Psych Spiels and Silver Linings
Your Guide to Applying Positive Psychotherapy
Formerly – Lockdown: Character Strengths and Silver Linings
Get in touch with Chris and Rowan – podcast@chrismackey.com.au
Follow Psych Spiels and Silver Linings on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, or continue to access the episode pages and episode players below.
Scroll down to view the latest episodes, or access the individual episode pages by clicking the links below:
The Mystery of the Mind – Beyond Conventional Healing
Employing the Power of Placebo
The Sustenance of Spiritual Experience
Separating the Psycho-spiritual from Psychosis
Discerning Our Stress Signature
The Hopefulness of the Hero’s Journey
Gaining Gratification Through Goals
Supporting Someone to Seek Help
Seeking a Suitable Psychologist
Positive Psychology, Science & Synchronicity
Past, Present and Future – Talking about Time
Drive, Soothing and Threat – Seeking a Synergy of Systems
Psych Spiels Retrospective – The Bigger Themes
Undoing the Affliction of Addictions
Navigating the Noise of the News
Quelling Quarrels in Quarantine
Finding Flow within Four Walls
Episode 41 – Lightening the Load
This Week’s Links
Episode 40 – The Mystery of the Mind – Beyond Conventional Healing
This Week’s Links
Employing the Power of Placebo (episode 39 of Psych Spiels)
Free Your Mind – Article
Enlighten Up – Article
Drawing on Synchronicity as a Heuristic in the Therapy Setting: A Potential Positive Psychology intervention – Conference Poster
Janine Shepherd – A Broken Body is Not a Broken Person TED Talk
Video about dogs who know when there owners are about to come home
Rupert Sheldrake in Conversation with Bruce Lipton
Episode 39 – Employing the Power of the Placebo
Chris and Rowan discuss the placebo effect and how we can best use it to benefit our mental health. We also look at what the nocebo effect is and what the implications are for traditional treatments for mental health.
This Week’s Links
Health services should be more holistic – blog post
Building a Better Brain – blog post
Power of positive psychology pays off – article
Optimism needed for mental health – blog post
Episode 38 – The Sustenance of Spiritual Experience
We discuss the psychological benefits of having spiritual beliefs. We discuss some of the research that has been done into the link between wellbeing and spiritual beliefs. This includes the work of Ken Pargament and others, whose research suggests that spiritual beliefs shouldn’t be dismissed or minimised, particularly when they’re providing clear benefits for mental health.
This Week’s Links
The Many Health Benefits of Spirituality (article)
The Physical and Mental Health Benefits of Spirituality (video)
Synchronistic Experience and Spiritual Crises (article)
Previous podcast episode – Separating the Psycho-spiritual from Psychosis
Positive Psychology, Science and Synchronicity (podcast)
Synchronicity and Psychology (podcast)
Episode 37 – Separating the Psycho-spiritual from Psychosis
We speak about one of Chris’s favourite topics, facing a spiritual crisis. In this episode, we discuss what a spiritual crisis is, and how other mystical experiences and trans-personal phenomena can be of immense benefit to our mental health. We also look at the difference between psychosis and satori, an irregular state of consciousness recognised by nearly all cultures across time.
This Week’s Links
Articles
Dealing with a Spirituality Crisis – Newspaper Article
That’s the Spirit – Newspaper Article
Synchronicity, Soul and Mental Health
Supra-rational Thinking Worth Thought – Newspaper Article
Synchronicity, The Lost Soul of Psychology and Psychiatry
Synchronicity, Science and Spirituality
Podcasts
Synchronicity and Psychology – Psych Spiels
Positive Psychology, Science and Synchronicity – Psych Spiels
Chris’s interview with Dr Bernard Beitman on his Connecting with Coincidence Podcast
Chris’s Book
The Positive Psychology of Synchronicity: Enhance Your Mental Health with the Power of Coincidence
Click for more info
Videos
The Physical and Mental Benefits of Spirituality
How to Use Synchronicity to Learn from Depression
Rupert Sheldrake – The Science Delusion, TED Talk
Episode 36 – Discerning Our Stress Signature
Understanding our own individual response to stressful situations is one of the best things we can do for our mental health. In this episode, Chris and Rowan discuss the benefits of being able to recognise when your stress is building up and how you can find your own personal recipe for alleviating stress.
This Week’s Links
Dealing with Burnout – Clinical Handout
How to Worry Less – Clinical Handout
Banishing Burnout podcast episode
Expunging Anxiety podcast episode
Anxiety Release Therapy Technique Demonstration
Positive Case – an article about mental health vs mental illness
Episode 35 – Extending Our Exercise
As with physical health, exercise is one of the best interventions that we have available for mental health. In this episode, Chris and Rowan discuss some of the benefits of exercise to our mental health and cognitive function as well as some ways of ensuring that you’re able to follow through with an exercise routine.
This Week’s Links
Physical Exercise as a Mental Health Intervention
Episode 2 of Psych Spiels – Exercising in Exile
Self-Compassion Bolsters Our Mental Health
How to Find and Use Your Character Strengths
Episode 34 – The Helpfulness of the Hero’s Journey
This Week’s Links
Our Practice’s Research Emphasising the Themes in Today’s Episode
Positive Force – An article about optimism and mental health services
Optimism Needed for Mental Health – Article
What’s a Mid-Life Crisis and What’s So Good About it? – Article
Help and Support Can Help Lift the Fog of the Black Dog – Article
Health Services Should be More Holistic – Article
Pain can Be Effective Against Trauma – Article
Positive Vibes – An article about overcoming the medical model for mental illness
Positive Power – An article about the importance of optimistic messages
The Call May be Distant but it Will Come – An article about finding and pursuing your calling
Episode 33 – The Pitfalls of Perfectionism
Perfectionism, or rigid expectations, is often linked with depression. Chris and Rowan discuss the topic of perfectionism as well as some strategies for managing perfectionistic tendencies.
This Week’s Links
When Passion Becomes an Obsession
Passion is One Thing, Obsession Another
Rowan’s new podcast – Individuate
Episode 32 – The Helpfulness of Hope
How can you boost hope? What is the relevance of hope? How can you tell if someone has lost hope? This week, Chris and Rowan discuss the topic of hope, both from the angle of restoring hope, but also the positive side of hope as a character strength.
This Week’s Links
Identifying Signature Character Strengths Blog
Rowan’s new podcast – Individuate
Episode 31 – Gaining Gratification Through Goals
In the first podcast for 2021, Chris and Rowan discuss the topic of goal setting. Many people will have made new year’s resolutions for 2021 and so we discuss some ways to help set goals that are most authentic to us and also some strategies for helping to fulfil those goals.
This Week’s Links
Drive, Soothing and Threat – Seeking a Synergy of Systems
Finding Flow within Four Walls
Episode 30 – A Recipe of Resources
With waiting times for appointments with psychologists growing all across Australia, Chris and Rowan discuss some of the other options that are available when we cannot get in to see a psychologist or are waiting for an appointment.
This Week’s Links
Programs
MindSpot – Confidential Services For Australian Adults Struggling With Stress, Anxiety & Depression.
Mood Gym – An interactive self-help program that provides cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT)
OnTrack – Programs for substance abuse and depression
The BRAVE Program – An interactive, online program for the prevention and treatment of childhood and adolescent anxiety.
Triple P – Positive Parenting Program
Parent Works – A Free online program for Australian parents and caregivers of children aged 2 to 16.
My Compass – A personalised self-help tool for your mental health
E-Couch – Provides free, self-help modules for depression, general anxiety and social anxiety, as well as for divorce/separation and loss/bereavement.
The Black Dog Institute’s Recommended e-Mental Health Programs
Resources
Our Practice’s Clinical Handouts
The Centre For Clinical Interventions
Authentic Happiness (Character Strengths)
E-Mental Health in Practice – Digital Mental Health Guide
Emergency Numbers – 24 Hour Help Lines (for Australia)
Lifeline – 13 11 14 – 24 Hour crisis support
Suicide Call Back Service – 1300 659 467 – Free counselling for suicide prevention & mental health via telephone, online & video for anyone affected by suicidal thoughts.
Kids Helpline – 1800 551 800 – Private and confidential counselling service specifically for children and young people aged 5 to 25 years.
1800RESPECT – 1800 737 732 – The national sexual assault, family and domestic violence counselling service
MensLine Australia – 1300 789 978 – Telephone and online counselling service for men with emotional health and relationship concerns, including issues of violence.
Australian Government Department of Social Services Help Lines
Episode 29 – The Snakiness of Psychopaths
Episode 28 – The Nastiness of Narcissism
This Week’s Links
Episode 27 – Supporting Someone to Seek Help
This Week’s Links
How to Talk to Your Kids about Suicide
The Sexual Assault and Family Violence Centre
Episode 26 – Seeking a Suitable Psychologist
This Week’s Links
Australian Psychological Society’s Find a Psychologist Service
Episode 25 – Positive Psychology, Science and Synchronicity
This Week’s Links
Episode 24 – Synchronicity and Psychology
This Week’s Links
Synchronicity in a Jar – a collation of synchronicity stories
Synchronicity and Wellbeing article
Chris’s speech at the launch of The Positive Psychology of Synchronicity
Episode 23 – Past, Present and Future – Talking about Time
This Week’s Links
Relaxation Tracks Recorded by Chris Mackey
Bilateral Stimulation demonstration video
Anxiety Release App (external link)
Episode 22 – More than Mindfulness
We also look at what some of the challenges we may face if we don’t implement practices to reduce our arousal in these ways.
This Week’s Links
Relaxation Tracks Recorded by Chris Mackey
Bilateral Stimulation demonstration video
Anxiety Release App (external link)
Dealing with Burnout clinical handout
List of Helpful Relaxation Apps
Episode 21 – Drive, Soothing and Threat – Seeking a Synergy of Systems
This Week’s Links
Too Much of a Good Thing, Indeed, Mr Bouris! Article referenced in podcast
Self-Compassion Bolsters our Mental Health – Handout
Anxiety Release App – Bilateral Stimulation Relaxation Technique Demonstration Video
Take on Your Inner Critic – Handout
Episode 20 – Psych Spiels Retrospective – The Bigger Themes
Episode 19 – Not Just Genes – A Recipe for Mental Health
This Week’s Links
Disproven chemical imbalance theory leads to worse depression outcomes article
Episode 18 – Fighting the Flat Feeling
This Week’s Links
Avoid the Lapse – Geelong Advertiser article expanding on these themes
Free resources related to health anxiety
Episode 17 – Weaning Off Worry
On this week’s episode, Chris and Rowan discuss the topic of worry. We explore the differences between productive and unproductive worry, find ways of recognising when our worry is unnecessary or excessive and discuss some strategies for distancing ourself from our thoughts.
This Week’s Links
Bilateral Stimulation – Anxiety Release therapy demonstration
What is Flow State and How Can it be Accessed? video
Addressing Avoidant Tendencies handout
Episode 16 – Facing Phobias
This Week’s Links
How to Face a Phobia Using Exposure Therapy video
What Drives People to Dress as Creepy Clowns article
Bilateral Stimulation – Anxiety Release therapy demonstration
Episode 15 – Mobilising Motivation
This Week’s Links
Using the Five-Second Rule for Behaviour Change
Mel Robbins’ interview with Libbi Gore on the five-second rule
The questions you should ask yourself if you want to make a change…
Episode 14 – Banishing Burnout
This Week’s Links
Balancing Act – an article about work/life balance
Episode 13 – Undoing the Affliction of Addictions
This Week’s Links
Dealing with Addictions Handout
Strategies for Dealing with Addictions video
Episode 12 – Easing OCD (Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder)
This Week’s Links
Becoming Less Obsessive-Compulsive Handout
The Emotionally Intelligent Brain article – explains Dr Daniel Siegel FACES state theory (external website)
Episode 11 – Interpreting Anger
Episode 10 – Addressing Avoidance
In this episode, you’ll learn not only how to identify avoidance in yourself and others, but also some practical tips and strategies for how to overcome avoidant tendencies.
This Week’s Links
Addressing Avoidant Tendencies handout
Using the Five-Second Rule for Behaviour Change article
Episode 9 – Demystifying Dissociation
We also look at ways of treating dissociative symptoms and how dissociative identity disorder developed out of what used to be known as multiple personality disorder.
This Week’s Links
Dealing with Dissociative Symptoms handout
Character Strengths Survey explainer article
Click here for the character strengths survey
Episode 8 – Transcending Trauma
As always, we apply an optimistic framework to the topic to hopefully get across the idea that trauma is something that can not only be overcome, but can also provide us with an opportunity to learn and eventually prosper, despite what can often be such negative circumstances.
This Week’s Links
How to face a driving phobia using the exposure therapy technique video
Dealing with dissociative symptoms article
Addressing avoidant tendencies article
Common psychological reactions to traumatic events article
EMDR or bi-lateral stimulation video
How to deal with suicidal thoughts video
PTSD and how to treat it video
The impact of church-related sexual abuse article
An optimistic treatment model for sexual abuse article
Click here for an article about trauma entitled “turning a bigger problem into a lesser one”
If this episode brought up any distressing feelings for you. You can reach out immediately to Lifeline on 13 11 14. Please also consider speaking with close friends or family, as well as your GP.
Episode 7 – Dealing with Depression
This Week’s Links
Why you should never take your life article
Dealing with suicidal thoughts video
Dealing with suicidal thoughts article
Existential depression in young men article
Taking on your inner critic article
The four stages of evolution – a video about depression
More free resources on depression
More free resources on suicidality
If this episode brought up any distressing feelings for you. You can reach out immediately to Lifeline on 13 11 14. Please also consider speaking with close friends or family, as well as your GP.
Episode 6 – Expunging Anxiety
In recent years, positive psychology has changed some of the ways we think about anxiety, so we explore ways to look at anxiety more optimistically, including ways of using the character strengths to be more proactive against feeling anxious and offering support to those around us.
This Week’s Links
Episode 5 – Speaking of Sport…
On this episode, Rowan and Chris ask the question, if sport is likely to be one of the first things to return, how can we best take advantage of it? We look at the importance of sport and the relationship between sport, the character strengths and our wellbeing.
This Week’s Links
Presented Research into Character Strengths and the Western Bulldogs
John Landy Assists Ron Clarke After Fall and Still Wins Mile Race
Episode 4 – Navigating the Noise of the News
This week, Rowan and Chris discuss ways of curating a news diet that’s healthy for our state of mind. We discuss why too much negative news is bad for us, how we can use the character strengths to improve our news diet with different sources, including new media, and why it’s worth taking this opportunity to reflect upon and expand the places where we seek our news.
This Week’s Links
The Greater Good Science Centre (UC Berkeley)
Episode 3 – Quelling Quarrels in Quarantine
Managing anger and aggression video
The bystander response to conflict article
Episode 2 – Exercising in Exile
Rowan and Chris take on the topic of exercising under the current stay at home restrictions and social distancing. We look at why it’s particularly important to exercise during this current time, how the character strengths can apply to exercise and also look at exactly how habits are formed to ensure that changes we do make over the coming months are long-lasting.
This Week’s Links
The benefits of physical exercise for your mental health article
Self-compassion bolsters our mental health article
Boost your wellbeing with gratitude article
Episode 1 – Finding Flow within Four Walls
In episode one, Rowan and Chris discuss what the podcast will be about, take a broad look at the character strengths and why they’re particularly useful and look at what opportunities the COVID-19 pandemic may present to us over the coming months.
This Week’s Links
The list of character strengths
Identifying signature character strengths article
Click here to do the VIA character strengths survey
Overview
Rowan Mackey is joined by his father, clinical psychologist Chris Mackey as they discuss ways of applying character strengths and remaining optimistic during the time of COVID-19.
The Presenters
Rowan Mackey is a content producer and digital creative. After studying sports media and law at the University of Canberra, he found himself drawn to digital media after attending the first conference for podcasters in the southern hemisphere, We Are Podcast in 2016. He is also the principal of Easygoing Digital, where he has been involved in over 400,000 podcast downloads as a presenter and producer.
He currently produces the official Geelong Cats podcast, To the Final Bell and is a producer of the TV show Destination Happiness airing nationally in Australia on Channel 9 and Internationally with the Discovery Channel. He has also worked with notable organisations such as The Geelong Grammar School and Lyons Construction.
Rowan is the Digital Media Manager at Chris Mackey and Associates.
Chris Mackey is a clinical and counselling psychologist and Fellow of The Australian Psychological Society with 40 years’ psychotherapy experience. The second edition of Chris’s book, The Positive Psychology of Synchronicity: Enhance Your Mental Health with the Power of Coincidence, was released internationally in August 2019.
Chris is also the resident psychologist for TV show Destination Happiness, where he presents the “Happy Mind” segment, involving brief tips based on the science of positive psychology. He also writes a regular opinion column for The Geelong Advertiser and is the resident psychologist on K-Rock radio in the mornings.
Chris was the recipient of the 2019 Australian Allied Health Impact Award for his clinical research and training, media involvement and for authoring a book on positive psychology and synchronicity.
Get in touch with Chris and Rowan – podcast@chrismackey.com.au
Other Resources
Chris Mackey and Associate’s Clinical Handouts