The Thinking Mind Podcast: Psychiatry & Psychotherapy

The Thinking Mind Podcast
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Apr 17, 2025 • 36min

E120 - How & Why I Stopped Drinking

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.
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Apr 10, 2025 • 1h 25min

E119 - How do we treat ADHD? (with Dr. Russell Ramsay)

Dr. Russell Ramsay, co-founder of the Penn Adult ADHD Treatment and Research Program and a leading authority on ADHD, dives deep into understanding adult ADHD. He discusses the complexities of diagnosis and the significance of informed decision-making about treatment options. The conversation covers the role of medication versus psychological strategies, particularly cognitive behavioral therapy, to enhance focus and manage symptoms. Dr. Ramsay also emphasizes the empowering perspective on ADHD, advocating for personalized approaches that recognize individual strengths.
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Apr 3, 2025 • 1h

E118 - When do Couples need Therapy? (w/ Mary Morgan)

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 Give feedback here - thinkingmindpodcast@gmail.com Follow us here: Twitter @thinkingmindpod Instagram @thinkingmindpodcast
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Mar 28, 2025 • 51min

E117 - How Does Pregnancy Affect Mental Health? (w/ Dr. Livia Martucci)

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. Give feedback here - thinkingmindpodcast@gmail.com Follow us here: Twitter @thinkingmindpod Instagram @thinkingmindpodcast
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Mar 21, 2025 • 1h 18min

E116 - What are Mental Disorders? (with Dr. Awais Aftab)

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.
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12 snips
Mar 14, 2025 • 1h 8min

E115 - Do We Medicalise Unhappiness? (with Prof. Brendan Kelly)

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.
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24 snips
Mar 7, 2025 • 1h 4min

E114 - Do Psychiatric Drugs Work? (with Professor David Taylor)

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.
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Feb 28, 2025 • 58min

E113 - What were they Thinking? Mentalisation Based Therapy (w/ Peter Fonagy & Anthony Batemen)

Peter Fonagy, a pioneering psychoanalyst, and Anthony Bateman, a leading psychiatrist, dive into the fascinating world of Mentalisation-Based Therapy (MBT). They discuss how a society lacking mentalizing breeds tribalism and echo chambers. The duo explores the impact of early attachment on mentalizing and offers insights into what an MBT session entails. They also consider the intriguing potential of combining MBT with psychedelics, while emphasizing the importance of trust in therapeutic settings. Their research offers hope for diverse personality disorders, including antisocial behaviors.
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Feb 20, 2025 • 41min

E112 - The Hidden Cost of Low Self-Esteem

Today Alex discusses the concept of self-esteem; including core components of self-esteem, how poor self-esteem can affect your life and how people's self-esteem becomes disrupted through the lens of different psychological theories. We also discuss different interventions one could consider to improve their self-esteem, any why good self-esteem is essential for a successful life. Further reading:The Six Pillars of Self-Esteem by Nathaniel BrandenNeurosis and Human Growth by Karen HorneyOn Becoming a Person by Carl RogersGestalt therapy – excitement and growth of the human personality  by PerlsHefferline, GoodmanGames people Play by Eric BerneI’m OK - you’re OK by Thomas HarrisSelf-compassion meditation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_80y_CT32c&t=5sAudio-essay 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.podcastGive feedback here - thinkingmindpodcast@gmail.com Follow us here: Twitter @thinkingmindpod Instagram @thinkingmindpodcast
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Feb 14, 2025 • 1h 2min

E111 - Why can Relationships be so Difficult? (Attachment, Aggression, Self-Love and more w/Adam Lane Smith)

Adam Lane Smith is a renowned Attachment Specialist with over 15 years of experience in psychology and relationships. Formerly a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, he has dedicated his career to helping individuals and couples overcome attachment issues and build secure, meaningful connections. Adam has worked with a diverse clientele, including death row inmates and Fortune 500 executives. Adam has his own podcast and youtube channel with over 100k subscribers, though which he aims to educate as many people as possible about the art and science of attachment. Today we discuss:Some of his more recent Tweets about the limits of self-love, the importance of health aggression and the danger of repeating unconcious childhood patterns in adulthood. Common attachment patterns and their fascinating underlying biology. The right and wrong reasons to pursue content creation, and how to ethically pursue content creation to augment your business. 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 @thinkingmindpodcastGive feedback here - thinkingmindpodcast@gmail.com Follow us here: Twitter @thinkingmindpod Instagram @thinkingmindpodcast

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