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.