The Rural Psychologist

Chantal Corish

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.auInstagram handle @theruralpsychologistDisclaimerThe 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.

  1. 2D AGO

    Farmer & CEO Zara Lowien: How does government policy making and decisions affect community wellbeing

    My big questions today is:  What happens to the mental health and wellbeing of whole rural communities when governments make decisions that negatively impact them? High-quality government support acts as a buffer by fostering institutional trust and interpersonal trust, which in turn reduces mental distress.  Conversely, when citizens perceive government interventions as inadequate in managing economic or social uncertainty, their trust plummets, leading to a marked deterioration in mental health. When governments and powerful institutions fail to protect people, deny reality, or cover up wrongdoing to protect their own reputations, it results in "institutional betrayal".  When these patterns continue over time, the effects compound. We start to see: 1. Declining trust People lose confidence in institutions, which affects everything from healthcare to elections –  2. Social fragmentation Communities become divided, often along ideological lines. 3. Increased susceptibility to conspiracy thinking When official narratives are inconsistent, alternative explanations become more appealing. 4. Learned helplessness People feel that nothing they do will change outcomes, so they disengage. This doesn’t just affect individuals—it weakens the functioning of society as a whole. In this podcast, we’re joined by Zara Lowien, Chief Executive Officer of the National Irrigators’ Council—an organisation at the forefront of one of Australia’s most important and often complex conversations: water. About how she sees the extraction of water from rural communities affecting the very fabric of those communities and the mental health and wellbeing. Zara brings a wealth of experience in public policy, advocacy, and stakeholder engagement, working at the intersection of government decision-making and the real-world needs of rural and regional communities.  In her role as CEO, she helps guide the national voice of irrigators—supporting farmers and industries that quite literally help feed and clothe Australia, and millions more around the world. Her leadership comes at a time when water policy is under increasing pressure—from climate variability, competing environmental and agricultural priorities, and the ongoing evolution of frameworks like those shaping the Murray–Darling Basin.  Under her leadership, the National Irrigators’ Council continues to play a critical role in shaping national conversations around water reform, climate policy, and the long-term resilience of irrigated agriculture. We talk not just about policy, but about people—about what’s at stake for rural communities, and how leadership, collaboration, and innovation can help secure a strong future for Australia’s irrigation sector.

    1h 10m
  2. 06/04/2025

    Ange Cochrane, (The Nana Network & The Future Care Project) rural social entrepreneur helping solve workforce shortages by giving mums a chance to go back to work.

    Are you a rural business struggling to fill job vacancies, or a mother who wants to go back to work but can’t find childcare? Then this interview is well worth a listen. This Interview is a fascinating insight into how Goondiwindi-based social enterprise entrepreneur, Angela Cochrane is solving the problem of childcare shortages to help rural businesses meet their productivity goals. Check out her Future Care Project here: Home | The Future Care  Also check out Ange’s business here: https://www.brightlightinsight.com.au/ In this podcast Chantal chats with Angela Cochrane from The Future Care Project a start-up social enterprise she has built and thrown herself into while caring for her three young children. What began as a little funded project with the Goondiwindi Chamber of Commerce nearly two years ago has evolved into a fulltime social enterprise business and full-heart passion project for Ange, as she tells the story of how childcare and a flourishing economy are very much connected. Without childcare, women cannot re-enter the workforce and this is proving a huge problem for businesses all around regional Australia who are desperate for workers. Angela has thrown herself in to solving this very big problem that not only affects mothers and families, but affects the whole Australian economy. You will be very inspired by this ball of rurally-based, entrepreneurial energy Angela Cochrane, and you will want to get behind her new social enterprise – The Future Care Project. Enjoy!

    47 min
  3. A rural practice: Suzie Collins and Katherine Johnstone talk about running a psychology/ social work practice in the bush.

    05/07/2025

    A rural practice: Suzie Collins and Katherine Johnstone talk about running a psychology/ social work practice in the bush.

    In this episode, Chantal provides advice for health professionals on how not to burn out; and then (at about the 10min mark for those who want to skip my don't burn out advice for health professionals and get straight to the good stuff!) 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 Rural Sky is situated in the heart of Goondiwindi, by the banks of the MacIntyre River, on Queensland’s Darling Downs. We are a private practice of mental health professionals, delivering services to the people in our favourite part of the world, in the place we call home. We are committed to excellence and pride ourselves on providing exceptional and confidential professional services in a warm and positive environment. Our team of highly skilled and experienced clinicians deliver psychological therapy to clients of all ages across the spectrum of emotional and behavioural difficulties. We provide services to individuals, couples, families and even organisations. Rural Sky also offers keynote presentations for events, along with workshops, psychometric testing and coaching to individuals and businesses with a desire to realise their potential and experience lasting success. Fundamental to our practice is that we live in the community that we serve. We understand what it means to live in a rural town. We understand distance, drought and flooding rains, small-town intricacies, local issues and services. We understand you! KATHERINE JOHNSTONE https://ruralsky.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Screen-Shot-2020-01-25-at-11.23.43-am.png 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 en

    56 min

About

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.auInstagram handle @theruralpsychologistDisclaimerThe 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.