Inspired Psychology

21/07/2025

When Calm Feels Unsafe: Understanding a Highly Stressed Nervous System

For some people, especially those who’ve experienced trauma or ongoing high stress, calming down isn’t always calming.

A nervous system that’s used to being on high alert may interpret relaxation as unfamiliar or even unsafe. When you're used to scanning for danger or staying "switched on" to survive, sudden stillness can feel threatening.

This doesn’t mean something is wrong with you. It means your body has adapted in powerful ways to protect you.

The key is to take it slowly.
Rather than trying to dive into deep relaxation, try taking gentle steps, a couple slow breaths, soothing movement, calming music, a soothing scent, a walk in nature....

Regulation is a process, not a switch. Bit by bit, your system can learn that calm is safe.

Be kind to yourself in the process 💛

17/07/2025

Meet Our Clinicians: Jacqueline Peters Clinical Psychotherapist

Now offering out-of-hours appointments by arrangement for relationship therapy.

Jacqueline is highly trained with both a Masters (Counselling and Psychotherapy) and PhD (focused on parenting) and has a wealth of experience in practice. She works across the lifespan with individuals, couples, and families, bringing empathy, insight, and practical support to each session.

Her areas of interest include:
✔️ Relationship and couples therapy (Gottman Method)
✔️ Parenting support and family dynamics
✔️ Trauma and neurodiversity in children and young people
✔️ Grief, stress, self-esteem, and life transitions in adults

Jacqueline is passionate about creating a safe, non-judgemental space where meaningful change can happen.

🔗 Learn more: https://inspiredpsychology.com.au/dr-jacqueline-peters-clinical-psychotherapist/

Jacqueline provides counselling and psychotherapy services with a focus on good mental-health, well-being, and personal growth

17/07/2025

Happy Friday Everyone! Today we are reflecting on what needs based responding to children and young people really means. It is about adults taking a moment to pause and shift focus from stopping behaviour to consider:

• what's going on under the surface (are they hungry, tired ..)
• what emotion's driving the behaviour (fear, sadness, anger..)
• how can I help them to regulate and connect first before guiding

It’s not about ignoring limits or boundaries but about holding them with kindness and compassion so children and young people feel seen, held and valued even when they are struggling.

This focus helps us to tune into the needs behind the behaviour which helps children and young people learn to build adaptive coping and a stronger sense of self confidence, and trust in others over time.

11/07/2025

Now Offering After-Hours Relationship Counselling

Struggling to find time for therapy during the day? Dr Jacqueline Peters, Clinical Psychotherapist is now offering out-of-hours appointments by arrangement at both Malvern and O’Halloran Hill clinics and via Telehealth.
With specific training in the Gottman Method, Jacqueline supports couples to:
✔ Improve communication
✔ Rebuild connection and intimacy
✔ Navigate separation with care
✔ Prepare for commitment and big life transitions
Warm, respectful, and client-centred, Jacqueline brings a wealth of experience to her work with couples, individuals, and families.
Learn more or book today:

Strengthen your relationship with professional counseling. Our experienced therapists provide a safe space for couples to improve communication, resolve conflicts, and foster deeper connections. We also offer relationship and pre-commitment counseling to help partners navigate important life decisio...

10/07/2025

Spotlight on Schema Therapy

Schema Therapy is an approach that helps us understand the deeper emotional patterns we carry, especially the ones that keep showing up in our thoughts, relationships, and reactions, even when we wish they wouldn’t.

These patterns, or "schemas," often begin in childhood and can shape the way we see ourselves and the world. They might sound like:

“I’m not good enough.”

“People will leave me.”

“I always have to keep it together.”

In therapy, we gently explore where these schemas come from, how they’ve helped us cope, and how they might be getting in the way now. From there, we work toward building new, more supportive ways of thinking, feeling, and relating.

It’s a slower-paced, compassionate therapy that focuses on understanding why we feel the way we do and how to create lasting change.

Schema Therapy can offer a powerful framework for healing and growth, and we’re always happy to talk more about it if you’re curious.

10/07/2025

Meet our clinicians: Kate Hindson: Psychologist & Board-Approved Supervisor

With nearly 15 years of experience, Kate brings warmth, clarity, and a strong clinical focus to her work with adolescents (14+) and adults

She offers practical, evidence-based support at our Malvern Clinic for:

🌿 Anxiety & Perfectionism
🌿 PTSD & Trauma Recovery (using CPT)
🌿 Mood disorders, stress, and adjustment
🌿 BPD, self-harm & suicidality
🌿 OCD, phobias, psychosis, and more

Kate’s sessions are calm, light-hearted, and grounded in genuine connection. She helps clients understand the why behind challenges and supports them to move forward with confidence.

💻 Telehealth available
✅ CBT | CPT | DBT | Schema Therapy

Now taking referrals: inspiredpsychology.com.au/kate-hindson-registered-psychologist

Experienced Registered Psychologist and AHPRA-approved supervisor providing therapy for anxiety, PTSD, perfectionism, and mood disorders. Offering evidence-based approaches like CBT, CPT, DBT, and Schema Therapy for adolescents (14+) and adults. Supportive, client-focused care to foster lasting ment...

23/05/2025

Meet our Clinicians...Nicholas Richter, Registered Psychologist

Nicholas supports older teens and adults, including neurodivergent individuals, with a compassionate, affirming strengths focused approach. He creates a safe space to explore challenges like anxiety, trauma, grief, stress management and executive functioning, drawing on therapies such as CBT, ACT, and DBT. Nicholas is also trained in AAC systems to assist those with communication needs.

Now accepting referrals for ages 15+at both O'Halloran Hill and Malvern.

Nicholas offers evidence-based, integrative therapy for individuals aged 15+ facing anxiety, depression, trauma, and neurodivergence. With experience in NDIS and child protection, he creates a safe, non-judgmental space using CBT, ACT, DBT, and AAC systems.

08/05/2025

We’re so pleased to welcome Dayna, an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker, to our team.

Dayna works with children, adults, and families, offering a compassionate and collaborative space to support a wide range of mental health challenges. Her approach is trauma-informed, neurodiversity-affirming, and inclusive—particularly welcoming individuals from diverse backgrounds and the LGBTQIA+ community.

With experience across the lifespan and a background in public mental health, Dayna helps clients feel understood and supported as they work toward their therapeutic goals.

🧠 Dayna is now taking new clients at O’Halloran Hill.

I enjoy working collaboratively with children, adults and families, supporting them towards their therapeutic goals. I have a background in public mental health settings and…

25/03/2025

Today we are bringing focus to Eye Movement Desensitisation & Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy.... EMDR is an evidence-based therapy that uses dual attention skills to activate both sides of the brain to heal difficult experiences and symptoms. It can help with PTSD, anxiety, and depression and many other diagnoses.

Chloë Tolhurst is an accredited EMDR practitioner and has capacity for new referrals at our Malvern clinic. She welcomes all enquiries.

Chloë, a Clinical Psychologist at Inspired Psychology, is now accepting new bookings for clients interested in EMDR therapy. Specializing in anxiety, depression, PTSD, and complex trauma, Chloë uses evidence-based approaches like CBT, ACT, and Compassion-Focused Therapy. With a focus on creating a...

16/01/2025

We are looking for some wonderful clinicians to join our team at O'Halloran Hill. See our link for information :)

We are a well established private practice in South Australia with two clinic locations in Malvern and O’Halloran Hill. We upsized the southern location last year and have openings for new people to join our clinical team.

16/01/2025

A wonderful reminder 💕

T H I S.
a beautiful reminder
from
Tyndal Schreiner, MA, LPC

07/01/2025

Love this! Boundary setting is so important but can be hard and we can feel like we are getting it wrong when kids don’t respond as we would like them to immediately. This shows it as a process.

Every parent has fear around boundaries because of the pushback can be hard to deal with.

Kids will ask. That's what they do.

Parents are allowed to (and at times definitely should) say NO.

Your child might feel upset that you said no. They might cry. They might feel frustrated and angry (who likes being told no?!) - and that's ok. However they feel is ok - It doesn't mean you change your answer

You can show up with care and love and comfort for those feelings:

Validate how they're feeling ("I can tell my decision upset you.").
•
Show you care ("I care about how you feel." "I'm here for you.").
•
Explore the feelings under their behaviour (“How were you feeling when you _____?”).
•
Offer comfort ("Do you want a hug?").
•
Love them all the way through the big feelings. See their pain. Stay strong with your boundary decision (no means no). When you do this, you teach them how to deal with upsets and tough feelings - what an amazing life skill!

More information in my book

Guidance from The Therapist Parent
Available on my website www.thetherapistparent.com and Amazon