The Rural Psychologist

In this episode, Chantal provides advice for health professionals on how not to burn out; and then (at about the 10min mark for those who want to skip my don't burn out advice for health professionals and get straight to the good stuff!) has a great chat with two highly regarded mental health professionals who have lived and worked in rural Australia for a couple of decades. Enjoy!Guest profiles:Home - Rural Sky GoondiwindiRural Sky is situated in the heart of Goondiwindi, by the banks of the MacIntyre River, on Queensland's Darling Downs. We are a private practice of mental health professionals, delivering services to the people in our favourite part of the world, in the place we call home.We are committed to excellence and pride ourselves on providing exceptional and confidential professional services in a warm and positive environment. Our team of highly skilled and experienced clinicians deliver psychological therapy to clients of all ages across the spectrum of emotional and behavioural difficulties. We provide services to individuals, couples, families and even organisations.Rural Sky also offers keynote presentations for events, along with workshops, psychometric testing and coaching to individuals and businesses with a desire to realise their potential and experience lasting success.Fundamental to our practice is that we live in the community that we serve. We understand what it means to live in a rural town. We understand distance, drought and flooding rains, small-town intricacies, local issues and services. We understand you! KATHERINE JOHNSTONEhttps://ruralsky.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Screen-Shot-2020-01-25-at-11.23.43-am.pngAbout Kath: Katherine Johnstone is an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker and co-founder of Rural Sky, a private practice based in Goondiwindi, Queensland. With over a decade of experience, Kath works with people across all stages of life—from young children to older adults—supporting them through life's challenges, whether big, small, or somewhere in between.Rooted in a trauma-informed, evidence-based approach, Kath's work is centred around helping people make sense of what they're going through, reconnect with what matters to them, and move forward with confidence. She believes deeply in the power of rural communities and is passionate about ensuring mental health support is not only accessible, but also practical, respectful, and real.Outside of work, Kath enjoys exploring Australia and overseas, spending time with her family, and soaking up the simple joys of rural life—where the stars are brighter, the conversations deeper, and the work genuinely meaningful.SUZIE COLLINS, CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGISTAbout Suz: Suzie is passionate about supporting people, of all ages, to build resilience and overcome barriers that make life difficult.  Suzie draws upon a range of evidence based therapeutic models and specifically Eye Movement Desensitisation & Reprocessing (EMDR, EMDRAA Accredited Practitioner), Internal Family Systems (IFS, IFSI Level 1 trained), Gottman Method for Couples (Level 3 trained), Motivational Interviewing (Relapse Prevention) and TheraPlay (Level 1 trained).  She is also trained in Triple P Parenting (group), Cognitive Behaviour Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. Suzie uses a trauma informed and non-pathologising framework for therapy.Suzie's 10+ years, of experience has provided her with the opportunity to work with a range of mental health presentations (e.g. trauma, addition, behavioural concerns, relationship difficulties, depression, anxiety, grief etc).  She has a particular interest in working with those whoIntroducing the Rural Psychologist Podcast

2025 - The year of living dangerously...connect with new people, learn new things, dive into life and live like no one is judging... AND The kids are not ok? Chantal chats with Dr Chloe Kidd on the mental health of young people living in rural Australia. Dr Kidd sits on the Momentum research team that is helping to overcome access issues for young rural people needing mental health assistance.Find out more about the Momentum program here:www.momentumhub.org.auWhat is Momentum?Momentum offers tailored online treatment programs to help children and adolescents learn new ways to cope with feelings of anxiety and/or unhappiness. Momentum also offers help with sleep difficulties, as well as information on well-being and help-seeking, and tips and information about substance use for adolescents.Momentum has been designed in collaboration with young people, parents, clinicians and researchers. The program is free to use in Australia and can be worked through at your own pace and in the comfort of your own home.Introducing the Rural Psychologist Podcast

Sarah Crosthwaite, Dairy Farmer, Nuffield Scholar, and Social Worker has just completed a tour around the globe as part of the Nuffield Scholarship in an effort to understand what's behind the mental health crisis among farmers worldwide.  I was both enlightened and intrigued by Sarah's insights into the pressures that create mental health issues for farmers around the world. I am sure you will be too. Read Sarah's Nuffield report here International Agricultural Research Reports | Nuffield Farming ScholarshipsWebsite to Sarah's counselling service link here:Home Page - Open Road CounsellingIntroducing the Rural Psychologist Podcast

What is it really like to manage depression while living in the bush? This is the raw and honest tale of Lisa Jeitz and her journey to manage her depression while living, working and wrangling a young family on a farm in Western Australia. Thank you to Lisa for telling her story so that she can help others to find the language and courage to ask for help.Introducing the Rural Psychologist Podcast

https://damianmorgan.com.au/Damian Morgan Damian Morgan is partner and director of the Today News Group which publishes 30 independent newspapers (and online news) across regional Queensland, South Australia and the Northern Territory.   He grew up on a cattle property at Condamine and his media career started as a performance poet with ABC Grandstand , Triple M and Fox Sports in Sydney before moving into current affairs broadcasting as host of the afternoon show on 2CC, Canberra.  He returned to Brisbane in 2001 and served as the business editor and summer breakfast host at 4BC Brisbane for five years.  After attaining an MBA he established an advertising andcorporate affairs consultancy that has advised several of Australia's leading companies and government departmentsfor the past 20 years. He is a popular conference speaker and has delivered keynote addresses at conferences and seminars across Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and Singapore.  He is currently the vice president of Country Press Australia and has previously served as a director of the Queensland State Government concessional loans and disaster relief administration agency (QRIDA) and as a director of CitySmart, Brisbane City Councils' sustainability agency.  He is a Fellow of the Sir Vincent Fairfax Ethics in Leadership Program.Introducing the Rural Psychologist Podcast

https://mananapastoral.com.au/Long before it was trendy to be entrepreneurial in agriculture, Jane Campbell and her husband Ian, lead the way in setting up a phenomenally successful diary company, Barambah Organics, value adding to the milk they produced on their diary farm in Murgon, Queensland. This is a fabulous tale of hard work, and self-belief but also testimony to great values including humility, love of connection with people from all walks of life, and the might that comes with the meeting of intellect and agricultural practicality. @mananafarms @glenarbonIntroducing the Rural Psychologist Podcast

Guerie solicitor, farmer, property developer, board director and formidable engineer of community well-being, Clare Osborn Booth talks about the 'enoughness' of being a mum, honoring the family unit, tax law (an obvious connection...) and how to develop derelict rural properties to build the future for your off-farm adult children and revitalize rural communities.It's a thought-provoking listen to say the least. You'd be crazy to miss it.And coming soon - a little side-coffee, supplementary interview with Clare and myself if you can't quite get your fill of her in this interview. Watch out for that one to drop soon. @boothlawadvisory  @buckenbah_collectiveIntroducing the Rural Psychologist PodcastIntroducing the Rural Psychologist Podcast

What will Galah Magazine creator-editor, Annabelle Hickson, do next?A mother of three, a farmer's wife, a natural-born entrepreneur who lives down the country road from me on a pecan farm, and who seems so self-contained, so unhindered by the rules of life…I just simply had to interview her and find out what on earth makes her tick...what makes her so brave? How did she come to be in this world without caring a jot for whether she fails and falls or not? A woman, it seems, for whom the only thing that matters is following one's passion with complete abandon, despite harboring some of the fears that hold most of us back from discovering our true selves and putting it at the centre of everything we do. What are the ingredients to living a life of unadulterated passionate abandon for the things one simply loves to do. Take no prisoners.  Total leaps of faith. Fail fast, get back up and carry on... And what will this, one of rural Australia's true female leaders and entrepreneurs, do next?  Introducing the Rural Psychologist PodcastIntroducing the Rural Psychologist Podcast

Introducing the Rural Psychologist Podcast

Being able to say no, asserting yourself and asking for your needs to be met are all part of good self care which means good mental health. For tips and ideas on how to be more assertive listen to coaching episode 3 of The Rural Psychologist podcast today.Introducing the Rural Psychologist Podcast

Listen in to this episode, the second coaching episode for The Rural Psychologist podcast to learn the best way to go about setting goals for the new year to ensure you stay motivated  and enthusiastic right through to point where you achieve what you set out to do.Introducing the Rural Psychologist Podcast

"You either walk inside your story and own it, or you stand outside and hustle for your worthiness" Brene BrownBe sure to get on the front foot for the new year by listening to this episode and doing the important exercise that Chantal talks about for setting yourself up with a great mindset to help you feel more confident, self-assured and become clearer about what you want to achieve in 2024. Introducing the Rural Psychologist Podcast