Photo by Eddie Howell on Unsplash Grieving the loss of a pet? Some tips to help you through the heartache To me there is nothing sadder than returning home from the vets with an empty carrier. Five days ago I found out that a furry family member had an inoperable...
Emotional eating (and how to stop) Do you struggle with food cravings? I do. I'm an emotional eater but learning the neuroscience and psychology of emotional eating has helped me quit. People always assume that a therapist totally has their act together, but we’re...
How to deal with unpleasant thoughts and feelings - How Sean Connery gets me to the gym on a monday morning We humans have evolved to do whatever we can to avoid pain, whether it’s physical, emotional or psychological. Obviously avoiding physical pain is a good...
Dealing with the aftermath of domestic violence I wish that this wasn’t the case, but I’m currently helping a few clients deal with situations of domestic violence. Some still in the danger zone. Others now in a place of safety. But all of them dealing with the...
A problem shared (internet dating horror stories) “A problem shared is a problem halved” goes the old English saying. I heartily agree with that one. This is not just because I’m a psychotherapist and I know that just talking to someone about your problems can be...
It's time to speak up A friend of mine created the excellent campaign “It’s ok to say” (if you don’t feel ok). It's about letting people know that you have anxiety and/or depression so that you're not going through this alone. But with the news of women in Hollywood...
How counselling can help you avoid family court - from a Brisbane Family Lawyer Guest blog by Jennifer Hetherington of Hetherington Family Law Tonight I saw a post in a Facebook group of which I am a member along the lines of the following: "Has anyone been successful...
Exercise as therapy for your mind We know that exercise make us healthier. It has the benefit of lowering blood pressure and reducing your risk of diabetes. But it’s so easy to NOT do it, right? Especially as it’s getting so cold and the sofa is so comfy. But...
Whatever you desire you unconsciously fear “Whatever you desire, you unconsciously fear. Whatever you experience, you unconsciously want.”1 Wait.. what? The thing I desire the most is the thing I fear the most? And what I'm experiencing now is what...
A walking mindfulness meditation for people with ants in their pants. As a kid my parents called me “Squiggle” because of my refusal to sit still. 46 years later and I’m pretty much the same although I move a bit slower. Seated meditation just isn’t my bag....
An Emotional Survival Guide for Christmas This Emotional Survival Guide to Christmas has been written to help you navigate difficult emotions over the ‘silly season’. Whether you are feeling anxious, stressed, lonely, sad, or suicidal even, here are my tips for...
What's on your "lemon day" list? When life gives you lemons do you make lemonade or do you reach for the ice cream? I have been known to do the latter when things go really downhill. Sometimes you just need a bit of sweetness in your life, but then I regret it the...