Making Sense of Chaos

Dr Lars Madsen is a forensic psychologist with 20+ years experience in the treatment of sexual and violent offending. On this episode, Lars shares anecdotes and insights from experiences across his career. He also discusses a case where he provided psychological assessment & treatment to a child sex murderer, using Forensic Schema Therapy. Instagram: @makingsenseofchaos Twitter: msoc_pod TRIGGER WARNING: This episode describes heavy content. Supports: Lifeline - 13 11 14 1800 Respect - 1800 737 732 Work by Lars: Article - Forensic Schema Therapy: The Joker Upcoming Talk: Therapy in Confined Spaces: Schema Therapy Lars' Forensic Schema Therapy Course (6-week interactive self-paced online course that introduces therapists to Forensic Schema Therapy (ST-F)) Website

In this episode we talk to Dr Ray Middleton on the consequences of medicalising psychological suffering into "mental disorders". Ray is an independent trainer, speaker and writer, and a long-standing critic of the western diagnostic model of psychiatry. He is a lead trainer in the Power Threat Meaning Framework - a radically different approach to psychological suffering, which abandons diagnoses altogether, and offers an alternative to seeing oneself as "disordered" or "mentally ill". In this episode, Ray shares how his own experiences as a psychiatric patient in the 1990s led to his current work. Instagram: @makingsenseofchaos Twitter: @msoc_pod TRIGGER WARNING: This episode describes heavy content. SUPPORTS Lifeline - 13 11 14 Beyond Blue - 1300 22 4636 _____________________________ About Dr Ray Middleton: Dr Ray Middleton is an independent trainer in strengths based non-diagnostic approaches to distress, including Trauma Informed Practice and the Power Threat Meaning Framework approach. Ray has a PhD on dialogical/narrative approaches to complex trauma and recently authored a book chapter on innovative trauma informed approaches to people who are homeless. Previously, Ray has set up and managed personality disorder services, been a senior care co-coordinator in an early intervention in psychosis service and systemic practitioner within systemic family therapy. For training enquiries: - Contact Ray at Ray.middleton@ladder4life.com or via his website; www.ladder4life.com

8 years on from his footy career, Brock McLean opens up about his battles off the field - bulimia, depression, anxiety and attempts at ending his life. TRIGGER WARNING: This episode describes heavy content. Instagram: @makingsenseofchaos SUPPORTS Lifeline - 13 11 14 Beyond Blue - 1300 22 4636 Griefline - 1300 845 745 Mensline - 1300 78 99 78

William Wainwright is a forensic psychologist with over 20 years experience in various settings, with a particular focus on sexual and violent offending. In this episode, we discuss the psychology behind sexually abusing a child, how offenders justify breaking moral standards, and the cycle of shame involved in repeat offending. We also discuss the trauma carried by emergency service workers, and how this is identified and treated within Vic Police. Jason shares some of his personal experiences of trauma working as a police officer, and later as a correctional officer in Parkville Youth Justice Centre. Instagram: @makingsenseofchaos _____________ About William: William has acted as a court expert on numerous occasions and consulted and trained many audiences, including the police, judges, lawyers, DHHS workers, child protection workers, correction officers and prison officers. In recent years, William has worked as the Senior Psychologist for the Police Psychology Unit and Family Violence Command, and was the key investigator of the 2016 Mental Health Reviews for the wellbeing of Victoria Police officers. William also trained officers in investigating and interviewing people accused of sexual offences. William was also the president of ANZATSA, a not-for-profit organization designed to support practitioners working with sexually harmful behaviours both in the mainstream populations and disability. He has organized multiple local and international conferences as well as presenting regularly. Currently, William is the Manager of Evidence Based Programs for OzChild, a not for profit organisation that works with best practice programs to strengthen and reunify families. These programs are designed to maintain family networks to offer children safety and security. William is a registered supervisor and has supervised forensic and non-forensic psychologists. He currently runs a peer supervision program for provisional and registered psychologist to develop their practices and skills.

Noah Rasheta is a Buddhist teacher, lay minister, and author, as well as the host of the Secular Buddhism podcast. In this episode, Noah talks about how Buddhism changed his relationship with suffering, including the way he processed his dad's death. We also discussed the darker side of our need to be liked, to belong and to stay busy. Instagram: @makingsenseofchaos

Dylan (26) and Jordan (24) lost their dad, Bentley, to bowel cancer 6 months ago. They're also the founders of a brilliantly named YouTube series, "The C* Word", where they speak about the challenges of living with a family member with cancer. Dylan and Jordan are Maddie's friends from high school, and in this episode, they sit down with her to talk about life since losing their dad. Donate to Bowel Cancer Support, Awareness & Research. Instagram: @makingsenseofchaos

Host Jason on how he is trying to accept that everything comes to an end… how this brings him an overwhelming sense of isolation, despair and loss of control, but also a deeper level of freedom; knowing that every moment is a unique, temporary moment in time that will never occur again. Instagram: @makingsenseofchaos

Ittay, a Jewish educator & journalist, speaks to Maddie about finding meaning and purpose, and why he doesn't want his kids "to just be happy". He also speaks about his journey following his father's death from cancer when he was 21, and how reading the book "Thirty Days" prompted a change in the way he related to death. Instagram @ittay78 A Reflection on "Thirty Days" by Mark Raphael Baker. Follow Ittay's journalism and peacework here & here Instagram: @makingsenseofchaos

Chloe, a 23-year-old aspiring school counsellor, speaks about the sudden loss of her dad 3 years ago - and the flood of different emotions that have followed. Instagram: @makingsenseofchaos

"I've worked in advertising for 35-years. All while suffering from Bipolar 1. So I know what it's like to perform brilliantly in a boardroom one moment, only to find myself crying quietly in a toilet cubicle the next." On this episode, we speak to David Westgate about living with Bipolar 1, as well as some small talk topics such as the ultimate meaning and purpose of life. Instagram: @makingsenseofchaos SUPPORTS: Lifeline - 13 11 14 Mensline - 1300 78 99 78 DAVID'S WORK: David is a keynote speaker for the Black Dog Institute. He's also served on their Lived Experience Advisory Panel and on a mental health advisory board for Australia's biggest insurer, TAL, and as a qualified Mental Health First Aid facilitator. Additionally, David has worked with groups as diverse as the Sudanese community, the Friends and Families of Missing People Unit, Department of Communications and Culture, Metlife, the Treasury, and even a club who had lost a member to suicide.

At the age of 24, Natarsha suddenly lost her husband Steve to unknown circumstances. Natarsha is Jason's friend from primary school, and in this very raw episode, she bravely shares her story from the 22nd March 2016. Instagram: @makingsenseofchaos SUPPORTS: Lifeline - 13 11 14 Beyond Blue - 1300 22 4636 Griefline - 1300 845 745

Dr Russ Pratt has over 25 years experience working with sexual offenders and murderers. One of Australia's most respected forensic psychologists, Russ talks to us about the psychology of sexual assault and murder, and the impact of pornography on sexually abusive youth. Website: https://www.primeforensicpsychology.com/ Instagram: @makingsenseofchaos