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Category Archives: Mental Health
Give up on Happiness
It’s early morning and Toothless is distressed. “There are THREE mornings I have to go to school early. I don’t want to!” he tells me. I’m not a morning person either – he has a sympathetic ear with me. I … Continue reading
Posted in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Mental Health, Parenting
Tagged ACT, children, emotions, feelings, happiness, Kids, Mental Health, parents, Steven Hayes
2 Comments
Tasting Freedom – and why this is my last Blog Post ever.
There’s this moment when I’m flying down the hill, wind in my face, blue sky above me, and I notice this thought passing by – that this is it, THIS is tasting freedom. It’s exhilarating, and not just because I’ve … Continue reading
Posted in Acceptance & Commitment Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Mental Health, Parenting
Tagged Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, ACT, children, defusion, Happiness Trap, Healthy Eating, Hiccup, Kids, Mental Health, mindfulness, parenting, perspective taking, PN OCD, Thinking, values
4 Comments
Mental Health – More than an absence of illness
It’s Mental Health Week – and the fact that it’s not called “Mental Illness Week” is not insignificant. We will hear a lot about mental ill-health this week, and so we should – but mental health, mental wellness is more … Continue reading
Posted in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Mental Health
Tagged friendships, Mental Health, mental illness
5 Comments
I Want to Change the World. What about you? Can we do it together?
I’m reflecting on the amazing five weeks I’ve just had traveling abroad with my family, an opportunity which was made possible by a generous scholarship I was awarded by the Perth Convention Bureau and Giving West. I had an incredible … Continue reading
An Answer to the “War on [Pretty Much Everything]” – reviewing Anthony Biglan’s “The Nurture Effect”
There’s this mother sitting before me and she tries to stem the tears. It’s been weeks since her son has been to school. We’ve been tracking this for a while, her and I – and today her exhaustion is palpable. … Continue reading
Why TV could be making you – and your children – unhappy
At the recent Australia/New Zealand Association of Contextual Behaviour Science conference, I was enthralled by guest speaker Dr Tim Kasser (Professor of Psychology at Knox College, Galesburg, Illinois), who spoke on the contradiction of what society tells us will improve well-being, … Continue reading
Learning to be Human – my journey through Perinatal OCD
It’s Mental Health week. As a psychologist, I am honoured to hear the most sacred of stories – but the only one I have permission to share here is mine. So to raise awareness, here it is. I remember the … Continue reading
Parenting by the Seat of Our Pants
That’s what today’s felt like – parenting by the seat of my pants. People comment sometimes that what with being a clin psych with a wealth of training and experience with development, parenting, and families, that being a parent must … Continue reading
Skills Post! Thoughts Driving you Mad? Try Playful Thinking
I feel sorry for my kids sometimes – can’t be easy having a psych for a mum! I had this conversation with my eldest recently when he didn’t want to give a new sports class a go: Him: I don’t … Continue reading
What if I put the baby in the microwave?
So there was this mother who, when home alone, would avoid carrying her baby into the kitchen, just in case she accidentally popped him in the oven. She avoided taking him into the laundry because what if the washing machine … Continue reading
