Contemporary Psychology

06/02/2026

Louisa Nicola on Early Brain Health, Alzheimer’s Prevention and Lifestyle Factors | The Diary Of A CEO Podcast

This deeply informative episode features neurophysiologist Louisa Nicola discussing how cognitive decline begins silently decades before symptoms appear, why lifestyle matters for brain health, and what science-backed strategies can help protect cognition over the long term.

🧠 Silent Early Onset – Nicola explains that neurodegenerative processes associated with Alzheimer’s begin as early as your 30s or 40s, long before memory problems appear later in life.

🏃 Exercise and Brain Resilience – Physical activity, including both resistance training and cardiovascular exercise, stimulates growth factors like BDNF and myokines, supporting healthy brain structure and reducing risk factors for cognitive decline.

🥗 Lifestyle Factors Matter – Sleep quality, diet, movement and metabolic health influence how the brain ages. Poor sleep and sedentary behaviour worsen risk, whereas intentional habits help protect cognitive function.

⚖️ Women’s Risk and Hormonal Shifts – Nicola highlights that women are disproportionately affected by Alzheimer’s and that midlife hormonal changes can impact brain energy and susceptibility.

🧬 Prevention Over Inevitability – The episode reframes cognitive decline as largely preventable through lifestyle, challenging the assumption that Alzheimer’s is an unavoidable part of ageing.

“Brain health doesn’t begin in old age, it begins decades earlier, and what we choose today shapes who we remain tomorrow.”

Why this matters
For anyone curious about ageing well, protecting cognitive function, or understanding how lifestyle impacts long-term brain health, this episode offers practical science-based insights and actionable habits that go beyond surface-level advice.

🎧 Watch or listen to the full episode here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0t_DD5568RA

05/02/2026

In a world of instant tools and quick reassurance, it is worth remembering what therapy is actually designed to do.

Therapy is not about feeling better in the moment. It is about understanding patterns, regulating the nervous system, and creating meaningful change over time. That process often feels challenging, and that is not a flaw. It is the work.

In our latest blog, we explore why therapy is meant to be hard, and why that depth cannot be replicated by AI driven support alone.

Read the full blog here:
https://www.contemporarypsychology.com.au/therapy-is-meant-to-be-hard-and-why-that-is-exactly-why-ai-cannot-replace-it/

30/01/2026

Safe relationships regulate the nervous system.

Feeling seen, heard, and understood lowers stress, supports emotional regulation, and improves resilience.

Connection is not just emotional comfort, it is a biological need for brain health.

30/01/2026

Tim Spector on Gut Health, Brain Function and Why Doctors Got It Wrong | The Microbiome Doctor - Diary of a CEO

In this insightful episode, world-renowned scientist Tim Spector explains how our gut microbiome influences much more than just digestion. Drawing on decades of research and personal experience, Spector explores why traditional views of depression, anxiety and brain decline have overlooked the role of gut health, and how simple dietary choices can support mental and physical wellbeing.

🧠 Gut-Brain Connection – Spector highlights evidence that the gut microbiome influences mood, energy, cognitive function and even dementia risk, challenging the idea that brain health begins only in the head.

🥗 The Foods That Matter – Rather than focusing on calories alone, he emphasises nutrient quality and diversity in the diet, explaining how diverse, fibre-rich and minimally processed foods support a resilient microbiome.

🔬 Rethinking Medical Dogma – For decades, doctors have treated mental health and ageing as separate from systemic physiology. Spector argues that this approach overlooks the broader biological context, particularly how inflammation and microbial balance impact overall health.

📊 Practical Rules for Brain and Microbiome Health – The episode outlines evidence-based principles for nourishing the gut, enhancing metabolic flexibility, and supporting long-term cognitive and emotional wellness.

🧩 Human Experience Meets Research – Through personal anecdotes and scientific review, Spector makes the case that better brain health is accessible through everyday choices and environmental design, not just willpower.

“Understanding the microbiome gives you a new lens on why many health issues feel confusing, and shows that many of the answers have been inside us all along.”

Why this matters
For anyone feeling overwhelmed, tired or confused by conflicting health advice, this episode reframes how we think about nutrition, mood and ageing. It highlights that brain and mental health are deeply interconnected with gut biology, and offers a more integrated approach to wellbeing.

What to do next
Notice how different foods make you feel over time.
Try increasing plant diversity on your plate to support a more robust microbiome.
Prioritise behaviours that support both gut health and nervous system regulation.

🎧 Watch or listen to the full episode here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3dTmyZq4Qk

World-leading gut health expert PROFESSOR TIM SPECTOR reveals brand new research around why dementia, depression, and anxiety may start in the gut, how floss...

29/01/2026

Why does feedback feel personal, even when it is constructive and well-intended?

From a psychological and neurobiological perspective, feedback often activates the brain’s threat and identity systems. This can make even minor comments feel loaded, triggering defensiveness, self-doubt, or rumination.

In this blog, we explore why feedback feels so personal, what is happening beneath the surface, and how to respond in ways that support learning, confidence, and healthier workplace relationships.

Understanding this shift can improve communication, leadership capacity, and resilience at work.

Read the full blog here:
https://www.contemporarypsychology.com.au/why-feedback-feels-personal-even-when-it-is-not/

21/01/2026

When you respond to yourself with kindness, your nervous system shifts out of threat.

Self compassion reduces stress hormones and increases chemicals linked to calm, connection, and motivation.

Being kind to yourself is not soft, it is neurobiologically effective.

15/01/2026

Your body often notices burnout before your mind does. Tight shoulders, poor sleep, gut issues, and constant fatigue are not random. They are early signals from your nervous system asking for relief.

In the latest blog, we explore how stress shows up in the body long before burnout hits, and what to do when these signals appear.

Listening earlier can prevent deeper exhaustion later.

Read The Full Blog: www.conmtemporarypsychology.com.au/how-stress-shows-up-in-the-body-before-burnout-hits/

14/01/2026

Your brain is designed to protect you first, not push you to evolve. When stress feels high, growth shuts down and survival takes over.

Creating safety through rest, predictability, and support is what actually allows learning and change to happen.

18/12/2025

The holiday season is often portrayed as joyful and effortless, yet for many people it brings a complex mix of gratitude, grief, stress, and quiet disappointment. These bittersweet emotions are not a personal failure, they are a natural response to memory, meaning, and relationships converging at once.

In our latest blog, we explore why emotions get mixed at Christmas, how cultural pressure to be cheerful can create shame, and how to care for yourself without withdrawing or pushing through at all costs.

For anyone navigating family dynamics, life transitions, or emotional overload at this time of year, this piece offers a grounded and compassionate framework.

Read the full blog here: https://www.contemporarypsychology.com.au/dealing-with-bittersweet-feelings-during-the-holiday-season/

17/12/2025

Your brain can only shine its spotlight on one thing at a time. Multitasking scatters your focus and increases stress.

When you give one task your full attention, you work faster, think clearer and feel calmer.

11/12/2025

Chronic busyness has become the modern baseline. Many professionals live in a constant state of cognitive overload without realising the neurological cost.

In our latest blog, we break down how chronic busyness rewires the brain into urgency mode and outline practical steps to restore clarity, emotional stability, and sustainable performance.

For leaders, teams, and anyone navigating a high pressure environment, this is essential reading.

Read the full blog here: https://www.contemporarypsychology.com.au/how-chronic-busyness-rewires-the-brain-and-how-to-undo-it/