Blog

This week my daughter Halle dialled into Christmas in July by video call. She's in the Navy, she was where she needed to be, and she was there on a screen, present and absent at once in the way only technology can make possible. It got me thinking about the real cost of missing out, not the social media kind, but the kind that comes when you genuinely can't be somewhere you want to be.

As our first term of Essence of Light comes to a close, I'm reflecting on what this community has become: women of every age and stage coming together to breathe, move gently and reconnect with themselves, without judgement or the pressure to be perfect. With Term 3 registrations now open, I'd love to welcome you into our next chapter.

Meet Anne Schoo, wellbeing consultant and founder of Essence of Light, now at Conscious Health Clinic. Coaching, yoga and support for real change.

Phone use with kids has become one of the most common worries parents bring into the therapy room. Our psychologist explores why the screen so often isn't the real issue, but a stand in for anxiety, loneliness, or a world that feels too hard to face right now, and why understanding what it's doing for your child is the first step toward real change.

For anyone who has ever crossed a finish line and immediately started looking for the next one, this one's for you. We explore why happiness always seems to be one goal away, and what the psychology of lottery winners can teach us about finally being happy.

Can a chatbot actually understand you, or just sound like it does? This article unpacks why AI mental health support can feel surprisingly comforting and where it quietly falls short, including a real example of how getting the diagnosis wrong can make things worse, not better.

Not sure what to expect from your first dietitian appointment? Learn what happens, what to discuss, and how to feel prepared and at ease.

When trauma lives beyond the reach of words, healing doesn't require a perfect narrative. Discover how EMDR, somatic therapy, schema therapy, and other approaches help you access and process what language alone can't reach — at Conscious Health Clinic in the Illawarra.

Most people know they should save more, spend less, and invest consistently. So why don't they? The answer is rarely about money. It is almost always about psychology.

The guilt that comes with every snapped word or distracted moment is real — but it may also be completely misplaced. Here's what the science actually says about what children need from us.

Feeling low and struggling with daily tasks? When depression sets in, even small chores feel overwhelming. Behavioural activation helps break this cycle by gently re-engaging with everyday activities. This 7-day, 15-minutes-a-day cleaning schedule makes it manageable. One room, one day at a time. Small, consistent actions create real momentum and can make a meaningful difference to your mood and wellbeing.

A psychologist’s perspective on wanting your partner to change, what’s really driving the urge for them to change, and how focusing on your own support can shift the relationship.

So often when we think about disordered eating, we think of adolescents and young adults, but one overlooked but highly vulnerable stage of life is perimenopause. Perimenopause is a time of changes seen and unseen, with symptoms that impact how an individual feels emotionally and physically in their body. Combine this with a culture obsessed with aesthetics and avoiding weight gain at all costs and you can see how unhelpful eating behaviours and a strained relationship with f

Seven years ago I lost Nevis — my pub-finding, tennis-ball-obsessed, fence-defeating golden boy. Grief for a dog is real, and it is long. If you've ever loved and lost a pet, my colleague Deb's words will stop you in your tracks.

If you've recently searched "Does my child have ADHD?", you're certainly not alone. Many parents begin asking this question when everyday routines start to feel much harder than expected. ADHD comes in different presentations. Some children are visibly hyperactive and impulsive. Others are quietly inattentive, daydreaming through lessons and slipping under the radar. Many have a combination of both. Recognising the signs is often the first step towards getting your child the

A recent documentary by Louis Theroux has brought a quiet concern into the spotlight. Many parents are now asking: “What is my son being exposed to online?” The documentary explores what’s often referred to as the manosphere — a collection of online communities where boys and men are given advice about masculinity, relationships, status and success. Some of that content is framed as self-improvement.Some of it becomes more rigid, more adversarial, and more influential than m

How to Choose the Right Trauma Treatment When people begin looking for trauma therapy, they often encounter two common approaches. Traditional talk therapy. And something called EMDR. It is one of the most common questions psychologists hear from people exploring trauma treatment: “Which one works better?” The answer is more nuanced than people expect. Trauma recovery is not about finding the most powerful therapy. It is about identifying an approach that fits how your brain,

Many people hesitate to seek therapy because they believe their problems are either “not bad enough” or “too complicated.” This article explores the *Goldilocks myth of suffering* and why therapy isn’t reserved for problems that are “just right.”

When anxiety drives avoidance, life can shrink quietly. Invitations are declined, opportunities postponed and safe routines take over. This article explores how solitude can shift from restorative to restrictive, how anxiety reinforces withdrawal, and how evidence-based therapy helps people rebuild confidence and expand their world again.

Scroll for five minutes, just five and you’ll likely encounter it. “5 signs you’re actually autistic.” “This one trait means you have ADHD.” “How to identify your attachment style.” "How to spot a narcissist." The internet has become a psychological mirror, constantly inviting us to look at ourselves and decide what’s “wrong.” As a psychologist, I see both the appeal and the quiet damage this trend can cause. So let’s talk about what’s really going on. Psychological language