Disclaimer: The content provided on this website is provided solely for informational purposes.The information below should not be used as an alternative to obtaining individual professional advice. Always consult registered healthcare providers when beginning any new treatment. 

Leaning Into Discomfort: Why Awkward and Uncomfortable Moments Matter
Penelope Lovegrove Penelope Lovegrove

Leaning Into Discomfort: Why Awkward and Uncomfortable Moments Matter

Life is full of moments that make us squirm. A difficult conversation with a partner. The long pause after you say something vulnerable. That heavy feeling in your chest before sharing a truth you’ve kept hidden. Most of us are wired to avoid discomfort; our brains are incredibly skilled at nudging us toward safety, familiarity, and control. Yet, what we often label as awkward, uncomfortable, or even terrifying are the exact moments that have the power to transform us. If we can lean into discomfort instead of running from it, we open the door to growth, courage, and connection.

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How Alcohol Affects Mood and Mental Health—And Why Dry July Can Be a Great Reset
Penelope Lovegrove Penelope Lovegrove

How Alcohol Affects Mood and Mental Health—And Why Dry July Can Be a Great Reset

Alcohol can feel like a quick fix for anxiety, stress or low mood—but what many people don’t realise is that it often makes these symptoms worse once the initial effects wear off. Explore the neuroscience of how alcohol affects the brain, why it disrupts sleep and emotional regulation, and how it can quietly keep us stuck in cycles of anxiety, depression, and emotional overwhelm. Whether you're taking part in Dry July or simply curious about your relationship with alcohol, this is a compassionate, evidence-based look at the link between alcohol and mental health.

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The Science of Getting Closer: How to Build Connections
Penelope Lovegrove Penelope Lovegrove

The Science of Getting Closer: How to Build Connections

What if building closeness in your relationships wasn’t just about chemistry—but something you could intentionally create? This article explores the groundbreaking research behind the “36 questions to fall in love” study, what we've learned since, and how you can use these insights to deepen connection in any relationship. This piece offers both science and real-world strategies you can use today.

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Top Tips for Creating Work Life Balance
Penelope Lovegrove Penelope Lovegrove

Top Tips for Creating Work Life Balance

How can you find balance between work and life? Since COVID many of us are working at home at least a few days per week which can make distinguishing the boundaries between our working life and homelife difficult. The following article provides tips and strategies to help achieve that perfect work-life balance.

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Who is the Best Psychologist in Melbourne?
Penelope Lovegrove Penelope Lovegrove

Who is the Best Psychologist in Melbourne?

Who is the best psychologist in Melbourne? Finding the best psychologist in Melbourne isn’t as simple as typing ‘Who is the best psychologist in Melbourne?’ into a search engine. This is because the best psychologist for you may not be the best psychologist for someone else. This means that Google reviews or online recommendations are not going to give you information you can rely on. In this post I explore the essential considerations to guide you in your search for the best psychologist in Melbourne and in case you’re wondering… no, it may not be me!

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Unmasking Adult ADHD: Exploring the Surge in Interest and Challenges in Diagnosis
Penelope Lovegrove Penelope Lovegrove

Unmasking Adult ADHD: Exploring the Surge in Interest and Challenges in Diagnosis

Adult ADHD diagnosis is having a moment in the zeitgeist and it’s for good reason. Psychologists, psychiatrists, and researchers around the globe have recognised that we may have got the criteria a little bit wrong and so begins the mad scramble to correct these oversights. Just what is the problem with diagnosing ADHD in adulthood? Why is it so tricky to get a diagnosis? This article aims to answer these questions and more.

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Merry Mindfulness: Navigating the holiday season
Penelope Lovegrove Penelope Lovegrove

Merry Mindfulness: Navigating the holiday season

‘Tis the season to be jolly, but let's not forget to be mindful too! During the festive frenzy, it's crucial to keep our mental health in check. The holidays can be a mixed bag of joy and stress, so let’s unwrap some mental wellness tips to make sure you sleigh through the season with a smile.

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Breaking the Silence on Men’s Mental Health: how your psychologist can be your wingman
Penelope Lovegrove Penelope Lovegrove

Breaking the Silence on Men’s Mental Health: how your psychologist can be your wingman

Picture this: You're cruising through life, tackling work, relationships, and the occasional existential crisis when suddenly, BAM! You find yourself tangled in the complex web of your own thoughts and emotions. It happens to the best of us. The problem is, many men are taught to power through it, mask their feelings, and never let anyone see them ‘sweat’. I am hopeful that with each generation this attitude is changing but if I am honest, there are times when I feel society takes two steps forward and one step back. It can be hard not to be defeatist. Let’s dive into the topic that often hides in the shadows.

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Battling Burnout: Navigating the lines between work and life.
Penelope Lovegrove Penelope Lovegrove

Battling Burnout: Navigating the lines between work and life.

Beyond mere exhaustion, burnout represents a tumultuous maelstrom of emotions and physical fatigue. It stealthily infiltrates one's life like an unwelcome guest, leaving behind a wake of weariness, frustration, and a lingering sense of disillusionment. The unmistakable signs often go unnoticed, dismissed as mere facets of the daily grind. Other times, clients come to see me concerned about symptoms of anxiety or depression when their distress is more likely to be related chronic workplace stress. This article looks at how to identify the signs of burnout.

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I’ll tell you all about procrastination tomorrow…
Penelope Lovegrove Penelope Lovegrove

I’ll tell you all about procrastination tomorrow…

It took me ages to write this article about procrastination. I just kept putting it off. Get it? Boom boom. All jokes aside, procrastination can have a pretty big impact on our mood and mental health. According to Britt Frank, licensed clinical social worker, psychotherapist, and procrastination researcher, procrastination is not a character flaw but a coping mechanism that people use to manage their emotions. I personally would probably go a step further and describe it is a defense mechanism people use to avoid their emotions altogether.

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Depression
Penelope Lovegrove Penelope Lovegrove

Depression

The evidence is clear: psychotherapy can be a powerful tool in the fight against depression.

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Anxiety & Your Body
Penelope Lovegrove Penelope Lovegrove

Anxiety & Your Body

Understanding our physiological responses to anxiety can help us to recognise signs and symptoms earlier on and take steps to prevent our anxiety escalating to the point where it becomes distressing or impairing. Anxiety is a normal, healthy part of being human. In fact, it is essential. As I explain to clients, our goal is not to eliminate anxiety altogether. When the smoke alarm goes off, I need your system to still be able to kick in so that you can grab the kids and the dog and escape from the flames safely. The problem is when it starts activating in the absence of an immediate threat. 

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Breathing Techniques
Penelope Lovegrove Penelope Lovegrove

Breathing Techniques

Since breathing is something we can control and regulate, it is a useful tool for achieving a relaxed and clear state of mind. I recommend breathing exercises to help relax and reduce stress: The 4-7- 8 Breathing Exercise (also called the Relaxing Breath), and Breath Counting. Try each and see how they affect your stress and anxiety levels.

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Safety First: It’s your (neuro)biological requirement!
Penelope Lovegrove Penelope Lovegrove

Safety First: It’s your (neuro)biological requirement!

Feeling safe is not a luxury—it’s a biological necessity. Long before we developed language, logic, or even conscious thought, our nervous systems evolved to do one very important job: keep us alive. Safety, therefore, is not just a pleasant state of being—it’s the foundational platform that allows everything else in our human experience to unfold. Without it, the parts of our brain responsible for reasoning, empathy, creativity, connection, and growth simply can’t do their jobs.

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Psychologist or Psychiatrist? Coach or Counselor?
Penelope Lovegrove Penelope Lovegrove

Psychologist or Psychiatrist? Coach or Counselor?

Choosing the right mental health treatment for you. What’s the difference between a psychologist and a psychiatrist? Is a counsellor better than a psychologist? What does a life coach do? How do I choose the best treatment for my mental wellbeing? This article will help guide towards gaining access to better mental health.

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Finding YOUR Therapist
Penelope Lovegrove Penelope Lovegrove

Finding YOUR Therapist

Searching for the best psychologist? What questions should you ask your psychologist at the first session? How do you know your psychologist is good for you? This article hopes to shed some light on how to find the best psychologist for your needs.

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