Janine Rod Bondi Junction Psychologist

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Sydney, NSW
Janine Rod Bondi Junction Psychologist

Empathic and professional, I will enable you to rediscover your resilience, boost your inner strength and achieve your unlimited potential.

I tailor my approach to each individual I work with, no one size fits all way of working. As a psychologist and hypnotherapist, my primary goal is to provide you with the highest quality of care within a supportive and nurturing environment. In our sessions, we will delve into the dynamics between your conscious and unconscious minds, exploring how they interact and influence your thoughts, behaviours, and attitudes. I approach therapy from a psychodynamic perspective, meaning that together, we will examine the underlying factors that shape your experiences and behaviors. This comprehensive approach allows us to gain insights into the root causes of your challenges and work towards long-lasting change. I understand that each person is unique, and I believe in tailoring your therapy sessions to meet your specific needs. Rather than relying on a single system of intervention, I draw from a variety of evidence-based sources, incorporating diverse techniques to provide you with a more comprehensive and personalized approach. Creating a safe and supportive environment is crucial to the therapeutic process. In our sessions, I will actively listen to your thoughts, feelings, and worries, offering a space where you can freely communicate, gain insight, and develop new skills. Together, we will work towards clarifying your inner conflicts, confronting barriers to your success and well-being, and ultimately achieving your goals. I invite you to connect with me on social media or book an appointment through my webpage so we can start a conversation about how we can address your challenges. Let’s explore the inter connection between your thoughts, behaviours, and mindset, and discover the transformative potential of therapy for your personal growth and well-being.

24/10/2025

So many of us live our lives chasing the next goal, the next milestone, the next version of ourselves we believe we should become. We strive to be better partners, parents, friends, or professionals — often measuring our worth against an invisible standard of perfection that never quite feels within reach.

And underneath all that striving, there’s often a quiet ache. A voice of judgement that whispers, “You’re not doing enough.” “You should have handled that better.” “Why can’t you just get it right?”

This voice can become so familiar that we start believing it’s who we are. But it’s not. It’s simply a learned pattern — a protective voice that developed long ago to keep us striving, belonging, and safe. And while it might have helped us once, it now often leaves us feeling disconnected, exhausted, and never quite enough.

Gratitude offers us a way back to ourselves. It doesn’t erase the imperfections or silence the inner critic overnight — but it softens us. Gratitude shifts our gaze from what’s missing to what’s already here. It invites us to pause and notice the subtle, beautiful moments we often overlook: the warmth of the morning sun, the sound of laughter, a deep breath that fills the body with calm, the comfort of being seen and understood.

When we start to appreciate these moments, something changes. Our nervous system begins to settle. The need to perform, perfect, and prove slowly loosens its grip. We find ourselves exhaling — remembering that it’s okay to just be.

Perfectionism thrives in the absence of compassion. It tells us that love and acceptance must be earned through doing, fixing, or achieving. But compassion — especially self-compassion — reminds us that we are worthy right now, exactly as we are. It allows us to hold our mistakes gently, to see the lessons rather than the failures. When we start speaking to ourselves with the same kindness we offer those we love, we begin to heal the parts of us that never felt enough.

Ask yourself: What truly fills me up? What brings me joy? It might be something simple — a walk in nature, movement that feels good in your body, music that makes you want to sing, time spent with people who see and celebrate you. These are not luxuries; they are lifelines. They reconnect us to our essence — to what’s real, nourishing, and alive.

Read on at... https://janinerod.com/finding-gratitude-and-letting-go-of-self-judgement/

01/10/2025

It’s hard to ignore the state of the world right now. Every time we turn on the news, glance at a headline, or scroll through our social media feeds, we’re reminded of instability, conflict, and division. This constant exposure doesn’t just weigh on our minds — it affects our bodies, too. For many of us, it stirs up a deep sense of unsafety, an unshakeable feeling that the ground beneath us isn’t steady.

When our nervous system perceives danger — whether from a real, immediate threat or the steady drumbeat of bad news — it reacts instinctively. You might notice yourself feeling more anxious, on edge, or hypervigilant, as though you’re constantly scanning for what might go wrong next. Or you might feel yourself shutting down, withdrawing, or becoming numb, as if the only way to cope is to disconnect completely.

These responses aren’t personal failings, nor are they weaknesses. They are built-in survival mechanisms, hardwired into the nervous system to protect us when we feel threatened. They are your body’s way of saying, “I’m trying to keep you safe.”

But here’s something many of us don’t realise: our nervous system isn’t designed to return to calm and safety all on its own. It needs something more — the presence of another safe being to help it settle.

Read on to learn more about why connection is key...
https://janinerod.com/regulation-and-connection-in-uncertain-times/

11/09/2025

When we think of health, we often look outward. We search for the right supplements, the right medication, the perfect diet, or a new treatment that promises balance. Yet, what we often overlook is that the most powerful, effective, and immediate pharmacy you will ever access is not found in a bottle or a pill — it’s within your own mind.

Your mind is your pharmacy. Every thought you have sends a message to your body, and your body responds with chemistry.

What you think is what you feel, and what you feel is what you act upon.

Read on to discovers ways to become a healthier, calmer, and more joyful you.

https://janinerod.com/your-mind-the-most-powerful-pharmacy-youll-ever-have/

25/08/2025

Tiny Daily Habits That Shape Our Nervous System... And how to come back to yourself, one small choice at a time.

Have you ever noticed how often you say “yes” when every part of you is quietly whispering “no”?�How often you override your exhaustion, push through the headache, silence your irritation, or brush away the lump in your throat—just to keep the peace, be productive, or stay likeable?

These small moments might seem insignificant. But over time, they can reshape the way our nervous system functions.

Read on... https://janinerod.com/tiny-daily-habits-that-shape-our-nervous-system/

11/08/2025

Can AI Replace a Psychologist? Is my job at risk?

It’s a question I’ve been asked a few times recently—and maybe it’s crossed your mind too.

With all the talk about artificial intelligence, mental health apps, and therapy chatbots, it’s natural to wonder:

Is it possible that AI could replace a human psychologist?

Could it do the job just as well—or even better?

I’d love to offer a thoughtful answer, not just from a professional perspective, but also from a human one.

Read on... https://janinerod.com/can-ai-replace-a-psychologist-is-my-job-at-risk/

27/07/2025

Many people still believe addiction is about the substance—sugar, alcohol, drugs, gambling. But it’s not.�It’s about what your brain has learned to crave.

Neuroscientist Dr. Caroline Leaf says it well:

“Your brain doesn’t categorise morality—it recognises repetition.”

In other words, your brain doesn’t make a distinction between “good” or “bad” habits. It simply adapts to the repeated chemical overload. Whether that overload comes from a glass of wine, a line of co***ne, a binge on sugar, or a compulsive scroll on your phone, the brain reacts the same way at the neurochemical level.

Each of these behaviours leads to a dopamine spike—a surge of the brain’s feel-good neurotransmitter. In the short term, this feels like relief, pleasure, or escape. But over time, that same loop—trigger, reward, relief—starts to dull your brain’s natural reward system. You begin to need more of the substance or behaviour just to feel normal.

Read on... https://janinerod.com/when-your-brain-just-wants-relief-how-sugar-alcohol-and-drugs-hijack-the-same-pathways/

13/07/2025

Many people think of perfectionism as striving to be your best, but it is not about self-improvement; it’s about earning approval and acceptance.” – Brené Brown

Perfectionism is often misunderstood. It wears the mask of ambition and discipline. It looks like striving for excellence. But as Brené Brown so wisely captures, perfectionism isn’t really about being your best. It’s about trying to be enough in the eyes of others. It’s a deeply rooted coping strategy—an attempt to avoid shame, judgment, and rejection.

As a psychologist, I often see clients who believe their perfectionism is what drives their success. But underneath that relentless drive is often anxiety, fear of failure, and an inner critic that never quiets. Perfectionism says: “If I do things perfectly, then I will be loved, accepted, safe.”

Read on https://janinerod.com/perfectionism-the-quiet-thief-of-self-worth/

29/06/2025

Over the past few months, I’ve seen a growing number of clients coming in to talk about their experience with the new generation of weight-loss medications — most commonly the GLP-1 receptor agonists, such as Ozempic and Wegovy.

What strikes me isn’t the success stories (though some are indeed seeing results), but rather the struggles behind the scenes — clients describing unexpected side effects, feeling emotionally flat, or disappointed that the weight isn’t shifting as quickly or completely as they hoped.

Even more poignant is the desperation underneath — the willingness to put up with uncomfortable side effects because the hope of finally losing weight feels so powerful… so necessary… so urgent.

This article isn’t about whether these medications are good or bad. It’s not about medical risks, nor endorsement. It’s about something deeper.

Read on at https://janinerod.com/the-weight-isnt-just-physical/

16/06/2025

There’s a collective unease many of us are feeling right now.

It’s in the headlines, in conversations, in the emotional undercurrent of our communities. War, conflict, political division, rising costs of living, uncertainty about the future. A world that often feels more reactive, more fractured, more angry.

For many, this stirs up a deep sense of instability. We might feel tense in our bodies, restless in our thoughts, anxious without knowing exactly why.

As a psychologist, I see this often. Clients come in not just with personal pain but carrying the weight of a world that feels overwhelming.

And I want to say something important: you are not imagining it.

We are living through times of significant emotional and social disruption. And it affects us all.

So what do we do when the world feels too much?

We return to what connects us.

Read on at https://janinerod.com/when-the-world-feels-unsteady-returning-to-what-connects-us/

Image used with thanks to Anuradha Ratnaweera - Wikimedia

01/06/2025

"Sorry, I’m in the middle of my own rainstorm. I can’t be your umbrella right now. It’s not that I don’t care. It’s not that I don’t want to help. But my hands are already full—with my own struggles, my own stuff, my own exhaustion. I just need time, I need space – to breathe, to heal, to find my feet. When the rain stops pouring so hard, and I find the sunshine, I’ll be able to hold up an umbrella for you. But for now, I just need to hold the umbrella for me."

This quote has stayed with me. Maybe it stays with you too — because it captures something many of us feel but can’t always say aloud.

There are times in life when we don’t have the emotional or physical capacity to support others the way we want to. Even when we love them deeply. Even when we’re the one who usually keeps it all together. Even when we feel we should be able to manage more.

The truth is: some seasons of life are heavy.

Read on at https://janinerod.com/im-in-the-middle-of-my-own-storm-making-space-for-your-struggles/

08/05/2025

As Mother’s Day approaches, we’re surrounded by imagery of joyful families, warm embraces, and heartfelt celebrations. The shops fill with flowers and cards, and social media floods with tributes to “the best mum in the world.” For many, this day is a cherished opportunity to express love and gratitude. But for others, Mother’s Day can stir a very different set of feelings—ones that are tender, painful, or complex.

Not everyone has a mother in their life. Some people have lost their mothers—recently or long ago—and this day becomes a marker of absence and grief. Others may have a mother who is physically present but emotionally distant, unwell, or unable to provide the safety and nurturing we instinctively long for. There are also those whose relationships with their mothers have been fraught with instability, trauma, or silence.

Read on... https://janinerod.com/mothers-day-holding-space-for-what-this-day-really-brings-up/

04/05/2025

For too long, depression has been seen solely as a disorder — something broken inside us that needs to be fixed. But what if we shifted our perspective? What if depression isn’t a flaw or malfunction, but instead a natural, intelligent response from our body and mind?

Depression is not a disease to be medicalised. It is a signal — a call to pay attention.

When we experience depression, our body and mind are responding to the environment around us: to stressors, loss, unmet needs, painful histories, or a world that feels overwhelming.

It is a way of adapting, protecting, conserving energy when we feel pushed beyond our limits. It is the brain’s attempt to cope with what it has been through.

Read on at ... https://janinerod.com/depression-not-a-disorder-but-a-human-response/

Address

Park Place, Suite 905/3 Waverley Street, Bondi Junction
Sydney, NSW
2022

Telephone

+61421990990

Website

http://www.janinerod.com/

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