Articles
-
Communication Styles to Improve Relationships
Do you have people in your life you always feel in conflict with, like you are always on a different page? Maybe simple conversations end in arguments. Perhaps you just always feel defensive or on edge when you speak. Are you always stressed in interactions because of this difference? Well, the good news is there…
-
Consistency and Consequences: Parenting Strategies for setting Boundaries
Oh the joys of parenthood! Oftentimes discipline is a parent’s least favorite part of raising children. No one enjoys having to provide consequences to poor behavior, but it is arguably one of the most important aspects of raising happy, healthy, and thriving children. A better way to think of discipline is by simply referring to…
-
Letting go of Control in Relationships
Relationships can be tough. There can be a lot of stress and conflict. Do you ever feel like you are loosing control in a relationship? Do you feel like there are times when you are always in control? Well to be honest, most problems occur when one partner tends to control one aspect of a…
-
Diagnosed- The benefits in receiving a DSM-5 diagnosis.
Have you ever wondered if you or a loved one have a mental health diagnosis? You are not alone. Scientists estimate that 1 in every 4 people are directly or indirectly affected by a mental health issue. Why is this just an estimate? Because not everyone with a mental health concern goes through the process…
-
Why Resilience?
Have you ever wondered why some people can handle difficulties in their lives better than others? Have you noticed, some people seem to have the ability to just “brush it off”? It is because of a little thing called resilience. Resilience isn’t really a little thing at all. It is a big thing, and it…
-
Procrastination: Your Perfectionism may be the Problem
So… you have been called a perfectionist. Sure, your friends may joke about your overachieving and highly organised lifestyle, but hey, your perfectionism may have served you well over the years! There is nothing wrong with wanting to do things to the best of your ability and staying organised. You were probably really good at…
-
What is the WPPSI?
Assessments like to confuse us with complicated acronyms. What do all of these letters mean anyway? As a parent who is looking at an assessment for their young child, it is important to understand what assessment your child will be taking, what the complicated acronyms actually mean, and most importantly, what the results mean for…
-
Supporting Children During Stress
As parents it is instinctual to want to protect our children from the stress and problems of the world. However, children are going to experience stress, anger, fear, disappointment, and anxiousness, just like we do as adults. As parents it can be hard to know how to respond to these strong emotional responses in our…
-
Arguments: Is being “right” really worth it?
Arguments in relationships. We all have them, but what is the best way to actually win in an argument? Well it turns out, the desire to be “right” in a disagreement may actually not be as gratifying as it would seem. What if your desire of being “right” is actually harming your relationship? You may…
-
Sleep Troubles
Can’t sleep? You are not alone! Over 40 million people have some sort of sleep disorder, so next time you are lying awake at night, odds are high that someone in your building or someone up the street is staring at their ceiling too. Sleep problems can range in severity. Sleeplessness may be an ongoing…
-
Decision Making Guide for Busy People’s Schedules
Have you ever felt overwhelmed by your growing to do list and your quickly filled calendar? We have all been there! Trying to juggle a career and a home life can be complicated. Once you throw in raising children, home maintenance, your partner, social life, and family members, life can be overwhelmingly busy. Spending time…
-
Suicide: Tools for Talk and Tools for Help
Suicide is one of those topics that is increasingly filling the narratives of our movies, TV shows, and books. Yet, having a conversation about the topic is somehow taboo. The suicide rate in Australia is on the rise. In fact, it is number 13 on the list of causes of death, right alongside heart disease…
-
What is the WISC-IV?
Often when a child is being assessed for academic difficulties or giftedness, the WISC-IV will be administered amongst a collection of psychological tests with similarly ambiguous acronyms. The aim of this article is to provide some clarity about the content and purpose of this commonly used assessment. The goal is to demystify part of the…
-
What is the WIAT-II?
Often when a child is being assessed for academic difficulties or giftedness, the WIAT-II will be administered amidst a battery of psychological tests with similarly ambiguous acronyms. The aim of this article is to provide some clarity about the content and purpose of this commonly used assessment. The goal is to demystify part of the…
-
What is the WAIS-IV?
Often when a person is being assessed for academic or occupational difficulties, the WAIS-IV will be administered amidst a battery of psychological tests with similarly ambiguous acronyms. The aim of this article is to provide some clarity about the content and purpose of this commonly used assessment. The goal is to demystify part of the…
-
Mental Health Canberra
Public Service is a Sacrifice: Mental Health Problems in the Workplace When joining the workforce in Canberra, there is usually one major decision, public service or private sector? While there are pros and cons to both, it seems that mental health concerns may be a large con to taking a public service job. There are…
-
Impact of Vicarious Exposure to Traumatic Events on Mental Health
Limit your Exposure: Traumatic Events in the News is Bad for your Mental Health Have you ever stopped and thought about how often you expose yourself to traumatic images and stories? Most of us don’t even think about the exposure because it is so entrenched into our daily lives. The murder mysteries, violent action films…
-
Common Traits of Adult AD/HD
Do I have Adult ADHD? It is no secret that Attention Deficit- Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) has become a common discussion point amongst school aged children. The rate of diagnosis has been steadily increasing 3% a year since 2003 (adhd.org.au) and there seems to nothing slowing this number down. So what is the deal with this…
-
Positive Psychology 101
Positive Psychology is a branch of psychology is often summarized by the phrase “Oh, you think happy thoughts!”… While that description isn’t necessarily wrong, it oversimplifies a powerful form of psychology that can be a powerful tool in improving your overall happiness. Let’ s unpack what positive psychology has to offer and how we can…
-
What exactly is Borderline Personality Disorder?
There are so many misconceptions about Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). It is often used in everyday conversation in reference to individuals who appear to have split personalities or intense mood swings. Sadly, it is typically used as a joke or in passing, but this casual jargon can be incredibly confusing for anyone questioning whether or…
-
When “Thinking Positive” is Not Enough
We have all heard the advice of “Hey, just think positive!” or seen those cheesy little posters that say “If you dream it, you can do it!”. Positive psychology is rooted in the fact that thinking optimistically can be used as a tool to improve your wellbeing. There are tons of antidotal stories that explain…