Links & Resources
While attending therapy is often an important and recommended step in learning to manage mental health, relationship and life issues, it is also helpful to read reputable, evidence-based sources for information and education. Below are links and resources that I have found to be useful, accurate and inspiring.
ESSENTIAL VIEWING FOR EVERYONE!
Brene Brown on emotions and connection
Please take the time to watch this 10 minute clip by researcher Brene Brown, who highlights an essential message for humans about emotions and how to create meaningful connection. Brene’s message in this clip is quite profound, and it perfectly echoes one of the most important aspects of my personal and clinical philosophy.
Russ Harris explains how our minds are designed to work
The evolution of the mind: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kv6HkipQcfA
Russ Harris on how to improve our motivation
A quick video on motivation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jN677MKo0EA
A beautiful and inspiring talk about meditation and self-compassion
A lovely, quick talk explaining the method and purpose of meditation:
Psychologist Dr. Jennice Vilhauer on “Why we don’t get what we want – it’s not what you’d expect”
EMERGENCY AND CRISIS CONTACTS
- For immediate attendance by police or ambulance please phone 000
- For assistance with a mental health emergency please call Mental Health Triage on 13 14 65
- Or visit the SA Health Website for more info https://www.sahealth.sa.gov.au/wps/wcm/connect/Public+Content/SA+Health+Internet/Health+services/Mental+health+services/
- Lifeline 13 11 14 or https://www.lifeline.org.au/
- Kids Helpline (aged 5 – 25 years) 1800 55 1800 or https://kidshelpline.com.au/
- Suicide Call Back Service (over 18 yrs only) 1300 659 467 or https://www.suicidecallbackservice.org.au/
SELF-HELP RESOURCES
The Centre for Clinical Interventions is a website provided by the Western Australian Government, which has excellent self-help based resources for numerous mental health issues including:
- Anxiety / Panic / Health Anxiety / Social Anxiety / Worry and Rumination
- Depression
- Bipolar
- Assertiveness
- Self-Esteem
- Eating Disorders / Body Dysmorphia / Appearance Concerns
- Sleep
- Perfectionism / Procrastination
- Self-Compassion
- Tolerating Distress
Find these resources here:
https://www.cci.health.wa.gov.au/Resources/Looking-After-Yourself
ACCEPTANCE & COMMITMENT THERAPY (ACT)
At Reflect Psychology we use a lot of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), which is an evidence-based therapy for a wide range of mental health disorders. Here are several links to short clips by Russ Harris (an amazing Australian Psychologist who specialises in ACT and has written many great self help books on ACT). He is also entertaining, kind and interesting, so I recommend watching!
The evolution of the mind: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kv6HkipQcfA
How we struggle with anxiety: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCp1l16GCXI
How we struggle with negative thoughts and feelings: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCp1l16GCXI
Radio doom and gloom (our negative mind): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bu2k0EGXAVo
Motivation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jN677MKo0EA
ANGER
Mensline Australia Website link
Mensline Australia is an excellent website for men, offering information and resources for managing anger: https://mensline.org.au/how-to-deal-with-anger/managing-anger/
Pema Chodron talks about how to work with anger
Here is a quick little talk from Pema Chodron, a buddhist teacher about frustration and anger: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=buTrsK_ZkvA
ANXIETY, WORRY & DEPRESSION & MOTIVATION
Russ Harris offers an excellent online program for depression called The Happiness Trap. Here is the link to the website, as well as a link to a short video about the program:
The Happiness Trap Online Program
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBhoe62R0OM
A quick video on motivation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jN677MKo0EA
For help and resources regarding depression and anxiety, visit the Beyond Blue website here: https://www.beyondblue.org.au
The Blackdog Institute also have great resources and information for managing both anxiety and depression: https://www.blackdoginstitute.org.au
EXCESSIVE GAMING / SCREEN TIME
Here is a fantastic Australian website for kids, parents, and professionals about understanding and treating problems with excessive gaming: http://www.gameaware.com.au/pd/
JUNGIAN PSYCHOLOGY
Carl Jung was a pioneering Psychologist who coined the terms “introvert & extrovert” and who worked deeply with the unconscious aspects of the individual, and collective unconscious of humanity. Jungian Psychology works on the premise that each individual is unconsciously moving towards a kind of spiritual wholeness, and that we can choose to engage consciously with this process, or not. Jung deeply valued working with dreams as a way of understanding ourselves and slowly integrating the unconscious into consciousness. Here is an important quote by Jung:
“Now, suppose that I am in need of advice about living, and I know of a man who is already thousands of years old. I go to him and say ‘You have seen many changes, you have observed and experienced life under many aspects. My life is short – perhaps seventy years – perhaps less, and you have lived for thousands of years. Tell me the meaning of life for me’ . When I say this to my patient, he cocks his ears and looks at me. ‘No’ I say, ‘I am not that man. But that man speaks to you every night. How? In your dreams’. I go on, ‘You are in trouble, you feel that your life has no orientation. I cannot tell you what to do. But let us ask the Great Old Man. He will tell you. Go away for a few days, and you will have a dream. Come back and tell me about it.’
CG Jung from “Does the World Stand on the Verge of Spiritual Rebirth?” in the book ‘Speaking With CG Jung’.
Marie Louise von Franz was one of Jung’s closest colleagues. Watch her in this fascinating (though old) documentary, talking about dreams and giving interpretations of dreams.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXQTDTcup04&t=26908s
Robert Johnson is another jungian analyst who has written many books that are easy to read and relevant to current times. Two particular titles that I frequently recommend are:
‘The Psychology of Romantic Love’
‘Living Your Unlived Life’
HAPPINESS
(or rather, Finding Meaning & Purpose in Life)
MINDFULNESS & MEDITATION
Here is a link to a free online version of the Mindfulness Based Stress-Reduction 8-week course. Even if you’re not prepared to follow the whole course, there are some excellent videos and resources you can access through this link. And if you’re up for the whole course, it is a valuable thing to invest your time in. Here it is: https://palousemindfulness.com
A lovely, quick talk explaining the method and purpose of meditation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nOJTbWC-ULc
RELATIONSHIPS & SEXUALITY
The Gottman Institute is a world renowned institute that has been researching marriage and family relationships for many years. For sound, evidence based information & resources on managing relationship issues, see their website or facebook page:
Ester Perel is another well known Psychotherapist who specialises in working with couples. You can watch her talk, follow her on facebook, or read her resources here:
https://www.facebook.com/esther.perel
The keys to a happier, healthier sex life: specifically talking about how stress puts the breaks on libido. https://www.ted.com/talks/emily_nagoski_the_keys_to_a_happier_healthier_sex_life
Helen Fisher speaking about the Brain in Love: https://www.ted.com/talks/helen_fisher_studies_the_brain_in_love
Stan Tatkin on relationships: https:// youtu.be/2xKXLPuk
Here is an excellent little clip explaining about consent for sexual activity. It’s cute and funny and informative: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQbei5JGiT8
SELF-COMPASSION
Kristin Neff is one of the world’s key researchers of self-compassion. Check out her website here, and you’ll find some free downloadable guided meditations, as well as other excellent resources: https://self-compassion.org
Video’s from Kristin Neff:
The 3 aspects of self-compassion: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=11U0h0DPu7k
Self-compassion vs Self-esteem: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvtZBUSplr4
Tips on how to practice self-compassion: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8lnU4fZ3eiM
SHAME
As Brene Brown explains, shame is something we hardly acknowledge in our culture, despite the fact it is felt by all of us. Shame can also have some of the most damaging effects in our lives. Therefore, it’s important to know when we feel it, and to start to be brave enough to acknowledge it. To explore this further, please check out talks and books by Brene Brown, who is a warm, honest, insightful and engaging human being: https://brenebrown.com
TRAUMA
The effects of trauma can be difficult to understand, yet they need a lot of understanding and compassion. Here are some great short videos that explain and describe the effects of trauma:
Russ Harris talks about the role of the limbic brain in trauma: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-ddSEHRWVg
A good article to help adults and their families understand the effects of trauma on relationships: https://brickelandassociates.com/trauma-survivor-relationships/
reflectpsychology.com.au 
