Holistic Psychology Services

11/11/2024

"But I should be over it by now..."

If you've ever thought this, know you're not alone. Healing from trauma is complex and nonlinear.

Trauma can have a lasting impact on the brain and body, shaping the nervous system in ways that make it hard to feel safe, even long after the traumatic events have passed.

When a reminder of the trauma pops up—whether it's a sound, smell, feeling, or even a thought—the nervous system can be thrown back into a heightened state, almost like it's 're-living' the event.

In these moments, it’s as if the brain can’t tell that the trauma isn’t happening all over again, which can lead to feelings of overwhelm, panic, or shutdown.

The good news is, you don’t have to keep reliving it—there’s a way to move forward.

By tuning into the body’s responses, somatic approaches gently guide individuals to feel grounded and safe in the present moment. Through connecting to physical sensations, emotions, and thoughts, you can learn to reframe and 'place' these memories in the past, where they belong.

The nervous system learns to recognise safety again, allowing you to experience life in the present, rather than being pulled back to painful past experiences.

11/11/2024

It's difficult to think your way out of feelings because emotions are largely bodily experiences.

When we feel something deeply—stress, sadness, anger—our body responds with physical sensations like tension, increased heart rate, or muscle tightness.

These sensations are not purely cognitive, so trying to "think" them away doesn’t address their root cause.

Emotions are survival responses: They’re wired in us to react quickly, often bypassing logical thought for immediate safety or expression.

Thoughts can amplify emotions: Thinking too much about a feeling can lead to rumination, which often intensifies distress rather than resolving it.

Body and mind aren’t separate: Our brain and body work together to process emotions, so addressing one without the other often feels incomplete.

Logic misses underlying needs: Emotions often signal unmet needs or boundaries, which can’t always be met by rationalising but by acknowledging and responding to them directly.

Emotional processing requires feeling and experiencing, not just logic or rational thinking. Embracing bodily awareness alongside thought can be a much more effective way to work through emotions.

24/10/2024

Our body tells a story through subtle cues—how you hold yourself, the tension in your muscles, or even your posture.

These physical patterns are often shaped by experiences, especially difficult or overwhelming ones. When we experience trauma, our body instinctively responds to protect us, creating tension or physical reactions that stay long after the event is over.

Without even realising it, you might carry this protective response in your everyday life. For example, tightening your shoulders, holding your breath, or feeling a sense of heaviness or numbness in your body can be ways your system is still trying to shield itself from past hurts.

By gently tuning in and becoming aware of these sensations, you can start to recognize the body’s wisdom—how it holds onto and expresses what you may not have words for. Understanding these physical signals can be a powerful step in releasing what’s been stored and creating space for healing.

13/01/2024

Introducing my new website for provisional psychologists and early career therapists, with downloadable resources, articles and my updated Case Report Challenge.

A supportive space for provisional psychologists and early career therapists to connect, learn and grow

12/07/2023

Case conceptualisation is an essential tool for psychologists. It is a collaborative process that helps us to understand our clients and plan the best path for their recovery. If you would like to learn and/oe refine your skills in this area please join me for this practical and experiential group.

Case Conceptualisation Supervision Group June 12, 2023 - by admin No Comments $120.00 Group Supervision x 2 hours Booking Date: Clear Case Conceptualisation Supervision Group quantity SKU: N/A Category: Group Supervision Description Additional information Description Small group supervision (max 5 p...

11/07/2023

26/06/2023

Practising mindfulness allows us to form deeper connections with ourselves and others by enhancing our awareness, compassion, and appreciation.

When life gets busy, we tend to rush through activities and interactions, and we often miss those small (and sometimes not so small) moments of joy, happiness, gratitude and beauty surrounding us.

Taking a few minutes to mindfully savour these experiences helps us to tune into positive emotions that we can carry with us throughout the day.

This body awareness meditation invites you to embody a pleasant experience:

This meditation will guide you to embody a pleasant and positive experience.

22/06/2023

For anyone interested in integrating body-based interventions into their clinical practice this group is for you.
Monday 24th July 1-3pm.
$120 for 2 hours of group supervision with an AHPRA approved supervisor.

Working with the Body Supervision Group June 21, 2023 - by admin No Comments $120.00 Booking Date: Clear Working with the Body Supervision Group quantity SKU: N/A Category: Group Supervision Description Additional information Description Small group supervision (max 5 participants) for provisional p...

07/06/2023

For anyone struggling to get started with case reports

https://psychservices.net.au/tips-for-writing-ahpra-case-reports/?fbclid=IwAR0cd1JU8ZeNm42xKVHB6yV7oODrp_cy-HkcWFiHhqdRGVhrMwYcvK4iNyA

Tips and resources to help you get started with your case reports

16/11/2022

Are you struggling to get started with your case reports?

Case reports are an essential component of the 4+2 or 5+1 internship, as they provide a valuable opportunity to demonstrate the breath and scope of your work as a provisional psychologist. However, many provisional psychologists feel quite nervous at the prospect of writing up cases for both their supervisor and AHPRA, which can lead to procrastination. This can create unnecessary stress as well as delays in meeting the internship requirements, and potentially delay your internship resulting in additional supervision costs (as the ratio of 1 hour of supervision to every 17.5 hours of psychological practice still needs to be maintained until you receive general registration) and lost earnings (as you are likely to earn more as a fully registered psychologist compared to being provisionally registered).

Another common problem with case reports is understanding the requirements and knowing how to get started. This is precisely why I created the Case Report Challenge, which provides a step-by-step process to writing a case report in just 2 weeks. The program contains short videos and instructions relating to various sections of the case report, including a clear overview of AHPRA’s expectations.

Below are some tips to help you get started:

• See this as a chance to demonstrate your skills in assessment, diagnosis, formulation, and intervention, and display the breadth and depth and of your knowledge. Ultimately this is a chance to showcase your work to your supervisor and AHPRA. This will also reinforce the great work you are doing with your clients.

• Set aside a designated period of time each day or week to focus on your case reports. Tackle small chunks at a time and take breaks when needed.

• Start with the differential diagnosis and diagnosis. This will ensure that all relevant symptoms will be included in subsequent sections and will also ensure there are “no surprises” (new information not provided previously) in the diagnosis section (this is much more common than you would imagine!)

• Wait until you have completed your first draft of a case report before submitting to your supervisor. Reviewing half-finished reports takes up more supervision time as your supervisor still needs to read the full report to ensure it flows properly, and that each section builds upon the next.

• Aim for “good enough” rather than perfection. Perfectionism tends to create barriers such as procrastination. Most initial drafts won’t be perfect, but with your supervisor’s support and guidance you will become more proficient in completing these reports.

For further support and guidance please see what's on offer in the Case Report Challenge, or for more individualised assistance we would be happy to provide secondary supervision to discuss and review your case report.

A step-by-step guide to writing an assessment or intervention case report in 14 days.

26/10/2022

Are you a provisional psychologist struggling to get started with your case reports?

I have just created an online program that provides a step-by-step guide to writing a case report from scratch in 14 days.
The Case Report Challenge consists of 14 daily videos lasting approximately 5-10 minutes each, containing clearly defined tasks for the day. You will be provided with simple and manageable steps that will take you through the different sections. Each daily task should take between 15 and 30 minutes to complete. At the end of the program, you will have completed the first draft of your case report to submit to your supervisor.
Investment of $97 includes 1.5 hours of video content (which can be logged as PD), templates and resources, and ongoing access to all content and materials for the duration of your internship.

A step-by-step guide to writing an assessment or intervention case report in 14 days.

01/09/2022

New supervision groups (max 5 people) with a Board-Approved Supervisor scheduled for October, focussing on the mandatory assessments.
Cost per group:
$180 for the NEO, PAI, WISC and WAIS (2.5 hours)
$200 for the WMS (3 hours)