Up on the Blog

At Bold Psychology, we run a social group for girls aged between 15 and 20 years old and would like to warmly welcome new members when we return in early 2023!

If you’re a parent, chances are you’ve witnessed a tantrum or two in your day. We expect them in two-year-olds, but if your child reaches school age and meltdowns and outbursts are still frequent, it may be a sign that they have difficulty with emotional self-regulation.

The last few years have been tough on all of us. Teen mental health is no exception.

Benefits of Pet Therapy

Simply put, tuning in means being present... It means being aware of what is happening within you, and in the world around you. Being present by tuning in has been shown to help build self-awareness, help make effective choices, reduce the impact of worry, and build positive connections. You can tune in to many things: Tune in to yourself – What can you sense right now? What can you feel? Tuning In to yourself can start with checking in with yourself and asking a simple question: “what can I sense right now?” See, touch, taste, smell, and listen to the world around you and experience the way it makes you feel. You can also ask the question “how do I feel right now?” Identifying what you feel can improve awareness of your surroundings, help focus your mind and understand what is going on inside you. Tuning in to yourself can also mean identifying things that help or harm your own mental health. For example, exercise may help improve your mental health and engaging in conflict might negatively impact your mental health. How can you Tune In to yourself? Meditating Learning about and practicing Deep Listening (Winhangadhurinya in the Wiradjuri language; Dadirri in the Ngan’gikurunggurr and Ngen’giwumirri languages) Finding silence Connecting to Country and Ancestors Going for a walk Being in nature Journaling Practicing self-care Doing something creative – drawing, painting, knitting Creating a morning ritual Tune in to others – What might people around you be feeling? How can we connect? Tuning into others can build positive connections. Can you imagine what other people might be feeling and why? Does someone you love seem a bit down? Maybe you can head over and help them out with a chore or task, or just sit and have a casual chat. Alternatively, if you’re having difficulty connecting with others, it can help to let them know that. Sharing with others that things are a bit tough right now could help them understand how you’re feeling. How can you tune in to others? Asking others how they are feeling Sharing a hobby Teaching them about something you love Helping with chores Playing games Staying in together Chatting on the phone Sharing a cuppa Tune in to your communities – What is happening that you can be part of, or that you can help others be part of You can tune in to communities by considering groups and networks you are part of and the activities that take place within them. How can you make communities and activities more welcoming, open or easier to access for those experiencing difficulty with their mental health and wellbeing? This might mean something specific, like hiring a bus to pick people up to go to community events, or more general, like thinking about community feelings after a natural disaster. How can you tune in to communities? Joining a local hobby group Taking part in community rituals, ceremonies, and events Reviewing accessibility options for groups you are part of Reaching out to community members who might be isolated Starting wellbeing activities at work Attending free community events – libraries or councils often run them Creating a range of different options for people looking to connect Making sure your community/workplace/group takes part in Mental Health Month Tune in to stigma – How do attitudes and understandings of mental health and wellbeing impact on people’s ability to live the lives they want? You can tune in to stigma by considering the misconceptions, prejudice or barriers that you or others face regarding mental health and wellbeing. You can help increase understanding by making sure mental health and wellbeing are not taboo topics in your community, and letting others know if they are engaging in stigma-promoting behaviour. How can you tune in to stigma? Challenging negative ideas around mental health Normalise talking about mental health and wellbeing Avoiding terms which can stigmatise mental health Engaging people with lived experience of mental ill-health as consultants Speak out about stigma when you notice it Often, we only talk about mental health as an individual responsibility, but lots of things outside our control contribute to mental health. Things like discrimination, inequality, intergenerational trauma, access to services, and government policies can negatively impact people’s and communities’ mental health. During Mental Health Month we all have a chance to Tune In to things we can do as individuals for our own, and others’ mental health, but without organisations and groups doing work on the bigger picture, outside factors will continue to impact individual’s mental health and wellbeing. Creating a world where people can create their own best possible mental health means creating a world where all systems, structures, policies, and services support this vision. We aren’t there yet, but we’ll keep working until we get there. Information source: https://mentalhealthmonth.wayahead.org.au/

Taking the time to thoroughly clean and maintain a tidy home makes people happier, studies have shown. The act of cleaning provides a sense of satisfaction, which in turn can put you in a good mood. Cleaning and organising your personal spaces lets you enjoy a tidier and more organised environment and this can relieve stress. Levels of stress can also be reduced during the act itself as cleaning is considered to be therapeutic. Those who make a point of clearing out the clutter are able to free up the brain for more essential decision-making, according to a study carried out by the founder of America's Anxiety Disorder Centre. A thorough clean helps to clear your mind of things that need to be done around the house and makes it easier to focus on more important things... such as getting out exercising, meeting friends and family or even learning a new skill.

Confused as to what type of Therapy you require? Sometimes it is confusing to decipher if you need a Psychologist or a Counsellor so we are here to clarify! Please call us on 0450 116 915 to learn more or make an appointment.