The Rural Psychologist
In this podcast, long-time rural-based psychologist, Chantal Corish discovers what rural Aussies have that makes us happier than the rest, and how we manage to keep our spirits up when the chips are down.
Living and working in rural, regional and remote Australia can have all sorts of impacts on people's mental health and well-being, but lots of us have developed great ways to manage our mental health even when things get really tough.
Listen here to The Rural Psychologist podcast as Chantal chats with every day rural Aussies and mental health professionals to discover the best tools and techniques for living a productive and satisfying life; and as she draws on nearly two decades of psychology experience to offer advice for good mental health and well-being for those living and working in 'the bush'.
www.theruralpsychologist.com.au
Instagram handle @theruralpsychologist
Disclaimer
The information provided on this podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis or treatment.
ALWAYS consider seeking the advice of your physician, therapist or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or mental health concern.
The host and guests featured on this podcast are not all licensed medical professionals and the content they share is based on their personal experience, research and opinions. Their insights and suggestions are not meant to replace individual professional advice that you yourself should seek. We encourage you to consult with a qualified professional before any significant changes to your lifestyle or wellbeing practices.
The Rural Psychologist
What's it like to be a practicing health professional in the bush? Mental health, self-care and loving life as a health professional in rural Australia
In this episode, Chantal provides advice for health professionals on how not to burn out; and then has a great chat with two highly regarded mental health professionals who have lived and worked in rural Australia for a couple of decades. Enjoy!
Guest profiles:
Home - Rural Sky Goondiwindi
KATHERINE JOHNSTONE
About Kath: Katherine Johnstone is an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker and co-founder of Rural Sky, a private practice based in Goondiwindi, Queensland. With over a decade of experience, Kath works with people across all stages of life—from young children to older adults—supporting them through life’s challenges, whether big, small, or somewhere in between.Rooted in a trauma-informed, evidence-based approach, Kath’s work is centred around helping people make sense of what they’re going through, reconnect with what matters to them, and move forward with confidence. She believes deeply in the power of rural communities and is passionate about ensuring mental health support is not only accessible, but also practical, respectful, and real.Outside of work, Kath enjoys exploring Australia and overseas, spending time with her family, and soaking up the simple joys of rural life—where the stars are brighter, the conversations deeper, and the work genuinely meaningful.
SUZIE COLLINS, CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST
About Suz: Suzie is passionate about supporting people, of all ages, to build resilience and overcome barriers that make life difficult. Suzie draws upon a range of evidence based therapeutic models and specifically Eye Movement Desensitisation & Reprocessing (EMDR, EMDRAA Accredited Practitioner), Internal Family Systems (IFS, IFSI Level 1 trained), Gottman Method for Couples (Level 3 trained), Motivational Interviewing (Relapse Prevention) and TheraPlay (Level 1 trained). She is also trained in Triple P Parenting (group), Cognitive Behaviour Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. Suzie uses a trauma informed and non-pathologising framework for therapy.
Suzie’s 10+ years, of experience has provided her with the opportunity to work with a range of mental health presentations (e.g. trauma, addition, behavioural concerns, relationship difficulties, depression, anxiety, grief etc). She has a particular interest in working with those who have experienced trauma. She has engaged with local organisations to support them through critical incidents (using Psychological First Aid principles) and with individuals to reduce their distress associated with traumatic experiences (using IFS and EMDR protocols).
In addition to individualised therapy, Suzie has a keen interest in psychological assessment, analysis and reporting. She is able to administer a range of assessments tools across the areas of cognitive, achievement, attention, memory, social, behavioural and personality. This includes exploring whether clients meet diagnostic criteria for specific disorders including: Intellectual Disability, Neurodiversity (ADHD, Autism, OCD etc), Specific Learning Disorders.
Finally, Suzie is an Approved Supervisor with the Psychology Board of Australia. She has supervised students in their placements within UQ and UNE. She has also worked with provisional psychologists to develop their skills across all required competencies. Suzie enjoys sharing her diverse knowledge and skills to build the next generation of clinicians.
Introducing the Rural Psychologist Podcast