Talking Child Development

In this episode, Dr. Ruth Schmidt Neven talks to Vannie Ip-Winfield, a Registered Music Therapist and Vice-President of the Music and Imagery Association of Australia.  Originally trained in classical piano, Vannie has used her skills in music therapy and psychotherapy for over 20 years in a wide range of settings, including an Early Parenting Unit, part of an Allied Health Team, in adult psychiatry and in aged care. Ip-Winfield, V, Grocke, D. (2021). Virtual Group Music and Imagery (Grp MI) with healthcare staff during the COVID-19 pandemic in Melbourne. Australian Journal of Music Therapy, 32 (1), 97-111 Shoemark, Helen. (2017). Time Together: A Feasible Program to Promote parent-infant Interaction in the NICU. Music Therapy Perspectives. 36. 10.1093/mtp/mix004.

In this episode, Child and Adolescent Psychotherapist and Clinical Psychologist Dr Ruth Schmidt Neven talks with Dr. Maria Papadima and Catherine Campbell. Maria and Catherine are both UK-based child and adolescent psychotherapists who have developed a successful time-limited model of working with adolescents and their parents in an NHS adolescent crisis team. Their time-limited model considers a crisis as a developmental opportunity that underlies the centrality of parent involvement as part of the therapeutic endeavour. Their paper in the Journal of Child Psychotherapy describing their pilot study is listed as one of the top ten read papers in the Journal and gives hope to professionals working in this challenging field. Papadima, M. Campbell C. et al.  Brief Psychodynamic psychotherapy for adolescents and their families in crisis: A pilot study. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/0075417X.2024.2414736   Psychoanalytic Crisis Work with Adolescents: An Independent Approach (In Press) https://www.routledge.com/Adolescence-in-Crisis-An-Independent-Psychoanalytic-Approach-to-Adolescent-Mental-Health/Papadima-Acheson-Tzikas/p/book/9781032972237  Acheson, R. & Papadima, M. (2023). The search for identity: Working therapeutically with adolescents in crisis. Journal of Child Psychotherapy,  49(1), 95-119.

In this episode, Child and Adolescent Psychotherapist and Clinical Psychologist Dr Ruth Schmidt Neven talks to Rhonda Galbally. They discuss her hugely distinguished career as a tireless advocate for disability reform, starting from her own personal experience and including her roles as a disability Royal Commissioner and on the Board of the Disability Insurance Scheme. Rhonda has also been at the forefront of reform with respect to health, welfare and mental health through the development of the Health Issues Centre, as the inaugural chief executive of the Victorian Health Promotion Foundation and as a Ministerial Adviser. The official DRC website DRC Volume 7 online: https://disability.royalcommission.gov.au/publications/final-report-volume-7-inclusive-education-employment-and-housing   Recommendations and summary PDF link: https://disability.royalcommission.gov.au/system/files/2023-09/Final%20Report%20-%20Volume%207%2C%20Inclusive%20education%2C%20employment%20and%20housing%20-%20Summary%20and%20recommendations.pdf   Education: https://disability.royalcommission.gov.au/system/files/2023-09/Final%20Report%20-%20Volume%207%2C%20Inclusive%20education%2C%20employment%20and%20housing%20-%20Part%20A.pdf   All Means All website:  https://allmeansall.org.au/

In this episode Child and Adolescent Psychotherapist and Clinical Psychologist Dr Ruth Schmidt Neven talks to Dr. Matthew Roberts. Dr. Roberts is a Melbourne based psychiatrist and psychotherapist clinical teacher and writer, and in this episode, he dives deeper into his extensive experience in perinatal mental health, his trauma informed clinical practice, and his father-inclusive work as one of the founders of the Australian Fatherhood Research Consortium. Dr. Roberts has distilled his learning and clinical experience into a model called CRESTING that stands for Collaborative, Relational, Evolutionary, Somatic, Trauma-Informed Narrative Growth. Australian Fatherhood Research Consortium:  http://mappresearch.org/fatherhood-consortium Richard Fletcher, The Dad Factor: https://books.google.com.au/books?id=buVOYgEACAAJ&source=gbs_book_other_versions Bruce Ecker et al, Unlocking The Emotional Brain: https://www.google.com.au/books/edition/Unlocking_the_Emotional_Brain/wSxcEAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=0 Bessel van der Kolk The Body Keeps The Score: https://books.google.com.au/books/about/The_Body_Keeps_the_Score.html?id=NKOOEAAAQBAJ&source=kp_book_description&redir_esc=y Daniel Stern The Interpersonal World of the Infant: https://www.google.com.au/books/edition/The_Interpersonal_World_of_the_Infant/MUtWDwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=0 Donald Winnicott Playing and Reality: https://www.google.com.au/books/edition/Playing_and_Reality/JHMdZC08HhcC?hl=en&gbpv=0 For Bowlby, Jeremy Holmes John Bowlby and Attachment Theory: https://www.google.com.au/books/edition/John_Bowlby_and_Attachment_Theory/30HFBQAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=0   Dr. Roberts' clinical science communication and social commentary blog: www.mydoctorshandwriting.com Dr. Roberts' psychotherapy, arts and culture blog: www.thenormalgrownup.com Dr. Roberts' solitary original sole author paper: https://www.racgp.org.au/afp/2016/august/there-from-the-start-men-and-pregnancy

In this episode, Child and Adolescent Psychotherapist and Clinical Psychologist Dr Ruth Schmidt Neven talks with Dr. Jenifer Wakelyn child and adolescent psychotherapist, author and researcher in the UK. She is the founder of the innovative program Watch me Play! This is an intervention for caregivers and their babies and young children that with the support of a practitioner aims to enhance child development and caregiver relationships by promoting thoughtful individual attention and age-appropriate stimulation. The Watch me Play approach has been manualised and is disseminated across the UK and internationally. References: watchmeplay.info   Book chapter: Wakelyn, J. (2019) ‘Developing an intervention for infants and young children in care: Watch Me Play!' In: Supporting Vulnerable Babies and Young Children, edited by Wendy Bunston and Sarah Jones (Jessica Kingsley). Book: Wakelyn, J. (2020) Therapeutic Approaches with Babies and Young Children in Care: Observation and Attention (Karnac/Routledge). ISBN 978-1-782-20438-1  Recent paper: Wakelyn, J. (2025) Psychoanalytic aspects of the Watch Me Play! approach: the psychic energy of attention, Infant Observation, DOI:10.1080/13698036.2025.2471778

Child and Adolescent Psychotherapist and Clinical Psychologist Dr Ruth Schmidt Neven talks with Meena Singh, Commissioner for Aboriginal Children and Young People in Victoria. Meena is a Yorta Yorta and Indian woman, born, raised and living on the land of the Kulin Nations. Meena commenced her legal career with Victoria Legal Aid where she practiced in human rights and criminal law and was the inaugural Asssociate Director Aboriginal Services. She has led legal services and programs at the Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service and the Human Rights Law Centre as well as consulting in training and organisational development.   www.acfd.com.au www.centreforchildandfamily.com

In this episode, Child and Adolescent Psychotherapist and Clinical Psychologist Dr Ruth Schmidt Neven talks with Dr. Fiona Zandt. Dr. Zandt is a clinical psychologist and play therapist who works with children with a wide range of emotional, social and behavioural challenges and their families. Fiona has authored the acclaimed Creative Way series for therapists and runs creative child therapy workshops for professionals. www.acfd.com.au www.centreforchildandfamily.com

In this episode, Child and Adolescent Psychotherapist and Clinical Psychologist Dr Ruth Schmidt Neven talks to Liana Buchanan, Principal Commissioner for Children and Young People for the State of Victoria. Liana is also part-time Commissioner of the Victorian Law Reform Commission. She has a background in oversight and system reform for people experiencing disadvantage and those affected by family and sexual violence and abuse. www.acfd.com.au www.centreforchildandfamily.com

In this episode, Child and Adolescent Psychotherapist and Clinical Psychologist Dr Ruth Schmidt Neven talks to Dr Catherine Page Jeffery, lecturer in Media and Communications at the University of Sydney. Her current research addresses digital media and families with a particular focus on parenting in the digital age and its accompanying anxieties. She is the author of a new book Parenting in a Digital World Beyond Media Panics: Towards a new theory of parental mediation, published by Routledge. www.acfd.com.au www.centreforchildandfamily.com

In this podcast, Child and Adolescent Psychotherapist and Clinical Psychologist Dr. Ruth Schmidt Neven talks with Dr. Catherine Olweny. Catherine is a specialist paediatric anaesthetist who in the course of her work, is aware of the high levels of stress and anxiety experienced by children having surgery and other medical interventions. She has taken the unusual path in addition to her specialist medical work, of training in clinical hypnosis and therapeutic child play. Dr. Olweny is also the key area lead in promoting trauma-informed preventive care in the tertiary hospital setting, which includes both practitioners and patients.   www.acfd.com.au www.centreforchildandfamily.com

In this podcast episode, Child and Adolescent Psychotherapist and Clinical Psychologist Dr. Ruth Schmidt Neven talks with Dr. Judith Edwards about her recently published book Grandmotherland. A far cry from conventional ideas of how to be a grandmother, Judith explores the challenges and risks of this important phase of the family life cycle. Judith has published extensively in the field, and she has a particular interest in the links between psychoanalysis, culture and the arts and making these ideas accessible to a wider audience. References:  www.acfd.com.au www.centreforchildandfamily.com

In this podcast episode, Child and Adolescent Psychotherapist and Clinical Psychologist Dr. Ruth Schmidt Neven talks with Journalist Virginia Tapscott who has written extensively about the undervaluing of mothering and the devaluation of caregiving in general. Virginia is based in country New South Wales. She has four children, and her writing and reporting have ranged from agricultural issues to gender equality, what children need for healthy development and the impact of sexual abuse.   References:  www.acfd.com.au www.centreforchildandfamily.com

In this podcast episode, Child and Adolescent Psychotherapist and Clinical Psychologist Dr. Ruth Schmidt Neven talks with Dr. Jon Jureidini, Child Psychiatrist and Head of Psychological Medicine at the Women's and Children's Hospital in Adelaide. Dr. Jureidini also heads the Critical and Ethical Mental Health Research Group at the University of Adelaide. He explains the problems associated with pathologising all things emotional in our world, and how we need to attend to the social determinants of mental health in the community. Talking Child Development is brought to you by the Association of Child and Family Development. References:  www.acfd.com.au www.centreforchildandfamily.com

In this podcast episode, Child and Adolescent Psychotherapist and Clinical Psychologist Dr. Ruth Schmidt Neven talks with School Psychologist Brydie Huggins about the current problem of school refusal or ‘school can't'. Brydie has worked across the developmental spectrum from kindergarten to year 12 in public and private school settings. Talking Child Development is brought to you by the Association of Child and Family Development. References:  www.acfd.com.au www.centreforchildandfamily.com

In this podcast episode, Dr. Ruth Schmidt Neven speaks with Ryan Carters, father of three, a former professional cricketer and founder of Dadfit. This non-profit organization aims to ‘make dadding a team sport again' and support dads' mental and physical health and promote their relationship skills. Talking Child Development is brought to you by the Association of Child and Family Development. References: www.acfd.com.au www.centreforchildandfamily.com

In this episode Amanda Stone, educationalist and committee member of the Association of Child and Family Development talks to Dr. Ruth Schmidt Neven, child and adolescent psychotherapist, clinical psychologist, author, and trainer. They discuss the unique contribution of psychodynamic thinking to the promotion of child, adolescent, adult, and family mental health.   Talking Child Development is brought to you by the Association of Child and Family Development. References: www.acfd.com.au www.centreforchildandfamily.com

In this podcast episode, Dr. Ruth Schmidt Neven speaks with Dr. Jordana Silverstein, cultural historian, and senior research fellow in the Peter McMullin Centre on Statelessness, in the Melbourne Law School. They speak about her recently published groundbreaking book, Cruel Care: a history of children at our borders, that describes the treatment of child refugees at our borders. Talking Child Development is brought to you by the Association of Child and Family Development. References: www.acfd.com.au www.centreforchildandfamily.com

In this podcast episode, Dr. Ruth Schmidt Neven speaks with Professor Nick Midgley in the UK, a Professor of Psychological Therapies with Children and Young People at University College London and the Anna Freud Centre. This episode discusses the essential links between clinical practice and research. Talking Child Development is brought to you by the Association of Child and Family Development. References: www.acfd.com.au www.centreforchildandfamily.com 

In this podcast episode, Dr. Ruth Schmidt Neven speaks with Mary Louise Hatch, a collaboratively trained family lawyer, mediator, and family dispute resolution practitioner. They discuss her work with parents and families going through separation and divorce and how couples can be helped to avoid the emotionally and financially draining experience of going to court.   Talking Child Development is brought to you by the Association of Child and Family Development. References: www.acfd.com.au www.centreforchildandfamily.com

In this podcast episode, Dr. Ruth Schmidt Neven speaks with Dr. Kirsten Meyer, Drama Therapist who has a particular interest in how the Arts can be used to enhance the capacity of care workers to respond to children and young people. Kirsten currently leads a team of creative arts, therapists, and counsellors in a community-based organisation in Melbourne, working with children, young people and their carers who have experienced family violence.   Talking Child Development is brought to you by the Association of Child and Family Development. References: www.acfd.com.au www.centreforchildandfamily.com

In this podcast, Dr Ruth Schmidt Neven sounds a warning about  ADHD as a disposal diagnosis for vulnerable children, adolescents and adults that papers over complex social problems post Covid, and ignores longstanding clinical and research evidence of parent/child relational attachment that underpins the capacity for attention and self-regulation. Talking Child Development is brought to you by the Association of Child and Family Development. References: www.acfd.com.au www.centreforchildandfamily.com

In this episode, Dr. Ruth Schmidt Neven speaks with Scott Cadby, school counsellor and wellbeing coordinator at an all-boys college in Melbourne. This conversation discusses what helps boys develop positive mental health through adolescence and how much they need their fathers as mentors and supporters in this critical process. Dr. Ruth Schmidt Neven is a child psychotherapist, clinical psychologist and educator, who has brought a pioneering approach to clinical work that emphasizes the essential nature of the meaning of behaviour. Talking Child Development is brought to you by the Association of Child and Family Development. References: www.acfd.com.au www.centreforchildandfamily.com

In this episode, Dr Ruth Schmidt Neven presents her talk; It's not Just Child's Play: Understanding the meaning of children's behaviour. Far from being dismissed as a simplistic process, child's play is part of everyday ‘work'. It is a rich complex and meaningful experience that helps children make sense of their world and helps adults to make sense of children's behaviour. Dr. Ruth Schmidt Neven is a child psychotherapist, clinical psychologist and educator, who has brought a pioneering approach to clinical work that emphasizes the essential nature of the meaning of behaviour. Talking Child Development is brought to you by the Association of Child and Family Development. References: www.acfd.com.au www.centreforchildandfamily.com

In this episode, Dr Ruth Schmidt Neven, child psychotherapist and clinical psychologist talks with professor of media at the University of Sydney, Dr Catharine Lumby. We discuss the book 'Broken: Children, Parents and Family Courts' written by Catharine together with lead author Associate Professor Camilla Nelson. In this episode, we talk about what has been described as the lacerating culture of family courts that does not serve the best interests of children, ways in which is denies them a voice, and the need for urgent reform of the system. Talking Child Development is brought to you by the Association of Child and Family Development. References: www.acfd.com.au www.centreforchildandfamily.com

In this episode, Dr Ruth Schmidt Neven, child psychotherapist and clinical psychologist talks with child and adolescent psychoanalytic psychotherapist, Adam Goren. Adam has a special interest in using sensory-attachment strategies, parent-child interventions and family advocacy in addressing mental distress and relational trauma. Talking Child Development is brought to you by the Association of Child and Family Development. References: www.acfd.com.au www.centreforchildandfamily.com 

In this episode, Dr Ruth Schmidt Neven, child psychotherapist and clinical psychologist talks with paediatrician, Dr. Lynda Chadwick. The discussion focuses on Lynda's work in developmental paediatrics which includes children with autism and developmental delay. Lynda has a special interest in infant mental health, attachment, and the importance of parental emotional engagement in the early months and years. Talking Child Development is brought to you by the Association of Child and Family Development. References: www.acfd.com.au www.centreforchildandfamily.com 

In this episode, Dr Ruth Schmidt Neven, child psychotherapist and clinical psychologist talks with Dr. Maria Papadima, child and adolescent psychotherapist. Maria describes an innovative approach that helps adolescents, and their families negotiate these challenging transitions. Maria explains how in psychotherapy with adolescents, we explore ideas about what distress means, how we accept and handle it and what our expectations are of a normal life. Talking Child Development is brought to you by the Association of Child and Family Development. References: www.acfd.com.au www.centreforchildandfamily.com

In this episode, Dr Ruth Schmidt Neven, child psychotherapist and clinical psychologist talks to Jordan Foster about cyber safety for children and adolescents. Jordan is a clinical psychologist and founder of ySafe which has provided online safety education to half a million students, families, and school staff in Australia. Her extensive expertise has been applied in work with managing problematic technology use, cyber-bullying, image-based abuse, and internet gaming addiction. Talking Child Development is brought to you by the Association of Child and Family Development. References: www.acfd.com.au www.centreforchildandfamily.com

In this episode, Dr Ruth Schmidt Neven, child psychotherapist and clinical psychologist talks to fellow child and adolescent psychotherapist Ryan Lowe in London who is the founder and clinical director of the Therapeutic Consultants a series of multi-disciplinary therapy clinics. Ryan trained at the Tavistock clinic. She has worked at the Tavistock's day unit for children with complex needs, in the Tavistock's adolescent department and at the Monroe Young Family Centre where she carried out assessments for family law courts.  She has taught and been an examiner on various trainings. Talking Child Development is brought to you by the Association of Child and Family Development. References: www.acfd.com.au www.centreforchildandfamily.com

In this episode, Dr Ruth Schmidt Neven, child psychotherapist and clinical psychologist talks to Professor Sophie Havighurst, Clinical Child Psychologist at Mindful, Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne. Talking Child Development is brought to you by the Association of Child and Family Development. References: www.acfd.com.au www.centreforchildandfamily.com

In this episode, Dr Ruth Schmidt Neven, child psychotherapist and clinical psychologist talks to Lorraine Rose, distinguished psychologist, psychoanalytic psychotherapist, and organisational consultant. Talking Child Development is brought to you by the Association of Child and Family Development. References: www.acfd.com.au www.centreforchildandfamily.com 

In this episode, Dr Ruth Schmidt Neven, child psychotherapist and clinical psychologist talks to Jo Herbig, post-graduate family therapist and senior family dispute resolution practitioner.  Talking Child Development is brought to you by the Association of Child and Family Development. References: www.acfd.com.au www.centreforchildandfamily.com

In this episode, Dr Ruth Schmidt Neven, child psychotherapist and clinical psychologist talks to Dr Susan Emmett, Senior Lecturer and Program Coordinator in Early Childhood at Federation University Victoria.  Talking Child Development is brought to you by the Association of Child and Family Development. References: www.acfd.com.au www.centreforchildandfamily.com

In this episode, Dr Ruth Schmidt Neven, child psychotherapist and clinical psychologist talk to Bronwyn Leigh, Clinical Psychologist and Director of the Centre for Perinatal Psychology and the Perinatal Training Centre.  Talking Child Development is brought to you by the Association of Child and Family Development. References: www.acfd.com.au www.centreforchildandfamily.com 

For our second episode of Talking Child Development, Dr Ruth Schmidt Neven, child psychotherapist and clinical psychologist talks to Beulah Warren, psychologist and Australian pioneer in Infant mental health. Talking Child Development brought to you by the Association of Child and Family Development. References: www.acfd.com.au www.centreforchildandfamily.com

This episode dives deeper into the question; Are children People? Dr Ruth Schmidt Neven talks about focusing on prevention and strengthening the emotional resources of children and parents. This podcast is brought to you by the Association of Child and Family Development and Psychodynamic Counselling. References: www.acfd.com.au  www.centreforchildandfamily.com