Moxie Psychology West Perth Pty Ltd

06/05/2024

If your young person experiences any chronic issues with mood, it might be worth looking at how much time he or she is spending on a device each day....and deciphering what activities he or she is engaging in on that device.

Evidence-based recommendations about screen time and social media use are consistently moving away from the specific/exact amount of time spent to the quality of time spent. Parents are encouraged to monitor and be aware of the their children's engagement and use of devices. Having healthy conversations about boundaries, responsible use, and meaning-making of content contributes to better experiences overall.

And, as parents, modelling responsible use of devices and social media is really important, too. If we are using our phones/devices frequently to occupy our minds and time, then our young ones will be prone to doing so as well. For example, if we are in a waiting room with our children, are we on our phone or are we chatting about something in our immediate surrounding/environment?

As humans, we benefit greatly from more time with our brains turned off - not on......where we can mindful, grateful, introspective, and reflective......concentrate on our breathing and the expansion of our chest, for example, or how our feet feel on the ground as we walk. It is hard for this to occur when we are on devices and especially when we use social media.

If we don't turn our brains off, because we use social media and/or devices to occupy our time, we end up feeling chronically anxious which can add up to a depressed mood. Further complexities arise and play-out, but this is a basic process that explains what can happen.

Healthy discussions with our young people about the above can support moderated use of devices and social media. Remaining calm, open, and kind in your approach in these discussions helps children and teens stay engaged and increases their chances of understanding your point of view. It will help to be proactive and talk when there is no crisis at hand, or annoyance or irritation (for example, threatening to take a device away when it is being used too much)- rather, when exploring and planning in a collaborative sense (for example at a communal dinner, or at a lazy weekend morning chat).

18/03/2024

I'm very excited to announce that I am now offering Sand Tray Therapy at Moxie Psychology West Perth Pty Ltd. This therapy is available to adults, adolescents, and children.

Sand Tray Therapy was originally developed by British Psychiatrist Margaret Lowenfield in 1929. It is evidence-based and well-known for helping clients process concerns, issues, past negative experiences, or trauma without having to articulate such.

It is also helpful for developing verbal expression, regardless of etiology/origin/cause of deficiency.

I will naturally incorporate this type of therapy into all sessions with clients when appropriate. However, if you or someone you know is specifically interested in Sand Tray Therapy, then feel free to contact me for further information or to book an initial consultation.

21/02/2024

To diagnose or NOT diagnose, that is a VALID question!

Diagnosis in the mental health realm has traditionally felt taboo....shame-inducing....like an unhelpful label.

And, unfortunately, it still often does. Even with all of the awareness we have achieved over the years regarding the importance of understanding and supporting mental health, and normalisation of occurrence of mental health issues in the news, social media, work, school, and in real life chit-chat.....we still often seek to avoid diagnosis, thinking it will label us as inadequate in someway like an indelible mark.

So, when is diagnosis truly useful? When do we go ahead and accept the "label"?

There is no one perfect answer, however, in consideration of diagnosis, I think it's helpful to consider answers to the following exploratory questions:
1) Will diagnosis help me understand myself better? (or my child/teen and hence translate to them understanding themselves better)
2) Will diagnosis help me access further support (through medication OR assistance at school or work OR NDIS funding, etc)
3) Will I be able to control the privacy of my diagnosis? (in all cases, yes, you should be able to, however, this is an important area to fully understand and consider)
4) Do I understand that a diagnostic label can be helpful as "shortcut language" for integrated teams of helping professionals and staff?
5) Do I understand that sometimes labels are misinterpreted by lay-people (friends or family members) and sometimes professionals/staff? And what are my options if this happens/how would I advocate for myself if this situation arose?
6) Can I address the issue without diagnosis? If so, great, diagnosis is probably not necessary.

Many professionals that support individuals seeking mental health assistance are able to understand that a diagnostic label is a starting point, it is a place of foundational understanding. A good professional will learn details relevant to the person within a diagnostic category to try to tailor intervention or help.

If you require further assistance to make a decision regarding a mental health diagnosis, you can speak to your GP, a qualified psychologist, or specialist (psychiatrist or paediatrician). Some teachers and school staff or student services staff at uni can help advise, however, it never hurts to be discerning and make your own decision with different sources of advice and opinion.

Mental health diagnoses should improve quality of life for someone and should be carefully considered, but not avoided due to stigma.

02/02/2024

*SOCIAL SKILLS TRAINING*
Would you like your children or early teens to develop good social skills? Explicit teaching of social skills is relatively elusive at school, however, it is still really important for kids to learn how to be social in a way that suits them and is connecting to others.

Moxie Psychology West Perth Pty Ltd offers Social Skills Training for:
1) kids (Y2-Y5)
2) pre-teens to early teens (Y6-Y8)

This program focuses on explicit teaching and experiential learning of the following:
1) Emotion regulation and impact on communication
2) Voice/communication dynamics (tone, rate of speech, volume, etc)
3) Greetings and good-byes
4) How to carry on a short conversation for maintenance of friendships and also for cooperation with teachers, parents, and other adults
5) Assertive communication - with an emphasis on RESPECT for self and others

At Moxie, social skills are taught "the old-fashioned way", where we sit together, chat in real time around craft, drawing, or play (no iPads or laptops).

Children and early teens who have participated in this program in the past have demonstrated growth in sophistication of greetings & good-byes, increased social fluency with peers, understanding of emotional state on communication, basic conversational flows, and assertive speaking.

If you are interested in enrolling your child or pre-teen, please contact me at moxie@westperthpsychology.com for more information. Expressions of interest are being taken for Term 2 and Term 3 2024.

28/01/2024

Circle of Security Parenting online training is available through Moxie Psychology West Perth Pty Ltd! If you are interested, please contact me for further details. moxie@westperthpsychology.com

Circle of Security is evidence-based and is one of the single best concepts that can easily be taught and learned to help parents develop a healthy, well-attuned relationship with their children and thus ensure their development is rich, satisfying, and flourishing. It is based on the concept that we can support our children to have a safe-base and then venture out into the world, returning as needed to the safe base. Knowing how this cycle works makes parenting less stressful, more rewarding, less anxiety provoking, and gives parents a strength of assurance and conviction that they are doing the best for their children in meeting their needs.

Circle of Security training was traditionally developed for parents of young children, however, the concepts can be applied at any stage of childhood or adolescence - it's never too late to learn and apply these theories and techniques.

The cost is $100/session and the program is 5 sessions long (1hr/session). Medicare rebates of approx $23/session are available with a referral letter from your GP for group therapy (up to 10 sessions/year).

Moxie Psychology West Perth Pty Ltd offers Individual Therapy, ASD, ADHD and Specific Learning Disorder Assessments, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) groups and Circle of Security Parenting (COSP) Groups for all ages. Face-to-face or online services are available.

25/01/2024

In Australia, we are so lucky that there are regular health nurse screenings for our children at school (usually in Kindy or PrePrimary) for vision and hearing! These screenings usually identify clear issues if they exist so that the young person can receive intervention in terms of glasses, grommets/tubes, or similar.

However, if a child passes one of these screenings, it does not mean that they do not have vision or hearing issues, rather, it could be that their issues were just not detected at that point in time, with the tools available in the screening.

Therefore, it's a really good idea to organise hearing and vision tests for your children, and preferably as soon as possible. For example, if your little girl can't see properly, then she will struggle when written letters and numbers are presented in Kindy and PrePrimary - the basis for reading, writing, and mathematical understanding. Without excellent fundamental understandings of the building blocks of literacy and mathematical skills, she will get behind in her learning very quickly! And it becomes very hard to catch up, especially if a vision issue isn't identified until the child is in Year 3, 4, 5, or 6, etc.

The same can be said for hearing.....if your little boy can't hear properly, it is very difficult for him to follow instructions, pay attention, and communicate with others. Hearing issues negatively impact language development as well. If your boy can't hear clearly, then he will not be able to take in auditory information accurately, and then he will not be able to reproduce sounds properly. For example, he will hear the word "unusual" as "uh-oo-s-l" and then use the word in his verbal expression, pronouncing it incorrectly/without the detail. "Thank you" can become "fank-oo", etc.

Certainly, if your child has any issues at school, in reading, writing, speaking, mathematics, drawing, following instructions, communicating with staff, teachers, or peers, then vision and hearing tests ought to be prioritised - especially if we start thinking that the child is "NOT trying" or "NOT cooperating" or "being difficult". Behaviours that seem deviant are usually not the child's choice-rather, children are prone to cooperating, interested in learning, happy to play, etc. When this seems to not be the case, it could be simply related to a vision or hearing problem, which can then be addressed and rectified.

So, in Australia, you can obtain advice and a referral letter from a GP to consult with the appropriate vision or hearing specialist and also receive Medicare rebates for these visits. Wait lists can be lengthy, so it doesn't hurt to see the GP for advice rather soon, when your child is 4, 5, or 6 years old (or when a problem first becomes apparent, maybe when the child begins talking or walking and issues are noted). Even if the tests show NO ISSUES, at least you know....and that gives everyone a peace of mind.

15/12/2023

I have read SO many parenting books, for personal AND professional reasons. I've read the popular ones and the technical ones, the science-based ones and the intuitive ones.

They all have at least one thing in common, in my opinion, and I notice in my practice how important this is:

CONNECTION - if you are connected to your child, then your child will respond favourably.

Unfortunately, we cannot always be connected to our child, they must evolve to be separate, independent beings.
-When he is a baby, we have to put him down on occasion (in most Western cultures).
-When she is a toddler, she wants to go out on her own! -Over-Boldly!
-When he is a child, he has to do things without you around altogether (ie school, playdates, sports, other extracurricular activities, etc)
-When she is a teenager, she needs to slowly develop into her own person.
-When he is a young adult, he needs to get traction in the world without you.

When it comes to connection, quality is more important than quantity....and when we are together, or re-united, it's really important to focus on the quality of the connection in those moments, to put our energy into these interactions - this ensures that that time apart goes well for the young person.

As children grow, they need more time away from us as parents, and we tend to worry that they will not cope or that they might not make the right decisions or that they will fail in high school or uni. We may find ourselves trying everything we can to ensure that our children have it easy in the world and that they are happy. We may do this by signing them up for structured activities, music programs, art classes, debate squads, computer coding classes, etc. We may provide tutoring and get them braces to straighten their teeth. We might advocate for them at school and to the point that we disagree with teachers and staff. We may give them everything we think they will need to feel comfortable and confident (ie, nice clothes, gaming devices, electronic technology, etc).

However, the single most important thing we can do that makes the largest positive impact on our children is to be there with them as much as they need ---- not so that they cling to us, but so that they have a "safe base" to explore from and to return to. So that they have loving attention when they need it. We can celebrate our connection to our young people when we have it, because it is truly unique - based on a combination of shared genes and social/behavioural norms. Children, teens, young adults all feel amazing if their most important people (mum, dad, or other caregivers) are so over-the-moon to be with them and relish them and want to hear what they have to say. And if children and teens and young adults feel amazing, they will face challenges with satisfying outcomes and move through life with a sense of fulfilment and joy. If there is deep sense of connecting love and mutual respect, then the young person will be willing to do things that need to be done (even if they are not what they want in that moment).

Looking your infant, toddler, child, teen, or young adult in the eye (or as close as possible without being uncomfortable as in some cases with ASD) and listening without judgement, with kindness, with patience, with praise and delight OR patiently explaining instructions OR providing emotional validation and co-regulation are all valuable aspects of connection that contribute to a young person's wellbeing. The rest comes second. While I'd like to claim this as my wisdom, I cannot, this appears to be a common denominator across different sources of parenting advice. - I do agree with this recurring theme and highlighted point.

Try focusing on this concept in your own family for awhile and see what you find. The families that I work with in my practice tend to flourish once quality connections are emplaced at "just-the-right" frequency. AND they feel really good! AND conflict decreases. AND children's self-esteem goes up, their mood issues resolve, and compliance is a non-issue.

If you would like to know more about how to help raise resilient children with healthy sense of wellbeing, feel free to contact me or another qualified psychologist for further consultation.

07/12/2023

What is DBT - Dialectical Behaviour Therapy?!

It is a skills-based therapy that addresses the four main areas of:
1) mindfulness
2) distress tolerance
3) emotion regulation
4) interpersonal effectiveness
**leading to a greater sense of personal freedom and inner-calm.

DBT is traditionally implemented via:
-individual therapy + group therapy + out-of-session coaching.

Who is DBT for?:
-absolutely anyone, any age, anytime

What is good about DBT?
-We learn skills that support a more satisfying experience of life overall - and these skills are not rigorously taught in school or anywhere else! (though arguably they should be)
-We get to practice those skills - because knowing them is one thing, and using them when needed is the next level of difficulty!
-We feel more confident in ourselves and in life, we feel more calm in our bodies and in our relationships, and we enjoy things more when we use DBT skills.

You don't need to be suffering with a severe mental disorder to try DBT in group or individual therapy - you will still likely benefit. If you or a loved one are suffering, however, then DBT skills will quite likely help.

There are many DBT courses that you might want to consider with qualified professionals. In Australia, a referral from a GP will help cover some of the out-of-pocket expense for group or individual therapy.

Moxie Psychology is offering 4 group programs in 2024. Each is 10 weeks long, running fortnightly for one hour per session (Wednesdays 5pm Perth-Time) ONLINE. There is one session for adolescents and one for adults. If you'd like more information or to register, contact moxie@westperthpsychology.com

05/12/2023

Heading into the holidays it might be worth reviewing some tips on how to avoid being triggered by:

-those that you love but who also know your weaknesses and how to push your buttons
-situations that are uncomfortable (ie, too noisy, crowded, weird smells, bright lights, etc)
-contexts that remind you of the past that are perhaps disconcerting or traumatic and unresolved
-other's opinions
-judgement

KEEP IT SHORTER RATHER THAN LONGER

STEER AWAY FROM OPINIONS, STICK TO DESCRIPTIONS

TELL INNOCUOUS JOKES (look some up beforehand)

SAVE BIG LIFE TOPICS FOR INTIMATE GATHERINGS (ie one-on-one)

DRIFT AWAY FROM ADVICE-GIVERS, JUDGERS, HATERS, ENERGY-DEPLETERS (oh, I need to pop to the toilet, I'll be right back!)

COMPLIMENT OTHERS, SHARE WHAT YOU LIKE, NOT WHAT YOU DISLIKE, ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT NEUTRAL TOPICS, LIKE WILDFLOWERS OR FOODS

IF SOMEONE IS RUDE TO YOU, MOVE AWAY

YOU DON'T HAVE TO SEE OR TALK TO ANYONE WHO HAS VIOLATED YOUR BOUNDARIES - EVER - NO EXPLANATION REQUIRED

DON'T GO TO THAT PLACE WHERE THOSE TERRIBLE THINGS HAPPENED ("I'm sorry, I'm busy that day" or "I'm gonna take a pass on that one")

WHEN YOU NEED TO GO, JUST GO, DON'T LET OTHERS PERSUADE YOU TO STAY (It's usually about them not you/your welfare)

DON'T DRINK TOO MUCH ALCOHOL, WE DO LOSE OUR VERBAL FILTERS AND ARE BETTER ABLE TO CONNECT TO NEGATIVE EMOTIONS WHEN WE DRINK TOO MUCH

PLAN AHEAD OF TIME WHAT TOPICS YOU MIGHT TALK ABOUT THAT MAKE YOU FEEL GOOD

DESIGNATE CALM-DOWN/QUIET TIME AFTER AN ENGAGEMENT SO YOU CAN PROCESS ALL OF THE NEW INFORMATION BUZZING IN YOUR HEAD

REMEMBER SOMEONE'S REACTIONS TO YOU ARE USUALLY TOTALLY ABOUT THEM, NOT YOU

The list goes on, but these are some ideas. Our mental health can suffer rather than be lifted when we visit with friends, family, colleagues, and acquaintances, so it can be worth taking an active approach to managing social gatherings and engagements, especially during the holidays when there are likely to be many.

In taking a proactive, thoughtful approach to your social calendar, you will likely feel more satisfied and build a strong sense of quiet confidence that no one can disrupt.

Of course, if you are expecting challenges over the holidays, it is a good idea to consult with a professional and qualified psychologist earlier rather than later. It's easier to talk about something that is distressing before reaching crisis mode.

If you or a loved one experience a mental health crisis ever (and/or over the holidays):
Present at your local public hospital emergency room
OR
Call 000
OR
Call Lifeline 13 11 14
OR
Call Su***de Callback 1300 659 467
OR
Call Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800
OR
Call CAMHS Crisis Connect (Child and Adolescents) 1800 048 636

If you experience violence:
call the police 000 (emergency) OR 131 444 (not an emergency)

Stay safe and look after yourself during all social interactions, especially during the holidays!

01/12/2023

DID YOU KNOW? that in Australia, you can ask your GP for a referral to psychological group therapy so that you can attend and have access to Medicare rebates for up to 10 sessions each year? This does not conflict with your access to 10 sessions of individual therapy that are eligible for Medicare rebates (up to 10 sessions each year).

If you have or wish to have a Mental Health Treatment Plan and ask your GP to write one, you may wish to ask him or her to add in a recommendation for 10 sessions of group therapy relevant to your needs. This way, it is part of your MHTP. If group therapy is not part of your original MHTP, then you can still make an appointment with your GP and ask that he or she write a referral letter and add this to your existing MHTP.

Group therapy is a great way to build skills and normalise your experience of mental health issues or challenges. It supplements and enhances individual therapy. And, many groups are now online, so there is easy access to great help, all while wearing your bunny slippers and drinking your favourite hot chocolate, sitting in your favourite private space, not having to drive!

Moxie Psychology is offering the following groups in 2024:

1) Social Skills Training Group Therapy, fortnightly on Fridays at 5pm in West Perth (Group 1: Y2 to Y5; Group 2: Y6 to Y8)

2) Dialectical Behavioural Therapy Group Therapy ONLINE fortnightly on Wednesdays at 5pm (Group 1: Adolescents; Group 2: Adults)

3) Circle of Security Parenting Training ONLINE, fortnightly on Saturdays at 11am

There are other wonderful group therapy programs in Perth and throughout Australia, so I encourage you to browse around and take advantage of this form of therapy with qualified psychologists and allied health practitioners.

27/11/2023

GREAT NEWS! Openings for Group or Individual Therapy in 2024!
I work with adults, adolescents, and children.

I am taking appointments for 2024, so please contact me if you are interested in individual or group therapy in 2024.

I specialise in treating neurological conditions (ADHD, ASD), depression, anxiety, PTSD, self-esteem issues, and relationship issues.

*I am working on a School Term basis starting at the end of January 2024, accepting bookings for a minimum of one term.
*Frequency options are weekly or fortnightly.

West Perth -
M, W, and F: 1pm, 2pm, 3pm, and 4pm
Assessments 10am on Fridays
Sat: 9am, 10am, 11am

Glen Forrest -
T, Th: 9am, 12:30pm, and 1:30pm
Assessments 10am Thursdays

Northam -
3rd Friday of each month 9am, 10am, 11am, 12pm, and 1pm
Assessments available upon request

Group Therapy (Online)
1. Dialectical Behavioural Therapy for Adults Wed 5pm fortnightly, either Term 1, 2, 3, or 4
2. Dialectical Behavioural Therapy for Adolescents Wed 5pm fortnightly, either Term 1, 2, 3, or 4 (alternating with the adult program)
3. Circle of Security Parenting Training Sat 11am fortnightly, either Term 1, 2, 3, or 4

In-Person
1. Social Skills Training for Children (Y2-Y5) Fri 5pm fortnightly, Term 1, 2, 3, or 4
2. Social Skills Training for Pre-teens and Young Teens (Y6-Y8) Fri 5pm fortnightly, Term 1, 2, 3, or 4 (alternating with children's SST group)

I am an NDIS provider and also accept GP referrals, providing rebates for 10 individual AND 10 group therapy sessions each year for clients of all ages.

If you'd like to book-in or if you'd like more information, please contact me at moxie@westperthpsychology.com

Moxie Psychology West Perth Pty Ltd offers Individual Therapy, ASD, ADHD and Specific Learning Disorder Assessments, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) groups and Circle of Security Parenting (COSP) Groups for all ages. Face-to-face or online services are available.

24/11/2023

When our child "clearly" isn't cooperating, it's very easy to think that he or she is causing a fuss on purpose! However, especially in the case of autism, the child cannot do what is being asked of him or her (at that particular point in time). He or she is trying really hard to keep-it-together, and do what is expected, however, this can go unnoticed, masked behind the "fuss".

For example, a child that resists going to a restaurant with the family --- if the child has sensory issues (whether tied to ASD or not) --- the child may be panicking and worried and may be aware that he will be overstimulated with noise, smells, unfamiliar/unpalatable foods, etc. So when forced to go to the restaurant, his reaction is to resist going along, to not want to get out of the car, to oppose, to not be happy, or to sit at the table and not be able to engage with the family, or order from the waitperson, etc.

The truth is that the child described above is doing his best to cooperate and to be a "good kid". This part is less obvious, however it's absolutely true.

The same thing can play-out at school and underpin school-refusal.

If your child has ASD, he or she is usually wanting to do the right things, however, there are sensory sensitivities that need to be taken into consideration, otherwise she will be overloaded, fearful, and prone to melting-down. Once again, this can be interpreted as "bad behaviour" or opposition for the sake of manipulation or unprovoked defiance, which couldn't be further from the truth.

If we look critically at the behaviours, especially with ASD, we can reveal needs that a child is trying to get met. If we willingly provide those needs then the behaviours change. For example, if we give the child some choice around restaurant type, seating location, food selection, ear plugs/muffs to quiet the noise, etc, then he may be more emotionally and physically regulated and thus be able to comply and roll-with-the-family-flow.

If your child is behaving in ways that are seemingly oppositional, then it is worth having a look at her environment(s) or situations/contexts to understand any issues or provocations. If any are identified, it is worth making accommodations and adjustments for her. Asking her to change and accept a world that is uncomfortable for her, physically and emotionally will not work, rather it will likely result in mental health issues including low self-esteem and mood & anxiety disorders, to name a few.

A qualified psychologist can help evaluate your child or teenager's sensory needs in light of any challenging behaviours that are being presented to help interpret the underlying unmet needs.

07/11/2023

If your child lives with dyslexia, GRAPHIC NOVELS and AUDIO BOOKS (especially prior to reading the same story/book) are such great resources for both developing his reading skills, and for helping him engage in reading.

Reading is:
-time away from screens
-relaxing
-a way to learn about life and other people's experiences
-a way to learn about different places and worlds
-an avenue for building empathy
-quiet time
-growth for the brain
-a great way to build vocabulary and develop comprehension skills
-escape time from the tensions of life

If someone lives with dyslexia she may miss out on all of the above because reading is just too hard. However, by seeing the pictures in a graphic novel or hearing the scene descriptions -- instead of needing to read paragraphs of text, the young person can take-in any story using her visual senses and concentrate on overall fewer words shared in dialogue or narration.

By listening to an audiobook prior to reading the same book, a young person then actually knows the story and has heard many of the words that he will be reading in the book, which helps expedite the reading process which would otherwise be arduous and an obstacle. By knowing the plot, the scenes, and the dialogue through an audiobook, he then can better predict the written text when following up with the book.

While dyslexia is a life-long condition, it does not have to be debilitating or prohibit a rich relationship with text. Rather, with intervention, clever approaches, and creative work-arounds someone who lives with dyslexia can enjoy literature as much as someone who does not live with this condition.