The Body Speaks: How Our Physical Sensations Shape Our Emotional World Have you ever noticed how your stomach seems to “drop” when you receive disappointing news, or how your chest feels tight when you’re anxious? These aren’t just figures of speech – they’re glimpses into one of the most fascinating aspects of human experience: the … read more

Motherhood Beyond Birth: The Many Faces of Nurturing When we think about mothers, our minds often first conjure images of pregnancy, birth, and that initial cradling of new life. But motherhood, in its truest essence, transcends the biological process of giving birth. Being a mother is fundamentally about creating a safe, predictable and nurturing environment … read more

When Our Past Shapes How We Respond to a Crying Baby I recently came across an interesting study that provides compelling evidence for something I’ve observed in my work for years – how our attachment history literally shapes our brain’s response to infant distress. The research, published in the Journal of Attachment & Human Development, … read more

Learning to surf, like navigating academia, requires patience, guidance, and the courage to keep getting back up. Here’s what one session with Blue Dot’s Surf Therapy taught me about resilience and growth. The Beginning: Setting Intentions The morning began with a walk along Manly Beach to meet Chris and Gina, who had invited me to … read more

How to BRAVE the Holiday Season The holiday season arrives this year amid global uncertainties and economic pressures that many Australians are feeling deeply. While the festive season traditionally brings joy, it can also amplify our challenges. We’re navigating not just family expectations and complicated histories, but also conversations about rising living costs, climate concerns, … read more

Why Online Therapy Platforms Like BetterHelp Miss the Mark: A Psychodynamic Perspective As a psychotherapist specialising in trauma and attachment, I’ve been watching the rise of online therapy platforms like BetterHelp with growing concern. While increasing access to mental health support is crucial, these platforms often overlook the fundamental aspects of what makes therapy transformative. … read more

Mental Health Day: A Time for Reflection and Action As we mark another Mental Health Day, we must pause and consider the state of our collective well-being. Recent years have presented unprecedented challenges for Australians and humanity in general. Natural disasters are continuing, and the global pandemic’s leftover disruption still affects us. The horror of … read more

  The Revealing Power of the Adult Attachment Interview   As a therapist, I continue to be amazed by the insights that surface when we embark on our self-exploration journeys alongside clients. One experience that proved transformative for me was completing the Adult Attachment Interview (AAI) training and becoming a certified coder of the instrument. … read more

Celebrating Mother’s Day with a Different Perspective Mother’s Day is a time for celebration and gratitude, but for many, it can also bring complex emotions to the surface. Not everyone has a positive relationship with their mother, and others may be dealing with the pain of loss. If you find yourself in one of these … read more

Here are six easy ways to keep your nervous system in check for better health. Getting started Our nervous system is very important to our health as a whole. It controls many functions and processes in our bodies, like how we react to stress, digest food, and how our immune system works. Keeping it in … read more

https://www.bodyandsoul.com.au/wellness/mental-health/10-subtle-signs-you-may-have-unresolved-childhood-trauma/news-story/dbdc8b8c53f8270200ea062eed49422d

One of these mornings I woke up with a sense of dread. Feeling the stresses of our ‘new normal’; the way we have to think about wearing masks and hand sanitizers. Feeling the pain of lack of real, face-to-face connection with loved ones. Dealing with the general ‘I am over it’ attitude from basically everyone. … read more

Hello Brave Friends, Our relationships give us most of our joys – and most of our sorrows. They can comfort and lift you, and they can stress and hurt you. As we deal with the coronavirus, it’s more important than ever to have solid, healthy, fulfilling relationships . . . and to mend and resolve … read more

I don’t know how you feel but for me this opening up, going back to ‘normal’ is happening a little too fast. I remember when the lock-down started, I was driving home from exercising, I saw a cat crossing the road in a curve of the road where I have never seen a cat before. … read more

For the national psychotherapy day I put together a little questionnaire to ask about experiences in therapy. The themes that came up were not surprising to me. Most people who answered the questions were appreciating their therapy experiences. Naturally there would be a bias because most people who this questionnaire reached are interested in psychotherapy. … read more