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The Thinking Mind Podcast

"If you are interested in your mind, emotions, sense of self, and understanding of others, this show is brilliant."

Learn something new about the mind every week - With in-depth conversations at the intersection of psychiatry, psychotherapy, self-development, spirituality and the philosophy of mental health. 

Featuring experts from around the world, leading clinicians and academics, published authors, and people with lived experience, we aim to make complex ideas in the mental health space accessible and engaging. 

This podcast is designed for a broad audience including professionals, those who suffer with mental health difficulties, more common psychological problems, or those who just want to learn more about themselves and others. 

Hosted by psychiatrists Dr. Alex Curmi, Dr. Anya Borissova & Dr. Rebecca Wilkinson. 

Listeners have also said:

"Every episode is enlightening, the approach, conversations and depth of information is deeply enriching. So refreshing to hear practitioners with this level of insight into human behaviour. Thank you for the work and for sharing."

Podcast related enquiries: thinkingmindpodcast@gmail.com.

If you would like to work with Dr. Curmi: alexcurmitherapy@gmail.com

Disclaimer: None of the information in the podcast is intended as medical advice for any one invididual.

The Thinking Mind Podcast: Psychiatry & Psychotherapy

Mark Horowitz is a training psychiatrist, now working as a Clinical Research Fellow at UCL. He is an Associate Editor of the journal Therapeutic Advances in Psychopharmacology and has edited a collection of papers in the journal on Discontinuing PsychiatricMedication. He has a PhD in psychopharmacology and the neurobiology of depression from the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience at King’s College London. He also co-wrote the Maudsley Deprescribing guidelines.

Mark has his own blog https://markhorowitz.org/ and has written in the media about his own personal experiences with antidepressant withdrawal syndrome.

Today we discuss:

 • The problems with viewing depression primarily through a biomedical lens 
 • The causes of depression
 • The limitations of anti-depressants, the risks of withdrawal symptoms when stopping them and Mark’s own personal experiences with this
 • Some useful principles in how to wean off psychiatric medications safely if you are considering doing so

Interviewed by Dr. Alex Curmi, consultant psychiatrist and a UKCP registered psychotherapist in-training. 

If you would like to invite Alex to speak at your organisation please email thinkingmindpodcast@gmail.com with "Speaking Enquiry" in the subject line. 

If you would like to enquire about an online psychotherapy appointment with Dr. Alex, you can email - alexcurmitherapy@gmail.com.

Give feedback here - thinkingmindpodcast@gmail.com - 
Follow us here: Twitter @thinkingmindpod Instagram @thinkingmindpodcast

E104 - Deprescribing Anti-Depressants and Challenging "Biological Depression" (w/ Dr. Mark Horowitz)

Dr Hamilton Morrin is a psychiatrist at South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and an NIHR academic clinical fellow at King's College London researching neuropsychiatric disorders using neurotechnology. He is a Trustee for Gaming the Mind, a charity that promotes positive mental health within the gaming community and the games industry by raising awareness of mental health challenges and reducing the stigma surrounding these issues.

Find out more here:

gamingthemind.org

BlueSky/X: @gamingthemind @HamiltonMorrin
Interviewed by Dr. Alex Curmi, consultant psychiatrist and a UKCP registered psychotherapist in-training.

If you would like to invite Alex to speak at your organisation please email thinkingmindpodcast@gmail.com with "Speaking Enquiry" in the subject line. 

If you would like to enquire about an online psychotherapy appointment with Dr. Alex, you can email - alexcurmitherapy@gmail.com.

Give feedback here - thinkingmindpodcast@gmail.com - 
Follow us here: Twitter @thinkingmindpod Instagram @thinkingmindpodcast

E105 - What do Video Games do to our Minds? (w/Dr. Hamilton Morrin)

This week's episode is a live Q & A recorded at Trinity Rugby Club in South London. Dr. Alex is interviewed by Andrew Edwards the Director of Rugby at the club and they discuss various topics such as:

- Modern problems men face
- Difficulties with dating and relationships
- Preventing anxiety and depression
- Making friends with failure
- The value of introspection 
- The importance of facing conflict directly
- Using aggression in a healthy way 

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@gmail.com with "Speaking Enquiry" in the subject line. 

If you would like to enquire about an online psychotherapy appointment with Dr. Alex, you can email - alexcurmitherapy@gmail.com.

Give feedback here - thinkingmindpodcast@gmail.com - 
Follow us here: Twitter @thinkingmindpod Instagram @thinkingmindpodcast

Trinity RFC are a rugby club working hard to promote a positive culture in sport and improve player welfare. You can find out more about Trinity here: https://trinityrfc.com/

Why Are Men Suffering with their Mental Health? (Live at Trinity Rugby Club)

This podcast is a guide to making any kind of resolution towards long term behaviour change. It includes a step by step guide to implementing a new behaviour including choosing an area to work on, framing your resolution appropriately, setting an intention, making a plan, measuring your results, leveraging positive and negative emotions to your advantage, anticipating identity level change, and much more. 

Dr. Alex Curmi is a consultant psychiatrist and a UKCP registered psychotherapist in-training.

If you would like to work with Alex for a set for coaching sessions you can email alexcurmitherapy@gmail.com and put "New Year's Resolution" in the subject line.

If you would like to enquire about an online psychotherapy appointment with Dr. Alex, you can email - alexcurmitherapy@gmail.com and put "Therapy Enquiry" in the subject line. 

Give feedback here - thinkingmindpodcast@gmail.com - 
Follow us here: Twitter @thinkingmindpod Instagram @thinkingmindpodcast

Why New Years Resolutions Fail (and What to Do Instead)

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@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 behaviour change coaching , you can email - alexcurmitherapy@gmail.com with "Coaching" in the subject line.

Give feedback here - thinkingmindpodcast@gmail.com - 
Follow us here: Twitter @thinkingmindpod Instagram @thinkingmindpodcast

E106 - Overcoming Cynicism in Mental Health (Anti-Psychiatry, Anti-depressants, Big Pharma, ADHD, Psychotherapy)

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 consultant psychiatrist and a UKCP registered psychotherapist in-training.

If you would like to invite Alex to speak at your organisation please email thinkingmindpodcast@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 behaviour change coaching , you can email - alexcurmitherapy@gmail.com with "Coaching" in the subject line.

Give feedback here - thinkingmindpodcast@gmail.com - 
Follow us here: Twitter @thinkingmindpod Instagram @thinkingmindpodcast

E107 - The Evolution of Psychiatry (w/ Dr. Adam Hunt)

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://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3406538/

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 thinkingmindpodcast@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 behaviour change coaching , you can email - alexcurmitherapy@gmail.com with "Coaching" in the subject line.

Give feedback here - thinkingmindpodcast@gmail.com - 
Follow us here: Twitter @thinkingmindpod Instagram @thinkingmindpodcast

E108 - What is Psychosis? (with Prof. Richard Bentall)

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 as her notable 2022 paper on the serotonin hypothesis of depression. 

Interviewed by Dr. Alex Curmi. Dr. Alex is a consultant psychiatrist and a UKCP registered psychotherapist in-training. 

Prof. Moncrieff's new book Chemically Imbalanced can be found here:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Chemically-Imbalanced-Making-Unmaking-Serotonin/dp/180399679X

Studies discussed during the podcast:
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41380-022-01661-0 - the serotonin paper
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41380-024-02462-3 - critiquing "biological depression"
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37778356/ - the RADAR study of anti-psychotics
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23824214/ - the Dutch study of anti-psychotic reduction

If you would like to invite Alex to speak at your organisation please email thinkingmindpodcast@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 behaviour change coaching , you can email - alexcurmitherapy@gmail.com with "Coaching" in the subject line.

Give feedback here - thinkingmindpodcast@gmail.com - 
Follow us here: Twitter @thinkingmindpod Instagram @thinkingmindpodcast

Disclaimer: None of the information discussed in this podcast is intended as individual medical advice, changes to medication plans should always be made via discussion with the prescriber. Abrupt withdrawal of medication can cause serious adverse effects.

E109 - Is Depression a Medical Illness? (w/ Prof. Joanna Moncrieff)

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 health and capacity law policy. He was a consultant to the Law Commission's Mental Capacity and Deprivation of Liberty Project and served as the legal adviser to the Independent Review of the Mental Health Act 1983 in 2018. 

Today we discuss:

What is the purpose of the mental health act? 

What does it mean to be sectioned? 

What are the safeguards and appeals available to sectioned patients? 

How to think about complex questions legally like suicide and assisted dying 

The pressures mental health professionals face when making legal decisions 

What is the legal concept of “Capacity”? 

Warning: This conversation includes frank discussion about serious matters such as suicide and assisted dying. 

You can find out more about Alex's work here: https://www.mentalcapacitylawandpolicy.org.uk/about-the-author/

Further accessible resources regarding the mental health act: https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/legal-rights/mental-health-act-1983/mental-health-act-faqs/

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.

Alex is not currently taking on new psychotherapy clients, if you are interested in working with Alex for focused behaviour change coaching , you can email - alexcurmitherapy@gmail.com with "Coaching" in the subject line.

Give feedback here - thinkingmindpodcast@gmail.com - 
Follow us here: Twitter @thinkingmindpod Instagram @thinkingmindpodcast

E110 - Is Sectioning People Ethical? Mental Health Law, Capacity, Assisted Dying, the Insanity Defence (w/ Alex Ruck Keene)

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 about the limits of self-love, the importance of health aggression and the danger of repeating unconcious childhood patterns in adulthood. 

Common attachment patterns and their fascinating underlying biology. 

The right and wrong reasons to pursue content creation, and how to ethically pursue content creation to augment your business. 

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.

Alex is not currently taking on new psychotherapy clients, if you are interested in working with Alex for focused behaviour change coaching , you can email - alexcurmitherapy@gmail.com with "Coaching" in the subject line. 

Give feedback here - thinkingmindpodcast@gmail.com - 
Follow us here: Twitter @thinkingmindpod Instagram @thinkingmindpodcast

E111 - Why can Relationships be so Difficult? (Attachment, Aggression, Self-Love and more w/Adam Lane Smith)

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 societal influence in shaping mental health. Brendan also shares insights from his background in Buddhism, including the belief that there is no fixed ‘self’ and how this perspective can lead to a more mentally balanced life.

You can access Brendan's book The Modern Psychiatrist’s Guide to Contemporary Practice for free here:

https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/oa-mono/10.4324/9781003378495/modern-psychiatrist-guide-contemporary-practice-brendan-kelly

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.

Alex is not currently taking on new psychotherapy clients, if you are interested in working with Alex for focused behaviour change coaching , you can email - alexcurmitherapy@gmail.com with "Coaching" in the subject line.

Give feedback here - thinkingmindpodcast@gmail.com - 
Follow us here: Twitter @thinkingmindpod Instagram @thinkingmindpodcast Tiktok - @thinking.mind.podcast

E115 - Do We Medicalise Unhappiness? (with Prof. Brendan Kelly)

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