“We see the dentist for our dental health, the doctor for our physical health, the optician for eye health. Many of us take great care of our bodies through diet and exercise. We work preventatively, and seek well-being. But how many of us consider the impact that our physical health plays on our mental health? Or how our mental health might compromise our decisions, or our immune systems?
Without mental health, there is no real health. With Think Differently – I want to encourage you to peek inside and check in on what’s happening mentally and emotionally. It’s a good clean, a polishing of helpful strategies, and an important reminder that mental health challenges will arise for all of us during our lifetimes. Think Differently is designed for those already high-functioning. It recognises that championing mental health makes excellent business sense at every level.”
The Think Differently Program has been created through years of working in, and with organisations to build stronger teams and reduce stress in the workplace – and through one-on-one work with thousands of clients from all walks of life in private practice. From CEO’s to pre-school teachers, mental health is part of all our lives. With stress and other mental health problems one of the main causes of sickness absence and reduced productivity, it makes sense to invest in skills that holistically support employee wellbeing.
Dr Amanda has always been passionate about holistic wellbeing, and the creation and maintenance of psychological wellness. Her Doctoral research led to the creation of an effective online program to treat anxiety and depression in young adults. For her, a key moment happened when she began to recruit people to test the program. Although the adverts targeted people with anxiety or depression, she discovered that many adults without ‘clinical’ diagnoses had applied to take part.
“I realised then that there was a great need for preventative education and early intervention. That people wanted information and help, even if they were not fitting into the categories of traditional mental ill-health.”
Clinical Psychologists hold a deep and rich knowledge base on how to help mental health. Typically, it is only shared with people who have already reached the stage where their mental health is causing problems. This knowledge has not always been easily accessible – but everyone needs these skills and this knowledge.
“It confirmed for me that the people who were considered high functioning were recognising that they were not ok, but didn’t have the tools to help themselves, or know how to get help.
They didn’t really fit anywhere”.
Her deep research into burnout, and the creation of a transdiagnostic treatment for anxiety and depression set the foundations for Thinking Differently. The research literature tells us that as humans, there are a number of similarities in the way we can think and react to situations that can be unhelpful, and that cause stress and distress. Transdiagnostic programs leverage this.
“We know that teaching specific skills can help improve mental health for most people. We know that there are a number of strategies that work for most people.”
Think Differently draws from years of research, experience and training. It pulls together Dr Amanda’s corporate background and organisational psychology knowledge, and mixes it with the deep skill set in clinical work.
Put simply, Dr Amanda is passionate about treatments and programs that work. Think Differently is built on the gold standards and theoretical underpinnings of the broad body of work across positive psychology, cognitive-behavioural theory, acceptance and commitment work, narrative storytelling and more.
Think Differently is now being taught in schools and workplaces. Are you ready for change? Let us show you how.
