Heading into 2020 with 20/20 Vision

There’s a range of narratives I could tell about this year. 2019 has been the year of some immense career highlights, with presentations at national and international conferences. A sensational year of being a proud mother and partner, complete with a bunch of glossy instar-worthy photos to add punch to my points. 

I could tell the narrative of a brutal year, full of intense professional and personal moments of pain, stress, grief and loss. I could bravely share with you the moments that weren’t social-media suitable, and tell you how I long to tie a bow around this year, neatly packaged, and tell it:

Both narratives would be true.

But the narrative I’m interested in telling is the one of a world on fire, and witnessing (and participating in) the best of humanity standing up and taking action. The narrative that brings me most hope, and one I truly believe in (because, science), is that humanity is great at coming together in a crisis.

Across my professional and personal networks, I have watched 2019 be brutal, unforgiving, unrelenting, and the largest undercurrent pulling us on has been the dreadful realisation that the apocalypse-style future scientists have been predicting for decades is here. For sure, I am filled with fury at the lack of inaction of governments across the globe who could’ve followed the science many years ago. For definite I am, at times, paralysed with a sense of hopelessness in the face of the tiny drops in the ocean any of my concerted efforts might actually be. But also, I remember that no drop in the ocean is alone, and this has been a year of seeing humanity mobilised; understanding our existence is at stake, and showing up with words and (more importantly) actions to show our mother home that we’re up for the task of healing our planet.

I am loving the change in conversations that are happening at dinner tables and coffee groups. I love that we get to inspire each other, and challenge each other, with steps small and large as we figure out how to work the solution together. The best predictor of future behaviour is past behaviour, and we have saved our planet once before. The narrative I want to tell is that I am completely confident that we will do so again.

I have kept this post short as I have chosen the linked articles carefully and I’d love you to spend time reading those instead. But I can’t finish this post without a deep bow to Greta Thunberg. A passionate 16 year old who did not set out to lead a global movement; who possibly never envisaged speaking to the United Nations; nor being chosen as Time’s Person of the Year. Thunberg could not have predicted where her steadfast commitment to her values would lead her, she just knew that it mattered to keep speaking her piece. For 2020, my hope for us all is that we will act with the same dedication in the face of uncertainty as Thunberg. Let’s not wait for hindsight before acting with 20/20 clarity.

A note about me for 2020

As part of my own continual commitment to do more to care for our planet, I am relocating from The Charles Street Clinic in North Perth to join Three Waters Psychology Clinic in Leeming. When I moved to Charles Street over five years ago, we chose each other carefully and deliberately. It matters to all of the team of dedicated clinicians at the clinic that we can stand behind the therapy that happens within each therapy room. However, I have sat with an increasing values-clash by navigating the narrows on my daily commute. I’m a South of the River Citizen, catching public transport was not a viable alternative, and I had reached a point where I could no longer justify the sole-passenger travel.

I have taken the same care and dedication in choosing a clinic to relocate to that holds this same uncompromisingly high standard for professional excellence behind every therapy door; while better meeting my environmental goals. Established by Clinical Psychologist James Paisley and Counselling Psychologist Jamie Stanton, Three Waters Psychology Clinic provides evidence-based assessment and psychotherapy across the lifespan. With our shared passion for working with complex families and complex needs with wholehearted compassion, it seemed an easy, natural fit for a great team. I am confident that the highest level of care and attention is being given to every client that shares their journey with us. I am thrilled that such a high quality centre of practice has welcomed me to value-add to their team.

I will be joining Three Waters Psychology Clinic in their new rooms in Leeming – a five minute walk from Murdoch train station, with multiple frequent bus routes stopping right outside. Not only can I choose a public transport commute to work, so too can any of my clients if it matters to them to do so. 

In 2020 I will also expand my provision of supervision to early- and mid-career psychologists passionate about the application of contextual behavioural science to their clinical practice; and increase my offerings of training opportunities. This blog, my dear pet-project, has suffered through an 18-month hiatus whilst I focused on volunteer commitments to the Board of the Australian and New Zealand Chapter for Contextual Behavioural Science. I have missed writing for you, and I am glad to be back.