Shows
The Thinking Mind Podcast: Psychiatry & PsychotherapyE171 - Taking Your Life Back (w/ Tom Shkolnik)Tom Shkolnik returns to discuss his upcoming film A Life of One’s Own, based on the life of psychoanalyst and writer Marion Milner. Today he explains Milner’s undogmatic, exploratory style, rooted in her rejection of post–World War I societal norms. Tom and Alex explore key ideas from A Life of One’s Own, including Milner’s practice of tracking happiness, her distinction between “wide” versus “narrow” attention, the joy of purposelessness and much more. Shkolnik describes crafting his nontraditional, scriptless film, alongside reflections on the film-world’s current crisis and the importance of creative freedom. Tom i...
2026-04-241h 18
The Thinking Mind Podcast: Psychiatry & PsychotherapyE168 | Thinking Films: Taxi Driver (1976) w/ Tom ShkolnikToday Alex and special guest Tom Shkolnik discuss the 1976 film Taxi Driver directed by Marin Scorcese and starring Robert De Niro and Jodie Foster. Tom is the director of the 2012 British drama The Comedian nominated for Best Newcomer at the 2012 London film festival. He is the director of an upcoming film based on the book A Life of One's Own by psychoanalyst Marion Milner. In this episode we discuss Scorcese and his filmmaking style, why Taxi Driver remains relevant today, the appeal of this film to young men, the schizoid personality type, the danger of th...
2026-03-271h 27
The Thinking Mind Podcast: Psychiatry & PsychotherapyE167 | Inside the Manosphere (w/ Dr. Rosy Blunstone)Today Alex discusses the Louis Theroux documentary for Netflix Inside the Manosphere with psychiatry and psychotherapy registrar Dr. Rosy Blunstone - who also leads the the Thinking Mind Substack. The Manosphere is defined as a varied collection of onlne content made by men, for men to promote masculinity. Communities within the manosphere include mens rights activitists (MRAs), incels (involuntary celibates), Men Going their Own Way (MGTOW), pick up artists and father's right's groups. While the specifics of each group's beliefs sometimes conflict, they are generally united in the belief that society is...
2026-03-2048 min
The Thinking Mind Podcast: Psychiatry & PsychotherapyE164 | Thinking Films: Nightcrawler (2014)Today Alex discusses the 2014 film Nightcrawler directed by Dan Gilroy. It stars Jake Gyllenhaal as an unhinged freelancer who seeks out violent events late at night in Los Angeles, so he can film them and sell the footage to a local TV news station.We discuss the anti-social personality, the danger of bad incentives, how language can be used as a manipulative tool, the subtle insidiousness of content creation, red flags to watch out for when meeting new people and much more. Presented by Dr. Alex Curmi. Dr. Alex is a consultant psychiatrist a...
2026-02-2733 min
The Thinking Mind Podcast: Psychiatry & PsychotherapyE159 | The Fundamentals of Weight LossToday Alex discusses the fundamentals of weight loss and sustainable weight management including: - How to approach the problem of being overweight or obese- The role of nutrition, exercise, sleep and alcohol - Understanding different phases of weight management- How to measure your progress- The psychology of weight loss- How to get started .. and much more.Disclaimer: This podcast is not appropriate for individuals with a previous history of restrictive eating disorders or extreme body image issues. Pres...
2026-01-2354 min
The Thinking Mind Podcast: Psychiatry & PsychotherapyE158 | Thinking Films: Blue Valentine (2010)Today Alex discussed the 2010 film Blue Valentine, directed by Derek Cianfrance and starring Ryan Gosling & Michelle Williams. Including themes of attachment, regret, addiction and unmet potential. With important takeways such as how relationships commonly fail, how to maintian healthy relationships and why you always hurt the ones you love. Presented by Dr. Alex Curmi. Dr. Alex is a consultant psychiatrist and a UKCP registered psychotherapist in-training.Tickets to Mental Health Re-Imagined with Rose Cartwright:https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/mental-health-reimagined-beyond-the-medical-model-tickets-1978111353307?aff=ebdssbdestsearchIf you would like t...
2026-01-1639 min
The Thinking Mind Podcast: Psychiatry & PsychotherapyE156 | How Should We Prepare for the Future? (feat. the Examined Life Podcast)This week Alex presents his conversation on the Examined Life podcast with Kenneth Primrose. Alex discusses the more troubling aspects of modern life, and how we might prepare for an uncertain future. The question which formed the spine of our conversation was ‘ In a world where technology has been quite disruptive psychologically for a lot of people, how do we prepare for an increasingly technological future?This conversation examines how modern technology reshapes attention, confidence, morality and meaning, and Alex offers practical tips for staying human as machines grow more capable. Among the topics explored you...
2026-01-021h 09
The Thinking Mind Podcast: Psychiatry & PsychotherapyE154 | Thinking Films: Mulholland Drive (w/ David Shariatmadari)Today Alex discusses David Lynch's 2001 classic Mulholland Drive with David Shariatmadari. David is a writer and editor at the Guardian and is the author of Don't Believe A Word: The Surprising Truth About Language.Including themes such as splitting, repression, the shadow, and the effects of guilt and moral injury - this film remains a beautiful, dark and enigmatic look at human psychology. Interviewed by Dr. Alex Curmi. Dr. Alex is a consultant psychiatrist and a UKCP registered psychotherapist in-training.If you would like to invite Alex to speak at your o...
2025-12-1959 min
The Thinking Mind Podcast: Psychiatry & PsychotherapyE153 | Does AI Make us Dumber? (w/ Sophie McBain)Sophie McBain is an award-winning freelance writer based in Boston. She writes longform narrative nonfiction, profiles, book reviews and essays for the Guardian, the Observer, the Times, New Statesman magazine and others.Today she discusses her recent Guardian article: Are We Living in a Golden Age of Stupidity? - about the potential cognitive affects of AI overuse. Link to article: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/oct/18/are-we-living-in-a-golden-age-of-stupidity-technologyInterviewed by Dr. Alex Curmi. Dr. Alex is a consultant psychiatrist and a UKCP registered psychotherapist in-training.If you would like to i...
2025-12-1247 min
The Thinking Mind Podcast: Psychiatry & PsychotherapyE152 | How Brain Stimulation Cured Lifelong Depression (w/ Prof. Ziad Nahas)Prof. Ziad Nahas is a psychiatrist and researcher who treats adult patients with mood disorders and treatment resistant depression and specializes in performing deep brain stimulation and electro-convulsive therapy. Dr. Nahas is Professor and Vice-Chair for Clinical Affairs in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Minnesota Medical School.Today we discuss a case study of a 44 year old man with treatment resistant depression treated with PACE (Personalized Adaptive Cortical Electro-stimulation) a novel, personalised form of brain stimulation. The Case Study and video of the study patient (alias Mike) can be found here:...
2025-12-0558 min
The Thinking Mind Podcast: Psychiatry & PsychotherapyE151 | Thinking Films: The Truman Show (1998)Today Alex discusses the 1998 high-concept drama The Truman Show, starring Jim Carrey and directed by Peter Weir, about a man unknowingly trapped in a reality tv show. Including themes such as control, trauma, truth over comfort, paranoia and the price of freedom. Presented by Dr. Alex Curmi. Dr. Alex is a consultant psychiatrist and a UKCP registered psychotherapist in-training.If you would like to invite Alex to speak at your organisation please email alexcurmitherapy@gmail.com with "Speaking Enquiry" in the subject line.A...
2025-11-2835 min
The Examined LifeDr Alex Curmi - how should we prepare for a technological future?Send us Fan MailDr Alex Curmi is a psychiatrist and psychotherapist who also hosts The Thinking Mind podcast, and is a gifted communicator on mental health and self-development. Alex's clinical work and training has given him acute insights into troubling aspects of modern life, and how we might prepare for an uncertain future. The question which formed the spine of our conversation was ‘ In a world where technology has been quite disruptive psychologically for a lot of people, how do we prepare for an increasingly technological future?We examine how modern technology res...
2025-11-241h 08
The Thinking Mind Podcast: Psychiatry & PsychotherapyE150 | Addiction, ADHD and the Price of Success (w/ Paul Flynn)Paul Flynn is the founder and CEO of Harbor London, with over 25 years of experience in building and leading organisations. His core focus is on the clinical management and development of high-performing mental health services, overseeing a multidisciplinary team that includes over 100 Consultants delivering care across a broad range of psychiatric and psychological specialties.Disclaimer: The Thinking Mind does not have any financial affiliation with Harbor London. Interviewed by Dr. Alex Curmi. Dr. Alex is a consultant psychiatrist and a UKCP registered psychotherapist in-training.If you would like to invite Alex t...
2025-11-2140 min
The Thinking Mind Podcast: Psychiatry & PsychotherapyE149 | Cognitive Analytic Therapy (w/ Hilary Beard)Hilary Beard is a psychotherapist at the South London and Maudsley NHS trust. She is a practicing CAT therapist and trainer. She was a founding member of the Association for Cognitive Analytic Therapy (ACAT) and was the chair for ACAT from 1994 - 1997. Interviewed by Dr. Alex Curmi. Dr. Alex is a consultant psychiatrist and a UKCP registered psychotherapist in-training.If you would like to invite Alex to speak at your organisation please email alexcurmitherapy@gmail.com with "Speaking Enquiry" in the subject line.
2025-11-1439 min
Lively Minds, the UK Mental Health PodcastS3E17 - Putting a patient-centred approach into practice, with Dr Alex CurmiWhat is a 'patient-centred approach'? What systemic challenges get in the way of making it a reality?What does the biopsychosocial model tell us about how to choose the best pathways for treatment?Alex Curmi, a consultant psychiatrist and trainee psychotherapist from The Thinking Mind Podcast discusses how he helps clients determine the best treatment plans based on a multitude of factors.He elaborates on his diverse experiences across various mental health settings and the importance of recognising biological, psychological, and social inputs in mental health. He also touches on the challenges and methodologies involved in...
2025-11-0741 min
The Thinking Mind Podcast: Psychiatry & PsychotherapyE148 | Is Modern Life Making Us Sick? (w/ Prof. Derek Tracy)Professor Derek Tracy is the Chief Medical Officer of South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust. Derek is an Adjunct Professor at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, and an honorary Professor at Brunel Medical School. He has published over 140 peer-reviewed scientific papers and 20 book chapters.Prof. Tracy has written two chapters in Evolutionary Psychiatry: Current Perspectives on Evolution and Mental Health, published by Cambridge University Press:https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/evolutionarypsychiatry/2A1862AA7A2D78F946A34475D98425EBToday Derek and Alex discuss human ev...
2025-11-0746 min
The Thinking Mind Podcast: Psychiatry & PsychotherapyE147 | Thinking Films: The Wolf of Wallstreet (2013)Today Alex discusses the classic 2013 financial crime epic the Wolf of Wallstreet directed by Martin Scorcese and starring Leonardo Dicaprio, Margot Robbie and Jonah Hill. Including themes such as narcissism, behaviour control, addiction and moral disengagement. This episode does not contain financial advice. Presented by Dr. Alex Curmi. Dr. Alex is a consultant psychiatrist and a UKCP registered psychotherapist in-training.Podcast with Jordan Belfort's ex-wife Nadine Macaluso:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iiaVUdXV2UYIf you would like to invite Alex to speak at your organisation please email
2025-10-3140 min
The Thinking Mind Podcast: Psychiatry & PsychotherapyE144 | Brain Stimulation Headsets for Depression (w/Daniel Månsson)Daniel Månsson is a clinical psychologist and co-founder of Flow Neuroscience, a medical device comapny which produces transcranial direct current stimulation (TDCS) headsets for depression. Today we discuss: What may be happening neurologically in certain cases of depressionDifferent research studies that have looked into the effectiveness of TDCS treatment for depressionThe ethical challenges of studying, producing and selling medical devicesHow these devices may complement psychological treatments like psychotherapy Studies mentioned:Transcranial direct current stimulation as an additional treatment to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors in adults with major depressive disorder in Germ...
2025-10-1049 min
The Thinking Mind Podcast: Psychiatry & PsychotherapyE143 | Does ChatGPT Make a Good Therapist? (w/ Jared Moore)Jared Moore is a computer science Ph.D. student at Stanford University. There he recently taught a course about AI called on How to Make a Moral Agent. He has previously been lectured at the University of Washington School of Computer Science where he taught a class on the philosophy of AI.He is the lead author of a research paper which came out in 2025 examining whether chat gpt and other LLMs could potentially replace mental health professionals safetly and effectively, which was featured in the New York Times.Research paper referenced:
2025-10-0342 min
The Thinking Mind Podcast: Psychiatry & PsychotherapyE142 | Thinking Films: Her (2013)Today Alex discusses the classic 2013 sci-fi romance Her directed by Spike Jonze and starring Joaquin Phoenix, Amy Adams and Chris Pratt. Including themes such as loneliness, attachmement , artifiical intelligence, dating, falling in love, overreliance on technology and the most socially acceptable form of insanity. Presented by Dr. Alex Curmi. Dr. Alex is a consultant psychiatrist and a UKCP registered psychotherapist in-training.Article referenced:https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2025/jul/12/i-felt-pure-unconditional-love-the-people-who-marry-their-ai-chatbotsIf you would like to invite Alex to speak at your organisation please email alexcurmitherapy@gmail.com w...
2025-09-2649 min
The Thinking Mind Podcast: Psychiatry & PsychotherapyE141 | Are Dating Apps Ruining Love? (Modern Relationships w/ Prof. Viren Swami)Professor Viren Swami is an international expert on attraction and body image and has written and edited several books on these topics. He is a chartered psychologist and associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society, and is ranked in the top 2% of the most-cited scientists in the world.Viren is the author of Attraction Explained: The Science of how we Form Relationships, which deconstructed popular myths about attraction and relationships. Interviewed by Dr. Alex Curmi. Dr. Alex is a consultant psychiatrist and a UKCP registered psychotherapist in-training.If you would like t...
2025-09-191h 14
The Thinking Mind Podcast: Psychiatry & PsychotherapyE140 - Surviving a Cult (part 1 of 2 w/ Gillie Jenkinson)Gillie is a qualified psychotherapist and counsellor with more than 30 years’ experience. She specialises in working with survivors of coercive, cultic or spiritual abuse, trauma including rape and sexual abuse, thought-reform (brainwashing) and undue influence. She works with former cult members, including those brought up in a cult (second and multi-generation) and those who joined or were recruited (first generation).Gillie set up Hope Valley Counselling in 2006 after achieving her Masters in Gestalt Psychotherapy. Here she further developed her model for counselling former cult members and survivors of spiritual abuse and undue influence. Today Gillie dis...
2025-09-1243 minThe Thinking Mind Podcast: Psychiatry & PsychotherapyE139 - Can Ozempic Cause Depression? (Talking Science with Dr. Anya Borissova)Today Alex and Anya break down mental health studies to deliver fascinating insights from research, discuss the difference between good and bad science, and understand how science can be (for better and worse) leveraged to market products. Papers discussed today:Flow neuroscience for depression: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-024-03305-yOzempic and depression:https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-024-75965-2Hydrogen water and Aging:https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-024-75965-2With Dr. Anya Borissova and Dr...
2025-09-051h 04
The Thinking Mind Podcast: Psychiatry & PsychotherapyE137 - How do Romantic Relationships Work? (w/ Dr. Paul Eastwick)Dr. Paul Eastwick is a Professor at UC Davis where he runs the Attraction and Relationships Research Laboratory. Dr. Eastwick’s research investigates how people initiate romantic relationships and the psychological mechanisms that help romantic partners to remain committed and attached. He is one of the hosts of the Love Factually podcast. https://www.lovefactuallypod.com/Interviewed by Dr. Alex Curmi. Dr. Alex is a consultant psychiatrist and a UKCP registered psychotherapist in-training.If you would like to invite Alex to speak at your organisation please email alexcurmitherapy@gmail.com w...
2025-08-221h 03The Thinking Mind Podcast: Psychiatry & PsychotherapyWe're on Break this week! Announcements, Future Episodes & HousekeepingWe're on holiday this week! Today we briefly mention some recent episode recommendations, future episodes and other announcements. The Thinking Mind Podcast is hosted by Dr. Alex Curmi. Dr. Alex is a consultant psychiatrist and a UKCP registered psychotherapist in-training.If you would like to invite Alex to speak at your organisation please email alexcurmitherapy@gmail.com with "Speaking Enquiry" in the subject line.Alex is not currently taking on new psychotherapy clients, if you are interested in working with Alex for focused b...
2025-08-1503 min
The Thinking Mind Podcast: Psychiatry & PsychotherapyE136 - Are we Over-Diagnosing Mental Illness? (w/ Dr. Alastair Santhouse)Dr. Alastair Santhouse is a consultant psychiatrist and author with over 20 years of experience in the field. He has worked at both Guy’s Hospital and the Maudsley Hospital in London, treating a wide range of mental health conditions.His clinical expertise includes the psychological impact of physical illness and persistent physical symptoms, as well as more typical psychiatric conditions such as depression, anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and adjustment disorders.Dr. Santhouse is the author of Head First: A Psychiatrist's Stories of Mind and Body (2021), and No More Normal: Mental Health in an...
2025-08-0857 min
The Thinking Mind Podcast: Psychiatry & PsychotherapyE135 - Are we Failing Patients with Psychosis? (w/ Dr. Patte Randal)Dr. Patte Randal is a doctor trained in psychiatry, now retired from practice after working for over 30 years in mental health. She has lived experience of recovery from psychosis, and has told her story publicly in many contexts, including her published book, Finding Hope in the Lived Experience of Psychosis: Reflections on Trauma, Use of Power, and Re-visioning Psychiatry - co-authored with Dr. Josephine Stanton.For more resources on mental health recovery from Patte and her colleages visit:https://thegiftbox.lovable.app/https://www.talkthatheals.orghttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v...
2025-08-0150 min
The Thinking Mind Podcast: Psychiatry & PsychotherapyE134 - Is Psychiatry Making Things Worse? (w/ Marieke Bigg)Marieke Bigg is an author of fiction and nonfiction in the areas of women’s health, mental health, and the history of science. She holds a PhD in sociology from the University of Cambridge where her research focused on the debates on human embryo research in Britain. She is currently also training as a psychotherapist and works as a peer support coordinator and client liaison at the mental health charity Mind. Her most recent book is No Such Thing As Normal: Disorders, Diagnoses and the Limits of Psychiatry.Interviewed by Dr. Alex Curmi. Dr...
2025-07-2552 min
The Thinking Mind Podcast: Psychiatry & PsychotherapyE133 - How Does Your Personality Affect Your Life? - Live at Imperial CollegeWhat if you finally had a road map to your psychology?This week Alex shares a talk he gave at the MRC institute at Imperial College - Personality: How the Science of Who We Are Can Help Us Lead Better Lives.This talk describes how we can define personality, why its useful to have an understand of personality for career, relationships and quality of life, how personality affects our political leanings and much more. This lecture is also available on youtube:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4yI1EJfP1z...
2025-07-181h 03
The Thinking Mind Podcast: Psychiatry & PsychotherapyE132 - Does Acceptance Lead to Change? (Acceptance & Commitment Therapy w/Dr. Joe Oliver)Dr Joe Oliver is a consultant clinical psychologist and founder of Contextual Consulting, an organisation providing training, supervision and therapy in acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). He is also an associate professor and overall programme director for the University College London CBT for Severe Mental Health Problems post graduate programme.He has written 6 ACT books, and has his own Youtube channel dedicated to discussing ACT and related topics. Interviewed by Dr. Alex Curmi. Dr. Alex is a consultant psychiatrist and a UKCP registered psychotherapist in-training.If you would like to...
2025-07-111h 02
The Thinking Mind Podcast: Psychiatry & PsychotherapyE131 - What if Nothing Felt Real Anymore? (Depersonalisation & Derealisation w/ Dr. Elaine Hunter)Dr. Elaine Hunter is a Consultant Clinical Psychologist who has worked with Depersonalisation and Derealisation Disorder since 1999. She has conducted research into improving psychological treatment of the condition and worked clinically to try to help many people with the condition. In March 2019 she set up The Depersonalisation Clinic to allow her freedom to see a wider range of clients. She is a founding member of Unreal - a charity dedicated to helping individuals with Depersonalisation and Derealisation. In the last few years she has collaborated with many involved with Unreal in trying to raise awareness of DPDR as...
2025-07-041h 02
The Thinking Mind Podcast: Psychiatry & PsychotherapyE130 - What Should You Know about Anti-depressants? (feat. the Lively Minds podcast)This week Alex goes on the the Lively Minds Podcast to chat to hosts Will and Ellie. They take a deep dive into anti-depressants and SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors), which is the most commonly prescribed form of antidepressant in the UK.They discuss what we know about the effectiveness of SSRIs, what we don't, and why there is so much debate about their use.You can check out Lively Minds on Apple, Spotify and every major podcast platform:https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/lively-minds-the-uk-mental-health-podcast/id1670147948Dr. Alex Curmi is...
2025-06-2748 min
The Thinking Mind Podcast: Psychiatry & PsychotherapyE129 - Living with Bipolar Disorder (w/ Shreevatsa Nevatia)Shreevatsa Nevatia is an independent journalist. He has worked as the editor of National GeographicTraveller, and has written for the NationHindustan Times, and the Mumbai Mirror and Outlook. He is the author of How to Travel Light: My Memories of Madness and Melancholia, which among other things describes Shreevata's experiences coming to terms with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder in his early twenties. Interviewed by Dr. Alex Curmi. Dr. Alex is a consultant psychiatrist and a UKCP registered psychotherapist in-training.If you would like to invite Alex to speak at your o...
2025-06-2055 minLively Minds, the UK Mental Health PodcastS3E12 - Antidepressants, with Dr Alex CurmiWe take a deep dive into SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors), which is the most commonly prescribed form of antidepressant in the UK. We discuss with Consultant Psychiatrist: Dr Alex Curmi what we know about the effectiveness of SSRIs, what we don't, and why there is so much debate about their use.Check out the Thinking Mind Podcast by searching for it wherever you get your podcasts.Or you can find it on Spotify by clicking hereIn particular, you might be interested in Alex's conversations withProf Joanna Moncrieff about her skeptisim of...
2025-06-1348 min
The Thinking Mind Podcast: Psychiatry & PsychotherapyE127 - Can Tony Robbins Cure Depression? (Talking Science with Dr. Anya Borissova)Can Tony Robbins self-help course cure depression? Do people prefer ketamine or electroconvulsive treatment for depression and does preference matter? Today Alex and Anya break down mental health studies to deliver fascinating insights from research, discuss the difference between good and bad science, and understand how science can be (for better and worse) leveraged to market products. Tony Robbins Study:https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9107501/Ketamine vs Electroconvulsive Treatment:Primary analysis: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30572160/Secondary analysis: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/p...
2025-06-061h 11
The Thinking Mind Podcast: Psychiatry & PsychotherapyE126 - Is Social Media Dangerous for Kids?Today Alex discusses the question: is social media harmful for the mental health of young people? In this episode expect to learn: - Why human beings are vulnerable to information overload.- What about social media and smartphone technology could be addictive or harmful?- Super-powers or metaskills we should be cultivating in our children to deal with an AI driven world. - Recommendations around smartphones and social media for young people. Dr. Alex Curmi is a consultant psychiatrist and a UKCP registered psychotherapist in-training.Wat...
2025-05-3046 min
The Thinking Mind Podcast: Psychiatry & PsychotherapyE125 - The Path to Productivity with ADHD (w/ Ari Tuckman)Ari Tuckman PsyD, MBA, is a psychologist, presenter, author, With 25 years in private practice, he specializes in diagnosing and treating ADHD and works with individuals, couples, and families. Tuckman is the author of four books on adult ADHD and regularly contributes to ADHD-related publications As a popular expert and advocate, Tuckman has been widely quoted in major media outlets such as the New York Times, Washington Post, Boston Globe, and Men’s Health. His most recent book - The ADHD Productivity Manual - is out nowhttps://adulta...
2025-05-231h 04
The Thinking Mind Podcast: Psychiatry & PsychotherapyE124 - How can we Prevent and Treat Dementia? (w/ Dr. Ben Underwood)Dr Ben Underwood is Assistant Professor in Applied and Translational Old Age Psychiatry at the University of Cambridge and an Honorary Consultant Old Age Psychiatrist. His interests are in translational medicine in dementia, where he has been principal investigator (PI) for academic and pharma led clinical trials.Today we discuss:Trajectories of Common Mental Health Problems into Older Age, how mental health issues such as depression or psychosis evolve as people age.Dementia and Its Different Types, including Alzheimer's disease, vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia, and frontotemporal dementia.
2025-05-1652 min
The Thinking Mind Podcast: Psychiatry & PsychotherapyE123 - Are You the Victim of your Own Ambition? (w/ Stefan Stern)Stefan Stern has been writing about management and leadership for over two decades. He has worked for the BBC, Management Today magazine and the Financial Times, He continues to write for the FT, the Guardian and other publications. He is Visiting Professor in management practice at Bayes Business School, City University, London. He was previously the director of the High Pay Centre, a think tank which focuses on the causes and consequences of economic inequality. Stefan is the author of How To Be A Better Leader, the co-author of Myths of Management and most recently has...
2025-05-0958 min
The Thinking Mind Podcast: Psychiatry & PsychotherapyE121 - Psychoanalysis, Adolescence & the Unconscious Lust for Control (w/ Dr. Alan Baban)Dr Alan Baban is a writer, psychiatrist and BPC registered psychoanalytic psychotherapist, and he is the Chair of the Art and Psychiatry Special Interest Group at the Royal College of Psychiatry. Today we discuss:- What makes psychoanalysis different from other therapies- Different unconscious drives people have - What a psychoanalytic session looks like- The many benefits of free association - How art can help people understand the human experience- The acclaimed Netflix series Adolescence Interviewed by Dr. Alex Curmi. Dr...
2025-04-251h 10
The Thinking Mind Podcast: Psychiatry & PsychotherapyE120 - How & Why I Stopped DrinkingAlex discusses his relationship with alclohol, how and why he chose to go sober, as well as recent cultural trends around drinking and observations on how society deals with the problem of alcohol. He also discussed some tools and mindsets you could adopt in an effort to reduce drinking or any other undesirable habit. Dr. Alex Curmi is a consultant psychiatrist and a UKCP registered psychotherapist in-training.If you would like to invite Alex to speak at your organisation please email alexcurmitherapy@gmail.com with "Speaking Enquiry" i...
2025-04-1836 min
The Thinking Mind Podcast: Psychiatry & PsychotherapyE119 - How do we treat ADHD? (with Dr. Russell Ramsay)Dr. Russell Ramsay is a co-founder of the Penn Adult ADHD Treatment and Research Program, and served as professor of clinical psychology in the department of psychiatry of the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.He is author of many books on ADHD, his most recent book is Rethinking Adult ADHD: Helping Clients Turn Intentions into Actions (2020). In addition he has a popular blog on psychology today, rethinking adult ADHD. Find out more about Dr. Ramsay here - https://www.cbt4adhd.com/about/In today’s episode we discuss, what it me...
2025-04-111h 25
The Thinking Mind Podcast: Psychiatry & PsychotherapyE118 - When do Couples need Therapy? (w/ Mary Morgan)Mary Morgan is an individual and couples psychoanalyst, Fellow of the British Psychoanalytical Society and Honorary Member of the Polish Society for Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy. She has written extensively in the field of couple psychoanalysis and teaches and supervises internationally. She is the author of ‘A Couple State of Mind: Psychoanalysis of Couples and the Tavistock Relationships Model’ .In this episode we discuss: - How and why couples commonly run into problems- Typical difficulties with communication people have - The impact of the "romantic ideal" on relationships in the West- Ho...
2025-04-041h 00
The Thinking Mind Podcast: Psychiatry & PsychotherapyE117 - How Does Pregnancy Affect Mental Health? (w/ Dr. Livia Martucci)Dr Livia Martucci is a consultant in perinatal psychiatry, and is the clinical lead for perinatal services in South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust. She is experienced in assessment and management of many common and complex mental health problems including anxiety, panic, OCD, depression and other disorders such as Bipolar Disorder as well as psychotic illnesses, both in the perinatal period and more generally in men and women, and has experience of partners/fathers with antenatal and postnatal anxiety or depression. She has worked with mother and infant dyads providing parent infant psychotherapy.She is currently...
2025-03-2851 min
The Thinking Mind Podcast: Psychiatry & PsychotherapyE115 - Do We Medicalise Unhappiness? (with Prof. Brendan Kelly)Professor Brendan Kelly is a leading psychiatrist, author, and researcher. He is a Professor of Psychiatry at Trinity College Dublin and Consultant Psychiatrist at Tallaght University Hospital. He has authored over 20 books, including, The Science of Happiness, The Modern Psychiatrist's Guide to Contemporary Practice and Resilience: Lessons from Sir William Wilde on Life After Covid. Among other things, in this episode we explore the complex relationship between happiness, society, and mental health. We discuss the different kinds of happiness and the common pitfalls people encounter when chasing it and the balance between individual responsibility and so...
2025-03-141h 08
The Thinking Mind Podcast: Psychiatry & PsychotherapyE114 - Do Psychiatric Drugs Work? (with Professor David Taylor)Professor David Taylor is Director of Pharmacy and Pathology at the Maudsley Hospital and Professor of Psychopharmacology at KCL. David is the Editor-in-Chief of the journal Therapeutic Advances in Psychopharmacology. Professor Taylor has been the lead author of the Maudsley Prescribing Guidelines since their inception in 1993. David has also authored over 375 clinical papers in journals such as the Lancet, BMJ, JAMA Psychiatry, British Journal of Psychiatry and Journal of Clinical Psychiatry. Today we discuss: - What the science says about the effectiveness of anti-depressants.- Evidence based principles for prescribing anti-depressants safely. ...
2025-03-071h 04
The Thinking Mind Podcast: Psychiatry & PsychotherapyE113 - What were they Thinking? Mentalisation Based Therapy (w/ Peter Fonagy & Anthony Batemen)Mentalisation-Based Therapy (MBT) is a structured, evidence-based psychotherapy designed to enhance a person’s ability to mentalise, especially in emotionally intense situations. It was developed by today's guests Prof. Peter Fonagy and Prof. Anthony Bateman for treating borderline personality difficulties (BPD) but has since been adapted for other mental health conditions, including anti-social and narcissistic personality difficulties, eating disorders and more. Today we discuss: - What does it mean to mentalise? - Do we have a problem with mentalising in our society?- Useful definitions of Personality & Person...
2025-02-2858 min
The Thinking Mind Podcast: Psychiatry & PsychotherapyE112 - The Hidden Cost of Low Self-EsteemToday Alex discusses the concept of self-esteem; including core components of self-esteem, how poor self-esteem can affect your life and how people's self-esteem becomes disrupted through the lens of different psychological theories. We also discuss different interventions one could consider to improve their self-esteem, any why good self-esteem is essential for a successful life. Further reading:The Six Pillars of Self-Esteem by Nathaniel BrandenNeurosis and Human Growth by Karen HorneyOn Becoming a Person by Carl RogersGestalt therapy – excitement and growth of the human personality by PerlsHefferline, Goodman...
2025-02-2041 min
The Thinking Mind Podcast: Psychiatry & PsychotherapyE111 - Why can Relationships be so Difficult? (Attachment, Aggression, Self-Love and more w/Adam Lane Smith)Adam Lane Smith is a renowned Attachment Specialist with over 15 years of experience in psychology and relationships. Formerly a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, he has dedicated his career to helping individuals and couples overcome attachment issues and build secure, meaningful connections. Adam has worked with a diverse clientele, including death row inmates and Fortune 500 executives. Adam has his own podcast and youtube channel with over 100k subscribers, though which he aims to educate as many people as possible about the art and science of attachment. Today we discuss:Some of his more recent Tweets a...
2025-02-141h 01
The Thinking Mind Podcast: Psychiatry & PsychotherapyE110 - Is Sectioning People Ethical? Mental Health Law, Capacity, Assisted Dying, the Insanity Defence (w/ Alex Ruck Keene)Alex Ruck Keene KC (Hon) is a barrister at 39 Essex Chambers in London, specializing in mental capacity, mental health, and healthcare law. In recognition of his significant contributions beyond the courtroom, Alex was appointed Honorary King's Counsel in March 2022. Beyond his legal practice, Alex is involved in academia and policy development. He serves as a Professor of Practice at the Dickson Poon School of Law, King's College London, and as a Visiting Senior Lecturer at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience at King's College London. Alex has been instrumental in shaping mental he...
2025-02-071h 41
The Thinking Mind Podcast: Psychiatry & PsychotherapyE109 - Is Depression a Medical Illness? (w/ Prof. Joanna Moncrieff)Joanna Moncrieff is a British psychiatrist, researcher, and professor of critical and social psychiatry at University College London (UCL). She is widely recognised for her critical perspectives on psychiatric medication and the biomedical model of mental health. Her work challenges conventional ideas about the role of drugs like antidepressants and antipsychotics, advocating instead for a nuanced understanding of their effects. She has authored several books, including The Myth of the Chemical Cure , A Straight Talking Introduction to Psychiatric Drugs, and Chemically Imbalanced: the Making and Unmaking of the Serotinin Myth and has published numerous academic papers, such...
2025-01-311h 03
The Thinking Mind Podcast: Psychiatry & PsychotherapyE108 - What is Psychosis? (with Prof. Richard Bentall)Richard Benthall is a Professor of Clinical Psychology at the University of Sheffield in the UK. His research has focusued on the psychological mechanisms of severe mental illness (such as hallucinations and delusions) and social factors that affect these conditions. His work along with the work of other researchers is responsible for psychological interventions (such as cognitive behaviour therapy) being included in national guidelines for the treatment of psychotic type conditions. Bentall along with some collaborators also published a meta analysis in 2012 suggesting strongly that trauma is an important risk factor for developing psychotic conditions:https...
2025-01-2458 min
The Thinking Mind Podcast: Psychiatry & PsychotherapyE107 - The Evolution of Psychiatry (w/ Dr. Adam Hunt)Dr. Adam Hunt (PhD) is a post-doc researcher at the University of Cambridge and the host of the Evolving Psychiatry podcast which provides interviews, insights and an introduction to evolutionary psychiatry, with guest appearances from leading academics and psychiatrists.His upcoming book Specialised Minds which seeks to explains the existence of long term, common mental disorders, and common personality traits as products of the same evolutionary process, specifically of cognitive specialisation.You can learn more about Adam's work here:https://www.adamhunt.info/Interviewed by Dr. Alex Curmi. Dr. Alex is a...
2025-01-171h 24
The Thinking Mind Podcast: Psychiatry & PsychotherapyE106 - Overcoming Cynicism in Mental Health (Anti-Psychiatry, Anti-depressants, Big Pharma, ADHD, Psychotherapy)Today Alex chats with Dr. Alex Meaburn, a speciality doctor in psychiatry who has been working on the podcast behind the scenes. They discuss some of the limitations of psychiatry including problems with the biomedical model of depression, social-cultural reasons for mental health problems, crticisms of anti-depressants, dysfunctional attitudes towards suffering, the pros and cons of psychotherapy, the value of medication for ADHD and much more. Dr. Alex Curmi is a consultant psychiatrist and a UKCP registered psychotherapist in-training.If you would like to invite Alex to speak at your organisation please email thinkingmindpodcast...
2025-01-101h 05The Thinking Mind Podcast: Psychiatry & PsychotherapyE100 - How can I Start my Creative Project? 8 Lessons from 100 EpisodesIn this episode Alex discusses 8 lessons he learned from making the first 100 episodes of the podcast, including how to deal with success and failure, internal and external obstacles, creativity, peristence and much more. Audio-Essay by Dr. Alex Curmi. Dr. Curmi is a consultant general adult psychiatrist with a sub-speciality in addictions who completed his training in the South London and Maudsley NHS foundation trust. He is also a UKCP registered psychotherapist in-training, and has a special interest in mindfulness meditation. If you would like to invite Alex to speak at your organisation please email ...
2024-11-0124 min
The Thinking Mind Podcast: Psychiatry & PsychotherapyFive Maddening Things About the Modern WorldIn this week's podcast we discuss five different problems facing the modern world, including the decline in critical thinking, political polarisation, the overreliance on technology and more, and how they are contributing to a rise in mental health problems. Audio-Essay by Dr. Alex Curmi. Dr. Curmi is a consultant general adult psychiatrist with a sub-speciality in addictions who completed his training in the South London and Maudsley NHS foundation trust. In addition to general adult psychiatry he has a special interest in psychotherapy and mindfulness meditation.If you would like to invite Alex to speak...
2024-10-2531 min
ArchaeaCastArchaea: What even are they?Welcome to ArchaeaCast! In this primer episode, our hosts Priyanka Chatterjee and Connor Hines introduce our podcast and subject of study - Archaea!****Bibliography:Cavicchioli R, Curmi PM, Saunders N, Thomas T. Pathogenic archaea: do they exist? Bioessays. 2003 Nov;25(11):1119-28. doi: 10.1002/bies.10354. PMID: 14579252.****Pictures of Haloquadratum walsbyi, misnomered as a bacterium, can be found here: https://www.nature.com/articles/news041011-3***Current, more up-to-date nomenclature can be found at: https://gtdb.ecogenomic.org/genome?gid=GCA_003086455.1****ArchaeaCast episodes drop every...
2024-10-2206 minThe Thinking Mind Podcast: Psychiatry & PsychotherapyAsk Me Anything #1 (Self-Harm, Delusional Disorder, Dark Humour and Addiction)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. Audio-Essay by Dr. Alex Curmi. Dr. Curmi is a consultant general adult psychiatrist with a sub-speciality in addictions who completed his training in the South London and Maudsley NHS foundation trust. He is also a UKCP registered training psychotherapist, and has a special interest in mindfulness meditation.
2024-08-2350 min
Behind the StigmaWhy Do We Sabotage Ourselves and Others? The Psychology of Self-Sabotage with Dr. Alex CurmiSend us Fan Mail Ever wondered why we sometimes stand in our own way? In this week's episode, Dr. Alex Curmi breaks down the psychology behind self-sabotage and offers practical tips to overcome these patterns. We explore key concepts like evolutionary instincts, personality traits, repetition compulsion, avoidance compulsion, and fear of change.We also dive into why we sabotage others and how envy and jealousy play a role. Tune in for an insightful conversation that can help you understand and break free from self-sabotaging behaviors.About Dr. Alex Curmi:D...
2024-08-191h 12
The Thinking Mind Podcast: Psychiatry & PsychotherapyInsecure Overachievers, the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders, Simone Biles & Self-EsteemIn 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 self-esteem, the dangers of relying on external validation, and practical steps to develop a healthy, balanced approach to achievement. Whether you're striving for success or seeking to understand your relationship with it, this episode offers valuable in...
2024-08-0923 minThe Thinking Mind Podcast: Psychiatry & PsychotherapyThe Many Paths to Self-SabotageWhat if the biggest obstacle in your way was yourself? If this were true and it was something you took seriously, it would have major implications about the way you conducted yourself. It would also mean reflecting on your decisions, and the overarching patterns of your life might be one of the most important things you could do. Today we discuss the many routes to self-sabotage, including evolutionary reasons, fear of change, the repetition compulsion and much more. Audio-Essay by Dr. Alex Curmi. Dr. Curmi is a consultant general adult psychiatrist with a sub-speciality in add...
2024-05-3125 minThe Thinking Mind Podcast: Psychiatry & PsychotherapyMy Thoughts on Psychiatric MedicationsToday we discuss prescription psychiatric medications as they are used for major mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and ADHD, and we outline 8 principles as to how they can be used in a safe rational way. See 13th edition of the Maudsley guidelines here: https://www.clinicaltoolkit.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/9781119442608.pdfAudio-Essay by Dr. Alex Curmi. Dr. Curmi is a consultant general adult psychiatrist with a sub-speciality in addictions who completed his training in the South London and Maudsley NHS foundation trust. In addition to general adult psychiatry he is a...
2024-04-0527 minThe Thinking Mind Podcast: Psychiatry & PsychotherapyBreaking Free of the Culture Around YouIn today's episode we discuss how you can come to understand the psychology of your culture, your society and your zeitgiest, and how this can help you when you are trying to determine your own values.In particular we describe three virtues upheld by Western culture; Freedom, Happiness & Convenience, and we discuss the benefits and dark sides of each. Audio-Essay by Dr. Alex Curmi. Dr. Curmi is a consultant general adult psychiatrist with a sub-speciality in addictions who completed his training in the South London and Maudsley NHS foundation trust. In addition to general adult p...
2024-03-0822 minThe Thinking Mind Podcast: Psychiatry & PsychotherapyYou Are What You Focus OnWhat if you are focusing on the wrong things? In this podcast we discuss the concept of selective attention and focus, why we have selective attention, how this interacts with our beliefs and expectations, how it can hold us back unconsciously, and how we can make conscious changes to help move us forward. Audio-Essay by Dr. Alex Curmi. Dr. Curmi is a consultant general adult psychiatrist with a sub-speciality in addictions who completed his training in the South London and Maudsley NHS foundation trust. In addition to general adult psychiatry he has a special interest in psychotherapy a...
2024-01-2619 min
Behind the StigmaUnlock your full potential - Shadow Work with Dr. Alex CurmiSend us Fan MailThe first episode of the New Year, we delve into the concept of Jungian shadow work and integration with the shadow. (Chapter Markers added). We discuss what Shadow work means, and why it's not only about the 'dark' parts of ourselves. We also explore how the shadow influences our behavior and relationships, leading to insights about projection and its impact on personal growth. Dr. Curmi shares insights on discovering one's shadow by asking the right questions. Finally, we go into various methods for shadow integration and tips for those interested in e...
2023-12-301h 01The Thinking Mind Podcast: Psychiatry & PsychotherapyThis is the EndAs the New Year approaches, we decided to make a short podcast all about endings, the importance of endings in psychotherapy, and how to orient yourself towards endings (small and large) in your own life.Audio-Essay by Dr. Alex Curmi. Dr. Curmi is a consultant General Adult Psychiatrist who completed his training in the South London and Maudsley NHS foundation trust. In addition to general adult psychiatry he has a special interest in psychotherapy and mindfulness meditation.If you would like to enquire about an online psychotherapy appointment with Dr. Alex, you can email -
2023-12-2910 minThe Thinking Mind Podcast: Psychiatry & PsychotherapyNarcissism & NapoleonIn this week's podcast we examine Narcissism through the lens of Napoleon and other characters in film. We explore, the different ways narcissism can manifest itself (including malignant, grandiose, covert & communal) and some of the psychological mechanisms underlying narcissism. We also discuss how narcissism can distort your psychology and your life path and how you can combat this. Audio-Essay by Dr. Alex Curmi. Dr. Curmi is a consultant General Adult Psychiatrist who completed his training in the South London and Maudsley NHS foundation trust. In addition to general adult psychiatry he has a special interest in psychotherapy...
2023-12-0818 minThe Thinking Mind Podcast: Psychiatry & PsychotherapySeven Misconceptions about PsychotherapyIn this week's podcast we discuss seven common misconceptions about psychotherapy, and these include:Only people with a psychiatric diagnosis can benefit from therapyTherapists have all the answers and will tell you what to doTherapy is only for long-term issues; it can't help with short-term problemsTherapy is just about talking, which doesn’t accomplish anythingTherapy is just about making excuses for your problemsOnly "weak" people seek therapy; it's a sign of personal failureTherapy is about dwelling in childhood and th...
2023-11-2820 minThe Thinking Mind Podcast: Psychiatry & PsychotherapyHow to Fall Out of Love (Transcending the Honeymoon Period)How do you a sustain a relationship past the honeymoon phase? Why is falling in love overrated? What practices and mindsets can help you build a strong relationship?Audio-Essay by Dr. Alex Curmi. Dr. Curmi is a consultant General Adult Psychiatrist who completed his training in the South London and Maudsley NHS foundation trust. In addition to general adult psychiatry he has a special interest in psychotherapy and mindfulness meditation.How and Why to Engage in Conflict:https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/how-why-to-engage-in-conflict-audio-essay-11/id1466932169?i=1000552900055Exploring Your Dark Sidehttps...
2023-11-2116 minThe Thinking Mind Podcast: Psychiatry & PsychotherapyGoing Over to the Dark Side (Shadow Work)Everyone has a dark side, what does yours look like? What happens when people have a dark side they have no control over? In this podcast we discuss Carl Jung's idea of the shadow; how can you explore your dark side and integrate it into your personality, to help you solve some of life's toughest challenges. Audio-Essay by Dr. Alex Curmi. Dr. Curmi is a consultant General Adult Psychiatrist who completed his training in the South London and Maudsley NHS foundation trust. In addition to general adult psychiatry he has a special interest in psychotherapy and mindfulness...
2023-11-1417 minThe Thinking Mind Podcast: Psychiatry & PsychotherapyYou Are Trapped in a Story (My Most Controversial Opinion)What is a story? In this week's audioessay we discuss the role of stories in our psychology, how mental narratives can keep us stuck and how we can start to develop more ownership over the stories of our lives. In particular we discuss ideas like transference, cognitive distortions & the life script to illustrate this further. Audio-Essay by Dr. Alex Curmi. Dr. Curmi is a consultant General Adult Psychiatrist who completed his training in the South London and Maudsley NHS foundation trust. In addition to general adult psychiatry he has a special interest in psychotherapy and mindfulness meditation.
2023-11-0720 min
The Saad Truth with Dr. SaadHappiness, Marriage, Careers, & Evolution - With Psychiatrist Dr. Alex Curmi (The Saad Truth with Dr. Saad_612)I was recently interviewed by Dr. Alex Curmi on The Thinking Mind Podcast: Psychiatry & Psychotherapy.
Original link: https://shorturl.at/loPR4
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My book The Saad Truth about Happiness: 8 Secrets for Leading the Good Life is now available for order: https://www.amazon.com/Saad-Truth-about-Happiness-Secrets/dp/1684512603
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2023-11-011h 08The Thinking Mind Podcast: Psychiatry & PsychotherapyYour Brain is a Prediction MachineWhether you are aware of it or not, your brain is constantly making predictions - and these predictions have an enormous influence on your beliefs, expectations and overall experience of life. In this week's podcast we explore the predictive processing framework and how this helps us understand our emotions, decision making, confidence, common mental health problems and even gambling. Audio-Essay by Dr. Alex Curmi. Dr. Curmi is a consultant General Adult Psychiatrist who completed his training in the South London and Maudsley NHS foundation trust. In addition to general adult psychiatry he has a special interest in...
2023-10-3118 minThe Thinking Mind Podcast: Psychiatry & PsychotherapyEscaping the Triangle of DramaWhat is the drama triangle? What can it tell us about conflict and dysfunctional relationships? In this episode we explore the roles of Persecutor, Rescuer and Victim - what they mean, and how they enable toxic relationships. We also explore the healthier, more sustainable alternatives.Audio-Essay by Dr. Alex Curmi. Dr. Curmi is a consultant General Adult Psychiatrist who completed his training in the South London and Maudsley NHS foundation trust. In addition to general adult psychiatry he has a special interest in psychotherapy and mindfulness meditation.Intro Excerpt from: Liar, Liar (1997)If yo...
2023-10-2419 minThe Thinking Mind Podcast: Psychiatry & PsychotherapyCan Psychotherapy Defend Free Speech?What can psychotherapy tell us about the importance of free speech? In this episode we explore how free speech promotes psychological health, and the parallels between the health of the individual and the health of wider society. Audio-Essay by Dr. Alex Curmi. Dr. Curmi is a consultant General Adult Psychiatrist who completed his training in the South London and Maudsley NHS foundation trust. In addition to general adult psychiatry he has a special interest in psychotherapy and mindfulness meditation.Intro Excerpt from: George Carlin - Doin' it Again (1990)If you would like to...
2023-10-1019 minThe Thinking Mind Podcast: Psychiatry & PsychotherapyDealing with Self-Criticism (Stop Hating Yourself)What is unhealthy self-criticism? How can you tell if this is something that's holding you back? In this episode we discuss unhealthy self-criticism in depth, how it may have come about and how it may be holding you back. In addition we discuss six practical steps that can be taken to address it.Audio-Essay by Dr. Alex Curmi. Dr. Curmi is a consultant General Adult Psychiatrist who completed his training in the South London and Maudsley NHS foundation trust. In addition to general adult psychiatry he has a special interest in psychotherapy and mindfulness meditation....
2023-10-0325 minThe Thinking Mind Podcast: Psychiatry & PsychotherapyPractical Philosophy for Hard TimesWhen you're going through difficulties, why not borrow ideas from some of the wisest people in history? In this episode we discuss ideas from various schools of philosophical thought including Stoicism, Buddhism, Deontology and Existentialism, and how they can be applied to everyday problems. Audio-Essay by Dr. Alex Curmi. Dr. Curmi is a consultant General Adult Psychiatrist who completed his training in the South London and Maudsley NHS foundation trust. In addition to general adult psychiatry he has a special interest in psychotherapy and mindfulness meditation.If you would like to enquire about an online...
2023-09-2627 minThe Thinking Mind Podcast: Psychiatry & PsychotherapyDelayed Gratification is the Modern SuperpowerWhy is modern success so different from success in our ancestral world? What mental skills put you ahead of the world in 2023? What is the difference between a real and artificial reward? Audio-Essay by Dr. Alex Curmi. Dr. Curmi is a consultant General Adult Psychiatrist who completed his training in the South London and Maudsley NHS foundation trust. In addition to general adult psychiatry he has a special interest in psychotherapy and mindfulness meditation.If you would like to enquire about an online psychotherapy appointment with Dr. Alex, you can email - alexcurmitherapy@gmail...
2023-09-1915 minThe Thinking Mind Podcast: Psychiatry & PsychotherapyWhy We're Lazy & Afraid (and What to do About it)Fear and Laziness are two of the most common obstacles between you and what you want. Why are Fear and Laziness such a big part of the human condition? What can you do about it? In this episode we take an evolutionary psychology approach to understanding these phenomena, with some practical guidance to overcoming them. Audio-Essay by Dr. Alex Curmi. Dr. Curmi is a consultant General Adult Psychiatrist who completed his training in the South London and Maudsley NHS foundation trust, in addition he has a special interest in psychotherapy and mindfulness meditation.If you...
2023-09-1222 min
Behind the StigmaPersonality Traits with Dr. Alex CurmiSend us Fan MailWhat does your personality reveal about you, and how does it shape the way you interact with the world? In this week's episode, we dive into the fascinating realm of personality traits with Dr. Alex Curmi, psychiatrist and host of The Thinking Mind podcast.We discuss the Five Factor Model and how traits like Extraversion, Agreeableness, Conscientiousness, Neuroticism, and Openness predispose our behavior and outlook on life. We also discuss the nature vs. nurture debate, dangerous combination of traits, personality disorders, and how we can expand our personalities. Tune in now!...
2023-05-301h 12
Behind the StigmaSelf-Esteem with Dr. Alex CurmiSend us Fan MailIn this week's episode on Behind the Stigma, I speak with Dr. Alex Curmi, psychiatrist and host of the Maudsley Learning Podcast with a discussion on self-esteem. We discuss two varieties of how we can understand self-esteem: situational confidence and inherit self worth. We also go into meditation and self, how to parent yourself using a re-parenting model of therapy, and the importance of compassion.
2023-01-2841 min
The Thinking Mind Podcast: Psychiatry & PsychotherapyBonus: Imposter SyndromeWhat is Imposter Syndrome? How does it come about? What are some strategies that can help people deal with it?Bonus Episode by Dr. Alex Curmi. Dr. Curmi is a specialist registrar in General Adult psychiatry in the South London and Maudsley NHS foundation trust with a special interest in psychotherapy and mindfulness meditation.Self-Compassion Exercise:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_80y_CT32c&t=589sGive feedback here - thinkingmindpodcast@gmail.com Follow us here: Twitter @thinkingmindpod Instagram @thinkingmindpodcastJoin Our Mailing List! - https://thinkingmindpod.a...
2022-12-2315 minThe Thinking Mind Podcast: Psychiatry & PsychotherapyBonus: Why Perfectionism is your EnemyHow is Perfectionism best understood? Why does it actually hold you back?Bonus Episode by Dr. Alex Curmi. Dr. Curmi is a specialist registrar in General Adult psychiatry in the South London and Maudsley NHS foundation trust with a special interest in psychotherapy and mindfulness meditation.Further Reading:https://www.goodtherapy.org/learn-about-therapy/issues/perfectionism#:~:text=Perfectionism%20is%20often%20defined%20as,describe%20or%20justify%20perfectionistic%20behavior.Give feedback here - thinkingmindpodcast@gmail.com Follow us here: Twitter @thinkingmindpod Instagram @thinkingmindpodcastJoin Our Mailing L...
2022-11-1709 min
Behind the StigmaMental Health Diagnosis with Dr. Alex CurmiSend us Fan MailThis week I speak to Psychiatrist Dr. Alex Curmi from the Maudsley Learning Podcast on how we diagnose mental health conditions. We talk about the pros and cons of the current diagnostic system and how we can utilize the pros. We also dive into his work as a psychiatrist, and his approach, discussing the difficulty of sectioning, and how he uses a multidisciplinary approach to help patients as best as possible. Maudsley Learning Podcast: https://maudsleylearning.com/podcasts/
2022-11-1249 min
The Thinking Mind Podcast: Psychiatry & PsychotherapyAudio Essay #15: Why Do We Have Personalities?What is a Personality? How should we think about our Personalities? How can you expand your Personality? Audio-essay by Dr. Alex Curmi. Dr. Curmi is a specialist registrar in General Adult psychiatry in the South London and Maudsley NHS foundation trust with a special interest in psychotherapy and mindfulness meditation.Further Reading:https://www.simplypsychology.org/big-five-personality.htmlGive feedback here - thinkingmindpodcast@gmail.com Follow us here: Twitter @thinkingmindpod Instagram @thinkingmindpodcastJoin Our Mailing List! - https://thinkingmindpod.aidaform.com/mailinglistsignup
2022-10-2832 min
Behind the StigmaFantasy vs Reality with Dr. Alex CurmiSend us Fan MailIn this week's episode, Dr. Alex Curmi from the Maudsley learning podcast speaks to us about fantasy vs reality, and what role fantasy plays in our life. Dr. Alex defines what fantasy means and whether these fantasies are holding us back in some ways. We also talk about the role of dreams and daydreaming. We then finish up our discussion on how you can become more reality oriented.For the original audio essay click here: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/audio-essay-8-reality-vs-fantasy/id1466932169?i=1000540090371
2022-08-2654 minThe Thinking Mind Podcast: Psychiatry & PsychotherapyAudio Essay #13 - This is Going to Hurt: Why Growth is Hard (and why you should do it anyway)How can we define Psychological Growth? Which traits define a mature person? Why is it hard to grow Psychologically? Why Should you do it Anyway?Audio-essay by Dr. Alex Curmi. Dr. Curmi is a specialist registrar in General Adult psychiatry in the South London and Maudsley NHS foundation trust with a special interest in psychotherapy and mindfulness meditation.Give feedback here - thinkingmindpodcast@gmail.com Follow us here: Twitter @thinkingmindpod Instagram @thinkingmindpodcastJoin Our Mailing List! - https://thinkingmindpod.aidaform.com/mailinglistsignupSU...
2022-08-1913 min
Behind the StigmaPracticing Mindfulness with Dr. Alex CurmiSend us Fan MailWhat does it really mean to be mindful? In this week's episode, I speak to Dr. Alexander Curmi, psychiatrist from Maudsley NHS foundation trust about mindfulness practice. We discuss what mindfulness means to him with reference to Buddhism, how he applies it in everyday practice with examples, and finally, how mindfulness has been adopted in the West as a therapy intervention for various mental health issues. Other sources:Maudsley Learning Podcast - https://open.spotify.com/show/6h2FCOoWZnUr88SQG0ytHn?si=a1-oAmGPR0etoFop13NjHQ&nd=1
2022-07-2751 min
The Thinking Mind Podcast: Psychiatry & PsychotherapyInterview #35: Dr. Alex George (on Love Island, Public Mental Health, Self-Actualisation, Learning from Failure)Dr Alex George is a medical NHS doctor. He is well known for featuring on Love Island in 2018. Following the show, Alex has become a leading voice in mental health, and uses his platform to make health and medicine more accessible to millennials and beyond. Dr Alex is the UK Governments first Youth Mental Health Ambassador. Dr Alex has launched a campaign requesting the UK Government prioritise mental health amongst children and adolescents. He has also written a book ‘Live Well Every day’ with the intention of helping people achieve their best health and lifelong wellbeing....
2022-05-271h 04
The Thinking Mind Podcast: Psychiatry & PsychotherapyHow & Why to Engage in Conflict (Audio-Essay #11)Why should you engage in conflict in relationships? How should you think about it? Whats the difference between healthy and unhealthy forms of conflict?Audio-essay by Dr. Alex Curmi. Dr. Curmi is a specialist registrar in General Adult psychiatry in the South London and Maudsley NHS foundation trust with a special interest in psychotherapy and mindfulness meditation.Give feedback here - thinkingmindpodcast@gmail.com Follow us here: Twitter @thinkingmindpod Instagram @thinkingmindpodcastSUPPORT THE PODCAST: buymeacoffee.com/thinkingmindIf you want to help t...
2022-03-0432 minThe Thinking Mind Podcast: Psychiatry & PsychotherapyAudio Essay #10: A New Years Resolution that Works (Long-term Behaviour Change)This podcast is a guide to making any kind of resolution towards long term change and it includes: Intro 00:00Listener Shout-Out 02:30Choosing the area you want to work on (what is bothering you?) 03:33 Framing the resolution appropriately 06:15Making a plan using the zone of proximal development 08:07 Choosing high leverage activities 12:37Using positive and negative emotions to help you make progress 14:25 Measuring your results correctly to remain reality oriented and motivated 16:50 Not using failure as an excuse to regress, analysing your sticking points wit...
2022-01-0731 minThe Thinking Mind Podcast: Psychiatry & PsychotherapyAudio Essay #9: Reality vs FantasyWhat if you are being held back by fantasies you are scarcely aware of? How can you become more conscious of your fantasies? How can you become more reality oriented? In this episode mental suffering is examined through the lens of Fantasy and Reality, with the help of cognitive behavioural, psychoanalytic and Jungian theories. Audio-essay by Dr. Alex Curmi. Dr. Curmi is a specialist registrar in General Adult psychiatry in the South London and Maudsley NHS foundation trust with a special interest in psychotherapy and mindfulness meditation.Give feedback here - thinkingmindpodcast@gmail.co...
2021-10-2926 minThe Thinking Mind Podcast: Psychiatry & PsychotherapyAudio Essay #8: What are Emotions for?How should we think about our emotions? What purpose do they serve? In this podcast we examine 9 common Emotions: Sadness, Anger, Disgust, Joy, Love, Fear, Guilt, Shame and Regret. We also discuss some factors that modify our emotions as well as the basics of emotional intelligence. Audio-essay by Dr. Alex Curmi. Dr. Curmi is a specialist registrar in General Adult psychiatry in the South London and Maudsley NHS foundation trust with a special interest in psychotherapy and mindfulness meditation.Interviewed by Dr. Alex Curmi - Give feedback here - thinkingmindpodcast@gmail.com - Follow us her...
2021-03-3025 min
The Thinking Mind Podcast: Psychiatry & PsychotherapyAudio Essay #7: Marriage Story - Polarities and CollisionsThis is an analysis of the Netlfix Film Marriage Story (2019), directed by Noah Baumbach. Audio-essay by Dr. Alex Curmi. Dr. Curmi is a specialist registrar in General Adult psychiatry in the South London and Maudsley NHS foundation trust with a special interest in psychotherapy and mindfulness meditation.Interviewed by Dr. Alex Curmi - Give feedback here - thinkingmindpodcast@gmail.com - Follow us here: Twitter @thinkingmindpod Instagram @thinkingmindpodcastSUPPORT: buymeacoffee.com/thinkingmindGive feedback here - thinkingmindpodcast@gmail.com Follow us here: Twitter @thinkingmindpod Instagram @thinkingmindpodcast
2021-02-1418 min