Kyle MacDonald - Psychotherapist

I am falling for an amazing woman who is a flat-earther. Can I reconcile my diminishing respect? | Leading questions

I am falling for an amazing woman who is a flat-earther. Can I reconcile my diminishing respect? | Leading questions Disagreements about our beliefs are one thing, writes advice columnist Eleanor Gordon-Smith, but our beliefs are also bound up with what we value

I Used to Be Resilient. What Happened?

I Used to Be Resilient. What Happened? (Gift Article) These days, getting cut off in traffic can send me on an emotional rollercoaster. So I asked experts how to get mentally tougher.

Friday essay: Bad therapy or cruel world? How the youth mental health crisis has been sucked into the culture wars

Friday essay: Bad therapy or cruel world? How the youth mental health crisis has been sucked into the culture wars We can’t isolate human misery from its broader context. But while adverse environments play a role in the youth mental health crisis, culture is crucial too.

How to take the high road | Psyche Guides

How to take the high road | Psyche Guides When someone provokes you, it’s easy to react without thinking. Learn to slow down and respond in ways you’ll be proud of

Skill Issues

Skill Issues Dialectical Behavior Therapy and Its Discontents

Heavy drinking in NZ is dropping – but not fast enough to stop the brutal legacy of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder

Heavy drinking in NZ is dropping – but not fast enough to stop the brutal legacy of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder New Zealand’s long history with heavy drinking has taken a toll on generations of children. Government policy needs to target fetal alcohol spectrum disorder before it happens.

‘Anger is blinding’: family therapists on how to resolve sibling feuds

‘Anger is blinding’: family therapists on how to resolve sibling feuds With talk of an Oasis reunion, experts explain how sibling relationships can be particularly ‘intense and problematic and rewarding’

Do you really want a divorce? Or are you just ‘getting divorcey’?

Do you really want a divorce? Or are you just ‘getting divorcey’? Whether it’s your partner that’s getting on your nerves, or your friends, or even your pet, sometimes you just want to burn everything to the ground and start over. But will you feel the same way tomorrow?

New glasses who dis

The reason little noises drive you mad is about more than sounds | Psyche Ideas

The reason little noises drive you mad is about more than sounds | Psyche Ideas Fascinating research into ‘misophonia’ – an intolerance to specific sounds – is revealing an important role for context

Opinion | Surgeon General: Parents Are at Their Wits’ End. We Can Do Better.

Opinion | Surgeon General: Parents Are at Their Wits’ End. We Can Do Better. Raising children is crucial work. Why don’t we treat it that way?

When Do We Look Away?

When Do We Look Away? On vicariously living while the whole world dies.

Our guest on Sunday's The Nutters Club NZ on Newstalk ZB was former police negotiator and author of new book "Anxiety is a worry" Lance Burdett.

He talked with us about the nature of anxiety and practical ways to manage it including breathing exercises and making small incremental changes.

Lance Burdett: Former police negotiator on understanding and managing anxiety 01 September 2024: Former police negotiator and author of Anxiety is a worry Lance Burdett, talks about the nature of anxiety and practical ways to manag

NZ’s ecstasy habits explored: How are Kiwis using M**A? - NZ Herald https://buff.ly/3TaiFul

‘The liberating truth is: they’re probably not thinking about you’: Oliver Burkeman on how to quit people-pleasing

‘The liberating truth is: they’re probably not thinking about you’: Oliver Burkeman on how to quit people-pleasing In an extract from his new book about making the most of our limited time on Earth, Oliver Burkeman has some top advice for those who go out of their way to accommodate others

The Troll's Playground - by Paul Wilson

The Troll's Playground Everyday Sa**sm in the Digital Sandbox

People are using ChatGPT for therapy—but is it a good idea?

People are using ChatGPT for therapy—but is it a good idea? As more people turn to ChatGPT for their mental health, professionals warn that they must tread with caution.

The boredom scroll on socials may be making your problem worse, study says | CNN

The boredom scroll on socials may be making your problem worse, study says | CNN If you want to break the boredom, it’s best to keep changing your social media videos until you get to the best one, right? Not necessarily, research shows.

Must you forget to forgive? A scientist tests the relationship | Psyche Ideas

Must you forget to forgive? A scientist tests the relationship | Psyche Ideas Forgiveness is colloquially linked with fading memory – but research is probing what it really means to let go of wrongdoing

Gambling harms may be far more prevalent than we thought | BPS

Gambling harms may be far more prevalent than we thought | BPS A new report suggests that the mental health fallout of problem gambling could be significantly higher than previous estimates.

I love Springsteen and my daughter is a huge Swiftie – and that’s created a bridge between us

I love Springsteen and my daughter is a huge Swiftie – and that’s created a bridge between us How our mutual love of music – and interest in each other’s tastes – brought my daughter Laila and me closer together

Under pressure, 80% of GPs closed their books to new patients at some point since 2019 – here’s why

Under pressure, 80% of GPs closed their books to new patients at some point since 2019 – here’s why Staff shortages, under-funding and burnout are among the reasons GPs are turning away new clients. The primary healthcare sector needs more money – and maybe a new model for treating patients.

Sunday's Newstalk ZB The Nutters Club NZ in case you missed us...
Surviving rare neurological disorder and intense bullying: A young woman's story of healing

Surviving rare neurological disorder and intense bullying: A young woman's story of healing 25 August 2024: Born with morpheus disorder, a very rare neurological condition, Taylor endured years of intense verbal and physical bullying at school. Sh

If feelings for an ex are troubling you, try ‘opposite action’ | Psyche Ideas

If feelings for an ex are troubling you, try ‘opposite action’ | Psyche Ideas Acting on misguided feelings of love only fuels the emotional fire. Learn to let the fire burn out with these DBT-based tips

Wise words from the best number 10 to ever play the game...

The ‘Head’ Coach
During my rugby career, introspection often felt like a double-edged sword. It was easy to get caught up in overthinking, reliving past mistakes, and letting self-criticism cloud my mind—especially in those high-stakes moments when everything felt like it was on the line. I’ve been there, narrowing my focus to the negative, feeling the weight of expectations, and believing I’d fallen short of the principles I’ve tried so hard to live by—striving to be better, always putting the team above myself.

But it wasn’t until I started working with our mental skills coach, who we would call our “head” coach, that I began to truly understand myself and how to break free from that downward spiral. The most powerful tool I was given wasn’t some complex strategy, but a simple reminder: breathe. When negativity takes over, your mind races, your breath becomes shallow, and it feels impossible to regain control. But in those moments, by just focusing on my breath, I could calm my heart, clear my mind, and find my way back to centre. Sometimes, it’s the simplest things that hold the most power.

‘Alarming’ surge in mental ill health among young people in face of ‘unprecedented’ challenges, experts warn

‘Alarming’ surge in mental ill health among young people in face of ‘unprecedented’ challenges, experts warn Insecure employment, climate crisis and social media are driving ‘dangerous’ decline, research finds

How workplace bullying affects your bottom line

How workplace bullying affects your bottom line Bullying can negatively impact workers and businesses. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to address workplace bullying.

Obsessing Over Your Own Happiness Makes You Less Happy

Obsessing Over Your Own Happiness Makes You Less Happy Aspiring to happiness is fine. Fretting about whether or not you're happy is a problem.

Five-second breaks can help defuse couples’ arguments, study shows

Five-second breaks can help defuse couples’ arguments, study shows Five seconds said to be just as effective as 10 or 15 in managing lower-level conflicts and preventing escalation