The Australia Counselling Podcast

For the 100th and final episode The Australia Counselling Podcast, we invited psychotherapist Bill O'Hanlon back, who had one of the most downloaded episodes of all 100 episodes. Bill's solution-oriented approach is a powerful approach to working with clients that can help discover their own abilities and dissolve their resistance to change. In this interview Bill discusses: how he came to create the Solution-Oriented Approach.  the basic premises of the Solution-Oriented Approach some of the methods used in the Solution-Oriented Approach the difference between Solution-Focused Therapy or Solution-Focused Brief Therapy and the Solution-Oriented Approach how this approach combines with hypnosis. The premises of his solution-oriented approach are: people have resources, strengths, abilities and solutions they may not be aware of what you focus on tends to expand people are more than their diagnosis focus on the present towards the future Get the show notes with all the links and resources mentioned in this episode at http://australiacounselling.com.au/100

The Australia Counselling Podcast has come a long way since I published the first podcast on September 8, 2013. In just over 2 years the podcast has been downloaded over 63,000 times and listened to in 98 countries across the world. So for episode 99 I decided to go back through the archives and check out which of our podcasts were the most downloaded episodes of all time. In this compilation podcast, you can hear highlights from our most popular episodes of all time. The top 10 Australia Counselling Podcasts of all time (based on downloads) are: #10 077: Coming Out: What Therapists Need to Know When Working with LGBTI Clients - an interview with Matt Glover #9 063: What is Narcissism and Why is it Becoming an Epidemic? - an interview with Dr Jean Twenge #8 020: Positive Psychology: Powerful Interventions for Helping Clients Change - an interview with Dr Kate Lemerle #7 004: Gestalt Therapy: A Relational (Re)turn - an interview with Dr Michael Reed #6 080: The Neuroscience of Resilience - an interview with Linda Graham, MFT #5 073: Overcoming Shock: Healing the Traumatised Mind and Heart - an interview with Diane Zimberoff and David Hartman #4 078: The Challenges of Working with High-Conflict Couples - an interview with Jacqueline McDiarmid #3 064: The Lived Experience of Borderline Personality - an interview with Sonia Neale #2 075: The Yalom Interview: Creatures of a Day and Other Tales of Psychotherapy - an interview with Irvin D. Yalom #1 072: Out of the Blue: Six Non-Medication Ways to Relieve Depression - an interview with Bill O'Hanlon Get the show notes with all the links and resources mentioned in this episode at http://australiacounselling.com.au/99

The end of the year and the start of the New Year is the perfect time to reflect on the wins and challenges from the year just passed, as well as your goals for the coming year. As a therapist, one of your goals for the coming year will likely be to earn more income. There are a number of ways you can use your skills and knowledge as a therapist to generate more income. In this episode of the Australia Counselling Podcast I share 5 strategies that will help you make more income from your therapy practice in 2016. The 5 strategies I discuss are: Raise your fees the New Year (or start of your new financial year) is a good time to raise fees raise fees for all clients from January 1 separate out the GST (or your tax) from your main fee in case GST goes up Clients excpect that fees will raise over time - you are a business and you have rising costs, so operate like a business Add new services can you add coaching as a service? eg coaching for singles can you start a therapy group? - funnel existing/ending clients into your therapy group think outside the box and get creative with new services - e.g. offer phone support packages so clients can pre-pay for phone support and use as needed have you learned a new skill/technique such as EFT, hypnosis or EMDR and are you marketing? Don't forget to do marketing of any new techniques and skills Create joint ventures can you form a partnership with someone you know or would like to work with? put together a group/workshop/PD event share the load of the marketing and administration work joint ventures can be fun, reduce the isolation of working in private practice and help you earn more income Get more clients (is your marketing up to scratch) getting more clients is always the quickest way to increase your income is your marketing following best practices? is your website professional with compelling copy on your that speaks to the core issues of your clients? are you following best practices on social media? are you collecting email addresses through your website and sending an email newsletter? are you doing community marketing and networking on a regular basis with other professionals in your local area? Create a product  it's never been easier to create a product and start to earn a passive income can you sell a meditation series? -  record meditations and guided relaxations and sell them online can you put your intellectual property into an ebook and sell it through your website or the Amazon marketplace? do you want to create a membership site or an online community where you provide ongoing support and content? Get the show notes with all the links and resources mentioned in this episode at http://australiacounselling.com.au

Have you ever considered starting a podcast? If you want to start a podcast, now may be the perfect time to catch the wave of the podcast revolution taking the world by storm. Never before in our history has it been so easy to reach a worldwide audience via podcasting. This is the perfect vehicle to get your message out to new people and raise awareness of you, your ideas, your services and products. Podcast growth has been enormous over the last few years. The Pew Research Centre has found that: podcast listenership has more than doubled since 2008 awareness of podcasts has more than doubled since 2006 podcast creation is rising with more than 22,000 podcasts hosted on Libsyn, one of the most popular hosting companies for podcasters in 2014 over 2.5 billion requests for podcast downloads were processed In this episode of The Australia Counselling Podcast I talk you through how to start your own podcast from scratch. After producing almost 100 episodes with 61,000 downloads to date, I've got some idea of what's involved and some great tips for you as well. Here's what I cover in this episode: Why start a podcast? you can expand your reach of people and expose your ideas and your business to countless people across the world The Australia Counselling Podcast has to date 96 episodes, 61,000 episodes and has been listened to in 98 countries 50% of our listeners are from Australia, 25% from the USA, 10% from the UK and the remaining from other countries podcasting is great for networking and building relationships with other therapists - on this podcast I've interviewed world-renowned therapists Michael Yapko, Sue Johnson, Harville Hendrix, Bill O'Hanlon, Rick Hanson and Irvin Yalom, just to name a few You get more attention from the media - I've been interviewed for numerous media outlets, magazines and radio stations - plus I've secured media interviews for Australia Counselling members you can improve your confidence as a speaker you can build the know, like and trust factor with your listeners it can assist if you want to create products for sales or promote your services to a wider audience What's involved in podcasting? the most import thing is the commitment - be aware it's a huge commitment of time and resources if you're not willing to commit to podcasting on a regular basis, don't start! securing interviews can be time consuming and challenging with negotiating time zones recording of episodes need to be either batched or done in advance editing episodes takes time, especially if your guest is not a confident speaker you may need to create blog posts for the show notes of each episode after editing you need to upload the audio to your audio hosting once your episode is published it's important to do marketing so new audiences can listen to your episodes this is a slow marketing strategy - results take time How podcasting works every episode is an mp3 audio file you need to tag the file with 'meta data' before uploading to your hosting you need a server to host your audio you need to create a feed - I use Libsyn - which is the gold standard in the industry (I pay USD $20 a month) the feed is what goes into iTunes and every time you upload a new audio, iTunes gets the audio on the feed Questions to ask before you start a podcast what are you going to podcast about? are you going to do interview style or just you speaking? what is the purpose or end goal of your podcast? what is your podcast title? what is your podcast subtitle? what is your podcast description? (this goes in iTunes) what will be on your artwork? - look at other top podcasts in iTunes and what graphics they have (I recommend 99designs for getting your iTunes artwork) do you want a professional intro and outro (try fiverr.com for voice-over artists) is your music royalty free? Podcasting equipment and software needed to start a podcast sound quality is the most important part of recording - invest in a great microphone cost effective solution: Audiotechnica ATR 2100 USB microphone about $60 pop filter and a stand and shock mount my own high end podcasting microphone: Rode podcasting microphone with studio boom and shock mount about $400 Call recorder for Mac (Skype plugin) - for interviews Pamela Call Recorder for Skype (PC) Hindenburg Journalist - for audio editing (about $100) alternatives: Garage Band (Mac), Audacity freeconferencecall.com for free recording on the phone post-production - auphonic.com to even out the sound levels How to record a podcast episode for interviews I use Call Recorder if I'm doing an interview, I record directly into Hindenburg Journalist I drag audios into Hindenburg - then edit then export the file from Hindenburg as a wav file add tags in auphonic upload to auphonic to even out sound levels if not using auphonic, add tags using ID3 editor software upload into Libsyn and add description and schedule or publish immediately once your feed is ready in Libsyn, then create your show in iTunes upload your artwork to iTunes for the first time and add a description once you're up and running, submit your podcast to free podcast directories Tips for recording a podcast get ahead in your recordings so you're not scrambling to record your episode each week create a system around requesting interviews to save time don't get obsessive about editing - you don't need to remove every "um" and "ah" work out the structure of your episodes so you can rinse and repeat prepare your interviewees - create an information document to give them before often interviewees are nervous so let them know it's okay if they make a mistake and you can edit out mistakes listen to the most popular podcasts in iTunes for format/structure and interview style have a call to action in each episode - what do you want your listener to do?    

Constellation work is a powerful way of resolving issues within systems that keep individuals, couples, families and organisations stuck. Constellation work allows people to experience a completely new view of a system so they are aware of the patterns in a system and respond in healthier ways. It's a powerful way to work in a group setting that involves choosing representatives from the group and setting up the system so it can be understood better. While there is still much we don't know about constellations because it's a new field, we do know that they are powerful agents of change that can affect how people can handle their personal and professional lives. In this interview Jan discusses: what is constellation work, how and why it works how constellation work is set up in a group setting what settings can constellation work be used in his work with organisational change the most difficult family dynamics to shift in organisations what is a double bind and why they are so challenging in systems the most powerful impact family/organisational constellations have had on his personal and business life why rituals are important in constellation work case studies of how constellation work has opened up greater possibilities for an organisation Get the show notes at http://australiacounselling.com.au/session96

Have you ever wondered why someone chooses one therapist over another when searching online? Believe it or not, there's a whole psychology behind choosing a therapist online. And when it comes to online counselling directories, visitors often have hundreds of therapists to choose from. So we spoke with Vancouver-based marketing coach and copywriter Juliet Austin about how to create a compelling counselling directory listing that gets you clients. In this interview Juliet shares: What people care about when choosing a therapist online Why it's important to spend some time creating a compelling directory listing What psychological factors influence the decision making process of a website visitor choosing one therapist over another The elements and must-haves of a compelling directory listing The most common mistakes therapists are making on directory listings How to write your copy when you have a limited word count Whether clients care about qualifications, degrees and specialised training Get the show notes at http://australiacounselling.com.au/session95

Have you ever had the experience of doing great work with a client, but then for some reason progress stalls? You've reached a therapeutic impasse and no matter which direction you go, you can't seem to make headway. It's not uncommon for clients to get stuck in therapy, but the key is knowing what to do once the therapy stalls. So I spoke with U.S. therapist Courtney Armstrong who is the author of the book The Therapeutic "Aha!": Strategies for Getting Clients Unstuck. In this interview Courtney discusses: where clients often get stuck in therapy why you need to engage the emotional brain of your clients how you can strengthen the therapeutic alliance when your clients are stuck how to create exciting goals with your clients how to locate the root of emotional conflict her 5-step memory reconsolidation framework to reverse trauma why it's essential to activate experiential change in your clients some of her best tips for helping clients get unstuck   Get the show notes with all the links and resources mentioned in this episode at http://australiacounselling.com.au/session94

In this episode of The Australia Counselling Podcast, listen to founder Clinton Power share his thoughts on why he thinks the Australian psychotherapy industry is in crisis. The seven reasons the Australian psychotherapy industry is in crisis are: Our professional psychotherapy associations have let us down. Psychotherapy training institutions are spreading propaganda about the profession Therapists are not promoting themselves effectively People don't understand what psychotherapy is  We have taught people to go to a G.P. when they have a mental health issue We have created a culture of quick fixes for mental health issues There is still a lot of stigma for seeking treatment for mental health issues Get the show notes with all the links and resources mentioned in this episode at http://australiacounselling.com.au/session93

Gestalt therapy is an effective and powerful relational therapy that helps clients raise their awareness about how they are in the world so they can self-regulate and move towards health. Gestalt therapy is also synonymous with the 'empty chair' technique made famous by Fritz Perls, the founder of Gestalt therapy. However Gestalt therapy is much more than this technique and has a rich tradition and evolution to become the modern relational psychotherapy it is today. So we spoke with world-renowned Gestalt therapists Drs. Bob and Rita Resnick from Gestalt Therapy Training Associates Los Angeles (GATLA) about what Gestalt therapy is and why it is such an effective therapeutic approach for working with individuals and couples. In this interview Bob and Rita discuss: What Gestalt Therapy is about and how it works Why Gestalt Therapy became synonymous with the empty chair technique What is character and how it is formed How Gestalt Therapy works with interruptions to self-regulation in the present What Gestalt Therapy has that other theories and methodologies lack The relevance of Gestalt Therapy today in a culture of governments and consumers expecting effective outcomes in limited sessions The biggest mistakes people, including therapists, make about understanding Gestalt Therapy Get the show notes at http://australiacounselling.com.au/session92

As a therapist in private practice, you're probably not excited when it comes time to do your bookkeeping and accounting. You came into this field because you love working with clients and changing people's lives and likely don't have a background in finance or economics. However, if you don't stay on top of your numbers, your therapy business is flying blind without clear goals and strategy for increasing your income over time. So we spoke with accountant and financial expert Amanda Fisher, who has recently published a book called Unscramble Your Numbers: Unlock the Secrets to Your Business Cashflow about how therapists can start to manage their finances better and get their business on track for financial success. In this interview Amanda discusses: why the numbers get scrambled for so many therapists what numbers should we be looking at in our business what are the biggest mistakes she see therapists make around their numbers what can happen in business when we are not on top of our numbers why you need to use cloud accounting like Xero.com to streamline your business whether writing down our financial goals really makes a difference what business metrics we should look at on a regular basis whether therapists really need a budget and cashflow forecast the key numbers and reports therapists should be looking at and when the benefits of investing most your profits back into a business that is trying to grow how to interpret the numbers and indicators your business is in trouble Get the show notes at http://australiacounselling.com.au/91

Website design is one of those fields that is in constant flux. What was cool and cutting edge two years ago is now obsolete and out of fashion.   And when it comes to websites for therapists, it's critical your website reflects current trends so your professional face to the world looks up-to-date and attracts your ideal clients.   So we spoke with accomplished website designer Kat Love, who specialises in creating website for psychotherapists. We asked her about the current trends you need to know and some of the biggest mistakes she sees therapists make in their websites.   In this interview Kat discusses:   changes in website design over the last few years why she only recommends WordPress self-hosted as a website platform some of the biggest mistakes therapists make on their websites the top website trends we should all know about why mobile responsive is no longer an option - it's essential what is website conversion and why you want to build a website that converts some simple tips you can do today to improve your website conversions where she sees the future of website design Links and resources mentioned in this episode   Get the show notes at http://australiacounselling.com.au/session90

Psychotherapy and counselling in the United States is vastly different from Australia in terms of the culture and the development of the industry as a whole. Yet there are many valuable lessons Australian therapists can take from U.S. therapists in how to build a successful private practice. So we spoke to an Australian therapist Roby Abeles who has lived and worked extensively in the U.S. and Australia to find out more and get tips for building a successful private practice. In this interview Roby shares: the fundamental differences in how U.S. therapists approach marketing a private practice how the mindset of U.S. therapists differs from Australian therapists the unique challenges facing Australian therapists today lessons we can apply from U.S. customer service to therapy clients in Australia the benefits of taking a collaborative approach to working with peers the truth about what it really takes to go into full-time private practice in Australia the importance of education, supervision and clinical hours before opening a private practice why you need social and clinical support from your psychotherapy peers   Get the show notes with all the links and resources mentioned in this episode at http://australiacounselling.com.au/session89

Most psychotherapists today will agree it's essential to include the client's body in the therapeutic process for therapy to be effective. The mind-body connection has been reinforced by emerging research over the last decade, which shows the mind and body are inseparable when it comes to how we operate as human beings. Hakomi therapy, which is a form of mindfulness-centred somatic (mind-body) psychotherapy emerged in the 1970's from founder Ron Kurtz. Hakomi means “how do I stand in relation to all things?” and is a good description of how Hakomi works. So we spoke with Australian Certified Hakomi practitioner Carol Perry about what Hakomi is and why this mind-body therapy approach is so powerful. In this podcast Carol discusses: •what is Hakomi therapy and where it came from •an outline of the Hakomi approach •how to track your clients non-verbal behaviour and use therapeutically •when using Hakomi might be contraindicated •why is it important to include the body in psychotherapy •the place for disclosure in Hakomi therapy •how her mindfulness and meditation practice has influenced her work •a successful case study demonstrating the use of Hakomi therapy Get the show notes with all the links and resources mentioned in this episode at http://australiacounselling.com.au/88

Online therapy refers to a wide range of therapy services that are provided by therapists to clients that are sometimes thousands of kilometers apart, thanks to the power of the Internet. But online therapy is a potential minefield with lots of ethical issues that can arise with practitioners that are providing online therapy without specific training or knowledge of this field. So we spoke to Dr Kate Anthony, co-founder of the Online Therapy Institute about the promises and pitfalls of online therapy. In this interview Kate shares: •what is considered online therapy today •how far has online therapy come in the last 5 years? •some of the most common approaches to online therapy •what is Omnichannelled Therapy and why it's good for clients •her thoughts on how secure Skype is as an online therapy delivery platform •which platform she now recommends therapists use when delivering online therapy •the importance of clear therapist boundaries in online therapy •what is the 'online disinhibition effect' •what should therapists do when things go wrong with online therapy •training she recommends for mental health practitioners wanting to become provide online therapy   Get the show notes with all the links and resources mentioned in this episode at http://australiacounselling.com.au/session87

Clinical hypnosis is an effective technique for helping your clients manage pain, stress, phobias as well as a broad range of other issues our clients present to us.   Clinical hypnosis can be easily integrated with Gestalt therapy, NLP, Person-Centred Therapy, Solution Focused Therapy and many other therapy approaches. So it's a wonderful technique to add to your clinical skills to help your clients who present with many different issues.   The mechanisms of suggestion are powerful in calling upon the subconscious mind to assist our clients in the process of change and positive therapeutic outcomes.   So we spoke with Leon Cowen who is a clinical hypnotherapist and clinical hypnotherapy educator, with over 40 years as a therapist.   In this episode Leon discusses:   The difference between clinical hypnosis and clinical hypnotherapy What clinical hypnotherapy and psychotherapy have in common Some of the most common myths about hypnosis Why our clients are often in a hypnotic state when they first contact us on the phone Issues clinical hypnosis can effectively treat Issues where hypnosis is contraindicated How clinical hypnosis and psychotherapy techniques are similar What are induction techniques, susceptibility techniques and deepening techniques Successful case studies where clinical hypnosis was used   Get the show notes with all the links and resources mentioned in this episode at http://australiacounselling.com.au/session86

When it comes to navigating ethical issues as a therapist, most of us like to think we have a pretty good handle on what's good ethical practice.   But the data says otherwise.   We have all heard of stories of colleagues who have breached ethical guidelines, or have had complaints made against them. And still our professional associations regularly receive complaints relating to a breach of ethics or worse, sexual transgressions between client and therapist.   On top of that, it appears our professional associations in Australia aren't keeping up with the development of technology and social media. So Australian therapists are left to make their own guidelines when it comes to interacting with clients online and on social media.   So we spoke to ethics expert Dr Elizabeth Riley, who is the Ethics Chair of the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA) about some of the most common ethical dilemmas that therapists face today.   In this interview, Dr Elizabeth Riley discusses:   the most common ethical issues she sees in new therapists the most common ethical issues she sees in experienced therapists why we still have cases of therapists involved in sexual transgressions with clients what are the signs that a therapist may be grappling with an ethical issue? what she recommends be the first step for a therapist experiencing an ethical dilemma what an Australian therapist should do if they have a complaint made against them how can a therapist decide what is ethical behaviour online if the professional associations haven't created a code of ethics in this area the ethical issues related to the delivery of online counselling and therapy her thoughts on the state Australian ethics and where we will go in the future Get the show notes at http://australiacounselling.com.au/session85

Have you ever had the experience of trying to remember all the things you need to do in your life and therapy practice, but you struggle to keep on top of your paperwork, tasks and To Dos? Well the hugely popular app Evernote is an incredible tool that can become your 'digital brain' where you will never have to search for an email or lost paperwork again. In this interview, technology coach Helen Crozier from Keyboard Karma returns again to the Australia Counselling Podcast to share how you can use this powerful tool to improve your productivity. In this interview she discusses: The new tiered subscriptions: Free, Plus, Premium and Business Workchat: How to use this powerful collaboration and sharing tool and how it works Presentation Mode: Why you can now do away with Powerpoint/Keynote Scannable App: How this app links to Evernote for quick, accurate scanning Business Card Scanning: (premium feature): How it connects directly to Linkedin and populates profile pic, url and job title/description, requests to connect and send contact details Evernote Clipper Update: How to start clipping text and images from the Internet and upload to Evernote Helen's Top Five Tips for using Evernote are: Don't go overboard with creating lots of notebooks - it's preferable to use tags wherever possible. Having lots of notebooks is the same as having too many email or file folders. After a while you don't have the energy to file things into the right place and it all becomes a bit of a mess. Essentially notebooks are great if you want to share just some of your notes and collaborate with someone. I advise clients to start using evernote first - then decide on the structure if they are unsure how to start. It's very easy to change at any time so just dive in Use the shortcut bar to store notebooks, notes or even saved searches. The shortcut bar speeds up finding critical information. Shortcuts will synchronise over all devices which is a bonus. Try using audio. If you have your phone turned off all day you can create a note called voicemail with today's date. Then record your messages into that note and type in any action reminders to go back to later. That way you can delete the voicemail knowing the message is safe to listen to later. Use your email address to subscribe to newsletters. This is great for cutting down on emails by using your Evernote email address to subscribe to newsletters. They never come to your inbox and are all stored in Evernote. Learn how to forward emails into Evernote. If you add an @ sign followed by the notebook in the subject of the email Evernote will automatically file the email into the correct place. You can even add # hashtags and reminders.   BONUS TIP! This is a tip for Kindle users who read lots of books and make use of highlights and notes. In the past it was not possible to get those precious highlights, notes and comments off the Kindle very easily but I'm pleased to say that now we have the tool for that. It's called Clippings and is incredibly useful for those researching their field.   Get the show notes with all the links and resources mentioned in this episode at http://australiacounselling.com.au/session84

It seems that affairs and infidelity are on the rise, particularly with the rise of websites like Ashley Madison, which has the tagline "Life is Short. Have an Affair." And the recent hacking of Ashley Madison has  brought the topic of affairs and infidelity back into the spotlight. So we spoke to Dr. Tammy Nelson, who is a sex and relationship expert, an international speaker, an author and a licensed psychotherapist who has written extensively about infidelity and what she calls the "continuum of monogamy." In this episode Tammy discusses: Her thoughts on why affairs and infidelity are on the rise Whether couples can recover from an affair What is "the new monogamy" and how it can apply to any couple What is “erotic recovery” and why it's essential for couples who want to recover from infidelity Questions to ask partners to help them understand the affair and start to heal How to help partners look at their monogamy and redefine their monogamy One thing couples can do today to prevent an affair or change their sex life Open marriages: can they really work? Or is an open marriage a recipe for disaster? What heterosexual couples learn from gay couples when it comes to open relationships Get the show notes with all the links and resources mentioned in this episode at http://australiacounselling.com.au/session83

Have you ever considered going on a silent retreat? Perhaps you're terrified at the idea of not speaking and disconnecting from technology for a week. Or maybe you can't comprehend what would be the purpose of meditating for day after day. Or perhaps you already have a meditation practice, but think you're not ready for a week of mindfulness and meditation. However, a silent retreat can be deeply rejuvenating and is a deep form of self-care. And as therapists, it's essential we take care of ourselves so we can be in the best state to provide care and attention for our clients. I recently went on a silent retreat and reflected on the numerous personal and clinical benefits. In this episode I share 5 compelling reasons why every therapist needs to experience a silent retreat. The 5 reasons are: A silent retreat helps you learn to tolerate difficult sensations and feelings A silent retreat helps you grows your capacity for holding others A silent retreat helps you improves your personal resilience A silent retreat helps you feel part of the human race A silent retreat gives you a deep sense of self-care, recovery and rejuvenation. I also interview three Australia Counselling members who have been on silent retreat with me to ask them about their experiences. Get the show notes at http://australiacounselling.com.au/session82

Email marketing is a powerful form of marketing because it helps your readers to know, like and trust you over time.   An email newsletter is a great way for therapists to stay in touch with prospective clients as well as build your email list.   However many therapists are still not using this effective medium to long-term marketing strategy as part of their marketing plan.   In this podcast I cover the most important things you need to know to get started with an email newsletter for your therapy practice.   In this interview I discuss:   Why have an email newsletter? The importance of choosing a topic for your email newsletter Why you need to decide on a publishing schedule Email marketing software recommendations Email marketing templates - why mobile responsive is critical How to find content ideas for your newsletter How to structure your email newsletter Additional links and resources to include in your newsletter How to start capturing leads for your newsletter Thank you pages and final welcome emails Advanced email newsletter tips The value of getting help and outsourcing parts of your email newsletter   Get the show notes at http://australiacounselling.com.au/session81

Resilience is often considered the ability to deal with life's challenges, whether you're dealing with a small disappointment or a crisis of disastrous proportions.   Resilience is built into our brains, however, over time we learn unhelpful patterns, which then become fixed in our neural circuitry.   But neuroscience is now revealing that what we previously thought was hardwired and couldn't be changed can actually be rewired to form new neural connections that bring about change and improve mental health.   Linda Graham has written extensively about this in her book Bouncing Back: Rewiring Your Brain for Maximum Resilience and Well-Being, where she writes about how to improve your well-being and resilience by using the power of neuroplasticity.   And the good news is Linda is coming to Melbourne and Brisbane to present her workshop on resilience for the first time in Australia, presented by KEvents.   In this interview Linda shares:   her definition of resilience how the brain develops resilience - or not how early development of resilience goes wrong how to recover resilience through the neuroplasticity of the brain how mindfulness helps us recover resilience how empathy and self-acceptance assist with building resilience how resonant relationships play a role in resilience what is somatic intelligence and how it helps us recover resilience the role of positive emotions in helping to build resilience reflection and response flexibility and how it helps shift patterns of response exercises she uses with her clients to build resilience   Get the show notes at http://australiacounselling.com.au/session80

Diabetes is a serious disease which if left untreated, can have enormous consequences for the health of the diabetic. However, the mental health of people with diabetes is often not discussed, yet is often impacted by this disease. It's not uncommon for diabetics to suffer from mental health issues such as anxiety, depression and relationship issues. Australia Counselling member Carolien Koreneff has the unique skills of being a diabetes educator as well as a somatic psychotherapist. So we spoke with her about how diabetes and mental health are closely related. In this interview Carolien shares: •How she started working in the field of diabetes •A background about the field of diabetes and therapy – 3:00 •What is diabetes and the different types of diabetes - 4:15 •Why type 1 diabetes is considered a more serious health issue – 6:00 •Other ways diabetes impacts people – 6:25 •The mental health issues for people with diabetes – 8:00 •How Carolien combines Diabetes education work with psychosomatic therapy work - 9:15 •What counsellors should you be aware of when encountering clients with diabetes – 11:50 •Warning signs to watch for when glucose levels drop low – 12:55 •The importance of mood regulation for diabetics – 14:25 •Relationship issues that can arise during mood changes – 15:05 •How she helps her clients increase their body awareness and tune into what their body is telling them – 15:50 Get the show notes with all the links and resources mentioned in this episode at http://australiacounselling.com.au/79

If you work with couples, you probably find some of your most challenging couples to work with are those in high conflict.   Sometimes couples come into the therapy room right from a fight and continue the fight in your office. Or perhaps you're dealing with a couple that has been harbouring resentment and anger that explodes out when they talk about certain issues.   Whatever the case, the reality is you need to contain your clients and put rules in place to make the therapeutic environment safe and secure so everyone can be heard and validated for the therapy to progress.   This is no easy task at the best of times and made all the harder if you're a therapist who personally finds conflict challenging.   So we spoke with Australia Counselling member Jacqueline McDiarmid who specialises in working with couples and families, and has a wealth of experience in working with high conflict couples and training therapists in how to work with these clients.   In this interview Jacqueline shares:   The most common behaviours of couples in high conflict The challenges therapists struggle with when working with high conflict couples The most common mistakes therapists make with high conflict couples How to effectively manage the couple when fighting escalates in the therapy room Tips for therapists needing to manage their own anxiety when conflict escalates How to use systemic circular questioning in your sessions to reduce escalation of conflict   Get the show notes at http://australiacounselling.com.au/session78

The coming out experience for a lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or intersex person (LGBTI) is unique for each person. It's not uncommon for a LGBTI person to experience rejection, homophobia, harassment and abuse that can lead to serious mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, drug and alcohol addiction and suicide. Australia Counselling member and Melbourne psychotherapist Matt Glover is passionate about advocating for the mental health and wellbeing of LGBTI people and has dedicated his counselling and psychotherapy practice to this cause. He has taken a fascinating journey as a former Baptist minister for 14 years where he was struck by the poor levels of mental health and the high levels of suicide of LGBTI people. In this interview Matt covers: Some of the unique challenges LGBTI people experience Mistaken assumptions therapists often make about LGBTI people The experience of coming out for a LGBTI person What the coming out experience is like for friends and family The developmental milestones for a LGBTI person coming out The risks for LGBTI people when coming out How we can best support a LGBTI person coming out Access the show notes at http://australiacounselling.com.au/session77

There's no doubt that online video is experiencing an exponential growth in recent times. If you're marketing your private practice online, it's an important channel to consider adding to your marketing mix. Have a look at some of these amazing video statistics: 4 billion YouTube views a day 6 billion hours of video watched a month on YouTube 300 hours per minute of new videos uploaded to YouTube 323 days worth of YouTube videos viewed on FB every minute 1 billion videos viewed on Facebook each day The average Facebook user worldwide watched 75% more video this year compared to last year Brands posted 20,000 more videos on Facebook than they did on YouTube in December 2014 So we spoke with professional videographer Duane Strauss of Bright Crayon Productions about how to create short videos to promote your private practice. In this interview he shares: the different kinds of videos you can create to promote your services the benefits of video over text or images tips he recommends for DIY video the basic equipment you need to get up and running with your video recording the benefits of working with a professional videographer how can you prepare for making an effective and compelling video the most common mistakes people make when creating video

If you're a psychotherapist or training to become one, it's likely you know the name Irvin D. Yalom. Dr Yalom is Professor Emeritus of Psychiatry at Stanford University with over 50 years clinical experience as well as an accomplished author. He has inspired generations of therapists with his text books Existential Psychotherapy and The Theory and Practice of Group Psychotherapy, as well as his ‘teaching tales'  that contain psychotherapy themes central to his fiction and non-fiction books. Dr Yalom's latest book Creatures of a Day: And Other Tales of Psychotherapy is a collection of poignant and moving tales from psychotherapy. In these stories his patients grapple with life's two greatest challenges: that we must all die, and that each of us is responsible for leading a life worth living. In this interview Dr Yalom discusses: Writing and psychotherapy: How he came to write this book and how his creative writing sits with his practice of psychotherapy. Therapist disclosure: Throughout this book Dr Yalom makes honest disclosures in the here-and-now with his patients. He talks about how important  therapist disclosure is in psychotherapy. Facing the death of a client: What he learned about death from his patient Ellie, who called herself “a pioneer of dying”. Not predicting where the therapy will go: The important ingredients that make for effective therapy and how he is sometimes completely surprised by the therapeutic journeys of his patients. Taking a detailed history of a recent, 24 hour period: This strategy seems to uncover some surprising information about his patients, such as his patient Alvin, who he discovered through asking this question had so little intimacy in his life. Dr Yalom describes how he uses this intervention. Brief therapy: With symptom focused, quick fix and short-term therapies becoming increasingly popular with governments, therapists and clients, Dr Yalom shares his view on whether in-depth psychotherapy is still relevant. Giving up hope for a better past: How we can help our clients with the idea that change may come from actually giving up hope for a better past. On being creative in therapy:  How he worked creatively with some of his patients to bring about change and transformation in unexpected ways. Effective psychotherapy: How much of his writing is part of his mission to educate and inspire young therapists about what effective psychotherapy looks like. Group psychotherapy: His views on the importance of this type of therapy and positive changes he's noticing with psychiatric resident group training.

Mediation is often considered the last stop for couples who are separating and need help disentangling their lives and working out how to divide their finances and formalise their co-parenting arrangements. However there is a lot more to mediation than meets the eye. In fact, a great many types of disputes between couples, work colleagues, neighbours and families can all be effectively resolved with mediation. Julia Brierley is a nationally accredited mediator who has a great deal of experience working with many people from all walks on life who are trying to resolve a dispute. In this interview Julia shares: what is mediation? the different types of disputes where mediation can be used the difference between counselling and mediation? how do you know whether a couple should seek counselling or mediation the strategies used during mediation to ensure a good outcome for all parties the benefits of mediation what is a parenting plan the legality of mediation agreements and what happens if one party breaks the agreement Here the show notes at http://australiacounselling.com.au/session74

Most people experience shock at one time or another in their life and a great majority of people are in shock on a daily basis. Shock may begin early in life and then build up as life's stresses increase, or it may result from a sudden traumatic event. When shock is not treated, it can lead to serious illness and health issues, dysfunctional relationships and addictions to sugar, alcohol and drugs. Diane Zimberoff and David Hartman are a husband and wife team of psychotherapists with over 30 years experience in helping people heal the shock and trauma in their lives. They are also the authors of the best-selling book: Overcoming Shock: Healing the Traumatised Mind and Heart. In this interview, Diane and David discuss: what is shock and the physiological response to shock the relationship between shock and trauma how shock impacts our well-being the relationship between shock and addictions how relationships are impacted by shock and trauma and how shock contributes to domestic violence how we can help our clients heal the shock in their lives the significance of The Wellness Institute and the Heart-Centered Hypnotherapy method why using hypnotherapy so important in treating shock and trauma Get the show notes with all the links and resources mentioned in this epsiode at http://australiacounselling.com.au/session73

People with depression, one of the most common problems we see, are sometimes stuck and challenging to help change. Medications don't help all depressed people and, even when it helps, it often comes with uncomfortable side effects and only works partially. Sometimes working with depressed people gets therapists depressed and discouraged. Bill O'Hanlon is an accomplished psychotherapist and author of 36 books and more than 60 articles. He has appear on The Oprah Show, Today and has presented over 3000 times around the world. He recently published a new book called Out of the Blue: Six Non-Medication Ways to Relieve Depression. In this interview, you will learn six hopeful and innovative approaches for helping people with depression to get some traction out of it. Because depression has multiple causes and factors, there are many ways to shift it. These approaches draw on respectful, strength-based models as well as the latest brain plasticity research. The latest research casts doubt on traditional explanations of depression and shows a whole array of new angles on treating it. Bill, who has suffered and recovered from depression, is a lively presenter with a fresh take on this topic. The six strategies for relieving depression are: Strategy#1: Marbling. Acknowledgment of suffering, uncovering non-depressed moments and times. Mapping the contours of depression and non-depressed times and moments to find some traction and hope. Strategy#2: Undoing depression. Challenging patterns of depression to break its grip. Strategy#3: Changing your relationship with depression. Externalizing, noticing and valuing depression. Strategy#4: Challenging isolation. Connections as important healing and preventive elements in recovering from depression. Strategy#5: A future with possibilities. Connecting to a future with meaning and hope as way out of depression. Strategy#6: Re-starting brain growth. The neurogenic/neuroatrophy hypothesis and how to use it to get traction out of depression.

As a therapist, writing can be a powerful and effective way to help you build an online profile that can lead to increased exposure for your business, requests for media interviews and new clients inquiries. Writing can be in the form of magazine articles, blogging, guest blogging, copywriting on your website or newspaper articles. All these avenues help you establish yourself as an authority in your niche and the ‘go-to' expert for the clients you work with. If you're a therapist who is not sharing your knowledge and expertise through writing, you could be missing out on valuable opportunities for growing your business. Valerie Khoo is a journalist and author who is the founder of the Australian Writers' Centre. She has mentored countless writers that have gone on to write for prestigious publications and publish books. In this interview Valerie covers: Why it's important to write as a business owner The different types of writing available to business owners What forms of writing are suitable for therapists How a blog can help serviced-based professionals such as therapists Some of the most common objections people have to writing The benefits that can come from writing for your business How blogging is different from other forms of writing Where to find inspiration for writing and how to collect your ideas

In a marketplace today that is saturated with therapists and mental health practitioners in private practice, it's essential that you have a marketing strategy and a marketing plan to implement over time. Effective marketing is about communicating the benefits and value of your services. Australia Counselling Founder Clinton Power recently presented two workshops for ACAP and PDP Seminars.   In this podcast, you can listen to an edited version of the first half of his workshop called A Beginners Guide to Online Marketing. In this presentation Clinton covers: Getting started: having the right mindset the value of knowing yourself how revealing yourself attracts clients the importance of building online authority How to define your niche for marketing purposes: what is a niche why you need a niche examples of niches niche exercise The elements of effective therapy websites: overview of how websites have changed features of effective websites that attract clients examples of websites opt-ins and email collection

When parents experience the death of their child, no one can truly know the depths of their grief and despair unless they have lost a child of their own. In today's society, many people don't know how to respond to others when they go through such a tragic loss. As a result, parents can feel alone, isolated and unsupported in their grief. This is where professional counselling support can be critical for grieving parents and families. Cait Wotherspoon is a counsellor and psychotherapist who specialises in working with the parents and families who are grieving the death of their child. She is on the forefront of working with people that are trying to cope with unbearable grief and loss. In this interview Cait shares: Some of the emotions that are commonly experienced by those people dealing with a death or loss What is unique about the grief of parents who lose a child What is considered as healthy grieving Whether the stages grieving as suggested by Kubler-Ross in the 1970s are still relevant today The new DSM 5 description for complicated grieving When counsellors should be concerned about how a client is grieving How we can best support parents and families who lose a child How relationships are impacted after the loss of a child How parents and families can remember a child who dies Resources available in Australia for grieving parents and families

In our latest therapist success story, we interview Sydney couple therapist Melissa Ferrari to find out how she has created a successful private practice. Melissa has an interesting story because she has built her practice up from part-time work while volunteering and working in other jobs, to a thriving practice where she refers clients to her associates. Melissa has also been effective is using Facebook in a strategic way to drive traffic to her website and capture new counselling prospects. In this interview Melissa shares: How her practice evolved from a small part-time practice to full-time with associates Some of the challenges she experienced in building her practice The successful mindset that was instrumental in her business growth The most effective marketing strategies she has used in her practice How she grew her Facebook Page from 0 to over 6,500 fans How she has been getting more exposure in popular media The results she has seen in her business from these marketing strategies

When you're running a busy therapy practice, time is money. So you want to make sure you're working as productively as you can with the time outside of your client hours. Thankfully there are lots of tech tools that can help you work more effectively and efficiently when it comes to the running of your business. In this podcast episode, Clinton Power shares his 10 best tech tools that can help you save time and money in 2015.                 Visit the show notes to check out the tech tools mentioned by Clinton in this episode.

Infidelity has a huge impact on relationships with the ripple effect affecting children, families and communities. When a couple is dealing with infidelity, the relationship is often threatened with the possibility of ending due to the deep pain and hurt that is often felt by the betrayed partner. Savannah Ellis is the founder of the Infidelity Recovery Institute (IRI), and is passionate about helping couples get back on track after an infidelity. In this interview Savannah shares: how she became interested and developed her passion for infidelity recovery what is the impact of infidelity on couples and families how social media and the internet is making affairs and infidelity more widespread her seven stage process to recover from infidelity the different affair types and how to treat them

When it comes to working as a therapist in private practice, it's sometimes challenging only trading dollar for hours. The downside of working in private practice as a therapist is you don't get paid if you're sick, take holidays or need to decrease your client load. This is where multiple streams of income can be enormously helpful in increasing your overall revenue and support your income when you're not seeing clients. U.S. therapist Mari A. Lee has had some great success with creating digital products and has built a practice that is built on multiple streams of income. She is passionate about this business model for therapists as a way to share your knowledge with the world while working less hours in your practice. In this interview Mari shares: Why therapists should consider multiple streams of income. Some of the multiple streams of income that are suitable for therapists The successes she has had with creating multiple streams of income. What to consider if you want to get started with digital products. Tips for therapists who want to create online products. The most common fears that stop therapists from creating online products How to promote your digital product once it's finished. What to watch out for when it comes to creating online products.

Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is a complex disorder experienced by 2-6% of the population. BPD is often misunderstood by the public and many mental health professionals. People with Borderline have ongoing difficulty relating to other people and to the world around them. This can be very distressing for the person and for those who care for them. Symptoms often include deep feelings of insecurity, constantly changing emotions, ruptured relationships,  impulsiveness and sometimes self-harm. In it's most serious form some people can experience psychotic episodes. Sonia Neale is a motivational speaker who speaks on the topic of living with Borderline Personality Disorder. In this interview Sonia gives us a unique insight into the challenges and struggles of living with BPD. Most importantly, Sonia shares a message of hope for people suffering from Borderline and is living proof that recovery from BPD is possible. In this interview Sonia shares: What the lived experience of Borderline Personality Disorder is like. What is happening on a biological level for people with BPD. The causes of BPD. The importance of neuroplasticity and empathy when it comes to managing Borderline Personality. What she has found most helpful in her journey with BPD. The value of Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT). Advice for family and friends of people with Borderline. What mistakes she has seen professionals making when working with BPD. Advice for practitioners who work with (or would like to work with) this population.

We live in a world today where many people feel entitled to money, fame, success and popularity. Studies are telling us that narcissism is at an all time high. What exactly is narcissism are we having a narcissism epidemic? What are the causes of narcissism and can anything be done to prevent a future generation of narcissists? Dr Jean Twenge is professor of psychology at San Diego State University and has been researching and writing about this topic for many years. Her ground-breaking book The Narcissism Epidemic: Living in the Age of Entitlement answers many questions about what's happening in our culture and what can be done to reduce narcissism. In this interview Dr Jean Twenge shares: what is narcissism and why we having a narcissism epidemic how the internet, celebrity culture, parenting and easy credit is contributing to a rise in narcissism the characteristics of a narcissist some of the causes of narcissism the difference between healthy and unhealthy narcissism the relationship between self-esteem and narcissism how to deal with a narcissist what can parents do to reduce the possibility of raising children that become narcissistic adults

When it comes to adolescence, there's no doubt it's a time of enormous change and development. And for some teens and families, it's also a time of interpersonal conflict, high emotions and challenging behaviours. Child psychiatrist Dr Daniel Siegel specialises in working with teens and young people and he understands the unique challenges that adolescents have to navigate due to changes in the brain. He released a book on the topic this year for teens, parents and anyone who works with or supports adolescents called Brainstorm: The Power and Purpose of the Teenage Brain. In this podcast episode Dr Siegel shares: The benefits, challenges and purpose of adolescence. Some of the most common myths of adolescence What is happening in the brain of a teenager. How the teenage brain is involved when it comes to risk-taking behaviour. How to best support a teenager who may be struggling. How we can empower adolescents who are going through such huge changes. This is a fascinating interview with one of the world's leading authorities on this topic.

When it comes to counselling gay men, adolescents and boys, it's critical as a counsellor you understand some of the special needs and challenges of this minority population to be effective. Dr Michael Kocet is a U.S. professor and mental health counsellor who has specialised in working with gay men, adolescents and boys, as well as educating counselling students about this very specific area of counselling. He has also recently written a comprehensive book on the topic called Counselling Gay Men, Adolescents, and Boys: A Strengths-Based Guide for Helping Professionals and Educators. In this interview, Michael discusses: how he became involved in counselling gay boys, adolescents and men how gay boys and men develop psychologically important cultural issues for gay men, adolescents and boys the effects of stigma and prejudice towards gay people the most important assessment factors for developing a treatment plan critical mental health factors that can affect gay men, adolescents and boys how important a counsellor's sexual orientation is for a gay client special needs counsellors need to be aware of when counselling bisexual people

Australia Counselling member Helen Larkey is a therapist who was struggling to build her private practice in an area of Australia that is saturated by therapists. She was about to go back to university to commence the long process of gaining a psychology degree, after already having completed full registration as a counsellor and psychotherapist. She thought that she could only create a successful therapy practice if she could offer Medicare rebates to clients. But rather than embark on many years of study (and huge cost), she instead made a mindset shift in her approach to her therapy business that has lead to great results. In our latest podcast, Helen shares how this important mindset shift helped her start to grow the counselling business of her dreams. In this episode we discuss: the benefits she gained from choosing a niche for marketing purposes the importance of having a professional website that is aimed to attract her ideal clients how she was able to grow her business from no clients to a busy client load how working with other professionals such as a business coach and website developer has made a huge difference how she has used networking with allied health professionals to grow her referral base

If there were things you could start doing today that would lead to greater business growth in the new year, would you do them? As the year comes to a close, it's a good time to reflect on your therapy business across the last year and start setting goals you want for your business in 2015. In our latest podcast, Australia Counselling founder Clinton Power shares five things you can start doing in your business today that will lead to more business growth in 2015. The points he covers include: 1. Redesign your website Websites are living things that need to be refreshed on a regular basis. The investment is worth it - not expensive. There can be an immediate increase in inquiries. Look at your website through the eyes of your ideal client - is it attractive? Have a mindset shift regarding costs. 2. Look at your content strategy Ask yourself if you're creating client-attracting content. Create content your prospective clients will love, visual images and infographics are the most popular right now. Consider a monthly newsletter - write one article a week. Do you have a blog? If not, start blogging. Have a lead magnet. 3. Increase your networking This is a long-term strategy that can pay off in a huge way. Go to networking events, meet colleagues on a regular basis. Reach out to former contacts. You can uses software that can help you with this. Start or join a peer supervision group that you can nurture and help grow you professionally as well as become a good source for referrals. Look at your online networking such as LinkedIn - many therapists have incomplete LinkedIn profiles. Clean it up and make it look more professional. 4. Look at your business practices Have a rock-solid cancellation policy. Streamline your business practices. Get your books in order. If you can, outsource tasks such as VA (virtual assistant) work, writing, accounting, bookkeeping. 5. Review your fees and services Consider raising your fees in the new year. Create new products and services e.g. group therapy, short-term coaching groups. Offer new services to old clients.

When it comes to codependency, there are many myths that surround this presentation in clients. What's more, the definition of codependency has changed over the years and has a different meaning from what it meant 30 years ago. In this podcast episode, we speak with U.S. marriage and family therapist Darlene Lancer, who has been working in the field of codependency for over 27 years. She brings us up to date with what codependence is today and some of the important clinical presentations to look out for that may indicate codependence. In this interview, Darlene also shares: what is codependency and the modern definition of codependency what are the myths about codependency the symptoms of being codependent what enabling has to do with codependency when and where codependency starts how the family of origin can contribute to codependency how setting boundaries can actually help treat codependency what part shame and guilt plays in codependency what are the steps that can be taken in treating codependency how to recover and completely heal from codependency

As therapists we often have clients come into our practice with sexual issues, but unfortunately many therapists do not have the specific training to deal with these presentations. So we spoke with Melbourne sex therapist and clinical psychologist Dr Janet Hall about sex therapy. Janet gives us a fascinating look inside the world of a sex therapist, where we discussed a wide range of topics related to sex therapy and sexual issues that are experienced by individuals and couples. In this episode, Dr. Janet Hall discusses: the common issues and reasons why men and women go to sex therapists for help the most common sexual issues for men who present for sex therapy how the internet is contributing to sexual issues in men the pros and cons of individuals and couples using pornography the differences between sexual problems with heterosexual couples and same-sex couples how couples can deal with mismatching libidos the downside of ‘hook-up' apps like Tinder what important assessment questions we need to ask clients when they ask for help regarding sex how to know when it's time to refer a client to a sex therapist the most unique sexual problem she has worked with the healthy and unhealthy sides of fetishes whether monogamy/non-monogamy and polyamory can work in a relationship

  We know due to advancements in neuroscience that facilitating change involves helping clients to move into different neurobiological states. As therapists, we want our therapeutic interventions to impact the functioning of the brain in a positive way. Richard Hill is a psychotherapist who began his career as a professional actor for 25 years, but returned to university at 45 to do a BA in linguistics and went on to complete three Masters degrees with a focus on neurobiology and neuroscience. Richard is interested in how to apply developments in neuroscience into therapeutic practice and what techniques practitioners can utilise to help clients change. In this podcast Richard shares: what is the Curiosity Approach how the Curiosity Approach can help with people affectively disordered how therapists turn their curiosity on and off what is his Winner/Loser World Theory how therapists can apply these concepts to therapeutic practice examples of techniques that practitioners can utilise

Have you ever thought about how you could use your knowledge of psychology, psychotherapy and counselling to create products that could earn you a passive income? Writing an eBook is the perfect way to create an additional income stream for your therapy practice. Not only can your eBook reach audiences across the world you could never impact or help through your local therapy practice, but you can also start to receive a regular income from the sale of your information product. Californian therapist Lisa Kift is a marriage and family therapist who has been a trailblazer in this area. She has had enormous success creating information products that have helped countless individuals and couples across the world. She has added an additional revenue stream to her practice, as well as used the power of affiliate marketing to have other people sell her information products on her behalf. In this episode Lisa shares: Why she decided to create online products in the form of eBooks How to decide what to write your in your eBook Her strategy for creating and selling her eBooks How to decide whether to sell your eBook through your website or on Amazon The benefits and results you can have from writing a eBook The software she uses to sell her eBooks all over the world Tips and advice for therapists who have never written an ebook but want to get started

Crisis counselling is a unique form of counselling that involves comprehensive training and boldness on the part of the counsellor. Those counsellors that are working with people in crisis or suicidal can be faced with challenging cases that can be unpredictable at times. So we spoke with Jimmy Henderson, who is a counsellor in South Africa with over 29 years experience working with clients in crisis at LifeLine. In this interview Jimmy shares: How crisis counselling is different from other forms of counselling What happens in a person's life that brings them to a point of crisis How we can respond effectively as counsellors to those in crisis How therapists can manage their own reactions when working with someone who is suicidal The signs that someone is at a point of crisis What approach to take with someone who has experienced a trauma? Whether people who have experienced traumatic events can fully recover How to avoid the risk of PTSD after a traumatic event

Developing the right business mindset is a sure-fire way to make sure your therapy practice will grow and become the successful business you've dreamed of. Unfortunately, many therapists have unhelpful or negative mindsets that actually prevent them from successfully marketing their business and attracting their ideal clients. When you develop a marketing mindset, you'll find you feel greater confidence about what you're doing and why you're doing it, as well as a plan that can help steer you in the right direction and support the growth of your business. In our latest podcast, Vancouver-based marketing coach Juliet Austin speak about the importance of developing a marketing mindset. In this interview she discusses: What is mindset? What is a marketing mindset and why you need one How you can change your mindset to be open to new opportunities The signs of an unhelpful mindset How to develop a successful marketing mindset An example of a therapist who changed their mindset and experienced huge success in their therapy practice Make sure you listen to the end to hear about a special offer Juliet has for listeners of the Australia Counselling Podcast.

Male sexuality can express itself in ways that may be difficult to understand to the general population. Many marriages have been hurriedly terminated when couples (and their therapists) have lacked the information they needed to understand their current situations when male sexuality is being expressed in alternative ways. Dr Joe Kort, who joined us in episode #8 speaking about gay affirmative therapy for the straight clinician, has recently written the book: Is My Husband Gay, Straight or Bi? A Guide for Concerned Women as a guide to help couples understand how male sexuality. This book provides the clarity, describes the choices, and (in many cases) offers hope for relationships and marriages that have been brushed off as doomed. In our latest podcast interview, Dr Kort discusses: What inspired him to write his new book Is My Husband Gay, Straight, or Bi? A Guide for Concerned Women Whether we can clearly differentiate sexual orientation between bi, gay and straight The four question test  he uses to determine a person's sexual orientation What the term heteroflexible means and how recent generations are embracing this new sexuality If it's possible for a person's sexual orientation to change throughout their lifetime Advice he gives women who discover their husband or partner is watching gay porn or having sex with men The psychology of men who express their sexuality through having sex  with men, but don't consider themselves gay Whether women's sexuality is more fluid than men, or if this is just a myth If a marriage can survive when the husband has been discovered secretly having sex with men How he works with couples when there is concern about the sexuality or sexual orientation of the male partner

Have you ever worked with a couple where one partner had significant ambivalence about whether they want to continue with the relationship? Many couple and marriage counsellors make the mistake of commencing couple therapy without having both partners fully committed to working on the relationship. When this is the case, discernment counselling may be required, because it is a way for couples to look at their options before making a decision about divorce. Discernment counselling is right for couples who want more understanding of what's happened to their relationship and help for deciding whether to break up or to try to repair it. It's different from regular relationship counselling because discernment counselling is not about solving the problems in your marriage; it's about figuring out whether the problems can be solved. Dr Bill Doherty, Director of the Doherty Relationship Institute created his unique model of discernment counselling so therapists can help couples who present in this way. In this interview Bill discusses: How he came to work in the field of couples counselling How his model of discernment counselling came about The benefits of discernment counselling  How discernment counselling is different from marriage counselling How to know when discernment counselling is indicated The goals of discernment counselling A case study of successful discernment counselling Resources for therapists wanting to learn more about discernment counselling

Twitter is a powerful social networking tool that helps you build relationships with colleagues across the world. However, many therapists in Australia are yet to understand and appreciate how helpful it can be for their businesses. Twitter has a language of its own, plus, you need to use specific tools to use Twitter in a productive way. Social media enthusiast Ken Burgin, who joined us in podcast#37 on LinkedIn marketing, returns to give us an overview of the basics of Twitter for therapists. In this interview, Ken discusses: What is Twitter? Why  therapists should consider using Twitter An overview of the basics of Twitter The benefits of Twitter for marketing and networking Advice for therapists on how they can interact in on Twitter and still maintain their ethical codes and be professional. The most common Twitter mistakes people make. The first steps to get started with Twitter Tips on the kind of posting frequency and type of content you need to be sharing on Twitter