Your Psychologist

We are one with every woman and every ally in fighting to end violence against women.

According to UN Women, an estimated 736 million women—almost one in three—have been subjected to intimate partner violence, non-partner sexual violence, or both at least once in their life (30 per cent of women aged 15 and older) around the world.

In Australia, one in two women have experienced being sexual harassed, and women are almost three times more likely than men to have experienced violence inflicted by a partner since the age of fifteen.*

Family violence and/or intimate partner violence is the leading cause of serious injury, disability and death for women in Australia. On average, one woman a week is killed by her intimate male partner.*

If you find yourself in a similar situation, please seek for help with the people you trust and with professionals who can protect you and help you heal from the trauma.

If you are in immediate danger, call 000 for Police and Ambulance help if you are in immediate danger.

Other Hotlines who can help Australian women and children who are suffering from abuse:

1800RESPECT
1800 737 732

Lifeline
13 11 14

Kids Help Line
1800 551 800

Elder Abuse Help Line
1800 353 374

Financial Counselling Australia
1800 007 007

Beyond Blue
1300 22 4636

*Source: White Ribbon Australia

Are you seeking a change in your life?

Perhaps you constantly feel inadequate compared to everyone around you, or maybe you’re stuck in negative behavioural patterns as the result of damaging mindsets.

You might not have heard the word “schema” before, and yet it can drastically influence our lives on a day-to-day basis.

A schema is a core negative belief that ultimately shapes the perception we have of ourselves. When left unaddressed, these schemas can grow into feelings of anxiety, addiction, shame, frustration, anger, depression, and other negative emotions.

I can help you address the root cause of your schema, so that together, we can help you break out of self-defeating patterns for permanent positive change.

To learn more about how I can help you, visit www.yourpsychologist.net.au or scan the QR code below to book an appointment.

Do you often get angry with other people? Do you feel that you don't need to live by other people's rules?

Do you find yourself drawn to people who are selfish or cold? Do you put the needs of others above your own so that your needs are never met?

Do you feel inadequate compared to people around you? Do you think that no matter how successful you are, you still feel unhappy, unfilled, or undeserving?

Do you often feel anxious that something terrible is going to happen? Do you start to panic when someone you love leaves or threatens to leave?

Are these experiences holding you back? Let me help you address these issues, and finally, have some positive changes in your life.

Book an appointment with me today. Scan QR code in the last slide or visit www.yourpsychologist.net.au/contact

In case you missed it, I published a new blog article on my website about the common societal shifts revealed from the pandemic and what I see in the therapy room.

For a quick summary, here are the four societal shifts:

- Collective Threat Prompts A Growth In State Power
- Caution and Anxiety While The Disease Rages
- Willingness To Take Risks When It Has Passed
- A Search for Meaning

Visit bit.ly/legacyofcovid to read the full article or scan the QR code to get instant access.

In today's case study, we see Megan (name changed for anonymity) as this young girl who feels socially isolated that has developed during childhood.

Social isolation schema is a particularly devastating schema to have, preventing us from connecting with others.

This drives a sense of loneliness, which can lead to other issues around anxiety and depression. We may even turn to damaging habits or behaviours to cope with these feelings of isolation.

Let me help you resolve these feelings through schema therapy.

Social isolation schema therapy involves:

- Exploring the origins of your schema, and how this has affected your social life
- Utilising mindfulness as a coping strategy and to improve your wellbeing
- Understanding the connection between your emotional state and your physical responses to stressors
- Applying different strategies to create healthier behaviours.

To learn more about how schema therapy focused on social isolation can help you, contact me today. Scan QR code or visit www.yourpsychologist.net.au/contact today!

“We don’t function well as human beings when we’re in isolation.” - Robert Zemeckis

The recent lockdown has left us feeling more isolated than ever before. So, if you feel lonely and depressed about your situation, do not hesitate to reach out to your loved ones and talk about what you’re going through.

Even if we have to physically distance ourselves during the pandemic, connecting with family and friends can still make a huge difference in protecting ourselves from feeling deprived of connection. So don’t be afraid to give them a call or leave them a message.

However, if you think you feel more comfortable talking to a professional about certain problems in your life, please don’t hesitate to book an appointment to get the help you need today.

If you think I can help you, let’s connect today! Visit www.yourpsychologist.net.au/contact

We know the lockdowns have caused more distress in our lives than we expected, and in recent studies, a lot of people are struggling to deal with their mental health during the pandemic.

If you are experiencing the same thing, we can offer you a therapy journey that helps you recognise that your struggle does not own you.

If you are hoping to finally lighten this load and feel like yourself again, email [email protected] for a free consultation. We offer telehealth sessions to make sure we can help more people despite the lockdowns.

Have you ever thought of any of these things?

● I am worthless and can’t do anything about it
● I feel guilty for just wanting to eat, sleep and be alone
● I hate who I am these days
● I can’t stop crying, which makes me want to stay away from others
● I feel gut wrenching pain, but no one understands
● My life and the world around me are dark. I hate it, but I can’t change it

If you have had any variation of these thoughts and don’t feel like your usual self, chances are you may be suffering from depression.

While there is still a social stigma that comes with depression, it is okay to ask for help from the people around you.

At Your Psychologist, we make sure you have a safe space to open up and talk about your struggles. you can receive reassurance in the fact that you are not alone, and that there will always be someone there for you. You may even experience relief at simply starting your therapy journey, recognising that your struggle does not own you and that you have a plethora of counselling options.

If you think we can help you, book a free consultation with us today so what services we offer may work best for you.

Visit https://www.yourpsychologist.net.au/contact today!

If you know someone who is visibly stressed and emotionally (or mentally) struggling, don't hesitate to reach out and listen to his/her problem.

Opening up a conversation can change that person's life and may even save that person from doing something harmful to oneself.

When that person starts to open up, you need to set your judgments aside and focus on being there for the person instead. If you think your struggling loved one, friend or colleague needs professional help, encourage them to approach someone who has the expertise to handle the matter.

Depression can be an all-consuming condition, preventing you from living your life to the fullest. If you have been looking for a depression psychologist near Elsternwick, Your Psychologist can help.

No matter what you’ve got on your mind, you can be sure you will be in a safe and supportive environment at Your Psychologist. Contact us today at https://www.yourpsychologist.net.au/contact

Today is World Su***de Prevention Day.

We’ve lost so many individuals to su***de and as we remember them today, let us also encourage everyone to seek help.

If you think you are mentally and emotionally struggling these days, please know that it’s okay to ask for help.

There are many crisis hotlines ready to help you when you desperately need it:

Beyond Blue
1300 22 4636

Lifeline
13 11 14

Su***de Call Back Service
1300 659 467

For more hotlines and support, you can check out R U OK?’s list at /www.ruok.org.au/findhelp

If you need professional help, you can also reach out to a psychologist. Your Psychologist is always ready to help anyone who is struggling with their mental and emotional wellbeing, and if you need us, we would gladly help you out.

Email [email protected] to get in touch.

On R U OK? Day, we encourage everyone to check in on their loved ones and colleagues.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (2020), 8 people take their lives every day in Australia and for every death by su***de, it's estimated 30 people will attempt to take their life. Based on The Ripple Effect: Understanding the Exposure and Impact of Su***de in Australia, Sydney, 89% of people report knowing someone who has made a su***de attempt.

With the current situation we are in these days, it's harder for so many of us to deal with life these days. Our mental health can easily get affected by the news of extended lockdowns, losing jobs and businesses and possibly loved ones because of Covid-19.

Today, we encourage you to reach out to a family member, a friend, a colleague or maybe even a friendly stranger to ask them if they are really okay. So many of us pretend to be doing well when deep inside, we are having a hard time.

You never know, you may even save a life.

PS. I hope you are okay. Like truly, deeply okay.

This week, we join and celebrate every Australian woman as we observe Women’s Health Week.

For decades, so many women fight for their rights to have control over their bodies and most importantly, get the attention and care they need to become the best versions of themselves. And their role in society is so important that we should never take them for granted as they are capable of doing big things for us, of making changes we need in any environment, and of providing value-adding input that can save lives.

As Michelle Obama once said, “Communities and countries and ultimately the world are only as strong as the health of their women.”

To every woman out there, we celebrate you today, this week and, every day!

Happy Women’s Health Week from Your Psychologist

If your mindset is being influenced by the mistrust and abuse schema, it generally means that your first expectation of new people who enter your life will hurt or abuse you in some way. To protect yourself, you put up barriers between yourself and those around you, which prevents people from getting close to you.

In the long term, mistrust and abuse schema can have a drastic impact on your mental wellbeing, as we all need close relationships with people to feel supported and emotionally connected.

I am sorry that you have experienced any form of emotional abuse or mistrust by the people who was (or still is) in your life, but I want to remind you that LOVE SHOULDN'T HURT.

Allow yourself to heal. Work through these issues and resolve them as soon as you can. overcome these thought patterns and learn to trust the people who deserve it. If you're ready to seek for professional help, our therapy could help you identify the cause of your schemas and resolve the issue permanently. Book a consultation with us today. Visit https://www.yourpsychologist.net.au/contact

Ah, if only the weekend was an extra day longer. But here we are, another work week awaits! So here’s a quick message for all of us:

May your coffee be strong and your Monday be short. Have another productive week ahead!

Covid-19 has made drastic changes in our lives and sadly, it won't be going away anytime soon. In fact, experts are saying this is something we need to live with.

Aside from the pandemic, we read more bad news from social media everyday and deal with our own problems in life. It's a lot to handle. How are you dealing with all of these?

While it may look like a difficult task to do right now, I encourage you to understand what is happening to you and to everyone else at this challenging time and let it help you rethink your story. See the bigger picture of all of these events. Find a deeper meaning to what's happening or be conquered by the crisis we are all facing right now.

Rethink your story today.

About 1.2 million people access Medicare-subsidised psychological therapy through the Better Access program. However, one in three only attend one or two sessions, dropping out due to the out-of-pocket cost or difficulty finding a suitable provider.

Here are a few reasons below and some suggestions for clients and therapists to adopt to minimise the risk of ceasing therapy:

1. Cost of therapy - Therapy can impose a significant burden on the clients.

2. The therapist - some clients do not establish the necessary therapeutic rapport with the therapist to which they are referred, and then drop out.

3. Not seeing the benefit from therapy - Some clients may feel they are not getting benefit from treatment.

4. Client fear and resistance to change - A lot of clients come in with concerns about treatment or is unsure what is going to happen in therapy.

To read more about this, visit https://www.yourpsychologist.net.au/why-do-clients-stop-seeing-their-therapist-when-they-need-help today

Narcissistic disorder is very different from simply having high confidence and strong self-esteem. The issue occurs when those with narcissistic disorder consistently place their own self-worth over others, and display arrogant behaviour that can be harmful – both to themselves and to those whom they have close relationships with.

Narcissistic personality disorder typically develops at a young age, due to being exposed to overpraise and excessive pampering from parents. However, in some cases it can be caused by the complete opposite – a lack of attention or praise, neglect or trauma, for example.

If you find yourself with a partner who has a narcissistic disorder, do not allow yourself to be emotionally and/or mentally abused. Talk about it and once a problem is acknowledged, seek help with a self entitlement therapist to change your partner’s way of thinking, develop empathy for others and recalibrate their distorted self-image.

To speak with a fully qualified and highly experienced professional about how narcissism counselling can help you and your partner, schedule an appointment to visit our Elsternwick clinic today.

Visit www.yourpsychologist.net.au/contact

The process of therapy involves at times connecting our current or presenting problems with our past.

Delving deeply into our memories can be painful … often leaving us scarred.

But for us to start healing, we may need to fully open up and talk about our past experiences. In Schema Therapy, I help clients to process these painful emotions … not to relive traumatic but to rescript these experiences and help you have the corrective emotional experience.

And once we start carrying off the load that has been keeping us down for years, that’s when you finally start feeling healed and lighter.

Sometimes we need professional assistance to break free from unhealthy cycles or patterns that characterise addictive behaviour.

At Your Psychologist, I create individual treatment plans to examine and address the unique behaviours, thoughts, emotions, and environmental factors that contribute to your addiction. This often involves working together to determine the origin of your addiction, any real life triggers that maintain your addiction, and, most importantly, learning skills and strategies to achieve the change you want.

If you need professional help, you're welcome to reach out to our office today! Email [email protected] or call 0419 139 805 to discuss this service.

Are you affected by the recent lockdowns?

For most of us, having to stay at home all day can’t be good for our mental health - especially when you don’t have anyone to talk to.

I have recently experienced 14 days of isolation and know the impact on your mental health. My family and I were stuck in the home and couldn’t leave to shop nor exercise.

If you’re someone who is struggling and in need of professional help. Your Psychologist is here to help you dig out your issues and start feeling better and happier.

Your Psychologist also offers secure phone and video counselling through Zoom.

Get in touch with us today! Email [email protected] or call 0419 139 805 to discuss this service. Visit www.yourpsychologist.net.au/contact

Here’s a quote by Daniel Gilbert to remind us to start focusing on the NOW as well:

While it’s always a good idea to think about our future and make plans to have a great one, please don’t forget to stop every now and then and live in the moment.

Be present is not easy. The way I think about it is checking in with yourself and ask “Am I Time Travelling?”

Time traveling involves: 1) ruminating about the past or 2) worrying about the future. It often takes the form of overcontrolling behaviour to cope with uncertainty of the future. It can also take the form of a critic that reminds us of things we should or could have done.

Happiness isn’t only found in having a great future.

I hope you’re happy and content today and tomorrow.

Do you have trouble sleeping at night? Does your mind wander to negative thoughts that keep you awake?

While there are a whole host of reasons why you might be struggling to slip into regular sleep patterns that allow you to function properly during the day, insomnia therapy is far more effective than sleep medications in the long term.

At Your Psychologist Elsternwick, we provide highly effective cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia, with the aim to help you break out of the negative schemas that prevent you from getting a decent night’s sleep.

Learn more about our sleep management therapy here: www.yourpsychologist.net.au/insomnia

Or you can contact us to ask how we can help you enhance your quality of life. Visit www.yourpsychologist.net.au/insomnia today!

We often forget to look after ourselves and check how we are doing. We’re so busy with work and taking care of the people around us that we end up feeling exhausted and unmotivated later on.

So, today, here’s a quick reminder to ask yourself, “What can I do to make myself better - emotionally, mentally, physically and spiritually?”

Self care doesn’t only just come in the form of bubble baths and drinking wine. It could also be catching up on sleep, cleaning your home office and just simply taking your dog out for a walk. Whatever you need to do to feel relaxed and energised again, do it.

Self-care isn’t selfish.

It takes one small step to develop a good habit.

If you’re someone who wants to do better at something - whether it’s for work or for your own personal goals, you may get discouraged at how big the tasks are to achieve it. But it doesn’t have to be hard.

What we don’t see is how it takes small deeds, small steps to make that happen - which you need to do every single day if necessary.

It takes time and effort, until one day, you start seeing changes. So, start with the small steps. Start today!

As Lao Tzu said, “ Great acts are made up of small deeds.”

In case you missed it, I've written an article on the effect of personality on daily life emotional processes.

It's a 2-min read that can give you a quick summary of how personality features are associated with individual differences in daily emotional life, such as negative and positive affectivity, affect variability and affect reactivity.

To read the entire article, visit www.yourpsychologist.net.au/the-effect-of-personality-on-daily-life-emotional-processes

To learn more about your personality and how it can affect your work and personal life, book a call with Your Psychologist today to schedule a session with us this month. Visit www.yourpsychologist.net.au/contact

Are you dealing with unrelenting standards schema?

The unrelenting standards schema affects us emotionally in a big way, as we are constantly stressed and feeling that there’s never enough time, or that there’s always something to be done.

This inability to fully relax and be present in the moment stops us from having fun, feeling joy, satisfaction, contentment and the experience of feeling fully alive and engaged. Because of this, we are susceptible to feelings of emptiness, loneliness and depression in the long term.

It is very common among successful, career-driven individuals who have pushed themselves hard to succeed but are ultimately left unsatisfied or disillusioned with the result.

If you find yourself struggling with this type of schema, seek out for help. At Your Psychologist in Elsternwick, we offer unrelenting standards schema treatment that provides permanent solutions. Contact us today to arrange a consultation. We are here to help you.

Get in touch with us today. Visit https://www.yourpsychologist.net.au/contact

If there’s one good thing that came out from this pandemic, it’s seeing everyone helping each other out. From supporting small businesses and donating more to those who need help to reaching out to a family member or friend who is going through a tough time dealing with the changes, it’s amazing to see how we brought out good qualities from people.

While some of us may think that our efforts to help only have a minute effect on our surroundings, we don’t see how one action can lead to another good deed. And when everyone starts helping each other out, we can come out of this pandemic thriving together.

Let’s take care and protect each other. Reach out to anyone who needs help. One day, we can all look back and see how we were able to help each other out in one of the most challenging times in our lives..