The Thinking Mind Podcast: Psychiatry & Psychotherapy

Nancy Gee, Ph.D is a Professor of Psychiatry in Human Animal Interaction, and the Director of the Centre for Human Animal Interaction at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) in Richmond, VA. The Centre is the only one of its kind to be housed in a School of Medicine, and in addition to research and educational activities it also houses the “Dogs On Call” therapy dog program. With over 90 DOC volunteer dog-and-handler teams, this ...

This is a recording of a Q & A session at Riddlesdown collegiate, a secondary school in South London. For this session, specifically aimed at male staff, Alex was interviewed by Deputy Head of College Andrew Edwards.

Today we cover topics including male mental health issues, lifestyle factors influencing mental health, work life balance, the economics of discomfort, the signs of burnout, cultural trends affecting dati...

Dr. Camilla Nord leads the Mental Health Neuroscience Lab at the University of Cambridge, where she holds dual positions as Programme Leader at the  Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit and Assistant Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience at the Department of Psychiatry. She also holds a Wellcome Career Development Award fellowship, and co-leads an international team of researchers via a Wellcome Mental Health Award. Dr Nord has a longst...

Prof. Ulrike Schmidt is a Professor of Eating Disorders and Director of the Centre for Research on Eating and Weight Disorders at King’s College London. She is also a Consultant Psychiatrist at the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust. 

Ulrike works to understand fundamental biology and psychological determinants of eating and weight disorders, including obesity. Her research includes multiple trials of new treatments and ...

Dr Tennyson Lee is a Consultant Psychiatrist in Psychotherapy and General Adult Psychiatry. He is a psychoanalyst and a member of the Institute of Psychoanalysis. He is a supervisor in Transference Focused Psychotherapy. He is presently clinical lead at the Dean Cross Personality Disorder Service in East London. He is Co-director of a research and training unit, the Centre for Understanding Personality (CUSP) which has a number of ...

This week we're taking a well deserved break, so if you're looking for something to listen to you can check out one of our recent episodes - including our recent interview with Dr. Roberto Mezzina about the Triste model of mental healthcare, our recent compherensive guide to ADHD or our recent Q and A episode where answered questions about topics like self-harm, addiction, delusional disorder and much more. 

We realy enjoy...

In this episode we discuss ADHD in depth, including the common signs and symptoms, how ADHD is diagnosed, the common risk factors and how ADHD symptoms can be managed both with and without medication. We also discuss whether or not ADHD is over diagnosed, whether ADHD being induced by our lifestyles, and common signs of impairment due to ADHD. 

Useful links:
https://www.additudemag.com/
https://adhduk.co.uk/
ht...

Roberto Mezzina is an Italian psychiatrist and a prominent figure in the field of mental health, known for his leadership in promoting community-based mental health care and his role in advancing the principles of the Trieste Model. Mezzina has been a strong advocate for deinstitutionalization and the rights of people with mental health conditions, continuing the legacy of Franco Basaglia, the pioneer of the Trieste Model.

Throughou...

Today Alex answers listener questions on a variety of topics including self-harm, talking to complicated people, the function of dark humour, delusional disorder and benzodiazepene addiction.

If you would like to submit a question to a future ask me anything episode, email thinkingmindpodcast@gmail.com. 

Dr. Curmi is a consultant general adult psychiatrist with a sub-speciality in addictions who completed his tra...

Sam Kotadia is a Chartered Sports Psychologist. He has worked with high profile clubs such as Colchester United and currently Wrexham AFC, and has featured on the Disney documentary about the club and town “Welcome to Wrexham”.

He also oversees the flagship programme at Empire Fighting Chance (https://www.empirefightingchance.org/), a Bristol-based charity. Sam developed a non-contact boxing programme to help disengaged y...

In this episode, we dive deep into the concept of the Insecure Overachiever—a driven, high-performing individual whose success is rooted in insecurity and self-doubt. We'll explore how this psychological pattern manifests in both popular culture and professional environments, from the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders to high-profile law firms, to Simone Biles and the healthcare industry. We'll also discuss the importance of se...

Prentis Hemphill is a writer, an embodiment facilitator, political organiser and
therapist. Prentis has offered embodied practice during moments of social unrest and organisational upheaval, serving as the Healing Justice Director of Black Lives Matter Global Network from 2016 to 2018.

Their work and writing have appeared in the New York Times, and the Huffington Post.
They are a contributor to “You are Your Best T...

Allen Frances is an American psychiatrist and psychotherapist. He is currently Professor Emeritus of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Duke University School of Medicine. He is best known for serving as chair of the task force overseeing the development of the fourth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV).  Frances is the founding editor of two well-known psychiatric jour...

This week Alex dissects the 1999 Sam Mendes classic "American Beauty", exploring the lives of the Burnham family and their neighbors, delving into themes of suburban superficiality, repressed desires, and the search for meaning in modern life. We also discuss the process of personality growth and individuation, and why its so important to continuing growing psychologically across the lifespan. 

Dr. Alex Curmi is ...

Alex chats about how our backgrounds shape us and how we can use different ideas psychiatry, psychotherapy and philosophy to make sense of it all. We'll break down the idea that "It's not your fault but it is your responsibility," and explore how finding the right balance between acceptance and responsibility can help us lead better lives.

Dr. Alex Curmi is a consultant general adult psychiatrist with a...

Alex chats about the distinctions between coaching and therapy through the lens of the "accelerator vs. brake" analogy. Whether you're trying to overcome a personal challenge, find a fulfilling career, or break a habit, understanding when to press the accelerator (taking action and making changes in the external world) versus when to release the brake (addressing internal psychological barriers) is crucial. In this e...

Psychotherapist Arie Winograd (LMFT) has spent the vast majority of his 25-year psychotherapy career treating clients with body dysmorphic disorder. He founded and was the director of the Los Angeles BDD & Body Image Clinic. He is the author of Face to Face with Body Dysmorphic Disorder: Psychotherapy and Clinical Insights. He currently works with BDD clients in his private practice. 

Interviewed by Dr. Alex Curmi, con...

Professor Anthony David trained in neurology before entering psychiatry at the Maudsley Hospital in London. He was the Vice Dean for Academic Psychiatry at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN) from 2013 to 2018. In 2018, Professor David joined University College London (UCL) as the Director of the Institute of Mental Health.

He has a wide and diverse range of research interests, including schizophrenia,...

Dr. Benjiman Waterhouse is a consultant psychiatrist. He is also an award-winning stand-up comedian. He has written for the Guardian and Independent and was included in a list of ‘Inspiring Psychiatrists’ by the Royal College of Psychiatrists. You Don’t Have to Be Mad to Work Here, his first book, was released in May 2024

In this episode we discuss the ups and downs of psychiatry training, his experiences with psychotherap...