotify or wherever you're listening now. Is there a pressing issue or topic you'd like me to discuss? Head to my instagram @dramandaferguson and send me a DM! I love hearing from my listeners.

During Summer, I’ll be sharing my Summer Series - a replay of some of our most popular Psych for Life podcast episodes. I hope you enjoy them as much as my other listeners have. There's no escaping that we live in a digital world. However, our digital habits are impacting our stress and relationships more than ever, so I chat with Dr Kristy Goodwin, about what we can do to tame them.Dr Kristy Goodwin studies what it takes to thrive in the digital world. Kristy is the author of Dear Digital, We need to talk where she decodes the neurobiology of peak-performance in a digital age. Described by her clients as a ‘pracademic’ Kristy translates cutting-edge research and science into realistic strategies to bolster productivity and enhance wellbeing in the ‘always-on’ digital world.  Tune in to hear us chat about: - How our digital habits and behaviours are impacting our stress - Top tips to tame our tech habits  - Dr Kristy's brain-based hacks for peak performance in a digital age You can find Dr Kristy and the resources discussed in this episode via the below links:https://drkristygoodwin.com/https://drkristygoodwin.com/podcastresources_corporate/Book - Dear Digital, We need to talk is available via Booktopia as both a hard copy and ebook If you enjoy listening to the Psych for Life podcast, please rate, review and subscribe on Apple, Spotify or wherever you're listening now. Is there a pressing issue or topic you'd like me to discuss? Head to my instagram @dramandaferguson and send me a DM! I love hearing from my listeners.

During Summer, I’ll be sharing my Summer Series - a replay of some of our most popular Psych for Life podcast episodes. I hope you enjoy them as much as my other listeners have. Co-dependence may seem like the latest buzzy word, however if you're wanting healthy relationships in your life, it's one you should probably pay attention to. The cornerstone of Co-dependence is when we care too much what other people think about us. This keeps us limited, stuck and failing to grow and eventually impacts our relationships, keeping us stuck and miserable. Listen in to hear - - Why co-dependence is dysfunctional - How much is too much? - Ways to stop the cycle in yourself and your relationships Liked this topic? Grab a copy of my book, Life Works - Rediscover yourself and transform your relationships and begin your pathway to deeper self-connection and happiness (available from my website and via Booktopia).I f you enjoy listening to the Psych for Life podcast, please rate, review and subscribe on Apple, Spotify or wherever you're listening now. Is there a pressing issue or topic you'd like me to discuss? Head to my instagram @dramandaferguson and send me a DM! I love hearing from my listeners.

During Summer, I’ll be sharing my Summer Series - a replay of some of our most popular Psych for Life podcast episodes. I hope you enjoy them as much as my other listeners have. In this episode, I chat with motivational speaker, author, researcher and podcaster, Craig Harper. We discuss audacious goals, self awareness, motivation and so much more. Listen in to hear - - What big hairy audacious goals (BHAG) are and why we might pursue them - Why we are our own biggest projects and the challenge is not to be right, it's to learn to be the best you can be, learning along the way - How the things we do on the days we really don't want to, can impact us most - Why fear of failure AND fear of success contribute to our self sabotaging behaviours This power packed episode offers lots of insight into how we can work towards our goals and improve our relationships by increasing our self awareness. Links: https://www.craigharper.net The You Project Podcast Instagram: @whiteboardlessons

During Summer, I’ll be sharing my 2024 Summer Series - a replay of some of our most popular Psych for Life podcast episodes. I hope you enjoy them as much as my other listeners have So many people struggle to switch off at all and find themselves spending breaks (even lunch breaks, let alone holidays) on devices, or madly trying to multi task lots of other seemingly must do items - which defeats the purpose of the break and then they wonder why they don't feel like they had a break at all.  Does this sound familiar? Do you struggle to REALLY switch off? In this episode you’ll learn why it is so important to fully switch off and you’ll gain tips on how to do this, as well as how to deal with anxieties during holidays and other more formal time off. Liked this topic? Grab a copy of my book, Life Works and begin your pathway to deeper self-connection and happiness (available online at my website). If you enjoy listening to the Psych for Life podcast, please rate, review and subscribe on Apple, Spotify or wherever you're listening now. Is there a pressing issue or topic you'd like me to discuss? Head to my instagram @dramandaferguson and send me a DM! I love hearing from my listeners.

Social anxiety is a chronic mental health condition where everyday social interactions cause irrational worry and anxiety, fear, self consciousness and embarrassment. Debilitating and bad for confidence, particularly at social times of the year such as Christmas, end of year, birthdays and work celebrations. So listen in to this episode of Psych for Life to learn: - what is social anxiety, obsessive thinking and other related disorders - gain tips for dealing with these disorders - And hear about the range of current clinical treatments Liked this topic? Grab a copy of my book, Life Works - Rediscover yourself and transform your relationships and begin your pathway to deeper self-connection and happiness (available from my website). If you enjoy listening to the Psych for Life podcast, please rate, review and subscribe on Apple, Spotify or wherever you're listening now. Is there a pressing issue or topic you'd like me to discuss? Head to my instagram @dramandaferguson and send me a DM! I love hearing from my listeners. Should you or someone you know be experiencing anxiety issues, we recommend you consult your GP or a psychologist.

In this episode of Psych for Life I chat with cognitive neuroscientist, Dr. Sarah Tashjian. Sarah is a Lecturer within the Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences with her research focusing on using brain imaging and computational techniques to understand how humans make optimal decisions. She has a particular interest in the way individuals perceive threat, safety, and reward, and how these processes contribute to risk for mental health problems during adolescence and early adulthood.  Listen in to our chat on how to protect ourselves and our goals during times of uncertainty and stress. We cover: - why all humans are motivated to survive, wanting to gain rewards to thrive and avoid threats to stay safe - how this innate drive is being impacted in our current VUCA (volatile, uncertain, complex and ambigous) times - The protective power of personal goals - Tips to help us manage threats to our sense of safety and the importance of sociality Plus so much more! To connect with Dr Sarah Tashjian find her website and social media options below: www.sarahmtashjian.com Twitter: @TashjianSM See Dr Sarah's recent interview on Life Matters for ABC Australia where she talks about healtyh risk taking behaviours in adolescence https://abc.net.au/listen/programs/lifematters/?utm_content=twitter&utm_medium=content_ Other references and resources from this episode: Chapter 9 A Mutualism, Affiliation and Status Seeking (MASS) Framework of Fundamental Affective Dynamics and Their Survival Benefits Dean Mobbs , Sarah M. Tashjian , and Brian Silston, in Christian E. WaughPeter Kuppens (Editors) Affect Dynamics, Springer. ISBN 978-3-030-82964-3 ISBN 978-3-030-82965-0 (eBook) https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-82965-0 Liked this topic? Grab a copy of my book, Life Works - Rediscover yourself and transform your relationships and begin your pathway to deeper self-connection and happiness (available from my website). If you enjoy listening to the Psych for Life podcast, please rate, review and subscribe on Apple, Spotify or wherever you're listening now. Is there a pressing issue or topic you'd like me to discuss? Head to my instagram @dramandaferguson and send me a DM! I love hearing from my listeners.

Most of us suffer cost of living crises personally in our lives, as do our nations and as does the world at times. It impacts how we celebrate special occasions. So with Christmas coming up and as the pressure to spend and socialise increases, this episode explores what you as an individual can do about this, plus tips and optimal strategic mindsets and practices you can use to help navigate these more difficult times.   Liked this topic? Grab a copy of my book, Life Works - Rediscover yourself and transform your relationships and begin your pathway to deeper self-connection and happiness (available from my website). If you enjoy listening to the Psych for Life podcast, please rate, review and subscribe on Apple, Spotify or wherever you're listening now. Is there a pressing issue or topic you'd like me to discuss? Head to my instagram @dramandaferguson and send me a DM! I love hearing from my listeners.