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.

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

Resilience gets talked about a lot, usually as if it is a fixed quality you either have or you do not. Instead it is more like a set of skills, the ability to recover from setbacks, adapt when things change, and keep going when circumstances are hard. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is one way of building those skills. It works by helping you notice the patterns in how you think and respond, then adjusting the ones that keep you stuck. Understanding resilience Resilience

Families deal with a lot, work, school, money, and other people. When stress builds, it often shows up as conflict, distance, or everyone feeling on edge. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) offers one way of working through this. Rather than trying to eliminate difficult feelings, it helps family members respond to them differently, which can ease tension and improve how they relate to each other. Understanding Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Acceptance and Commitment