About Me
B.PSYCH (HONS) PHD. MPSYCHOL (CLIN) MAPS
Director of Michael Player Psychology, Dr Michael Player is a registered clinical psychologist with experience working with people with most all mental health concerns. He is an accomplished international speaker, consultant and researcher, who complements his clinical work with a research position at the University of Sydney’s Brain and Mind Centre. His research background covers the entire gamut of mental health issues including depression, anxiety, stress, suicide, men’s mental health, and adaptive coping strategies.
He has developed and offers a range of online programs, including Unwind Your Mind and StressLess Online Master Series to individuals and organisations to improve employee mental health and wellbeing, leading to improved happiness, performance and engagement.
Michael gained a PhD at the University of New South Wales, School of Psychiatry, Australia, a Master of Clinical Psychology (Macquarie University, Australia), and a Bachelor of Psychology (Hons, Class I; University of Newcastle, Australia). He is a full member of the Australian Clinical Psychological Society (APS) and the Australian Clinical Psychological Association, and holds full accreditation with the Psychology Board of Australia, and is fully registered by APHRA with endorsement as a clinical psychologist (PSY0001817665).
HIGH PERFORMANCE EXECUTIVE Consultancy
Michael’s brand of executive coaching will empower you to understand and channel your drives in a thoughtful and sustainable manner. You will make the absolute most of what you have. His coaching isn’t just about professional development; it’s about personal evolution. Michael’s one-of-a-kind system, rooted in meticulously researched yet often overlooked psychological theories, will be your compass to unearth hidden beliefs and biases that have been quietly, and at times, negatively shaping your life.
He’ll create awareness of the repetitive patterns of thinking, behaving and interacting with others which keeps you feeling stuck or unfulfilled. And through a series of powerful, and at times difficult conversations you will shed the anchors of your past and emerge with the freedom to grow, nurture, lead and leave an indelible mark on the world.
Corporate Consultancy
Over the years, Michael has worked in and consulted to a range of hospital, educational, government, industry and community groups on a range of mental health problems found in the community. These include anxiety treatment for children and adolescents, the cognitive retraining of patients with Schizophrenia, improving the quality of life for those suffering chronic diseases, and the coping with repetitive, unhelpful rumination and worry in corporate populations.
my hope
Throughout my life my stress has produced experiences you’d describe as worry, fear, anxiety, sadness and even depression.
Many of my life’s key decisions and ways of coping have been centred around my stress at the time. As an adult, I’ve had a series of stressful jobs – working long hours in dangerous roles on construction sites to pay my way through university, as a stockbroker and futures trader in the very volatile markets of the late nineties and early noughties, and in demanding corporations with overzealous but uninformed management teams.
For many years, the stress of these jobs severely affected my sleep and led me to distract, minimise and avoid my pain with all the usual suspects. I also fell into anger and passive-aggressive behaviour simply to cope.
If you’re a little like me you might work too hard, bite too big, care too broadly, and like being needed too much. That’s ok if you’re actually looking after yourself.
Yet the most stress I ever experienced was while I was studying my true love, psychology. This should have been a joy, but I was studying full time for a clinical masters degree while writing my doctoral thesis and working part time (read full time!) in a research position.
It was the busiest I’ve ever been and, to be honest, it sort of broke me. Something changed in me during that time, and I’ve never been the same again. And I often see this my clients, most are too afraid to slow down in case they stop, and never start again.
Some keep going just to stop the voice in their heads telling them they’re weak or useless. Or some might find completing all the everyday is just getting harder. These are tough places to be. If you’re a little like me you might work too hard, bite too big, care too broadly, and like being needed too much. That’s ok if you’re actually looking after yourself, but chances are you neglect the basics when the heat is on. I can help here. So reach out and let’s set things right.