In this episode of How's That Working For You, our host Dr Zoe chats with Ari Heart as we discuss dealing with dysphoria. Today we try to answer the important questions:

"Has our training mislocated the problem with dysphoria s just internal?" "How can therapists be vulnerable and own their anxiety and ignorance but leave space for pause?”

Don't miss the enlightening dialogue that unveils the therapist's journey and all its complexities.

About Our Host Dr Zoe Krupka

https://www.cairnmillar.org.au/staff/dr-zoe-krupka/

About Our Guest Ari Heart

Ari Heart is a Trans non-binary person, a psychotherapist, a parent, an educator, And co-founder of trans well-being.

Trans well-being provides Support and education to therapists, working with trans clients. trans wellbeing also supports parents of trans people through a course and group program.

Ari's interest and dedication is in providing the world information that goes well beyond the foundations of trans inclusion and respect, but which makes inclusion and respect come intuitively and authentically.

https://www.transwellbeing.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ari-heart-650296234/

The Cairnmillar Institute

For more information about our organisation, the services we offer, and how to donate, visit our website at www.cairnmillar.org.au.

Coming up next

Stay tuned for more inspiring episodes as we explore diverse aspects of well-being, mental health, and the incredible world of therapy. In the next episode, we’ll be speaking to a Cairnmillar Alum about antiracist practice. Thank you for joining us on the "How's That Working For You" podcast.

Take care out there

Disclaimer: This podcast is a space for open conversations, but it's important to remember that what you're hearing are the personal experiences and thoughts of our host and guests. While we're here to share insights, please don't take any of this as medical advice. We're all wonderfully unique, so if you have medical concerns, it's a great idea to chat with your healthcare professional. While our content is informative, your trusted healthcare practitioner is the best source for tailored guidance. This episode was recorded on the 28th of August, 2024.

In this episode of How's That Working For You, Dr Zoe chats with Psychologist, Board Approved Supervisor and Sexologist Laura Lee about how therapists can have better, meaningful and more helpful conversations about sex with their clients.

Today we try to answer all the big sexy questions:

• Why did we learn so little about sex in our training?
• What does good sexual communication look like in the therapy room?
• Why is sex so important?

Don't miss this deep dive into the importance of sex to our health and wellbeing and how to prioritise conversations about sex in your work with clients.

About our guest:

Sexologist and Psychologist Laura Lee has over 17 years of experience working with individuals and healthcare providers to help people access high quality sexual education and sexual healthcare. She provides coaching, supervision and individual psychological and sexual therapy with a core focus on embracing an alive and deeply pleasurable sexuality without shame.

https://www.lauralee.com.au/

https://www.bluespacepsychology.com.au/about

Key Publication

https://journalofpositivesexuality.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/10.51681.1.1024_The_Impact_of_Communication_on_Sexual_Response_Summary-Lee.pdf

The Cairnmillar Institute

Discover how our commitment to Better Mental Health can empower you on your personal journey. For more information about our organisation, the services we offer, and how to donate, visit our website at www.cairnmillar.org.au.

Coming up next

Stay tuned for more inspiring episodes as we explore diverse aspects of well-being, mental health, and the incredible world of therapy. Thank you for joining us on the "How's That Working For You" podcast.

Take care out there

Disclaimer: This podcast is a space for open conversations, but it's important to remember that what you're hearing are the personal experiences and thoughts of our host and guests. While we're here to share insights, please don't take any of this as medical advice. We're all wonderfully unique, so if you have medical concerns, it's a great idea to chat with your healthcare professional. While our content is informative, your trusted healthcare practitioner is the best source for tailored guidance.

In this episode of How's That Working For You, our host Dr Zoe chats with Dr Lou Cooper about rupture and repair. Today we try to answer the important questions:

"How does psychotherapy really work?" "What does a good therapeutic relationship look like? How can we manage relationship difficulties in therapy?"

Don't miss this enlightening dialogue that unveils the therapist's journey and all its complexities.

About Our Host Dr Zoe Krupka

https://www.cairnmillar.org.au/staff/dr-zoe-krupka/

About our guest: Dr Lou Cooper

Dr Lou Cooper is an experienced presenter, facilitator, counsellor, clinical supervisor and trainer. Lou is an AHPRA registered supervisor, an internationally accredited supervisor in Emotion Focused Therapy, and Chair and Head of Training at the Australian Institute of Emotion Focused Therapy.

• Host of the Emotion Focused podcast emotionfocused.com

• Counselling psychologist

• Head of Training at Australian Institute of Emotion Focused Therapy

• http://aieft.org.au

• https://www.emotionfocused.com/

The Cairnmillar Institute

Discover how our commitment to Better Mental Health can empower you on your personal journey. For more information about our organisation, the services we offer, and how to donate, visit our website at www.cairnmillar.org.au.

Coming up next

Stay tuned for more inspiring episodes as we explore diverse aspects of well-being, mental health, and the incredible world of therapy. Thank you for joining us on the "How's That Working For You" podcast.

Take care out there

Disclaimer: This podcast is a space for open conversations, but it's important to remember that what you're hearing are the personal experiences and thoughts of our host and guests. While we're here to share insights, please don't take any of this as medical advice. We're all wonderfully unique, so if you have medical concerns, it's a great idea to chat with your healthcare professional. While our content is informative, your trusted healthcare practitioner is the best source for tailored guidance. This episode was recorded on the 2nd of July, 2024.

In this episode of How's That Working For You, our host Dr Zoe chats with Adjunct Professor George Habib about how therapists navigate their relationships with their clients. Today we try to answer the important questions:

• How does psychotherapy really work?

• What does a good therapeutic relationship look like? 

• How do we deal with relationship difficulties in therapy?

Don't miss this enlightening episode that unveils what is truly important in therapy (spoiler alert: it's not technique).

About our guest:

Adjunct Professor George Habib: George is Adjunct Professor and a Council member at the Cairnmillar Institute and the Director – Wellbeing Services at the University of Melbourne. He has over 25 years of experience in private practice as a Clinical Psychologist and Psychotherapist. 

During his time at Monash Health, George, together with senior colleagues, developed and implemented a range of clinical programs in public health including the Agile Psychological Medicine Clinics.

George has also led psychology governance programs including managing Clinical Education and Post graduate Student and Psychology Registrar programs in public health and continues to work on improving client outcomes in health and welfare settings.

 http://www.linkedin.com/in/george-habib-8443423a

The therapist effect

https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2021-81510-009

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0005796725000117#:~:text=Today%2C%20it%20is%20common%20knowledge,Wampold%20%26%20Owen%2C%202021).

Characteristics of Effective Therapists: Further Analyses of Data From the National Institute of Mental Health Treatment of Depression Collaborative Research Program, Blatt, Sidney J ; Sanislow III, Charles A ; Zuroff, David C ; Pilkonis, Paul A., Journal of consulting and clinical psychology, 1996-12, Vol.64 (6), p.1276-1284

The importance of professional self-doubt:

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10503307.2025.2506650?src=#abstract

The Cairnmillar Institute

Discover how our commitment to Better Mental Health can empower you on your personal journey. For more information about our organisation, the services we offer, and how to donate, visit our website at www.cairnmillar.org.au.

Coming up next

Stay tuned for more inspiring episodes as we explore diverse aspects of well-being, mental health, and the incredible world of therapy. Thank you for joining us on the "How's That Working For You" podcast.

Take care out there

Disclaimer: This podcast is a space for open conversations, but it's important to remember that what you're hearing are the personal experiences and thoughts of our host and guests. While we're here to share insights, please don't take any of this as medical advice. We're all wonderfully unique, so if you have medical concerns, it's a great idea to chat with your healthcare professional. While our content is informative, your trusted healthcare practitioner is the best source for tailored guidance. This episode was recorded on the 7th of June, 2024.

In this first episode of How's That Working For You?, our host Dr Zoe chats with our very own producer Dr Christine embark on an intriguing exploration of the therapists' world. We discuss the delicate art of maintaining boundaries in the therapy space, pondering what makes us more comfortable with our therapeutic work and whether helping clients find betterment also makes them better individuals. Today we try to answer the important questions:

"How much of yourself do you bring into the room?" "Is it ok to accommodate myself even if I'm the therapist?"

Don't miss the enlightening dialogue that unveils the therapist's journey and all its complexities. 

About our host Dr Zoe Krupka

Dr Zoe Krupka is a psychotherapist, Senior Lecturer, and host of the podcast How's That Working For You? at the Cairnmillar Institute. Zoe writes regularly for industry publications and the media and provides commentary with a focus on relational ethics and understanding the therapeutic process. You can find her website at zoekrupka.com. 

About our guest Dr Christine Brown

Dr Christine Brown is a psychologist and is the Course Coordinator of the Diploma of Counselling, and the producer of How's That Working For You at the Cairnmillar Institute. Christine works in private practice as a psychologist working with children, adolescents, and adults, supporting them through a wide range of challenges, including anxiety, depression, workplace stress, relationships, and parenting. 

The Cairnmillar Institute

Discover how our commitment to Better Mental Health can empower you on your personal journey. For more information about our organisation, the services we offer, and how to donate, visit our website at www.cairnmillar.org.au.

Coming up next Stay tuned for more inspiring episodes as we explore diverse aspects of well-being, mental health, and the incredible world of therapy. Thank you for joining us on the How's That Working For You? podcast.

Take care out there Disclaimer: This podcast is a space for open conversations, but it's important to remember that what you're hearing are the personal experiences and thoughts of our host and guests. While we're here to share insights, please don't take any of this as medical advice. We're all wonderfully unique, so if you have medical concerns, it's a great idea to chat with your healthcare professional. While our content is informative, your trusted healthcare practitioner is the best source for tailored guidance.

Links/resources/information:

Books mentioned: 

The Power of Now: Eckhart Tolle

The Secret: Rhonda Byrne

Real life therapists:

Couple's Therapy Orna Guralnik

Where Should We Begin: Esther Perel 

Therapists depicted in shows:

Shrinking

In treatment

Frasier