The Counselling Armchair: Nurturing well being and study

In this episode of The Counselling Armchair: Nurturing your Wellbeing and Study, we explore the psychology behind scams, cults and other forms of manipulation. While scams and high-control groups may appear very different, they often rely on similar processes: building trust, creating connection, offering belonging or opportunity, and gradually increasing commitment. Together with Liz Bowerman from RMIT’s Safer Community Team, we discuss why students can be targeted, how manipulation works, common warning signs, and what students, friends and families can do to stay safe. We also explore why intelligent and capable people can become caught in these situations, and why compassion rather than judgement is essential when supporting someone who has experienced manipulation or exploitation. This episode acknowledges the contribution of Linda Li, Cyber and Technology Risk Awareness Lead in RMIT’s Office of the CIO, whose expertise informed discussion of current scams, phishing attacks and cyber risks affecting university students. Resources and links: Podcasts A Little Bit Culty - Hosted by former members of NXIVM, Sarah Edmondson and Nippy Ames: https://alittlebitculty.com/ IndoctriNation - Hosted by therapist Rachel Bernstein: https://www.rachelbernsteintherapy.com/podcast The Influence Continuum - Hosted by Steven Hassanhttps://freedomofmind.com/podcast/ Scamfluencers - https://wondery.com/shows/scamfluencers/ The Perfect Scam - Produced by AARP https://www.aarp.org/podcasts/the-perfect-scam/ Was I In A Cult? - https://www.wasiinacult.com/ Books Combating Cult Mind Control — Steven Hassan Freedom of Mind — Steven Hassan Take Back Your Life — Janja Lalich & Madeleine Tobias Traumatic Narcissism and Recovery — Daniel Shaw The Confidence Game — Maria Konnikova Scam Support Resources (Australia) Scamwatch The Australian Government's primary source of scam alerts, prevention advice and reporting information.https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/ National Anti-Scam Centre Provides information about emerging scams, scam prevention and national anti-scam initiatives.https://www.nationalanti-scamcentre.gov.au/ IDCARE Australia and New Zealand's national identity and cyber support service, providing free assistance to people affected by scams, identity theft and cybercrime.https://www.idcare.org/ eSafety Commissioner Offers advice and support for online safety, cyber abuse, image-based abuse and digital security.https://www.esafety.gov.au/ Cult & High-Control Group Resources International Cultic Studies Association (ICSA) One of the world's leading educational organisations on cults, coercive control and undue influence, offering research, articles, conferences and recovery resources.https://www.icsahome.com/ Freedom of Mind Resource Center Founded by Steven Hassan, this organisation provides articles, videos, educational resources and practical guidance for individuals and families affected by coercive control and high-control groups. https://freedomofmind.com/ The Family Survival Trust A UK charity providing education, information and support for people affected by cults, coercive control and undue influence.https://www.thefamilysurvivaltrust.org/ RMIT Student Support Safer Community – https://www.rmit.edu.au/students/support-services/safety-wellbeing/safer-communityStudent Wellbeing – https://www.rmit.edu.au/students/support-services/health-safety-wellbeing RMIT Counselling – https://www.rmit.edu.au/students/support-services/health-safety-wellbeing/counselling RMIT Connect – https://www.rmit.edu.au/students/support-services/connect

In this episode of The Counselling Armchair, Liz and Plia take the mystery out of therapy with a practical, down-to-earth conversation about what it’s really like. They explore what happens in a first session, why you don’t need to have everything figured out (or a diagnosis) before reaching out, and how therapy is often more like a guided, supportive conversation than people expect. They also challenge common myths about therapy, highlighting that it isn’t about being “broken,” but about having a space to understand yourself, cope with challenges, and feel less alone. The episode also explains what actually helps in therapy—from feeling heard and making sense of patterns, to building practical coping skills—and why progress is usually gradual and subtle. Liz and Plia unpack different therapy approaches in simple terms, explain how mindfulness and other techniques are used, and emphasise that there’s no one-size-fits-all model. Finding the right fit with a therapist matters, and it’s completely okay if it takes time to find what works for you. If you’re considering support, you can access counselling through RMIT or speak to your GP about options available to you. Useful links: RMIT Counselling Service: https://www.rmit.edu.au/students/support-services/health-safety-wellbeing/counselling Australian Psychological Society: https://psychology.org.au/find-a-psychologist Mental Health Treatment Plan: https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/mental-health-treatment-plan Lifeline: https://www.lifeline.org.au or 13 11 14

In this episode of The Counselling Armchair: Nurturing Your Wellbeing and Study, Liz and Plia explore people pleasing as a deeply learned pattern rooted in our need for safety, connection, and belonging—rather than a personality flaw. We unpack common signs like difficulty saying no, fear of conflict, and tying self-worth to others’ approval, while also exploring how early experiences, cultural expectations, and the nervous system (including the “fawn” response) can shape these behaviours over time. We talk about the difference between healthy, choice-based kindness and fear-driven people pleasing that can lead to burnout, resentment, and disconnection from self. Importantly, we share practical, compassionate strategies for change. If this resonates, you can explore more about the fawn response in Complex PTSD: From Surviving to Thriving by Pete Walker (https://pete-walker.com/complex_ptsd_book.html), and read about why “just setting boundaries” can be difficult via Safe Space Counselling Why You Can’t Just Say No - People-Pleasing as a Trauma Response, or learn more about self-compassion through Kristin Neff at https://self-compassion.org.

Burnout isn’t just being tired — it’s what happens when stress builds up faster than you can recover. In this episode, Liz, Plia and Melissa unpack what burnout really is, how to spot the early signs, and why it’s become such a common experience for students, carers, and anyone juggling too much. We explore: Emotional, physical and cognitive symptoms of burnout Why burnout builds gradually (hello, stress‑accumulation curve) Different types of burnout — including neurodivergent burnout Why pushing harder doesn’t work What real recovery looks like: rest, boundaries, support and joy Tips for managing end‑of‑degree burnout Burnout isn’t a personal failure. It’s your body asking for relief — and there are ways back to balance. 🔗 Related Episodes Perfectly Imperfect - Embracing Flaws and Finding Balance https://open.spotify.com/episode/0PpLCLtQt7u0eshvjU38Kw?si=d3c283d5a4b440a2 Unwind and Stress Less: Stress Management 101 https://open.spotify.com/episode/4V60tLWnTxuY1YnB2QNuTb?si=c9d83a17f3544adb

Financial stress is something many students experience, and it can affect mental health, physical wellbeing, motivation, and academic performance. In this episode of The Counselling Armchair, Liz, Melissa and Plia are joined by Malcolm and Katie from Student Welfare to discuss why money stress is so common, how it shows up for students, and what practical steps and supports can help. The conversation covers budgeting, fees and debt, placement-related financial pressure, fines, scams, impulsive spending, and the importance of reaching out early for support. Students are reminded that they don’t need to be in crisis to ask for help, and that free, confidential support is available both within and outside the university. RMIT Student Welfare – https://www.rmit.edu.au/students/support-services/student-support/student-welfare RMIT Connect – https://www.rmit.edu.au/students/support-and-facilities/student-support/connect RMIT Financial Assistance & Hardship Grants – https://www.rmit.edu.au/students/support-services/student-support/financial-support RMIT Counselling Service – https://www.rmit.edu.au/students/support-services/student-support/counselling RMIT Study Support – https://www.rmit.edu.au/students/study-support Work and Development Permit (Victoria) – https://www.justice.vic.gov.au/fines/work-and-development-permits Fines Victoria – https://online.fines.vic.gov.au Centrelink (Youth Allowance, Austudy, Rent Assistance) – https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/students Commonwealth Prac Payment – https://www.education.gov.au/commonwealth-prac-payment National Debt Helpline (Free Financial Counselling) – https://ndh.org.au Salvation Army MoneyCare – https://www.salvationarmy.org.au/moneycare Ask Izzy (Food, housing, money help) – https://askizzy.org.au Study Melbourne Hub (International Students) – https://www.studymelbourne.vic.gov.au Scamwatch – https://www.scamwatch.gov.au