Psychotherapists and Counsellors Answer your Questions
Conversations with Therapists
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What led you to choose psychotherapy or counselling as a profession?
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Which philosophical approaches have influenced your professional development?
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Which particular aspects of health or the human journey are you interested in?
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What methods do you use?
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When do you think the client will start to feel that progress is being made?
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How has therapy made a difference in your life?
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What do you like most about being a therapist?
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Do you ever have 'bad hair' days?
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What do you think is the most significant problem we face, in the world today?
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Can you share the name of a book, film, song, event or work of art that inspires you?
Ash Rehn
A great resource for gay and bisexual men is Out of the Shadows: Reimagining Gay Mens Lives which was published by Walt Odets in 2019. I would encourage any man who is struggling with aspects of gay...
Noemi Papp
For example the book The Power of One by Bryce Courtenay inspires me because it highlights the impact that one person can have when they believe in themselves and stand for what is right. It reminds...
Martina Palombi
The books:
Family Evaluation, an approach based on Bowen theory, by M. Kerr and M. Bowen
Family therapy in clinical practice, by M. Bowen
Growing yourself up, how to bring your best to all...
Ashley Thomson
The music of Adrienne Lenker and Big Thief is a big source of comfort and inspiration.
Jennifer Fox
Too many to name, however, certain Buddhist chants and visualisations truly inspire me and keep me buoyant and grateful.
Marie Mooney
Music- anything by Bruce Springsteen and lots of other music as well!
Nature photography
The sound of birds and the wind in the trees
Books - To Kill A Mockingbird (Harper Lee), Broken Open...
Sirini Kularatne-Samarapathi
Ajahn Brahmavanso's book of opening the door to your heart'. It contains little stories with opportunities for deep reflections presented in a unique way inviting readers to look at life in a simple...
Adam Grosman
If you want to sing out by Cat Stevens! Also the book Bioenergetics by Alexander Lowen.
Jacquie Flecknoe-Brown
Everything by C.G. Jung. Marie-Louise Von Franz, Barbara Hannah, M. Esther Harding, Edward Edinger, Robert A. Johnson, Vine Deloria Jnr, Iain McGilchrist, Shakespeare, Rumi, Charles Schultz, AA...
Sally Singh
Rumi and his poetry are amazing. I think his work talks to mental health in so many ways. To think that the theories we think are discovered in modern day were actually in poetry centuries ago...
Miranda Fagan
One of my favourite books is Doctor Zhivago, by Boris Pasternak. This quote for me sums up the beautiful novel:
I don't think I could love you so much if you had nothing to complain of and nothing...
Sarah Lawson
There are many.
My Brother and I were hypnotized by a movie called Escape to Witch Mountain as children. I loved the wonder of outer space and special powers being used for good.
I love Under a...
Sonya Thompson
The film The Green Mile inspires me deeply. The compassion and empathy shown by the officer, especially his ability to see beyond appearance and prejudice, reflects the kind of humanity I value. It is...
Nicola Kickbusch
I have a few songs that always inspire me.
Show em What You’re Made of - Backstreet Boys
Here Comes the Sun - The Beatles
Lazarus Drug - Meg Washington
Michelle Collier
The book that has had the greatest impact on me is Women Who Run With the Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Estés. It was truly life-changing. This book helped me process and move forward with the...
Michael Elwan
Viktor Frankl's Man's Search for Meaning continues to resonate with me, not because it offers easy hope, but because it honours the human capacity to find meaning even in suffering. It reminds me that...
Lisa Milne
The gift of Therapy by Irvin Yalom. Years before becoming interested in being a therapist myself, I read the many books by this gifted healer. I was moved and fascinated by the stories they contain.
Alison Turner
There is so much that inspires me, so I'll a few. I have been studying middle eastern dance a music for over two decades and the music and cultures the music and dance come from inspire me. Also...
Tessa Ipp
Ron Kurtz's book Graceful Unfolding, and Ram Dass's book, Be Love Now.
Megan E Shea
I often return to the haiku of Kobayashi Issa. His poetry captures the fragility, humour, and beauty of everyday life with just a few words—reminding me to slow down and stay present.
Linda Bartolone
The Midnight Library. It explores the question most of us have asked at 2 am... What if I’d chosen differently? The book gently walks through alternate versions of one woman’s life, only to reveal...
Nick Batty
I often workout to Rachel Platten's Fight Song. I like the lyrics and the message.
Kathleen Goossens
Herman Hess Siddharta when I was 18. Krishnamurti in my mid-20s. Song - Beautiful boy by John Lennon. Favourite poem The Guest House by Rumi.
I have always loved and valued books, films, music...
Leigh Barber
One book that has inspired me, after the death of a close friend is It’s OK That You’re Not OK by Megan Devine. It powerfully reminds me of the importance of validating grief, trauma, and...
David Malkin
Anything music by Ken Davis. Book by Carl Jung-Memories, Dreams and Reflections, book by Robert Johnson-Inner Work. Any art by L. S. Lowry.
Charlotte Hobbs
I'm inspired by anything that pushes me forward in my knowledge and understanding.
Specifically, I'm deeply inspired by Brené Brown's work on shame and vulnerability — her research has...
Simone Waddington
Rather than one particular work, I am continually inspired by creativity itself—books, visual art, writing and the stories people share about their lives. Creativity reminds me that there are many...
Fiona Gray
Self Compassion, the proven power of being kind to yourself, Kristin Neff
Man's Search for Meaning Viktor Frankl
The Body Keeps the Score Brain, mind, and body in the healing of trauma. Bessel...
David Nightingale
Apart from the Bible, the works of Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Josef Pieper and Joseph Ratzinger. I'm inspired by the life of St Francis of Assisi, St Theresa of Calcutta and St Charles de Foucauld.
Julian Cerreto
People love to laugh, mock or get outraged at his ideas, but I have found that actually reading and trying to deal honestly with Sigmund Freud is like looking up at a mountain. I am also in awe of the...
Toni Leemen
I saw Ben 'Imana at the Sydney Film Festival recently. Inspiring in every respect - how the film was made and the story it told.
Gabriele (Gabe) Marranci
Carl Jung’s The Red Book has deeply influenced my view of the psych, its symbolic language, its complexity, and the importance of inner dialogue.
It taught me that healing is not just about...
Ohad Rein
There are many works that have inspired me, but one that continues to resonate is Viktor Frankl’s Man’s Search for Meaning. His reflections on finding purpose, even in the face of profound...
Meran McKenzie
I am inspired by Viktor Frankl 'Man's Search for Meaning'.
Karen Potter
There are so many but I love 'Women who run with the wolves'
Leon Ari
Film: The Never Ending Story
Song: Lazarus Man, by Terry Callier
Book: No Bad Parts, by Richard Schwartz
Artwork: Painting from a client depicting their first time in therapy
Event: Seeing my...
Ajay Hawkes
Too many to mention, films from art like Kubrick , Fellini and Coppola's work to more pop culture films with some depth like the Wachowskis Matrix. ( I had another lifetime as a film student and...
Geoff Heard
The Spell of the Sensuous'; Perception and Language in a More Than Human World' by David Abram.
Teresa Wilkinson
John O'Donohue's book called Internal Echoes: Exploring our Hunger to Belong.
Tony Monaghan
For one side of my nature, The Princess Bride, Matrix trilogy, Lord of the Rings and flights of imagination.
On another, its Silence of the Lambs, and the Dune series.
Authors include John Le Carre,...
Megan Bonetti
For me it is a recent film and a very old book. The film: 2025's If I Had Legs I’d Kick You and the book: 1946's Man’s Search for Meaning.
If I Had Legs I’d Kick You is a sharp, darkly funny...
Megan Drummond
One work that inspires me is A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles. The novel’s themes of resilience, purpose, and finding meaning resonate deeply with me.
It beautifully illustrates how, even...
Geraldine McKay
I am an avid reader of different novels and non-fiction work. I am inspired by new ideas.
Robyn Price
I recently saw Kunstkamer by the Australian Ballet. It is an incredible work of art that highlights the expressive range of the human body.
The book A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara shows the...
Reza Nejad
The most inspirational Movies are A beautiful mind and Schindler's List
The most inspirational books Beloved and White Teeth
Katie Ellyn Beckwith
Schitt's Creek. It's funny and full of soul.
Veronik Verkest
I am inspired by
- painter Fred Williams and his ability to see and reproduce the many variations of the colours of Australian nature.
- Erik Satie and his minimal sounds that resonate at a deep...
Xanthe Katsouras
Lately I have been enjoying watching documentaries on different public figures, often seeing in their lives, the successes, and struggles that are common to the human experience, regardless.
Rob Gray
Jung's The Red Book. It is one of the most extraordinary documents in the history of psychology — a man descending deliberately into his own unconscious and painting what he found there. It is proof...
Karen Anderson
The things which have inspired me and continue to do so are many and varied:
• Victor Frankl's book, “Man's Search for Meaning†given to me by my father
• My father's letters to me...
Sally Estepho
One quote I often return to comes from Viktor Frankl: Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response.
It reminds me that while we can't always...
Grant Finlay
One work that continues to inspire me is The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune, a story about kindness, acceptance, and the quiet courage it takes to truly see and love others as they are. It...
Mark Walker
I recently re-read Robert Pirsig's Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, In terms of therapy, Yalom's The Schopenhauer Cure has enthused me to return to group therapy work.
Steven Segal
Long walk to freedom: the autobiography of Nelson Mandela.
Gidon Weinstein
One event that deeply inspires me is the 2005 UEFA Champions League Final in Istanbul, where my favourite football team, Liverpool FC, faced AC Milan. By half-time, Liverpool were down 3-0—a...
Bek La
The Top Five Regrets of the Dying by Bronnie Ware. It's one of those books that stays with you long after you put it down. It reminds me to zoom out, and ask myself whether I'm prioritising what truly...
Reed Everingham
This question is challenging as life is full of wonder and inspired moments. Reflecting on the human condition, one of my all-time favourite films is Little Miss Sunshine (2006). It touches on so...
Gaye Mallinson
I love books/films/songs/art that inspire deep emotions from within. I love to feel the story and imagine (or identify with) being on that journey even if it's challenging. For that reason I have a...
Philip Hilder
Yes, 'The Sibling Society' and other books by the American author and poet Robert Bly
Siobhan McKenna
Book: 'Yes to life in spite of everything'. Author: Viktor Frankl
Art: 'I and the village.' Artist: Marc Chagall
Film: Out of Africa. Universal pictures
Uri Bookman
One timeless inspiration has been Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse, a poetic novel tracing a seeker’s path to wisdom through self-discovery and unity with nature—a reflection of my own ongoing journey...
Tinchu Kumar
A book that really inspires me is Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life. I appreciate its focus on purpose, meaning, and balance—particularly how it highlights the connection between...
Claudia Rossi
I love the film Another Year by Mike Leigh. Everyone I know who has watched it thinks it is boring. And it kind of it because it follow the course of domestic life over a year. I love it though...
Jonathan Breach
Paolo Sorrentino's 2013 film La Grande Bellezza (The Great Beauty) is among the most inspirational movies to make an impact on me. A meditation on the living through advancing age, memories, the...
Gabriella Gandi
Man's Search for Meaning - Viktor Frankl
Journey of Souls - Michael Newton
Harry Potter series
Natalie Wise
Lost without you - freya ridings (song)
Under the Tricolor - mary medaware (book)
The alchemist - Paulo Coelho (book)
From Surviving to Thriving - Pete Walker (book)
Good Will hunting -...
Samantha Goldrick
That is so hard!! I can never really name my favourite films or things that inspire me.
Most recently I’ll say Hamnet because after watching it I felt irrecoverably changed. I described it to...
Paula Yanis
A book that has inspired me is Rising Strong. Its message about courage, vulnerability, and finding strength through life's challenges aligns closely with my approach to counselling and personal...
Carolyn Choy
I love the poem 'Desiderata' by Max Ehrmann. Its opening line, 'Go placidly amid the noise and haste' remains consistently relevant in modern life.
I particularly love the confirmation that despite...
Ernst Meyer
Judith Herman's Trauma and Recovery. The book outlines the effects of trauma and abuse on any vulnerable human being. Herman demonstrates the devastating impact of trauma on the human body, the...
Sarah Tuckett
My favorite film ever is the romantic Italian film Il nuovo cinema paradiso. I literally balled my eyes out when I first saw it in the cinema.
Tania Djipalo
I adore the movie The Age of Adeline for the wonderful meaning about change that it offers.
Victor Frankl Mans Search for Meaning A very small and unimposing book about the power imagining a...
Nicole Dickmann
I’m drawn to books that explore the layers beneath ordinary life. Works that honour dreams, intuition and the subtle movements of the psyche, such as Jung’s writings, remind me how much wisdom...
Sarah McArthur
Book: To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Film: The Tattooist of Auschwitz
Song: I miss you by Adele
Event: Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras
Art: The Mona Lisa. Such a tiny piece of art which may or...
Freya Smee
One book that has stayed with me is The Therapeutic Journey by Alain De Botton which beautifully explores how therapy can help us understand ourselves and our relationships with greater compassion. I...
Stefan Durlach
There are too many to name! Some that come to mind are:
Movies: The Truman Show, Revolutionary Road. Amazing Grace,
Authors: Hermann Hesse, Llewellyn Vaughan Lee, Ken Wilber
Music: Adele singing...
Tom Teelow
Man’s Search for Meaning stayed with me because of its reflections on suffering, meaning, responsibility, and the human capacity to remain psychologically alive through immense hardship. On Becoming...
Corina Johns
Musically, I am a fan of John Darnielle (of the Mountain Goats) and Mark Oliver Everett, among others. They share an appreciation for all kinds of human experience that I find inspiring.
I enjoy...
Brenda Rowlandson
There are so many! I'm inspired 'in the moment'. I would rather experience a moment of inspiration, or awe, than hold one or two things that I consider the inspiration. There is much in the world to...
Holly Monaghan
From Little Things Big Things Grow - Paul Kelly & Kev Carmody
Rima Alkadamani
One book that has deeply inspired me is “The Prophet” by Khalil Gibran. Its poetic reflections on love, joy, sorrow, and the human experience beautifully capture the complexities of life and the...
Yogeeta Kiran
The book that inspired me the most is the one on Radical Accptance by Tara Brach.
I also find the song by Miley Cyrus, Flowers inspiring because it is a song about self-care and healing from...
Jade Fisher
Silvia Federici's Caliban and the Witch.
Reading her explanation of the historical enclosure of the commons felt like unlocking body memory - I finally had language for something I'd always...
Debby Heath
Any book, film, song or work of art that moves me emotionally inspires me to be kinder, more compassionate and more courageous.
Jaclyn Cunningham
I recently read a book called There are Rivers in the Sky by Elif Shafak. It weaves together the stories of multiple different characters in different times in history who all had a relationship or...
Sudhir Dean
'The Body Keeps the Score' Bessel van der Kolk, 'Waking the Tiger' Peter Levine, 'In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts: Encounters with Addiction' Gabor Mate, 'The Heroic Client' Duncan, Miller, Sparks.
Josh Wasniewski
I love The Beatles. What stands out is the range of what they created in a relatively short period, and the way they kept evolving without becoming rigid. There’s a sense of curiosity and openness...
Eleni Kidis
Anything to do with the teachings and practices of non-dual Tantrik yoga and philosophy. This spiritual traditions is life affirming and teaches us how to navigate human embodiement, how to work with...
Lisa Moore
Anything written by Eckhart Tolle, Dalai Lama, Don Miguel Ruiz, Paulo Coelho, Bonnie Garmus, Stephanie Dowrick, Leonard Cohen, John Boyne, Fredrik Backman, Ichiro Kishimi and Fumitake Koga, Benjamin...
Morag Paterson
So many!
On becoming a person - Carl Rogers
Mans Search for Meaning - Viktor Frankl
Irvin Yalom's books
The Happiness Trap- Russ Harris
'This is Me' Keala Settle and The Greatest Showman...
Kristy-Lee Ferry
The Invitation by Oriah Mountain Dreamer — both the poem and the book.
I first read it in my early twenties, and it landed deeply straight away.
It felt like recognition.
Like yes… this is...
Amelia Ducker
Films - I love the film work of Wim Wendes (Wings of Desire, Perfect Days, Paris Texas).
Books- Memories, Dreams, Reflections (Jung), The Way of the Dream (Marie Louise Von Franz)
Liz O'Neill
So many!
I admire how other humans can translate such complex, layered emotional experiences into such inspiring, digestible and often entertaining art.
The Great Impersonator by Halsey is one of...
Luke Edwards
One of my most favourite books is called The Awakened Heart: Opening Yourself to the Love You Need by Rollo May.
Film - Dead Poets Society, Manchester by the Sea
Song - God Only Knows, The Beach...
Joanna Penty
The Body Keeps the Score - Bessel Van de Kolk
This is an amazing and fascinating book about trauma, how common it is, and different ways to treat it.
Hallelujah - Jeff Buckley
Jeff's voice has...
Kylie Long
For as long as I can remember, I have carried multiple books with me everywhere. I'm interested in so many topics - embodiment, ecology, spirituality, sexuality, mysticism, neuroscience,...
Jennifer Fernandez
Some books that have really informed my neuroaffirming approach to therapy include:
Women and Girls on the Autism Spectrum by Jess Hendrickx and Sarah Hendrickx
Self-Care for Autistic People by...
Tim Fraser
Any number of Jon Hopkins songs. His music is so varied, from intense and powerful techno to soft and tender classical piano. Within it I find ecstasy, curiosity, innocence, wonder, and so much more.
Joshua Comyn
I can share several!
Book: Being and Event by Alain Badiou.
Film: Once Upon a Time in Anatolia by Nuri Bilge Ceylan.
Songs: 'Hoist that Rag' by Tom Waits, 'Sun In My Mouth' by Bjork.
Event: the...
Safari Lee
I’m really inspired by art and music, which have always been a big part of my life. I've played trumpet for 30 years, have created music myself featuring bass guitar, and my undergraduate studies...
Matthew White
A book that has influenced me is Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl. Its focus on meaning and human resilience resonates strongly with my work, particularly in supporting people to navigate...
Karen Rose
Good Inside, by Dr Becky Kennedy. A must-read, and pretty much sums up my approach when working with children and parents. Kids are good :)
Rebecca Tregurtha
Unmasking Autism: The Power of Embracing Our Hidden Neurodiversity by Devon Price
Kane Solly
I have found the book Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, by Robert M. Pirsig, a considerable book that shaped my early thinking.
Katherine Sharbanee
I’m inspired by works that explore what it means to be human. The Matrix challenges how we perceive reality and choice. The Odyssey reflects the existential journey, full of struggle,...
Claire Naidoo
The Little Prince — Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
Man’s Search for Meaning — Viktor Frankl
Helen Basili
My favourite novel of 2025 was Against the Loveless World by Palestinian author Susan Abulhawa.
Other novels I have enjoyed include Too Much Lip by Melissa Lucashenko, The White Girl by Tony Birch,...
Sonia Scussel
Books
Mindsight and Parenting from the inside out by Daniel J. Siegel
Self-Compassion by Kristin Neff
The Gift of Imperfection by Brene Brown
Julie Catt
I'm obsessed with the work of Andrea Gibson and Taylor Swift, in equal measure.
Josephine Borg
Ahhh there are so many. The Bible is one that inspires me and helps me through life. More are on my website - see self help resources.
Jonathan Tandos
Paulo Coehlo's book The Alchemist speaks a deep truth and inspires and deeply comforts me. I’ve often turned to this book in troubled times.
The film Rocky has been a favourite since I was very...
Marvel Adeyemi
Green Book . Its a film inspired by true friendship that transcended race and class and the 1962 Mason-Dixon line.
Jade Padgham
One artwork that has stayed with me is Witch on a Broomstick by Albert Joseph Pénot. What I find interesting about the piece is the sense of individuality and freedom it conveys. It reminds me of the...
Fiona Giles
The Polish film Cold War (2018) has everything: romance, music, politics, history, glamour, psychological depth and tragedy. It is exquisitely shot in black and white, and deservedly won many awards....
Sarah Atkinson
A book I have read recently is the House on the Cerulean Sea - I found this beautiful book so refreshing and whimsical - I loved the characters and how the story cracked open the role of love and...
Nicole Kinnaird
Loads and loads! Most things inspire me to be honest because they come from the creative part of us and I am interested in that in almost every form. I love wandering in galleries, bookstores, going...
Ben Burns
Great Song:
Everything Begins and Ends at Exactly the Right Time - Bluebottle Kiss
Angelina Jennings
Falling Down, the movie with Michael Douglas. Its a movie which presents the impact of pressures which are present in everyday life can turn people into something they wouldn't ordinarily be. It...
Clara Luxford
Currently reading The Year of Magical Thinking, by Joan Dideon, about her journey of grief after losing her husband John Dunne. Beautifully observed and very readable too.
I have just finished the...
Ashley White
'The Death of Socrates' by Jacques-Louis David. Such an immortalizing of a hero for truth.
Leigh Fraser-Gray
Its ever changing. I do however prefer to live in a world where we express ourselves through the arts. I encourage all my people to bring what inspires them into the therapy experience to explore...
Catherine Sullivan
I’ve been dipping in and out of Oliver Burkman’s 4,000 Weeks and Meditations for Mortals. I love his balance of dry humour and deep research, and his challenge to step into a more meaningful,...
Cameron Trenowden
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty is one of my favourite movies because it explores a lot of mental health and philosophy.
Helen Brittan
Hmmmm...
George Eliot: Middlemarch. An early feminist & 'psychologist', who wrote:
Prelude:
Here and there is born a Saint Theresa, foundress of nothing, whose loving heartbeats and sobs...
Adrian Workman
I’m an avid follower of the arts, music in particular. Over my lifetime I have been fortunate to be an audience member at numerous events that have impacted me deeply, and inspired my own creative...
Philipa Thornton
So many. Recently it has been Lost Connections by Johann Hari. I loved he wrote about his personal journey with depression and what he thought was the leading cause. It is a well written book, with...
Matt Garrett
Catcher in the Rye (book) Cabaret (film) Love at first sight (Song) mob dancing (event) anything Brett Whitley (work of art)
Marcus Dally-Law
'Come and Get Your Love' - Redbone
Honestly, since Chris Pratt danced to this in the first Guardians of the Galaxy movie, its hard to hear this without doing a bit of a strut walk - a brief moment...
April Lewis
There are many books, films, songs, events and works of art that have inspired me and on a daily basis, new ones that inspire me. I am also constantly inspired by people, many of whom would not...
Megan Bodnar
One work that deeply inspires me is the book Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl. Frankl's perspective on finding purpose even in the most difficult circumstances has been incredibly impactful....
Erin Galt
That's a hard one to answer as there are so many, though I'm currently reading 'Surrender' by Bono from U2 which has me hooked. Bono writes about his own personal journeys through his relationships...
Christine Halden
Dare to Lead by Brené Brown has been influential in shaping how I think about vulnerability, courage, and values-based leadership. Its emphasis on emotional awareness, boundaries, and accountability...
Careena Cook
My favourite book is Dostoyevsky’s Crime and Punishment and my favourite play is Shakespeare’s Hamlet because they are both incredibly incisive studies of some of the internal struggles and...
Priscilla Schwartzman
Vincent van Gogh is my favourite artist. It’s difficult to choose a single piece, as his entire body of work continues to move me. His paintings express feeling beyond words, holding pain, longing,...
Kate McMaugh
It is almost too many to mention. I love reading and music! But if I can share with you the words of Kathy Steele - this is poetic, I think, and it inspires me as I sit with the most wounded people,...
Michelle Morris
There are many books, films and songs that inspire me. I also find Nature profoundly inspiring. I recently saw the film and read the book Tracks, this is a section I found particularly moving:
I...
Jen OBryan
great question.!
I am truly inspired by the works of Shakespeare.
I make sure I see his plays every year and still learn new things from them even when I have seen them many times over.
His...
Daisy Dollisson-Oatley
'The one straw revolution' by Masanobu Fukuoka
'Working on yourself alone' By Arnold Mindel
Weiyu Guan
Book: The Plague - Albert Camus
Film: Harold and Maude
Song: The lost words blessing
Artwork: Forest of Enchantment tarot deck by Lunaea Weatherstone & Meraylah Allwood
Events: clown school with...
Ann Edvall
Scattered minds, When the body says no and The myths of normal by Gabor Mate.
Leah Wilson
One work that inspires me deeply is the book The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle. This book has had a profound impact on how I understand and approach both life and therapy. Tolle’s speech about the...
Michael Grunwald
'The Brain that Changes Itself' by Norman Doidge as it provides clear proof that under the right circumstances each of us can harness our brain's plasticity to change the way our brain and mind...
Stefanie Marris
Tomorrow, Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Ziven
These Days by Powderfinger
This is me from The Greatest Showman
The Midnight Library and How to Stop Time both by Matt Haig
Steven Pattison
One work that continues to inspire me is Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl. The book explores resilience, purpose, and the capacity of the human spirit to endure and transform even in the...
Elizabeth Fairbanks
Song: 'It Is Not Meant To Be'; Tame Impala.
Book: 'The Courage to be Disliked'; Fumitake Koga and Ichiro Kishimi
Film: 'Marie Antoinette'; directed by Sofia Coppola.
Record: 'Mother'; Cleo Sol....
Fiona Akal
Gustav Klimt’s art. The detail is something to get lost in, and the fact that someone can create such beauty is inspiring and joyful. It reminds me why creativity belongs in therapy — because...
Jocelyn Brewer
My favourite film of all time is Picnic At Hanging Rock. Though I am a sucker for Frozen II (which is far better than the first one!)
Melodina Thomas
The Bible has many stories of love, loss, life, death, hopelessness, wisdom, victory, hope and faith and so many life lessons.
Nicole Day
Hmm, that's a tough one. I love so many genres, depending on my own mood. I love a good fantasy book with vampires and dragons, but then love Pink Floyd to Pink! I love any opportunity to travel and...
Dee Hardy
Rasputin! The new re mix by MAJESTIC & BONEY M... upbeat, happy and just 'go' to for me!
I love all art as it is an expression of the person so I really am curious when I see art.
Ongoing self...
Sally Walsh
Gestalt Prayer - I do my thing, and you do your thing... If by chance we find each other, it's beautiful; if not, it can't be helped.
Michelle Tadros
I am inspired by the art of Edward Hopper. My favourite film is 'Wings of Desire'. I love Jonathan Franzen novels and I love 'All the light we cannot see' by Anthony Doerr.
Jon Nielsen
I sing in a choir because I love making music and I love the way that music can affect performers and audiences alike. At the moment one of my favourite pieces is O Magnum Mysterium by Morten...
Giulia Fiore
The laws of human nature from Robert Greene is the last book I have read and it was very insightful. It helped me understand human nature and its laws on a deeper level.
Samara Woodford
A quote from the Doctor Who television series has always resonated deeply with me:
“The way I see it, every life is a pile of good things and bad things. The good things don’t always soften the...
Lisa Barrett
Off the top of my head, the book 'Return to Love' by Marianne Williamson is the one I can always remember the name of !
I also think the 'School of Life' regularly has some great episodes- relevant,...
Lu Migliore
I love high energy music as use it as a pick me up when I need a boost. I still love INXS' Burn for you!
Eric Rangel Oliveira
One work of art that truly inspires me is Cinema Paradiso. This film beautifully captures the power of art to provide comfort and escape from life’s struggles. It also celebrates nostalgia,...
Sam Thomson
All time favourite movie - About Time. An incredible message about love, loss, being present, grief & loss.. in my opinion, it perfectly captures all of those feelings in a light-heartened and...
Robyn Bowman
Growing Yourself Up by Jenny Brown
The Happiness Trap by Russ Harris.
Inside Out (Movie)
Mariyon Slany
Dr Helen Fisher's work on love is fascinating. Also Dr Steven Porges 'Our Polyvagal World - how safety and trauma change us' has been eye-opening. Art and literature are constant inspirations in my...
Vanessa Wylie
It has to be a song as music is definitely my healer. These songs are always on repeat when I need a lift: Groove Is in the Heart by Deee-Lite, Emotional Rescue by the Rolling Stones, and Dance Hall...
Chris Chicoteau
I recently watched 'Marriage Story' and thought that the acting was excellent and a great depiction of some of the modern challenges associated with relationships.
Sebastian Kinne
I draw inspiration from many sources. Irvin Yalom’s The Gift of Therapy reminds me of the depth and simplicity of the therapeutic encounter. Films like The Matrix speak to the possibility of waking...
Mark De Calmer
Many, two that come to the forefront are 1: The Bible and the teaching of Christ and 2. Viktor E. Frankl's book, Man's Search For Meaning.
Jeannene Eastaway
I love this question and there is never one thing that inspires me but to answer the question I need to say the movie 'About Time'.
Mary A McIntyre
The poem Love After Love by Derek Walcott
the book The Sacred Path of the Warrior by Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche
Lisa Paul
Becoming Us by Elle Taylor for parents who have just had a baby. Great book on how relationships change and why.
Hold me Tight by Dr Sue Johnson - great one for helping relationships in general.
Megan McGrath
The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy. It’s simple, profound, and a beautiful reminder of the power of kindness, courage, and connection.
Stephanie de Niese
It's a quote that inspires me:
But anything exposed by the light will be illuminated and anything illuminated turns into light.
- Eph 5: 13-14
Dee Kumbukage
One work of art that deeply inspires me is the book The Miracle of Mindfulness by Thich Nhat Hanh. This profound and transformative book beautifully encapsulates the essence of Buddhist teachings...
Ron Dowd
James Hillman's The Dream and The Underworld had a big impact on me, and continues to inspire me that we are so much more than we might think we are.
The existentialist classic The...
Regina Gerlach
One work that continues to inspire me is the poem “How I Became a Warrior” by Jeff Foster. It speaks to the quiet, everyday bravery of turning toward our pain with gentleness, and choosing...
Gregory Poll
“Man’s Search for Meaning” by Viktor E. Frankl
The Road Less Travelled by M. Scott Peck
The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle
Dead Poets Society
The Pursuit of Happyness
Good Will...
Julian O'Sullivan
The book Long-Term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy by Glen Gabbard
Nathan Dick
The Road by Cormac McCarthy.
I see myself primarily/first as a parent. I have three children, but I feel the responsibility of parenting extends beyond my immediate family.
The relationship in...
Debra Sumner
I’m a big fan of Brené Brown and her insightful books on vulnerability, courage, and connection. Outside of work-related reading, one of the most inspiring books I’ve recently enjoyed is The Girl...
Darius Leo
Atticus Finch - a fictional small-town lawyer played by Gregory Peck in the film To Kill a Mocking Bird'. It's also a great book. Atticus is a life-long hero of mine. He embodies what it means to be...
Bev Whitehead
The book Good Inside by Dr Becky Kennedy, was a healing and transforming read. It gave words to my experience as a child and a parent. The premise is that we are all good inside - this aligns with...
Alexandra Page
A Man's Search for Meaning - Victor Frankl
The Gift of Therapy - Irvin Yalom
Gabrielle New
I have just finished the 2024 Booker prize-winning novel 'Orbital' by Samantha Harvey. It is beautifully poetic, with a simple premise and wonderful insights into what it is to be human.
Last week,...
Nicol Thomas
I love Nick Cave's work, also Björk. I am very inspired by the music of Hawaii as well.
Rachel Tyson
Victor Frankl's Mans Search for Meaning is a profoundly wise book that I pick up and read every few years.
I love the Danish film Babette's Feast for its sensitive exploration of love, grace,...
Patrick O’Brien
Song: Blackbird by the Beatles
Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these broken wings and learn to fly
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to arise
Blackbird singing...
Debbie O'Connor
There are many works that inspire me, too many to mention! I have recently viewed a television series called 'Six Feet Under' which I have found particularly engaging and inspiring. It presents a...
Steve Bonanno
This has nothing to do with therapy, but gosh, I love it... skydiving followed by surfing.
Just sublime: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2zKARkpDW4
Julia Agnoletto
One book that inspires me is Maybe You Should Talk to Someone by Lori Gottlieb. It’s a therapist’s memoir that’s both funny and insightful, reminding me that therapists are human too and that...
Max Rutherford
I have been influenced by so many people and experiences that it's hard to come up with particular examples without skewing the impression they might leave.
Tamara Pallos
I love Cheryl Strayed's book of letters of advice, called 'Tiny, Beautiful Things'.
A recent film that I enjoyed was, 'She Said' about journalists that spearheaded the Me, Too movement.
I like jazz...
Jisha Syriac
As a counsellor, I find the Bible to be a profound source of inspiration. Its messages of hope, healing, and compassion resonate deeply with the work I do. Passages that emphasise love, forgiveness,...
Karen Druce
Regardless of the medium, I'm attracted to anything quirky, off-beat, hilarious, thought provoking, emotionally salient. To pick just one, the French comedy Amelie, with Audrey Tautou, is a...
Tom Skotidas
Jerry Maguire inspires me. It is one of my all-time favourite movies.
Tanya Rae
I am inspired by the fluid dreamscapes present in the surrealist movement, namely in the works by Salvador Dali. I have long since admired Dali’s 1944 surrealist piece 'Dream, Caused by the Flight...
Felicity Ahern
I love Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler and on certain days I find 90's RnB and Nirvana very motivating!
Michele Watson
Jungian Analyst, Robert Johnson's books - He, She and We have been very influential in understanding feminine and masculine psychology.
Anthony Hubeck
Vital Lies, Simple truths. Daniel Goleman
When I read this something clicked and I had a ‘I got it moment’. Always look for what the mind clings too.
Susan Pegg
What I find most inspiring at the moment is my voluntary work in an aged care centre. Knowing that my visits help lift peoples' spirits and listening to the stories the residents tell about their...
Mairead Cleary
The book 'Soulcraft' by Bill Plotkin.
The book 'Rest' by Alex Soojung-Kim Pang
The book 'The power of place' by Winifred Gallagher
The book 'Switch' by Chip & Dan Heath
The film 'Instinct' with...
Trudy Clutterbok
Book: Things I Don't Want to Know, Deborah Levy
Film: The Taste of Cherry, Abbas Kiarostami
Song: My Island Home, the Warumpi Band
Art: The Rock Garden, Nek Chand, Chandigarh
Sarah Bergman
Book - Cutting through Spiritual Materialism by Chogyam Trungpa (Pema Chodron's teacher).
Film- Good Will Hunting
Song - The leaves that are green James Taylor
Lukas Wooller
What comes to my mind is a movie called Mindhorn. I don't find it inspiring but I do find it hilarious, and I'm like everybody else - I just need a good belly laugh from time to time.
Nicky Angelone
I have a couple of small sculptures my children made in early high school years that inspire me when I see them. They remind me of how much I love them, and how special it is to be their mum. And they...
George Turnure
Coming Through Slaughter (Michael Ondaatje), Paris Texas (Wim Wenders), Descent into the Maelstrom (Radio Birdman), William Kentridge
Jila Baker
A work of art that inspires me is a painting I have on the wall in the lounge. It is a dot art painting. When I look at it, it changes my understanding in a moment as it holds so much meaning and...
David Anthony
Too many to name… I mostly get moved by music, art, and books - not so much by movies. Music serves a thousand roles - from Phoenix or Chaka Khan making me dance, to choral music that brings me to...
Amy Shah
One book that has deeply inspired me in the field of mental health is The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma by Bessel van der Kolk. The work explores the complex...
David Indermaur
One of the best books I have read recently is called “Stepping out of self deception by Rodney Smith.
My favourite song is “It's a wonderful world†which can work as a loving...
Rosa Oyta
There are many books, films, and works of art that inspire me and my work as a psychologist. One that particularly stands out is Viktor Frankl's Man's Search for Meaning. The book explores the human...
Meg Bonnell
I'm a huge reader and love incorporating popular culture references into therapeutic discussions. I've been known to reference Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, Batman, Parks and Rec, Mean Girls, The...
Rina Taub
The Language of Flowers
The Streetsweeper
To Kill a Mockingbird
The Diary Anne Frank
Linda Sawrey
Nature inspires me every day. Watching the wonders of life and all its beauty.
Alissa Knight
Scars to your Beautiful - Song By Alessia Cara
Singin My Song - Christina Aguilera
Amanda Dounis
There is a song I remember from when I was young if theres one thing in my life that's missing, its the time that I spend alone. I would love the words and the story to it. Yet today I see how...
Zoe Hedges
Aah so many how do I choose?
Movie: RED,
Book: Birth without cruelty.
Event: referendum to end aparatheid.
Work of Art: Maggie Laubscher's “Ducksâ€
Natalie Meijer
Already Free is a documentary about two colleagues of mine that have overcome great personal hardships and turned their lives around to not only an ordinary but an extoridinary existence where they...
Rebecca Anderson
One of my favourite books in psychology is 'The Dance of Anger' by Harriet Lerner.
Isabelle Truong
The Gift of Therapy - Irvin D. Yalom
Starry Night painting by Van Gogh
Natalie Anderson
I find all forms of creativity inspiring, but Caitlin Moran's 'How to be a Woman' popped into my head for its humorous take on how we can beat ourselves up for not meeting the expectations of others....
Amber Rules
Tough question!
Book: High Fidelity by Nick Hornby
Film: I'm a bit embarrassed to admit it, but I never get sick of watching Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy. Maybe it's not inspiring, but...
Jacqueline Nevin
The book 'Flourish' by Martin E.P. Seligman.
A book on positive psychology that looks at the areas of Positive emotion, Engagement, Relationsips, Meaning and achievment in a person's life and these...
Jacqueline McDiarmid
I like many books, songs and art - but I wouldn't say I have one that inspires me. It is people's stories that inspire me the most - that's when you will see me write a blog or start some research.
Jessica McMillan
What a Wonderful World - by Louis Armstrong
Live Like you were Dying - by Tim McGraw
Wherever you go, There you Are - by Jon Kabat-Zinn
Karin McLennan
The teachings of the great divine, are here for all to access on our planet, with information never before shared with humanity - about this moment in time, who we are, where we came from, what's...
Jean Gamble
Neville Symington - the Making of a Psychotherapist
Julie Henderson - How to feel as Good as Possible despite Everything
Serge Benhayon - The Way it Is
Tina Kopa & Catherine Wood Sounds of Soul
Lissette Endacott
All things creative has the power to inspire me! Perhaps its a slow walk through the bush hearing the symphony of the bird song, sometimes its the crashing waves along our coastal cliffs, a play /...
Conny Davis
The Choice - By Edith Eger (book) (adversity)
The Daily Stoic - By Ryan Holiday (book) (a reminder always to question)
The Deepest Breath - Movie (strength, commitment and connection)
Howard Colin-Thome
Seinfeld, bad humour and anything entertaining is regenerative.
All stories of people coming through adversity are insipiring.
Mary Cantrill
Here are a few notable books:
Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl: This profound memoir explores the experiences of Frankl, a psychiatrist and Holocaust survivor, as he reflects on...
Kerstin Buccoliero
The Faithful Gardener - Audio book by Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estes
Sharon Bonello
There are many books, films, songs and art works that inspire me. It is impossible for me to select just one...
The things that inspire me are anything that someone has taken the time to...
Janelle Wright
I'm currently reading Look What You Made Me Do by Jess Hill. It is challenging me to think about the many dimensions of power that exist in all relationships and explore in my own mind how it can be...
Michael Vaccaro
I have been deeply inspired and influenced by so many books, films, songs and works of art from varying walks of life and traditions!
It's challenging to narrow it down to one.
However,...
Graeme James
I like many forms of music, art and film, though tend to be drawn to music of my era like prog rock or contemporary jazz and fusion - each requires active engagement from the listener, a bit like...
Michelle Lin
My favourite movie is Lilo & Stitch due to the themes around choice, empowerment, resistance, families of choice, and friendship.
Mia Kennedy
I enjoy Christmas. The smell of cinnamon; decorating the house; Christmas lights are all traditions filled with nostalgia for me. I also like the fact that December is a time where joy seems to be...
Dian Abdurachman
The song Good Riddance (by Greenday)
Part of the lyrics:
So make the best of this test
And don't ask why
It's not a question
But a lesson learned in time
It's something unpredictable
But in...
Carolyn Spillett
Hope inspires me. In my first year working as a counsellor - it was the look on a clients face when they came to a place of understanding from a 'feeling' level, what letting go of trying to control...
Alicja Weidner
The adaptation of the story narrated in the Star Thrower by Loren Eiseley:
'One day a man was walking along the beach when he noticed a boy hurriedly picking up and gently throwing things into the...
Melis Topsahin
One of the many people that truly inspire me, as I have probably mentioned time and time again, is Dr. Gabor Mate, who is a Canadian psychiatrist.
Having had the privilege of reading most of his...
Penelope Lovegrove
Movie: - Intouchables, Orlando, Baraka... many more
TV Show: - After Life, Ted Lasso
Book: - Veronika Decides to Die, Miracle of Mindfulness, Lam Rim, Anything by Irvin Yalom, The Happiness...
Brian Whiter
A song called Nature Boy comes to mind. It was composed by Nat King Cole and the lyrics go like this...
There was a boy
A very STRANGE ENCHANTED boy.
They say he wandered very far, very far, over...
Steve White
Love Actually (Film)
Learning from the patient (book) Patrick Casement
Natalie Incledon
I love romance, so my favourite all-time movie is Romeo and Juliet, for it's music, acting, creativity and of course, story.
Gregg Palmer
The Primal Wound
A Transpersonal View of Trauma, Addiction, and Growth, John Firman, Ann Gila
Michelle McClintock
Songs
Can't Stop the Feeling - Justin Timberlake - this song is full of joy and happy vibes
Movies
Matrix - we are all waking up from a dream where we have no power and realising we are powerful...
Sigrid O'Callaghan
Climbing Mt Warning
Paul Klee Paintings
Ryan Presley Mandalas
Byzantine decor and mosaics
Kim Bailey
Book - Too Soon Old, Too Late Smart by Gordon Livingston MD, Irvin Yalom's Love's Executioner, To Kill A Mockingbird - Harper Lee
Film - Manchester By The Sea (Recent), The Green Mile, Finding...
Rosie Burgess
I love music. Especially harmonies. The song Hide and Seek by Imogen Heap speaks to my heart.
I also love the dreaminess of Monet's landscapes. I'm a romantic at heart.
