Social Media, Mental Health & Victim Mentality with Claire Lehmann

In this episode of On the Couch with Clare, I’m joined by Bella Duncan — speaker, advocate, and the powerful voice behind the platform A Kid With Two Homes. Bella shares her lived experience growing up in a separated family and gives an honest, heartfelt insight into what life is really like for a child caught between two homes. While many experts offer professional advice on co-parenting, Bella speaks from the perspective that matters most - the child’s. Her story and practical wisdom have resonated with thousands of parents navigating divorce and separation. Whether you’re co-parenting now, have family or friends going through it, or simply want to understand how to support children through separation, this conversation is for you.

In this episode of On the Couch with Clare, I’m joined by Dr Justin Coulson - one of Australia’s most trusted parenting experts, founder of Happy Families, and a long-time voice on how to raise emotionally-healthy kids in a digital world. We are discussing a topic that many parents find uncomfortable but it is essential - kids and pornography. From first exposure (spoiler: it’s earlier than you think) to the long-term impact on body image, consent, relationships, and development. This is a grounded, respectful and eye-opening conversation for any adult raising or working with children today. If you’ve ever wondered how to have that conversation with your child, this episode is for you. In this episode: When and how most kids are first exposed to pornography What porn is teaching our kids and what they’re not learning The emotional and psychological impacts of early exposure How to talk about porn without shame, fear or shutting kids down Why open conversations around consent, respect and healthy relationships matter more than ever What schools should be teaching and what still falls to parents How to start the chat, even if you’ve left it later than you’d hoped.

In this episode of On the Couch with Clare, I’m joined by Dr Anastasia Hronis - a clinical psychologist, founder of the Australian Institute for Human Wellness, and passionate educator on the neuroscience of behaviour. Together, we unpack the surprising and powerful role dopamine plays in our daily lives and why understanding it can be a total game-changer. Dopamine isn't just the “feel-good” chemical - it’s the engine behind motivation, habit formation, attention, addiction, and so much more. Clare and Anastasia chat about the science in real-world terms from social media scrolling to parenting, procrastination, and why your brain sometimes resists doing what’s good for you. In this episode: What dopamine actually is and why it’s central to so many of our behaviours How modern life hijacks our dopamine system Why motivation often comes after action — not before it The addictive power of intermittent rewards and “dopamine loops” How understanding dopamine can help parents with kids struggling at school or with routine Strategies to break unhelpful patterns and build better habits What we can do when we feel stuck, overwhelmed or unable to get going.

In this episode of On the Couch with Clare, I’m joined by Jack Ayoub — union organiser, former federal political candidate, opera singer, and unapologetic truth-teller. You may have seen Jack recently stirring up conversation with his bold piece in The Australian titled LGBTQIA+ Doesn’t Speak for Me: It’s Time to Dismantle the Rainbow Alliance. But beyond the headlines, Jack's story is one of resilience, community, and asking the tough questions — from growing up in rural NSW and overcoming hardship, to navigating identity, belonging, and the risk of being reduced to a label. In a world that loves neat categories, Jack's perspective challenges us to think more deeply about individuality, equality, and what genuine community really looks like. In this episode, we chat about: Who gets to speak for a community and why Jack believes no one can represent such diverse experiences The complexity of identity and why sexuality, gender or background shouldn't define the whole person Growing up in rural NSW, hardship, loss and how real community changed Jack's life The origins and evolution of the LGBTQIA+ movement — and whether it's time for honest reflection Why labels can feel both empowering and deeply limiting How we have open, respectful conversations even when the topic is controversial.

Today’s guest is Dr Anthony Dillon, a psychologist and an Indigenous academic and commentator and we’re having a discussion that is a cross-section between mental health and culture. We chat about Anthony’s current trends in mental health diagnoses, the potential drawbacks of labelling, victim mentaliity, and the significance of community and connection in mental wellbeing. In this episode: Anthony's journey into Psychology Growing up with Indigenous and English heritage Current mental health trends and diagnoses The impact of labels in mental health Victim mentality and its effects The importance of social connection Identity politics and division in society The Voice to Parliament debate Cultural training in psychology Advice for young people