Lifestyle factors improve mental health

If you’ve ever felt lighter after a morning walk, calmer after a healthy meal, or more hopeful after a restful night’s sleep – you’ve already experienced the link between lifestyle and mental health. These everyday choices are more than good habits – they’re proven tools for recovery. Strong scientific evidence and clinical guidelines support their […]

How Lifestyle Changes Improve Mental Health Recovery

Mid-life woman

As a clinical psychologist, I’ve had many conversations with women who feel adrift during menopause. They’ll say things like, “I just don’t feel like myself anymore,” “I feel overwhelmed all the time,” or “I don’t know how to move forward.”  Menopause, after all, isn’t just about changing hormones—it touches everything: our identity, self-worth, relationships, sense […]

Understanding Grief and Loss During Menopause

The benefits of friendship for women laughing and sharing

Friendships play a vital role in our lives, offering companionship, self-esteem, and support. They also offer unique health benefits, enhancing many aspects of our physical and mental well-being. In this blog post, we’ll explore the science behind the benefits of friendship and why investing in meaningful connections can lead to a happier, healthier life. The […]

The Science-Backed Benefits of Friendship

Maintaining friendships in adulthood can be challenging. There are many reasons why friendships end.

As psychologists, we often witness the profound impact that friendships have on our clients’ mental, emotional, and even physical well-being. Friendships are not just a source of joy, support, and connection; they are deeply intertwined with our physical and mental health and overall life satisfaction. However, maintaining friendships as adults can be uniquely challenging and […]

When friendships end: Understanding why friendships falter

What you need to know about depression and menopause

Five things you need to know about depression and menopause

Five things you need to know about depression and menopause

Relationship therapist Tiffany Brest listens to a couple in a relationship therapy session

Relationship therapy helps people in relationships build more trusting, supportive, and fulfilling connections with each other. Despite its growing popularity, many people have misconceptions about relationship therapy. Here are the most common myths we hear; Relationship therapy is only for people who are married, in long-term relationships, or in crisis, and it focuses on the negative and taking sides.

Five common myths about relationship therapy

Distraction is not a helpful coping strategy for negative thoughts and emotions

Distraction can be a helpful strategy but it can create problems if you use it to manage all your negative thinking and emotions.

The downsides of distraction

Sally-Kemp-helping-her-client-tackle-his-negative-thinking

Are you caught in a cycle of negative thinking, dwelling on past mistakes, worrying about the future? Try tackling your negative thinking with thought challenging and cognitive de-fusion.

Tackling negative thinking: Two approaches to break the cycle

Women are at greater risk of anxiety than men in Australia

Learn to manage your anxiety by identifying your unhelpful thinking styles and developing more balanced, realistic ways of interpreting the situation.

Overcoming anxiety’s unhelpful thinking styles

Women are at greater risk of anxiety than men in Australia

Nearly one in three Australians will experience an anxiety disorder during their lifetime. Every person has their own unique factors that contribute to their anxiety disorder and experiences the impact of their anxiety disorder on their well-being in different ways. People at risk include young people, women, and the LGBTQ+ community.

Anxiety disorders – Australia’s number one mental health issue