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.
Why Self-Love Isn’t Enough – And What to Try Instead
Struggling with self-hatred? Discover why self-love alone may not work—and how self-acceptance offers lasting peace. Learn the step-by-step path a psychologist recommends: understanding your humanity, developing compassion, practising forgiveness, and embracing your imperfections as part of a rich, connected life.
ADHD vs. Bipolar: How to Tell the Difference and Why It Matters
ADHD and bipolar disorder share symptoms like impulsivity, mood swings, and racing thoughts, making them tricky to tell apart. Learn the key differences, what to look for, and why an accurate diagnosis is vital for effective treatment and support. Understand your brain and get the help you need.
Five Strategies to Feel Content, Calm, and Complete in Your Own Company
Have you ever noticed how uncomfortable it can feel to sit in a quiet room alone? So many of us reach for our phones, scroll social media, or fill every moment with noise to avoid feeling that emptiness. Yet learning to enjoy your own company can be one of the most life‑changing skills you ever develop.
When we discover how to feel content in our own presence, loneliness begins to soften. Instead of fearing solitude, it becomes a space for restoration, creativity, and even joy. By connecting with nature, observing the rhythms of the universe, and exploring our own inner world, we create a sense of companionship that no one else can give us.
Simple practices like mindful walks in nature, journaling, or just lying under the night sky can shift your experience of being alone from isolating to peaceful. Over time, you begin to realise that the most important relationship you’ll ever have is with yourself—and when that relationship feels strong, life feels fuller, calmer, and more meaningful.
If you’ve ever struggled with loneliness or the fear of being alone, learning how to embrace your own company could be the first step toward a life of deep contentment and emotional resilience.
Invisible Losses: Healing After the Life You Planned Changes
When we think of grief, we often picture funerals, black clothing, and casseroles dropped at the doorstep. But some of the heaviest grief we carry doesn’t follow a death at all. It’s the quiet, often invisible grief that comes when life doesn’t go the way we imagined. This kind of grief might arrive after a marriage ends, when we realise the family we dreamed of won’t look the way we hoped. It might come after a redundancy, when a career we poured ourselves into suddenly slips through our fingers. It can follow a life-altering diagnosis, a disability that reshapes our sense of the future, or the moment we realise a cherished dream — the one we’ve held onto for years — may never happen.
How to Build Self-Esteem and Stop Negative Self-Talk: Learn to Quieten Your Inner Critic
Self-esteem is the way we value ourselves. It is the inner sense that we are worthy of love and respect, even when we make mistakes or face setbacks. It is not arrogance or constant positivity but a steadier, quieter belief that we are fundamentally okay just as we are. Many people seek therapy because they want to know how to build self-esteem, how to stop negative self-talk, and ultimately, how to learn to love themselves. Learn how to quieten the inner critic and boost your self-worth.
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.
The Many Ways People Use Psychology to Thrive
Therapy isn’t just for mental illness — it’s for growth, change, healing, and emotional wellbeing. Discover how a psychologist can support you.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Depression
The evidence is clear: psychotherapy can be a powerful tool in the fight against depression.
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.
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.