It’s said that sleep is the barometer of health. In my clinical experience, it is one of the most distressing symptoms of anxiety and depression that I see in my clients. Few things are more difficult than wanting to fall asleep, but not being able to. Our society is taking more of an interest in improving sleep. This is a good thing! I think our group awareness of the positive benefits of sleep is becoming more proliferated. Books like Why We Sleep by Matthew Walker are commonly referenced on the Podcasts that I listen to during my drive to work. But, how can we improve our sleep if it is get ..read more

One of the most common issues that my clients struggle with is anxiety. I often try to explain anxiety as persistent worry that we can’t control or stop. It’s a truly unpleasant feeling similar to losing control, feeling highly overwhelmed, or like you can’t stop your mind from racing. Anxiety is often triggered by stressful situations such as dealing with school or university study, large volumes of work, difficulties or changes in a relationship, or adjusting to unfamiliar situations. The situations vary, but the underlying cycle remains the same. Let’s apply the science to help deal with yo ..read more

If you are someone who sometimes feels overwhelmed by emotion, struggles with fears of abandonment or who has experienced significant trauma in your life, DBT therapy or Dialectical Behavioural Therapy is a helpful option to explore with your therapist.   DBT is a set of concrete, practical skills designed to assist people who struggle with managing their emotions, or who experience difficulty with interpersonal relationships. I have found that Dialectical Behavioural Therapy can also be beneficial for people who have experienced trauma as a result of difficult or abusive interperson ..read more

Starting a therapeutic relationship is one of the most daunting things many of will ever face but in this article I will share insights to encourage you to give it a try. Often many people delay accessing therapy for fear of not being able to open up to a stranger, not knowing where to start, or wondering whether it’s going to be a useful investment of time and money. In actual fact what I find is when a client of mine makes that initial phone call there is an instant sense of relief that comes with the knowledge that they’re about to receive some support. Suddenly things feel a litt ..read more

To help us start understanding and responding to adolescent anxiety, let’s begin by defining some terms, sharing some insights from research, and then viewing the topic within the layered context of a teenager’s lived experience. It’s also heartening to note that the body of research shows anxiety can be treated when teens practice strategies consistently with a psychologist. Let’s start with the definition of terms. What is stress? To understand anxiety, first you need to understand stress. Stress is our body’s natural response to stressful or dangerous situations that feel beyond our capacit ..read more

Tracy Quinney explores what is phubbing and explores strategies when our friends or partners are spending more time on their phone than with you. “Without ​technology​ humanity has no future, but we have to be careful that we don’t become so mechanised that we lose our human feelings.” – Dalai Lama Recently, I was “phubbed” by a friend which was very upsetting. For those not in the know the definition of “phubbing” is the act of snubbing someone in a social setting by looking at your phone instead of paying attention. On face value phubbing is a funny word but unfortunately research suggests t ..read more

In my role as a Clinical Neuropsychologist, I often have to help people answer the question, do I have brain damage or brain injury? As I’ll explain, accidents, drugs (including alcohol), and medical conditions can all contribute to brain damage or injury. In this second part of a three part series explaining what a neuropsychological assessment is, and when you might consider undergoing one, I will address how neuropsychologists approach symptoms of brain injury. Again, problems or symptoms of problems you might be facing in day-to-day thinking, is a reason we would consider using a neuropsyc ..read more

First of all a few words about what a neuropsychological assessment ISN’T A neuropsychological assessment is not designed to assess your emotional functioning, if you are depressed or anxious or emotionally sensitive and emotionally intelligent. It is not a test of personality. It is not a test of sanity or craziness. What a neuropsychological assessment IS A neuropsychological assessment is a very detailed investigation of your thinking skills. It is very carefully constructed and has been proven to provide reliable and sensitive assessment of these thinking skills. It is usual to separate ..read more

Common Questions in a Psychology Practice, Part 1. There are a few questions that seem to pop up again and again in a psychology practice, one being “what is the difference between a clinical psychologist and a registered psychologist”? Here at Attuned Psychology we have both, so let’s have a quick look at what a “Clinical” and “Registered” Psychologist are. However before I explain that, let me very quickly, and very briefly, start with a basic explanation of what a psychologist is….. A psychologist is someone who is professionally trained in the science of how people think, feel, behave and ..read more

Many of us confront To Do List anxiety in this society and if you are currently, or have been a client of mine, you’ve likely heard me say this phrase; Needs vs Preferences. I’m always honest and shared that this is one of those phrases that I developed entirely for myself, as a way to try and combat my constant need to get through that never ending To Do List without completely burning myself out. And, I’ve found my clients benefit from this strategy too. So let me explain….. The days of the neverending To Do List I, like so many of us these days, have a lifestyle that means I have a to do li ..read more