This blog is where I share thoughts and information on psychology, answer common questions about therapy, summarise new and interesting research, and post whatever else I think is worth sharing.

Trauma is a concept most people are familiar with. It appears often in movies, music, and popular culture, and it has become part of everyday conversation, sometimes describing a genuinely life-threatening event, and sometimes describing something we feel very emotionally disturbed by. In a clinical context, the term carries a more specific meaning, and understanding that meaning can help point you toward the right kind of support. What trauma refers to clinically In a clinic

Burnout and depression share a number of overlapping features, including exhaustion, reduced motivation, difficulty concentrating, and a sense of helplessness that makes you feel like you can’t keep going the way you used to. They can also occur together and because of their similarities, people often struggle to work out which condition they are experiencing. Differentiating between two is important because they may call for different interventions and correctly identifying

The term "psychological assessment" comes up often, but it is not always clear what it actually involves, or whether it is something you need before starting therapy. This post explains what “psychological assessment” is, how it differs from an initial intake session, and the situations in which one might be recommended. What a psychological assessment actually involves A psychological assessment is a structured process used to understand a person's cognitive (brain function-

One of the most common questions people ask before starting therapy is "How many sessions will this take?" It is a reasonable question. Therapy costs time and money, and most people want some sense of what they are committing to before they begin. There is no fixed number that applies to everyone, but there are some factors that can indicate the likely length of a course of therapy. Why there is no standard answer Therapy is not a standardised procedure with a fixed number of

Anxiety is one of the most common reasons people seek psychological support, and yet it is also one of the most misunderstood emotional experiences. Many people experience it as a single, all-consuming feeling. However, anxiety has distinct components, and understanding these components can make the experience considerably less frightening and more manageable. Anxiety is a survival response Anxiety is not dangerous. It is uncomfortable, and at times it can be genuinely painfu

If you have been considering seeing a psychologist, you may have come across the term Mental Health Treatment Plan (MHTP) or sometimes called a Mental Health Care Plan (MHCP). These plans are one of the most common ways to access reduced fee options through Medicare This post explains the process of obtaining a MHTP, from the initial GP appointment through to seeing your psychologist. What is a mental health treatment plan? A Mental Health Treatment Plan (MHTP) is a document

Starting therapy for the first time can feel uncertain. Many people are unsure what will happen, what they will be asked, or whether they will know what to say. This is entirely normal, and it is worth saying clearly: the first appointment is not a test. It is the beginning of a process, and it is designed to be manageable. Here is what you can generally expect. You do not need a referral to begin You can contact a psychology practice directly and book without any prior paper

The concept of mindfulness or meditation has been around for millennia. At its simplest, it is the practice of paying deliberate attention to what is happening in the present moment, including your own thoughts and physical sensations, without immediately reacting to them. It is like sitting on a beach and watching the waves, rather than being in the water and getting pulled around by them. Research suggests this can change how people relate to difficult experiences, and the

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is generally the most widely known and practiced form of psychological treatement, and often the first one people encounter when they start looking into psychological support. It has a large evidence base across a wide range of presentations (e.g., anxiety, depression, behavioural-modification), and tends to be goal-focused, structured, and relatively time-efficient compared to some other approaches. The cycle CBT works with CBT is built on

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, usually shortened to ACT, is one of the therapeutic approaches you will often see mentioned alongside Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). The two share some common ground, but ACT works from a somewhat different premise. This difference can make it clearer for you to decide whether this approach is a good fit for what you are dealing with. The starting point is different Many people come to therapy hoping to reduce or eliminate difficult th