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A few honest reflections on what nobody tells you about becoming a psychologist.

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.

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.

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.

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.