Other Therapist Recommendations and My Favourite Psychology Resources and Articles
Clips and Animations
Louie Schwartzberg is a cinematographer, director and producer who captures breathtaking images that celebrate life — revealing connections, universal rhythms, patterns and beauty.
Nature’s beauty can be fleeting -- but not through Louie Schwartzberg’s lens. His stunning time-lapse photography, accompanied by powerful words from Benedictine monk Brother David Steindl-Rast, serves as a meditation on being grateful for every day. Also movingart.com which has links to Louie’s Wonder and Awe Podcast. Also highly recommend Fantastic Fungi (currently on Netflix) particularly in helping to learn about the powerful impacts of plant medicines on the psyche.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) clips - for helping manage intrusive, ruminative and “stuck” thoughts. These clips are oldies but goodies.
Struggling with Internal Hijackers?
Coping with really difficult moments
6 Steps to Emotional Self Regulation - Overcoming Amydala Hijack
Daniel Goleman’s Explanation of Amydala Hijack
5 Sense Check in. This is my number one go to for helping your mind to become wider, calmer and expansive rather than rigid and stuck.
Really taking your time and try to find novel things even in a familiar environment. What are 5 things you can see? 5 things you can feel? Five things you can hear? One thing you can taste? One thing you can smell?
Peter Levine - Somatic Experiencing - This is one clip explaining how we close off when triggered but there are many more fantastic ones by Peter on Youtube to explore
Resources for Highly Sensitive People and Empaths
HSP (Highly Sensitive Person) Test and Website
Empath expert Dr Judith Orloff
Relationship Support
Lots of evidence based excellent resources at gottman.com
Book - ACT with Love by Russ Harris
Australian Therapist Jacqueline Hellyer - You tube channel and couples retreats for improving sexuality and intimacy connection
Mindfulness and Meditation Exercises to Boost Wellbeing and Deal with Difficult Times
Wheel of Awareness Exercise - Dan Siegal
This is the one exercise that in my experience is the most effective and powerful and combines elements of meditation and mindfulness that have found to be most helpful from extensive research. This clip above provides an explanation and background. The link below has several different versions from short through to advanced. Highly recommend and I use this personally all the time.
Listen to Guided Wheel of Awareness
App Recommendation - Insight Timer - Thousands of short or long free meditations searchable by what you need help with in the moment (eg anxiety, overwhelm)
Short Yoga Practice to Calm the Nervous System - wonderful to do this daily if you can but even a few times a week makes a big difference. A nice one to help you wind down and sleep.
Anything by Sarah Blondin on Spotify or Insight Timer App (see her book below) - my personal go to.
Anything by Ram Dass - Spotify and particularly his words paired with music by East Forest - magic!
Most Recommended Books/Audible/Teachers
I think I must have read what feels like thousands of books over the years. These are my favourite of all time for wellbeing and mental health that are true jewels.
Anything by Dr Dan Siegel (Great books on the brain and emotional regulation and very good parenting support with a brain based focus)
The Untethered Soul by Michael Singer. This website has lots of wonderful resources and I think this may be my most impactful book of all time.
Thinking Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman - The concepts of this book have changed the way I view the brain however the original book is heavy going in parts and apparently one of the most common books never finished….! So here is a nifty you tube summary of the main concepts….
The Happiness Trap by Russ Harris
No Bad Parts and You are the One You’ve Been Waiting For by Richard Schwartz - Internal Family Systems IFS approach - recommend audible version free on spotify
Yung Pueblo - Three books, all amazing - Inward, Clarity and Connection and Lighter
Sarah Blondin - Book Heart Minded - definitely get the audible version as each chapter has a beautiful meditation. I think this one is my favourite book of all time. You can also listen to Sarah’s courses and meditations on Insight Timer App and Spotify.
Wider Consciousness, Soulfulness and Psychedelic Assisted Psychotherapy
Samadhi - Maya the Illusion of the Self
Psychedelic Assisted Psychotherapy Resources
This is currently a tricky area in Australia due to current legal frameworks however many very promising trials are occurring in Australia and overseas making this an important area to watch for future options. Currently there are some specially qualified doctors and psychiatrists in Australia who are legally allowed to administer Ketamine to patients who meet strict criteria. I have learnt a lot about psychedelic assisted therapy over the last 12 months and had the privilege of working in conjunction with a doctor using ketamine therapy with one of my longer term clients. I believe it holds enormous hope in improving long term conditions such as chronic depression, anxiety, PTSD and end of life anxiety. I would really love to see Australia becoming more proactive in this space.
Read more about psychedelic assisted therapy
Mind Medicine Australia tends to have the latest information and resources about psychedelic therapy
Inspirational People
Thich Nhat Hanh - for me when I first came across this Vietnamese Buddhist Monk in a clip I was struck by his profound and beautiful grounded energy.
Chris Bale - Particularly valuable for deeply understanding feminine and masculine energy and polarity