Nest Psychotherapy and Counselling

Hey 👋

We have so many lovely new followers, I thought it would be a good idea to (re)introduce myself to you.

I know how important it is to choose the right therapist, and so much of how you choose is based on finding the right fit.

So, let me tell you a little more about myself and my process when you work with me at Nest.

Most importantly for the people finding my page, I am a PACFA accredited Clinical Psychotherapist and I am passionate about working with relationships 💜

🌿My pronouns are She/Her
🌿I use evidenced based methods
🌿I have been married for 11 years
🌿I am a mum to 2 amazing kiddos
🌿I am proudly neurodiverse (ADHD)
🌿I offer services that are unique and an alternative to the traditional
🌿I am fierce about being affirming and celebrating each individual 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️
🌿I am really hard to shock
🌿I am HOPE and FUTURE focused
🌿I welcome you with 100% focus in our beautiful rooms
🌿There are usually a lot more laughs in the rooms than people expect
🌿I am a scouser (from Liverpool UK)
🌿I’m a big believer in therapy and have had the privilege of being a therapy client, including as one of a Gottman Therapist using an immersive approach too… so I know what it feels like to be on the other side of the room
🌿Your location doesn’t matter. People either choose to “retreat” to the beautiful Southern Highlands, NSW or, I come to you and we work together near your location. How good is that?!

I’ve been a therapist for 8 years but in the past few years I’ve worked solely with relationships. This is my life’s work and I LOVE it.

If you would like to know more, please email [email protected] or visit our website for more details (and to book in online!)

https://nestcounselling.com.au/

Dismantling misconceptions about couples counselling, one myth at a time!

💑 Here are three common misconceptions about couples counselling that need to be debunked.

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1 **The therapist will take sides**

In a counselling space, you can be assured there will be no judgement, therapists are trained to be unbiased and hold your relationship as the client. It is a counsellors job to ensure that you are both supported, empathised with, and heard.

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2 **It will make things worse**

If there has been avoidance of what the underlying issues in the relationship are and you come to therapy and address them, it may feel like things are worse at times, but hopefully it will be mixed in with times of feeling more heard, feeling like you understand your partner better and that you are clearer on what you or both of you are needing.

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3 **It will be weird sharing our intimate information with a stranger**

There is no judgement in this room, so you feel able to open up. It is still a vulnerable place to be and you may feel apprehensive. Your boundaries will be respected and be reassured that all language and content will be at your pace.

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Drop a comment below and share if this post has assisted you in dispelling any misconceptions you had about counseling and therapy in general.

The LOVE Project invites LGBTQ+ people of all ages to LOVE Connections: an intergenerational art experience. Explore your inner creativity with community peers across generations, with artists Peta-Joy Williams and Wayde Clarke.

Peta-Joy Williams is a Wiradjuri woman, born in Sydney, with her feet firmly in both cultures, the inland and the salt water. Peta-Joy finds an affinity with both and finds inspiration from unique elements of the two diverse nations.

Wayde Clarke is a Wiradjuri/Birpai man, also known as Alejandro. Wayde is a q***r Aboriginal artist exploring identify and perception through his art, influenced by his experiences as a gay person of color in Australia. Wayde is studying art therapy and is a firm believer in the therapeutic benefits of art.

You will have the opportunity to work with both artists, learn about Aboriginal cultures through art and connect with LGBTQ+ people of all ages, in a welcoming and safe space.

Date: Saturday 22 June
Time: 10.30am to 2.30pm
Location: Glebe Town Hall, 160 St Johns Rd, Glebe
FREE EVENT - All art supplies provided

Bookings essential as numbers are limited.

Register here ➡️ loveproject.org.au/love_connections

My kid bought me this for Mother’s Day….its obviously a nail file with a heart on top.

We laughed out load, he said “I know, it looks like a dog bone” …what do you see?

Mother’s Day - it can be complicated for many.

It is okay to feel:

🍂Lonely
🍂Celebrated
🍂Nurtured
🍂Invisible
🍂Heartbroken
🍂Overwhelmed

I see you all and I send love to everyone. To those of you who didn’t get the Mum they deserved, to those who long to be a Mum, to those who do the job of being both parents.

To all who are experiencing love and togetherness today and to those that are not.

I was lucky enough to become a Mum and to have a Mum who loves me deeply and who I also got to spend the first Mother’s Day in 20 years with this morning. She is now on her way back home to the UK.

However today is landing for you, I send you love.

I acknowledge all who have mothered me over my life. My sisters, the beautiful friends, some of whom help be a Mum, who remind me I am doing a great job when I feel like I am failing. The inspirational and loving women I have experienced throughout my journey so far. Thank you.

Today, maybe we can all mother ourselves a little. Reconnect with our Inner Mum. Let her hold us, tell us we are loved, because we are. We all are 🥰

🥂Anniversaries🥂

They can be an opportunity for us to pause and reflect, to celebrate or even to reset.

We just celebrated 13 years of marriage and it was beautiful.

The actual 13 years have not been smooth sailing, but our celebration was amazing.

13 holds meaning for us, it has always been a lucky number for us for many reasons and so we had always imagined our 13th as special.

Like all couples, we have ups and downs, conflicts and we have hurt each other sometimes, we’ve worked through some stuff ourselves and at other times, we’ve engaged an experienced therapist to help us.

These milestones help me focus on what we are building together and acknowledging and working through anything that needs healing.

What these special days do for me is give me a chance to reminisce (aka - rewatch our wedding video for the 200th time - I just love it 🥰) and to recommit.

Picking my love was the best thing I ever did. We work to keep coming back to this truth over and over.

Here’s to the next 13 🥂💫🥰

New Couples Therapy Offer! ❤️

With my own anniversary being today, I thought this would be a perfect time to share a new 90-minute couples therapy session with you all!

At NEST, I am to make my services as accessible and inclusive as possible. With that, these sessions will all take place online with the aim to help service anyone Australia wide, no matter their location.

Interested? Bookings are limited so head to the link on my page to schedule in your appointment now.

Surviving Trauma: Finding Strength Within - Quest for Life Foundation Petrea shares empowering insights and practical strategies for navigating the journey of healing and overcoming traumatic events.

For any Bridgerton Netflix fans, this is what is happening right now in the hometown of Nest Psychotherapy and Counselling and The Relationship Retreat

We are feeling frightfully fancy 💅🏼🥂

Thanks Amanda

ADHD & Parenting + Challenging Behaviours

18th April | 10AM-12PM | Bowral

Join Dr. Steve Walker from Brief Therapy Solutions and our Parent Educator Cherrie Willingham for a parent session, free for parents to ask questions and learn about their child's ADHD and or children who display challenging behaviours.

Bookings essential! To RSVP and text your questions 0432 364 989 and or email [email protected] 📲

This Sunday, and on the 31st March every year, is Trans Day of Visibility

To our Trans and Gender Diverse service users, volunteers, staff, and community members: You are seen, you are celebrated, and you are loved. Today and every day.

Our relationship seems hopeless, is it?

I have lots of couples say to me when they first reach out, “I think our problems are too big to be fixed” In reality, most of the time (not all but most) they don’t have to be if you don’t want them to be. The real question is this, do you both want things to improve?

The areas that we focus on in therapy (my kind of therapy at least – ) are:

Trust
Commitment
The friendship system
Conflict
Shared meaning
Life dreams

There can be challenges in many or all of these areas, but that doesn’t have to mean the end of the relationship…IF, big IF, you don’t want it to be.

When is it not going to work?

There are times when relationship therapy may not be the best course of action. Still, in the majority of cases, if you both have, even a whisper, of commitment to making improvements in the relationship then therapy can be a great option.

Read on here in Tracy's blog https://nestcounselling.com.au/our-relationship-seems-hopeless-is-it/

Thanks for this great post The Kindred Practice

Neurodiversity & Labels

One of the most common barriers to recognising neurodivergence in children is the reluctance to give kids “labels”. We hear this from parents and from other well-meaning professionals but here’s our take:
🏷️ Labels don’t change your child. If they are autistic, then they’re autistic whether this has been recognised or not. Without recognition, we don’t have all the information we need to understand and support them.
🏷️ Being concerned about labels often comes from thinking there is something wrong with the thing they are describing. Neurodiversity is about understanding that the world has all kinds of minds in it - differences aren’t ‘disorders’ or ‘conditions’ and they don’t need to be treated or fixed.
🏷️ If we don’t help kids understand themselves and develop a positive identity around their brain type, they’ll give themselves all sorts of other labels (dumb, lazy, weird, unlovable, broken). These are the labels we should protect our kids from.

We love love ❤️

Congratulations 🥳

We are delighted that so many of our family and friends could share this special day with us.

📷Catherine Leo Photography

Our community pantry is running low. Can you help us restock? We're particularly looking for - pet food, tinned goods such as fish, veggies, sauces and fruits, long life products like milk and rice, cereals, spreads, jams as well as nappies, baby wipes, sanitary products, toilet paper.

Drop off Pop In 45 Kirkham Street, Moss Vale - Wednesday 13th March between 10am and 12noon.

A full list of items required, drop off times and contact details are on our website www.popin.org.au/community-pantry

Wishing everyone a happy and safe Mardi Gras weekend 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

Have a “safe” ball everyone. Let the parties, celebration, connection and PRIDE begin 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️💃🏻🍭🕺🏼

SAVE THE DATE!

BlaQ and Aboriginal Project ACON are thrilled to present the 2024 First Nations Mardi Gras Afterparty!!

This year’s celebration of Blak Q***r excellence will be at the iconic Lord Gladstone, 115 Regent St, Chippendale.

The night will kick off at 7:00pm with Mardi Gras Parade viewing screens, nibbles, and a host of entertainment to take you through the night. The festivities will continue until 12:00am, with The Lord Gladstone Blak takeover to conclude at 3:00am.

Tickets are $20 and free for the First Nations Community Float.

The full lineup of performers coming next Friday 23 February, 2024.

Had so much fun at art class last night with my love.

Guess which one was mine and which one was his?

We don’t usually do gifts on valentines but we do always do something together because that’s what means the most to us and with kids and work and life it can often be a struggle to prioritise.

Hope you gave yourself love yesterday and all the days.

✨Sound healing and meditation

I decided I wanted to look after my well-being and nourish my soul. After a big couple of weeks I knew my body and mind deserved to be calmed and cared for and I’ve always loved sound healing.

I reached out to and she provided a private session for me and it was sooo worth it.

I felt peaceful and nourished afterwards and felt so grateful to myself (and Jodie 😉)

If you are local, check out her page for her offerings.

Take some time, even just 5 minutes on this lovely Monday and figure out when during this week ahead you may need some rest or restorative care, and schedule it in. You will thanks yourself for it 🙏

Communication is key! 🗝️

Telling your partner about your sexual needs, and asking them for theirs, is so important.

Communicating your sexual needs can prevent misunderstandings & frustration, and allows you to align your expectations and explore ways to please each other 🙌



*Post inspired by

Oh hell yeah! 👏

I often say to my clients that the aim of therapy is never to change each other. The aim is to deeply know yourself and the other, and to celebrate yourself and your partner.

The feeling of being affirmed and loved for exactly who you are is joyous 🤩

Do you have enough joy?

Check out our latest blog here for inspiration ✨

Do what sparks joy! - Nest Psychotherapy & Counselling I have recently done the annual “new year, new goals” audit. This time, my focus is on what brings me joy. If you have found yourself feeling like you are

Day 1 - school shoes 🤦🏻‍♀️🤣

Who feels me?

Oh yay! For anyone young folks in our community 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️💃🏻🕺🏼

What's a Q***r Formal? It's a night for LGBTQIA+ young people to be their true selves. Wear whatever formal wear you want, bring your dream date, and dance the night away!

A Q***r formal aims to provide a safe space for LGBTQIA+ youth to have a fun night out - whether you are gay, trans or unsure about your identity, you're more than welcome to come along for a night filled with good vibes, new friends and q***r pride!

❤️🩷🧡💛💚💙🩵💜🖤🩶🤍🤎

See below for further details and get in touch if you would like to attend.

📱 0455 104 104 or
💻 [email protected]

***rformal