Summary: Chris Cheers is a psychologist and educator who is passionate about creating accessible, accepting and safe spaces where people become empowered to reach their life goals. He is also dedicated to increasing community education around mental health, specialising in the arts and LGBTQI+ communities. We discovered Chris through instagram - he is able to distill some deep and helpful insights into a succinct message that is easy for people to access. We were grateful to expand on these and ask our own questions. So much happened in the week between recording and releasing this episode - complicated feelings about the roadmap release, riots and even an earthquake. We’ve personally found Chris’s insights in these challenging times, and we hope that you do too. LINKS AND RESOURCES Offering Tree: https://www.offeringtree.com/flowartists Chris's Website: https://www.chrischeers.com/ Chris's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chrischeerspsychology/ Finding a therapist or psychologist: Find a Psychologist - https://psychology.org.au/find-a-psychologist Psychology Today - https://www.psychologytoday.com/au Victorian Inclusive Practitioners Therapist Directory a list of therapists and health practitioners in Victoria, Australia, who have expertise, training, and/or lived experience in various marginalised social groups. This includes LGBTQIA+, neurodiversity, sex work, kink and BDSM, non-monogamy, immigrant and/or asylum seeker, disability, specific ethnicity and/or religion, and other elements of identity or practice. https://www.vicinclusivepractitioners.com/ Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA) Equity Health Database: https://www.meaa.org/download/the-equity-health-database/ This therapist directory from Pola Psychology: https://polapsychology.com/therapist-directory/ Books and Podcasts mentioned: The Rise: Creativity, the Gift of Failure, and the Search for Master, by Dr Sarah Lewis (also featured on this podcast with Brene Brown) Burnout by Emily and Amelia Nagoski (also featured on Brene Brown's podcast) Emotional Agility by Dr Susan David. Ted Talk on Shame by Brene Brown Chris Cheers Psychology Resources I’ve got a few resources on my website that might be helpful to check out. I’d suggest starting with Mental Health Guide for the Arts Community, my introduction to Mindfulness, an article on adjusting to the new (COVID) normal, and the Wellbeing Guide I put together for Melbourne Fringe. https://www.chrischeers.com/resources Finding a psychologist or therapist is not the only way to do therapy. A range of online programs are now available that offer free, effective and evidence-based programs for stress, anxiety and depression. Head to Health is great place to start searching. Some programs I’d suggest checking out include MindSpot https://mindspot.org.au/ This Way Up https://thiswayup.org.au/ MyCompass https://www.mycompass.org.au/ MoodMission https://moodmission.com/and MoodGYM https://moodgym.com.au/ When you need to talk to someone right now. Lifeline: https://www.lifeline.org.au/ or 13 11 14 (24/7) Trained counsellors offering crisis support and suicide prevention. Beyond Blue Coronavirus Mental Health Support: https://coronavirus.beyondblue or 1800 512 348 (24/7) Trained counsellors available and online resources. Rainbow Door/Switchboard Victoria: https://www.switchboard.org.au/rain or 1800 729 367. QLife: https://www.switchboard.org.au/qlife 1800 184 527 provide peer-driven support services, counselling and referral for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and gender diverse, intersex, queer and asexual (LGBTIQA+) people, their families, allies and communities. The Support Act Wellbeing Helpline (1800 959 500) a free, confidential phone counselling service, available 24/7 to anyone anywhere in Australia who works in music, the performing arts or other creative industries.
