This is a metaphor that I use quite often in therapy, with clients who find themselves self-sabotaging or punishing themselves. The Big Bat is what you pick up to beat yourself up with – metaphorically, not literally!

While saying yes may provide some short-term relief by allowing you to avoid confrontation with others and avoid dealing with uncomfortable emotions, saying yes, all the time has its own implications.

A couple of quick thoughts from one of our psychologists about what it’s like coming to therapy

Some tips and tricks to dive deep into your own thoughts

Fidget toys can provide extra sensory input and can be the perfect tool to help improve concentration and attention to task (with the least amount of distraction).

Parents often complain that their children are too distracted and unable to concentrate. There are two factors present in this complaint: On the one hand, the projection of a lack of attention that points to the children but that has a lot to do with the lack of attention suffered by the parents themselves. On the other hand, the lack of attention of children as a result of the world full of stimuli in which we live and the accelerated pace of life that parents imprint on them. We don't leave them time to get bored or be themselves.

Irregular sleep patterns suggest your body can be out of sync with itself, which will then negatively impact your sleep quality. This may also lead to symptoms of insomnia, such as difficulty initiating sleep, restless sleep, or inability to sleep for long periods.

As parents, our most important job is to raise our children to be good people. We want our little ones to be kind, considerate, educated... and much more.

Past experiences are often linked to an individual's sense of belonging and security and tend to impact on one's activities, opinions, and decisions. Negative views of the self often result in a tendency to exaggerate negative aspects of daily events and may lead to dependency on others or result in stress reactions.

 Is success having a bank account with a number looking like a mobile number? Is it driving a fancy car? Is it getting a 90+ ATAR? Is it owning the latest apple products? Is it getting married and owning a home by the time your 30? 

Human life has been drastically and abruptly altered by the COVID-19 pandemic. Getting back to the people and things we love after the lockdown has given us a chance to adjust, but it has also presented challenges. Being able to reconnect with the people and things we love after the lockdown feels like a new start to our lives. However, it might not be a cup of tea for some.

Most people are pretty excited to get back out into the world; to see friends, go out for dinner, the movies and just not having to wear a mask all the time!

But this excitement doesn’t mean that we don’t have a sense of apprehension and anxiety about our re-entry into the new normal!

CBT has been widely researched and demonstrated to be one of the most effective methods of treatment for a range of mental health problems, including anxiety disorders, depressive disorders and eating disorders.

Last week many Victorian children returned to school, and many made a start with their formal education. It is an exciting and sometimes unsettling time. Some children may be very anxious about the changes in their life.

Are you finding that lockdown has made you feel grumpy and frustrated towards everyone? Are you finding that you have no patience for your partner, friends or children (or less than you have done previously!)?  You are not alone!

The yoyo lockdowns we experienced due to Covid19 were tough for everyone, in particular those of us living through the pandemic in Melbourne, which holds the title for the city with the longest lockdown in the world! Constantly having to adapt to different restrictions, having the disappointment of cancelling holidays, birthdays, changing plans or being told you can’t go to the gym is extremely challenging both mentally and physically.

Grief is our emotional response to any kind of loss, whether that’s the loss of a loved one, a job, a home or (thanks to COVID) your previous life. 

A common maladaptive coping strategy that many people use to deal with their trauma is to try and avoid it. Unfortunately, this is not a strategy that works long term and can in fact make the symptoms that you experience worse.

Trauma is defined as an emotional response to a distressing event. There is no one definition for what constitutes a traumatic event as people experience pain and suffering in different ways.

Feelings of anger, stress, sadness and anxiety can be hard to manage and cope with in the moment and can often lead to rash decisions. Distraction strategies or techniques can be used to help manage a range of uncomfortable emotions you may experience in their day-to-day life.