KIND Counselling & Psychotherapy

22/12/2022

Well, 2022 is just about coming to a close and I would like to extend a huge heartfelt ‘thank you’ to each and every client & colleague whom I had the privilege of working with this year. I feel honoured to be able to help people in their healing journeys - building strength, resilience, beautifully strong boundaries, and lots of self love.

From today I will be on maternity leave, returning in June/July 2023. So until then, please keep well & be kind to yourself and others! 🌷

01/06/2022

Does this resonate for you? Do you put so much pressure on yourself that you begin to feel like you’re spinning backwards? Are you hard on yourself all the time?

While healthy motivation is great, too much pressure can leave a person feeling frozen and unable to move forward. It can, in fact, actually be incredibly detrimental.

The world we live in idolises the go-getters and overachievers. When it comes to the idea of ‘success’ - the bar is pretty high. But what if we did something different, we found a way to take the pressure off. We eased off on the unrealistic expectations and found a way to be kind to ourselves. What doors could open then?

It may sound wild, but I assure you, it is possible. And so often, when we learn to find moderation and balance, we are able to achieve more than we ever thought possible.

12/05/2022

Each and every day we are bombarded with options and choices to make. With the endless stream of decisions, it can become quite easy to slip into ‘escape and disconnect mode’. And sometimes a bit of escape is exactly what we need.
But at other times, the disconnect is too extreme, and we lose touch with ourselves. We slide into autopilot without evaluating some of the choices we make. If you are feeling out of balance and as though you’re not sitting comfortably in yourself, consider trying this:

Take a moment and ask this question -

Is this good for me?

Pause, take a deep breath, and see what arises. You may realise that the decisions that shape your sense of self and feeling of wellness are actually very much within your reach. And sometimes, when we ask this question, we give ourselves just enough space to make choices that help us to feel whole, grounded, and really nicely balanced.

11/05/2022

Well, Chip (aka Therapy Cat) is now in session! Chip often keeps me company during Telehealth appointments, but it seems he’s keen to take on the role as the main therapist. If you’re looking for a purrrfect therapy session and want someone who will listen without saying much, he might be the right fit for you! 😊 🐈‍⬛

19/04/2022

There is something to be said for being uniquely ‘you’. This crazy world of ours tends to promote conformity and ‘doing what everyone else is doing’.

So here is your reminder -
it is a brilliant and beautiful thing to be yourself, even if that means standing out against the crowd. Honouring your true self is the surest way to live an authentic life … but we’ll talk more about that another time! 🌸

19/04/2022

Emotion Focused Therapy, more commonly known as ‘EFT’ is a framework founded by Dr Sue Johnson, and something I often use with couples.

With EFT, we focus on rebuilding connection and emotional safety - finding the ‘meet point’ where couples can really begin to see and hear each other again, creating the foundation for a healthier relationship.

01/04/2022

Wise words from an amazing homeopath and author, Cassandra Lorius. From her book “Homeopathy for the Soul - Ways to Emotional Healing.”

27/03/2022

It’s time to check in with the couples out there!

• How is your relationship going?
• Is it thriving or just surviving?
• Are you both feeling happy, loved, supported and connected?

It’s never too late to focus on some Healthy Relationship Habits - something I often work on with couples. If you’re curious to learn more, please feel free to get in touch. You might be surprised at the little changes that can make a huge difference in your relationship.

22/03/2022

Hey there, Sunshine!

Did you know that getting enough sunlight can help to combat depression? Studies have shown that sunlight produces serotonin (the happy hormone) when it enters the eyes.

Now I wouldn’t suggest going and staring straight into the sun (yikes!), but spending a bit of time outdoors can work wonders for the body, mind & spirit.

And if you’re feeling particularly low, just remember that most suffering in life is temporary, and there is help available if you need it. If your days are feeling darker than they should, try getting some sunshine and feel free to get in touch to discover what I can offer to help.

21/03/2022

The world is pretty intense these days, everyone is digesting and processing events in different ways. Just remember to take some breaks from all the ‘news’ streams …

Get into nature. Breathe some fresh air. Have a mental health time-out, I promise it will do you some good. 🌿

Keep well 💛
~ Dāna

13/03/2022

This is a great question and one that doesn’t get asked very often. But really, how many hugs do we need each day?

Late psychotherapist Virginia Satir once said:

“We need four hugs a day for survival. We need eight hugs a day for maintenance. We need twelve hugs a day for growth.”

How many hugs did you get today?

07/03/2022

Many of us didn’t quite get the consistent care, nurturing and support we needed when we were young. Some of us got just about zero. This, in itself, can be seen as a core wound - and often leaves a painful marker that is carried into adulthood and throughout life.

But the good news is, the Inner Child lives within us forever, and it’s never too late to provide the care and nurturing that is still longed for on those deeper, subconscious levels. With gentle grace and some patience, it can be healed. Let’s begin now. As I always say, healing and learning is better late than never.

28/02/2022

Are you familiar with that little voice that seems to give you a hard time? It sounds like ‘you should do better!’ or ‘you could do more!’

That voice tends to be a bit unkind, and it can make some days feel like a relative nightmare with that built up internal pressure.

So let’s try something new, and practice a bit of self-kindness. And we can start that very easily with a new mantra: ‘Good enough is good enough’. Try it on if it feels right and let me know what you think. 🌸

25/02/2022

We all have days when we want to do nothing more than to hide under the covers for awhile.

One way to help the ones we love (and ourselves) to not feel so alone, is to check-in. We often ask ‘how are you?’ which begets the standard ‘I’m good thanks’ response.

But what if we asked differently, we allowed space. Instead, we asked - ‘how are you, really?’ And then allowed kind space and grace for whatever the real response might be. We can use this for others, and we can use this for ourselves. Let’s try some real check-ins, what do you say?🌿

21/02/2022

Life can become very hectic and very busy. We can get caught up in the endless hustle and bustle, landing in the ‘twilight zone’ when we lose our focus. So here is the essential reminder to get grounded, to be present. If you’re feeling a bit ‘neither here, nor there’, I invite you to engage in something which helps you to feel grounded and steady.

Go for a walk. Spend time in a garden. Sit by the water. Have a cup of tea and rest quietly. Take a shower. Or maybe, just take some deep breaths. Feel the presence of you in your body, know that you are grounded and whole.

16/02/2022

Starting therapy can be terrifying, especially with the thought of working through things that have been carefully pushed under the rug or squeezed into the ‘emotional suitcase’ for a long, long time.

Taking the first step is usually the most daunting; having that first session and sharing your story. But this step is a brave one, and the foundation for the possibility of great change. Most clients experience relief after taking that first step, because it starts the path to better days.

14/02/2022

13/02/2022

Pleased to announce the launch of the new website! 🌸

~ Dāna

http://www.kindpsychotherapy.com.au

Welcome to KIND Counselling & Psychotherapy, it's great to see you here. KIND was founded on the principle concept of fostering self-kindness in order to promote healing, resolution and growth. As a primary basis for nurturing, kindness can be seen as the first bandage to address an emotional wound....