Be You Psychology & Counselling

Be You Psychology & Counselling Kerry Athanasiadis
Psychologist
BSocSc(Psych), PGradDip(Psych), MPsych, MAPS

Recent reporting about the allegations involving former Melbourne surgeon have been deeply distressing to read for us al...
10/03/2026

Recent reporting about the allegations involving former Melbourne surgeon have been deeply distressing to read for us all.

Investigations by regulators and police are ongoing. What we already know, however, is that many women report devastating physical and psychological impacts from surgeries they say they did not need.

Regardless of the legal outcomes, the experiences described by these patients highlight something important:

Medical harm can cause profound trauma.

If the healthcare system fails patients, then the system also has a responsibility to support their recovery.

That should include fully funded trauma-informed therapy for affected women.

These women deserve long-term support.

Tagging policymakers and organisations in the hope that meaningful support pathways are created: .org.au

Please share. Please tag your MP.





There is a lot of anger from women right now.And many men are asking how they should respond to it.From a psychological ...
10/03/2026

There is a lot of anger from women right now.

And many men are asking how they should respond to it.

From a psychological perspective, one useful framework comes from Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT).

DBT asks whether an emotion “fits the facts.”

When an emotion fits the situation, the goal is not to invalidate it or shut it down.
The goal is to acknowledge it and respond effectively.

Anger can be uncomfortable to hear.
But sometimes anger reflects grief, fear, injustice, and a long history of people not being heard.

Listening does not mean agreeing with everything said. But it does mean recognising that the emotional response may be understandable given the context.

And importantly, these issues should concern men too.

Violence, exploitation, and systemic failures that harm women are not just “women’s issues”.

They are societal issues. They are human rights issues.

And meaningful change requires EVERYONE paying attention.

If this topic brings up strong feelings for you, support is available. You can contact Lifeline Australia (13 11 14), 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732), MensLine Australia (1300 78 99 78), or Beyond Blue (1300 22 4636). If you are in immediate danger, call 000.

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Goes without saying: please share this post far and wide!

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Happy International Women’s Day!💗🫶🏻This mother-daughter duo is ready to fight the patriarchy today and every day 💪🏻 💅🏻 ...
08/03/2026

Happy International Women’s Day!💗🫶🏻

This mother-daughter duo is ready to fight the patriarchy today and every day 💪🏻 💅🏻

04/03/2026

Relatable?

We are living in an era of unprecedented access to global suffering. While staying informed matters, constant exposure t...
03/03/2026

We are living in an era of unprecedented access to global suffering.

While staying informed matters, constant exposure to distressing content can dysregulate the nervous system and amplify anxiety.

Setting boundaries around media consumption is not apathy. It is psychological safety.

If you’ve felt more on edge, more irritable, or more hopeless lately, this may be part of the picture. Notice your patterns. Adjust deliberately.






neurodivergentwomen
stressmanagement
wellbeing
psychologistlife

I’ve recently seen increasing misinformation about a range of health and mental health topics including childbirth care,...
26/02/2026

I’ve recently seen increasing misinformation about a range of health and mental health topics including childbirth care, ADHD and autism, endometriosis surgery and other complex conditions.

Health communication influences real-world decisions so it’s paramount that we are communicating ACCURATELY about these topics.

In Australia, journalists and registered health practitioners are bound by ethical and professional standards. Registered practitioners also have mandatory notification obligations under the National Law when they reasonably believe another practitioner has engaged in notifiable conduct that places the public at substantial risk of harm.

These systems are designed to protect the public - not to silence discussion, but to ensure accountability and safety.

Media frameworks:
-MEAA Journalist Code of Ethics
-Australian Press Council Standards
-Mindframe Guidelines for Reporting on Mental Illness

Health practitioner regulation:
-AHPRA Advertising Guidelines
-National Law Mandatory Notification Provisions

This post is general information only.


Allegations involving invasive medical procedures can evoke strong emotional reactions. As psychologists, we are not all...
25/02/2026

Allegations involving invasive medical procedures can evoke strong emotional reactions. As psychologists, we are not allowed to comment on individuals or ongoing matters. What we can acknowledge is the psychological impact when our trust in healthcare is shaken.

Major gynaecological surgery and chronic pelvic pain are not just medical experiences - they affect identity, safety, and the nervous system.

If you’ve experienced medical dismissal or trauma, your distress is understandable. Support is available.

Women’s health is mental health.





The videos of Punch the chimpanzee have gone viral because they tap into something deeply human.We cannot know his subje...
25/02/2026

The videos of Punch the chimpanzee have gone viral because they tap into something deeply human.

We cannot know his subjective emotional experience. But decades of attachment and comparative research show us that chimpanzees form selective social bonds, and separation from bonded partners activates stress physiology.

In humans, perceived rejection or abandonment activates the amygdala and the HPA axis, increasing cortisol and heart rate. The anterior cingulate cortex (involved in social pain) shows overlapping activation with physical pain networks.

Rejection hurts because your brain codes it as threat.

What we often call “overreacting” is frequently an activated attachment system.

For many women (particularly in perinatal seasons or with histories of relational trauma) that system can be especially sensitive to cues of disconnection.

The goal is not to eliminate attachment activation. It is to recognise it, regulate it, and respond with awareness rather than reflex.

Connection is a biological need.

Feeling affected by Punch doesn’t make you overly sensitive. It just means you are wired for connection like all mammals are. It means your mammalian caretaking system has been activated. It means you are a compassionate and caring human being. The system is working exactly as it should!

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traumainformed
emotionalregulation
psychologyeducation
melbournepsychologist
selfawareness
relationshippatterns
secureattachment
mentalhealthliteracy
womensmentalhealth
stressresponse

Polyvagal Theory is being widely discussed right now because a major 2026 paper argued that several of its core biologic...
23/02/2026

Polyvagal Theory is being widely discussed right now because a major 2026 paper argued that several of its core biological claims are not supported by current neuroscience.

That doesn’t mean the nervous system isn’t real.
It doesn’t mean fight–flight–freeze is a myth.
And it doesn’t mean that all of our regulation strategies suddenly stop working.

The fight–flight response has been established in stress physiology for over a century, originally described by Walter Cannon. It reflects activation of the sympathetic nervous system when the brain detects threat. Freeze and shutdown responses are also well recognised in neuroscience and involve coordinated activity across multiple brain and autonomic systems.

Those findings stand independently of Polyvagal Theory.

Where the debate sits is in the specific biological mapping proposed by Stephen Porges, particularly the three-tier vagal hierarchy and the claim that distinct vagal branches neatly explain mobilisation and collapse states. A large group of researchers recently argued that these anatomical and evolutionary claims are not supported by current evidence.

As clinicians, the takeaway isn’t rejection of the entire framework or defensiveness.

We can use other established and scientifically supported models to support our understanding of nervous system regulation. We don’t need to treat every example we use in therapy as literal biology. We must be willing to update our explanations as evidence evolves.

Science refines itself. Good therapy does too.

Reference:

Grossman, P., et al. (2026). Why the polyvagal theory is untenable. Clinical Neuropsychiatry, 23(1), 1–12.





Just a reminder that in 2026 you don’t need a new version of yourself.You just need a nervous system that isn’t constant...
30/12/2025

Just a reminder that in 2026 you don’t need a new version of yourself.

You just need a nervous system that isn’t constantly under siege.

Save this if it resonates 🤍






















What about you?

Finding my way as a mum of two and a psychologist - slowly, compassionately, and with a full heart 🩷🫶🏻
15/11/2025

Finding my way as a mum of two and a psychologist - slowly, compassionately, and with a full heart 🩷🫶🏻











Becoming a parent for the first time is one of the biggest life changes you’ll ever go through. It’s no wonder so many p...
28/09/2025

Becoming a parent for the first time is one of the biggest life changes you’ll ever go through. It’s no wonder so many parents find their mental health harder with their first baby.

With my second baby, I’ve noticed the difference. Experience, perspective, knowing about my neurodivergence, putting supports in place early, and being kinder to myself have all helped me feel steadier this time around.

Whether you’re about to go from 0–1 or 1–2, here are some reminders:

💜 The transition is huge, and that’s normal.
💜 Confidence grows with time and experience.
💜 Supports (both practical + emotional) make all the difference.

You’re not failing, you’re adjusting. And you’re not alone!

What has your experience been like going from 0-1 or 1-2 kids? 🩷

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