Be You Psychology & Counselling

22/07/2025

It’s not that your needs are “too much.”

It’s that your nervous system is wired for very specific kinds of care, communication, and connection.

When others miss the mark, it can feel lonely, exhausting, and even lead to emotional deprivation.

This post shares why this happens (especially for autistic and AuDHD people) and some small, practical steps to support yourself through this common experience.

14/07/2025

Some weeks really test you…

I’m 34 weeks pregnant. My nausea has come back (again). My car broke down (the alternator is gone) and it’s getting fixed Friday. My husband’s brand new car has suddenly started having battery issues now, too.

And to really top it off… yesterday, his car broke down while he was driving me around to medical appointments all day. We got stranded. With our toddler in tow. Because of course we did.

Add to that a mountain of work and admin I need to catch up on, and honestly? I’m stressed.

But here’s what I’m reminding myself (and maybe you need this reminder too):

It’s okay to feel overwhelmed when life feels like a relentless pile of “too much”.

It’s okay to say, this isn’t just about the car.

It’s about the exhaustion of trying to hold it all together - physically, mentally, emotionally, when everything feels shaky.

Because it’s not just about the logistics. It’s your nervous system. It’s the accumulation of stress and responsibility and the sheer mental load of trying to keep a family functioning when the practical things we rely on fall apart.

So if you’re having “one of those weeks” too…
Lower the bar where you can. Ask for help (if it’s available). Cancel what can be cancelled. Give yourself credit for simply staying afloat 💪🏻

One step, one repair, one breath at a time.

This isn’t forever.

You’re doing your best. That’s enough 💜

13/07/2025

There’s no doubt AI is becoming part of our everyday lives. From writing and organising to offering helpful suggestions. But when it comes to mental health and wellbeing, it’s important to remember: no technology can replace the power of human connection.

AI can be a useful tool, like a journaling prompt or self-help book, but it’s not therapy.

It doesn’t know your history, your context, or your nervous system. And it can’t offer co-regulation, attunement, or a safe relationship to hold space for your healing.

If you’re curious about how to use AI safely, swipe through for some gentle guidance on boundaries and healthy use.

Like any tool, it’s all about how you use it.

08/06/2025

SAFETY BUBBLES 🫧

For many neurodivergent folk, the world can sometimes feel overwhelming, loud, fast, and “too much”.

That’s why safety bubbles matter.

They’re not about avoidance — they’re about nervous system protection and regulation.

They’re the people, spaces, routines and comforts that help us feel SAFE enough to exhale and be our authentic, unmasked selves.

Your bubble might include quiet, movement, sensory tools, special interests, or time alone.

It’s yours to define.

Inside your bubble you can rest.
You can regulate.
You can BE YOU 💜☺️

You don’t need to justify your bubble.
And you’re always allowed to return to it 🫧

🫧 What’s in your bubble?

04/06/2025

✨ Heading to the Yellow Ladybugs Conference - Day 3 in person tomorrow! ✨

I’ll be there in full personal mode, not work mode—as a late-diagnosed, high-masking AuDHDer, a psychologist, a mum of one (with one more on the way!), and a neurodivergent human who loves purple, quiet corners, yoga, and deep chats about identity, motherhood, yoga, nature and art 💜

I’ve shared a little about me in this carousel post so that if you recognise me, you’ll know it’s okay to say hello 👋🏻 💛

I tend to be more open and talkative online than in person, but I love connecting with kind, curious people—especially fellow neurodivergent psychs and creatives.

💔 Just be aware that we’ve sadly experienced a loss in my family this week so I may not be as chatty as usual, and I may look a little sad or reflective at times. I wasn’t going to attend but I think the distraction will be helpful, and my cousin would want me to be there.

Let me know in the comments:

🌼 Are you going to YLB?
🌼 How might I spot you?
🌼 What’s something you’d love to chat about or find community in?

Also happy to swap IG handles, emails or websites if we connect and want to stay in touch after the conference 🫶

Can’t wait to see you there! 💛

25/05/2025

Do you seek out stimulation or try to avoid it — or maybe both?

Sensory processing is personal. It’s not about being “too sensitive” — it’s about your nervous system doing its job to keep you feeling balanced.

You might seek loud music, tight hugs, or spinning one minute… and need silence and a dark room the next. That’s not a contradiction — that’s neurodiversity.

What sensory inputs soothe or overwhelm you? Some of my clients like to create a “sensory menu” to choose from at various times. Perhaps you could also give this a go!

19/05/2025

As a migraine sufferer myself I will definitely be tuning in to this one. I know many of my clients, colleagues and loved ones also experience migraine. It is so debilitating.

🔔 Reminder 🔔 Tune in to SBS tomorrow night for a powerful conversation on the burden of invisible illness.

Carl Cincinnato from Migraine and Headache Australia will be discussing the pain and stigma of migraine and how his personal struggle with migraine affected his early career, productivity, mental health and quality of life.

Whether you live with an invisible illness, know someone who does, or are simply curious, this is a conversation worth watching. Education is a powerful tool for building empathy,
understanding, and driving change.

🎥 The episode will spotlight powerful stories from people living with chronic conditions like migraine, fibromyalgia, long COVID and more.
🕣 8:30 pm AEST, Tuesday 20th May
📺 Live on SBS or stream later on SBS On Demand

13/05/2025

I was a little hesitant to pick up ‘Empire of Normality’ by Robert Chapman. When I saw it in the neurodiversity section of the bookstore I was hoping that it wasn’t going to be another one of those shaming sorts of books… but this book goes way deeper, it sums up exactly how I’ve always felt about the DSM. It shows us how our ideas of “normal” were shaped by capitalism—not by compassion.

Autism, ADHD and other forms of neurodivergence became “disorders” not through science, but through systems invested in productivity and conformity.

Chapman invites us to both:

• Celebrate neurodivergence as identity and culture.

• Acknowledge disability and the real impacts of ableism.

Yes, diagnosis can be medicalising—but it’s also essential. In a world built around neurotypical norms, diagnosis is often the key to support, understanding, and survival.

I feel like this is often the piece that’s missing by others who offer their critique in this space, such as Gabor Maté (who I also love, don’t get me wrong, but I do feel he misses this very important point).

This isn’t just a book. It’s a reframe of how we understand minds, bodies, and worth.

Definitely worth a read!

Have you read this book?

11/05/2025

I didn’t post on Mother’s Day because it felt impossible to distil all that mothering holds into a neat square.
The beauty. The pain. The grief. The joy.
The invisible load. The tiny moments of magic.
I’m still learning to hold all of it, and to honour it in my own time.
If this day felt complicated for you too—you’re not alone.

07/05/2025

Today is World Maternal Mental Health Day.

We are proud to join our partner organisations around the globe to raise awareness of perinatal mental illness - which affects as many as 1 in 5 women worldwide.

In many countries, su***de is a leading cause of maternal death.

Too many women and their families continue to suffer in silence, with stigma preventing many from seeking help.

Today and everyday we want to remind women that you’re not alone.

There is help and there is hope.

And we are stronger together ♥️

01/05/2025

As someone from a Greek background myself who has great pride in that part of my identify, this saddens me greatly. I have heard so many stories like this from my Greek family, friends and loved ones. Racism sucks.