Interview with Dr Deb who we are very fortunate to have as part of our experienced team at Brisbane Wellbeing. Loved hearing about her approach to therapy and also her yoga teacher’s philosophy – I will remember this one and who would have thought that she doesn’t like eating eels… better avoid those at get togethers!
What is your biggest achievement to date – personal or professional?
Definitely completing my PhD – Phew! There were times during the journey that I didn’t think I would finish it, and then it was done! I believe it requires 90% determination and 10% intelligence to complete a PhD. It was definitely a test of will.
What three words would you use to describe yourself as a Psychologist?
Curious, dedicated and enthusiastic
What was the most unusual or interesting job you’ve ever had?
I’m originally from the UK, and prior to settling in Brisbane. I travelled around Australia on a shoe-string budget. I took any job I could get, and met some fascinating people. For on average $10 an hour I picked and packed various fruit and veggies. My first job whilst back-packing, and possibly the most unusual, especially for me-being a ‘Pom’, was Yabbie fishing in Kalangadoo, South Australia.
I was required to walk through long grass (which I feared was snake infested, but never saw one) to get to the yabbie ponds. Then pull in the yabbie traps slowly, but smoothly. Then sort through the yabbies. I was instructed to keep the large yabbies and to throw back any any young yabbies (smaller than 10cm) and females clutching eggs to their underbelly. It was fun! and all my fingers remain intact.
If you could do a completely different job for a day, what would it be?
It sounds really cliché, but I wouldn’t change my job. I love what I do and am really passionate about it.
I have just moved back to Brisbane after working in Melbourne for a couple of years. I had to say goodbye to my clients in Melbourne only last week. It was a touching experience,to hear how much they had benefited from the work we had done together. Its such a rewarding job.
But, if I had to do a completely different job for a day, I would trade roles with my brother. He’s currently working with the Falcons in the RAF. The Falcons are a British military parachute display team. They perform their colourful aerial display at venues nationwide, eg., jumping into carnivals, the kids love it.
However, it’s a fantasy, I wouldn’t be able to do his job without years of training. I’ve never jumped before, I’d love to do a tantum with him one day.
What do you like most about your job?
I really enjoy learning and talking about the brain utilising knowledge from latest neuroscience research. It’s really rewarding to educate people about how their brains are functioning, (e.g., how an anxious brain acts like a stuck brain and a depressed brain acts like an old brain) and what they can do to help relieve their symptoms (e.g., how to get an anxious brain unstuck).
I find that providing psycho-education about the brain provides an excellent rationale into why we should do what we know we should be doing. For example, we generally know that we need to exercise, meditate, and eat and sleep well to keep psychological issues at bay. I find this approach gets good outcomes for people because understanding how their brain works, motivates them to change their behaviours. Most importantly, helps people to feel normal, rather than pathological or weak for needing treatment. I like seeing people leave the session ‘lighter’ than when they walked in.
What tv show/movie are you ashamed to admit you love?
I have many guilty pleasures. The most recent was watching the series called Gypsy, when Naomi Watts plays a a risk-taking psychotherapist. She’s living a double life. and abusing her position to meddle in the lives of her clients. As a psychologist it was pretty frightening to watch.
What makes you laugh?
I love to laugh. I like having some fun and laughing in therapy session. I often laugh when someone (especially someone who is typically serious) says something funny that I wasn’t expecting from them. I’ve been told I have typical British sense of humour.
What is your motto or personal mantra?
Take one step, one-at-a-time, in the right direction. If I am at Bikram yoga. I like it when the teacher reminds the class “the hardest step is getting into the room, and you have already achieved that. Now do what your body will do on this day”. It reminds me to be kind and accepting of my body and to remove any judgements or expectations that I have for myself on that day. This helps me not to struggle with the heat, inflexibility, or myself and just have a good class.
If you could visit any place in the world tomorrow where would it be?
I haven’t seen my family in a while. I get a bit homesick around this time of year -Christmas, so I would definitely go visit them tomorrow.
Least favourite Food?
Eel, yuck! (Sorry couldn’t resist the pic! – Shannon)
