Parenting an Anxious Child One of the most common presenting symptoms I see in my clinic is children experiencing anxiety. Often I tell parents that in my experience working as a Psychologist for the last 15 years, It is the One diagnosis that I see as easiest and successful to treat in a short period of time. It brings great…
What is a healthy intimate relationship for me as a Teenager? KNOW HOWS If you have managed to get the conversation going and decide to go out on a date, how do you decide whether or not to get physical with the person you like? Lots of people want to engage with their sexuality and that’s okay, as long as…
RESEARCH-BASED APPROACH TO RELATIONSHIPS I am pleased to have officially completed my Gottman’s Level 1 and Level 2 Training in Couples Therapy. Everyone stumbles through relationships, marriage and parenting with little or no research on how to navigate this complex path. Sometimes its worthwhile doing the research! Thank you to world renowned Drs John and Julie Gottman who have devoted…
Narmatha Thillainathan At some point in your relationship as a couple, you will often find yourself struggling with anger and shock, despair and sadness. In my experience as a therapist, some are newlyweds, and can’t understand how they have plummeted from the heights of love and glory into a swamp of hopelessness and conflict. Others have been married for…
Narmatha Thillainathan The term “boat people” has become ubiquitous in our everyday language and remains a contentious political issue that has divided the Australian community. The Department of Immigration advises that of the approximately 185,000 migrants accepted in Australia in 2008/2009, 13,000 were accepted on humanitarian grounds. In that year, 1033 people arrived by boats. This has increased to a…
Narmatha Thillainathan A Hindu considers Hinduism as not only a religion, but also a way of life. A Hindu strives to evolve from a materially focused human to a spiritual one, and considers God a silent partner and an inspirer. Therefore, to provide culturally and religiously sensitive treatment to Hindus, clinicians must understand the common practices of Hindu followers. In…
An interesting article on the relationship between client and therapist – by Alex Afram (GoodTherapy.Org) People come to psychotherapy because they want to feel better. A big part of a therapist’s ability to help a person feel better lies in their taking a loving stance toward that person. This stance starts with a therapist’s understanding that it takes courage for…
Healing through self-compassion “Mindful Self-Compassion is the foundation of emotional healing – being aware in the present moment when we’re struggling with feelings of inadequacy, despair, confusion and other forms of stress(mindfulness), and responding with kindness and understanding(self-compassion). It also means holding difficult emotions- fear, anger, sadness and shame, and self-doubt in loving awareness leading to greater ease and well-being…