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Alex Field Counselling

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25.01.2022 What does EMDR stand for? Eye Movement Desensitisation & Reprocessing. What is EMDR?... Is an evidence based, effective way of integrating unprocessed or frozen memories & feelings, that are stuck in the limbic system of the brain in a raw and emotional form, rather than in a cohesive story form. The process of EMDR puts the memories in their rightful place, so they are no longer unsettling or overwhelming. How does EMDR work? The mind will often heal itself much like the body does, however when something out of the ordinary happens or there is a high emotional charge to a situation or event the natural coping mechanism of the mind & body can become overwhelmed. EMDR helps the healing process of the mind, a bit like REM does when we sleep. Can anyone benefit from EMDR? EMDR can accelerate therapy and allow people to be more present in their day to day life. Not everyone is eligible for EMDR, but this is something you would discuss with your therapist. The process is rapid & any disturbing experiences are normally short lived, nevertheless you need to be aware of, & willing to experience, strong feelings or disturbing thoughts. Although this doesnt always happen. Will I be in control? Yes. You are fully awake & you will remain in control, & you can stop the process at any time. EMDR is NOT hypnosis. What is the evidence for EMDR? The validity & reliability of EMDR has been established by rigorous research, over the past 20 years. In my clinical experience the results of EMDR have been profound & life changing for those clients who I done EMDR with. Swipe left to see testimonials. See more

25.01.2022 Here is the third and final post on the topic of RAGE, introducing Ruth King’s 6 disguises of rage. FIGHT (Anger is the critical boundary) Dominance... Critical Controlling Judgemental Bit of a perfectionist Dismissive of others Misuse of power Controlling because of the terror of tenderness Defiance In your face anger Defensive Hot headed Needs to be seen, understood and affirmed Needs to be right FLIGHT (Overly responsible for the world) Distraction Restless Anxious Overextended Impulsive I am somebody Need to prove something Central pleasures Instant gratification Devotion Accommodating Pleasures Avoids conflicts Caregivers Often invisible to others FADE (Hyper-sensitive, don’t want to take up space) Dependence Self-doubting Guards against rejection Maintains emotional & financial instability Avoids own personal power Fears taking up space Depression Self-abandoning Withdrawn Avoids attention Disappear rather than disappoint Shut down to minimise stimulation Avoids overwhelming feelings of sadness King states that these disguises are set up early on in life, and we will often identify with one or two of them. And what is interesting is that each disguise has a shadow that will often show up in others, say in a partner or a boss or co-worker, and this will set up a battle if you like, that if attended to allows us to integrate the part of us we have disowned. In other words if you start to embrace some of the shadow aspects (see second image) then you will start to find wisdom in your own rage and you can begin to move towards healing and acceptance. See more

24.01.2022 R U OK? Day is TODAY It is a day that draws our attention to suicide and encourages us to reach out and ask someone that powerful question Open up a conversation... Ask open ended questions Listen without judgement Encourage action And know that the most important thing is to ask, rather than ignore When someone feels overwhelmed and not ok they tend to isolate and withdraw, so reaching out and offering connection is powerful and sometimes life changing See more

23.01.2022 Its international DOG day (well it was yesterday) And for people who have experienced attachment trauma, their relationship to their pet dog can often feel safer and more loving than their relationships with people. One of the reasons for this has to do with how we regulate our nervous system, and if we havent learnt to do this in a safe secure relationship in childhood, then chances are we dont know how to regulate in a healthy way in adulthood.... Ultimately we want to be able to self-regulate, but even as adults we still need to co-regulate. So if its hard for you because of your insecure attachment experiences then initially look for connections with individuals who have the capacity to self & co-regulate in healthy ways, such as a therapist, safe emotionally aware friends and in many cases our pets can be a great regulatory support too! Co-regulation is how we modulate our own nervous system, by either increasing energy (stimulate / reduce hypoaroosal) or reduce energy (calm / reduce hyperarousal). Yes, ultimately we will need more than a dog in our life (although I can already hear some people questioning this fact!) to co-regulate, but our pets can be a part of our co-regulation community. This is Nougat, she is utterly divine, and some might say a bit spoilt! Although I would argue she is just very loved!! See more

23.01.2022 The Winter Solstice in the Southern Hemisphere occurs today. Marking the longest hours of darkness, with the rebirth of the sun. In other words this is our longest night, and shortest day of the year. For some cultures this is considered a powerful time of the year that marks self-reflection, regeneration & renewal.... Perhaps take a moment to consider what intention you want to set for today, and the next few months of winter. Sometimes a difficult time of year, if there is resistance to looking within, but well worth the effort to set the foundations for regeneration and renewal. Quite simply we cannot always be outwardly focused, and I love mother natures Winter Solstice prompt, to pause and look within. Good things to do at this time are, engage in therapy, journal, write poetry, paint, draw, play music, sing (although my kids will ask me to reframe from this )Yes, anything that opens up your creative channels is a good idea! Wishing you a wonderful winter solstice. Kathryn Sprigg See more

23.01.2022 CONNECTION We are hard wired for connection, because it is an inherent part of our survival strategy as a human being. We are literally born into a relationship - with our mother - and at a primal level we need this one (or at least one) to work in order to survive. This and other primary relationships will have an impact on shaping how we behave and respond in all types of relationships. ... In childhood we first learn co-regulation, before self-regulation. CONNECTION is one of your Daily Work-Ins and is crucial for your overall mental health and well-being. If you prefer being alone, struggle with intimate relationships or friendships, dont have a good relationship with family members, this part of the program STILL applies to you. Why? Because you are hard wired to connect and healthy relationships offer us so much. But if relationships are repeatedly hard for you, then dont despair, chances are your early relationships were not great. This can be understood, and processed in therapy (which is one of the Weekly Work-Ins). I suggest at least 2 Daily Connections, these can to be face to face, phone or FaceTime. They can also include social catch ups (eating out, visiting friends, partners, concerts etc). The type of connection you do on a daily basis will balance out over the course of each week. But the main point here is you need to connect every day with others. This does not include social media contact. Connection with others helps keep you accountable with yourself, and also helps you acknowledge & work on self-worth. Connection with others also highlights further healing that might need to be done. See more

22.01.2022 For those who like to understand the research behind therapy regarding C-PTSD or Complex Trauma (in childhood)

22.01.2022 Sunday night chuckle

21.01.2022 Such a privilege and an honour to work at Remede Wellness Medicine and to do the work I do. If you are ever in the area pop in and see what a wellness clinic looks like, we have a beautiful shop at the front full of great books, bespoke herbal teas and other healthy goodies.

21.01.2022 An unexpected surprise of last night was the three hours I spent on the dance floor. The band was great and I got lost in the rhythm and movement of the pure pleasure of dancing. What was also lovely was the ebb and flow of people who I danced with. Some I knew and others I didn’t. This type of social bonding is known as ‘self other merging’, moving in rhythm with others lights up brain pathways that blur the barriers your mind creates between yourself and a stranger,... and therefore helps you feel a sense of connection and sameness. I returned home with a warm heart to a sleeping household. Thank you See more

20.01.2022 Much of the work I do as a counsellor, is in the field of trauma, and as I often explain in therapy, something you experienced has created a trauma response in your body (because of the symptoms you are describing), and regardless of what label or diagnosis you have received, if we attend to what your body is telling us you can heal. So yes there is hope, and we know hope is a powerful motivator, but I never want to give false hope or wishy washy hope. This is why I dont ...post a lot about forgiveness or moving on or letting go, because until you have come to terms with what you have experienced and made sense of why your body or mind responds to certain situations in the often compromising way they do (despite your mind willing it to stop), and grieved, you cannot simply move on. My work for many years was as a naturopath and it was through this role that I chose to specialise in counselling, because I would often work with clients with complicated digestive issues, heart issues, raised blood pressure, adrenal exhaustion and medically unexplained physical symptoms that rendered a person exhausted and so on ... and of the 1000s of clients I worked with the commonality with certain ailments was that they had almost always experienced either single incident or repeated traumatic event/s. Alongside counselling and mindfulness, I used to put clients on a tailor made daily and weekly lifestyle program to effectively bring about a healing state. This program also offered HOPE (the non wishy washy kind ). I have over the course of the last few years adapted a version of this program for my counselling practice. I am sharing it here today in the hope that it will be of use to anyone who wants to bring about a better state of mind. It offers a proactive approach that anyone can incorporate into their daily / weekly routine and with repetition - REPETITION - and more repetition - it will bring about lasting change for you. Interestingly to me, as I have merged modalities, it is clear that the answer to good mental health does not lie in treating the mind ONLY, but in the person as a whole. We need to be mindful of our whole being, and that is where this work-in is potentially so powerful, because when you attend to your mind, your body and your spirit, you bring about change at all levels of our being. Please jump on board and give it a go, even if I am not your therapist! Also message me on any of the posts to share what has worked for you. My HOPE with this program is to increase the awareness of how to support and cultivate good mental health. The actions of this program over the years have quite literally changed my life! See more

20.01.2022 Drum roll please! Well my intention was to roll out Your Work-In a little quicker than this! But all I can say is sorry, for the delay, but life happened.... It has been a busy few weeks and I needed to pause on social media and attend to my needs, my familys needs and the needs of my clients. Any spare time I had I used to balance and nurture myself & funnily enough I used all of the Work-Ins outlined in my last post. Ok so here goes ..... the hydration to Your Work-In is Mindfulness. Without water we become very dehydrated and sick, and without mindfulness our minds can become very full- MIND-FULL, and sick! We need to develop a regular mindfulness practice, so we can catch ourselves before we reach our emotional edges. At least three times a day take a moment to pause and notice on purpose, and without judgement the presence of the here and now. What exactly do I need to notice? If you have experienced any form of trauma and mindfulness is new to you then start by noticing your external surroundings and perhaps what you can see and hear around you. Gradually in therapy with me, we often work towards mindfulness of your bodily sensations and your inner world, as emotional regulation becomes more familiar and understood. Otherwise use any form of mindfulness, either internal or external. I love water and find it very soothing and calming, so I use the moments throughout the day when I drink water to pause and practice mindfulness. What would help you remember to practice mindfulness? See more

20.01.2022 Following on from my last post regarding complex trauma in childhood (CTC) we know this can occur with any form of childhood abuse or neglect, witnessing others in the home being abused or fighting, a parent with an addiction or a mental health condition. Symptoms of CTC are shown in the image and can show up in the following ways: Lack of emotional regulation Poor memory of childhood experiences ... Negative perception of self (I am not good enough, I am a bad person, shame) Difficulty in relationships (avoiding, drawn to dysfunctional ones, enmeshing) A feeling of despair and hopelessness First of all it is important to know that you, your behaviours and feelings make sense, they absolutely do. And secondly therapy with a trauma informed therapist is where you can begin to heal, because this type of trauma is relational we need to heal in a safe therapeutic relationship. See more

18.01.2022 Mindfulness Exercise 5 things you can SEE 4 things you can HEAR... 3 things you can FEEL (physical or emotional - you choose!) 2 things you are GRATEFUL for 1 thing or person you LOVE The two things I was grateful for today were these beautiful flowers sent by a friend. I adore the mix, so creative and unusual! And the other moment of gratitude was as I was driving home today (slowly for this to have happened!) I made eye contact with a lady waiting at a bus stop, we both smiled at each other and it felt so good I was reminded of the simple pleasure of both the action of smiling and how gorgeous it felt to receive such an open hearted smile from a stranger. See more

17.01.2022 Initially addictive behaviours begin as survival strategies, where there is a lack of safety and security in primary attachments. The addiction is a coping mechanism that helps to regulate the autonomic arousal system and bring about a false sense ease or respite. The risk increases because the dosage increases over time in order to do the same job. This is where addictions become dangerous.... However, the risk in giving up the addiction often feels far greater to the individual than the risk of feeling the emotions and sensations that they are trying to block. Addiction treatment needs to attend to the emotional dysregulation that occurs in a persons autonomic nervous system. And the correlation between the feeling state of the addiction and the trauma. This is why it is important to look at the feeling-state of the behavioural addiction. See more

15.01.2022 INTENTION If you want to grow apples, then you plant apple pips, NOT orange pips! If you want to feel more relaxed in life, you DONT find relaxation by leading a hectic lifestyle!... If you want to find love, you DONT find it by hating yourself or staying in a toxic relationship! In other words pay ATTENTION to the INTENTIONS you are creating. Being clear on your day to day intention matters, because it helps you identify your internal beliefs, which in turn affect your external behaviours. Set your intention daily (preferably at the beginning of the day) by mindfully checking in with yourself and noticing what you are needing more or less of. Take a moment to sit or lie quietly and literally say the words what is my intention for today or what am I needing at the moment. See what speaks to you or pops into your mind or is felt in your body. This helps to inform your INTENTION. Sometimes it is in these quiet moments you notice how busy your mind chatter is = INTENTION = to feel more grounded / go for a walk in nature. Or the tiredness in your body = INTENTION = to rest and recharge / meditate, have a nap, read a book, have a bath. Or the you feel lonely = INTENTION = need for connection / reach out to a friend or loved one. Intention setting on a regular basis can be useful to help you set healthy boundaries, reduce your stress levels and over time they can create a deeper state of felt satisfaction to give you a few examples. I am often asked why use intention setting instead of goals? Because setting an intention, draws your attention to what is occurring in the here and now - a nod, if you like, to the present moment - and how we are in this very moment offers us a wealth of information that helps us to make sense of what we may need for that particular day. A goal on the other hand is a future orientation, and can set us up for failure if we dont align with what we need now. See more

15.01.2022 What feeling variations or physical sensations are present when you are in a calm state?

14.01.2022 We hope that everyone is enjoying the increasing "return to normal" as the restrictions in Western Australia eased further over the weekend. .... At Remède, our practitioners are back doing face-to-face consultations, as well as still offering the option of TeleHealth for those who prefer an online/phone consult. We look forward to welcoming you back into our practice to help you to get your health back on track after isolation! . #remede #remedewellness #remedewellnessmedicine #perthnaturopath #integrativeclinic #integrativemedicine #integrativegp #integrativegpperth #naturopathsperth #wellnessmedicine #wellness #wellnessinperth #perthfitfam #wellnesscollective See more

14.01.2022 Thank you for all your answers to the love question. Swipe across to see some of your responses. For privacy I have made them anonymous.... See more

13.01.2022 On my way to our Christmas party, and it looks like my halo had already fallen

12.01.2022 I love this photo taken by Kathryn Sprigg of three boys walking back from a surf. My connection today will be dinner with my family , which will most likely be a mixture of chaos & laughter. ... What is your meaningful connection for today? See more

12.01.2022 I felt a deep rhythmic smile when I watched this video

12.01.2022 Whether we want to identify with our emotions or not, we are experiencing them ALL THE TIME. Name it to Tame it is a catchy little phrase, that can remind us to pause and notice what we are feeling and then to NAME the feelings or emotions that we are experiencing. This helps us to make sense of our feeling state, whether we feel ok or not. If we ignore or try or push what we are feeling away, we inadvertently increase the anxiety or depressive pathways. How o...r what are you feeling right now? I realised after I created the image that she has no , and then thought well thats actually perfect to help us, tune into our body felt senses! or maybe I just didnt want to redo my art! See more

12.01.2022 The last Daily Work-In is Movement, (which is different to exercise and is part of your Weekly Work-In that I will discuss later). So movement is anything that involves part of or all of your body moving. You dont need to raise your heart rate to move, but the idea is to create regular movement breaks throughout the day, to enhance your mental wellbeing. They can be short 5 minute stretch breaks or longer 20 minute walks in nature type type breaks.... Movement helps the blood and lymph flow through your body at a physical level, but did you know that movement also helps emotions move through your body? Memories are stored in our brain while EMOTIONS are stored in our body. If we sit for too long, we become stagnant which can lead to us feel emotionally unwell. So moving your body helps the release and flow of emotions. Think e-motions as energy in motion and get moving! Depending on what type of job you have will depend on what type of movement you need to do each day. Once upon a time I was an underwater documentary filmmaker sometimes doing up to three dives a day (not sure if a fin kick = a step ), nowadays I sit for hours at a time as a therapist. So now I need to schedule regular movement breaks into my day, whereas in the past I didnt. Some good movement ideas: Stretch arms above your head and bend down to touch your toes repeat 5xs. Lie on your back and lift up into a gentle bridge pose repeat 3xs. Walk for 10 minutes. Practice a yoga sequence. 10 Star Jumps. Swing your arms around from side to side I am sure you get the idea! Have a think about how often you need to move each day and add it into your Daily Work-In. As a general guide if you have a desk job aim for 4 to 5 x Movement breaks a day. See more

11.01.2022 Sometimes it was safer or easier to reject your feeling state in order to stay connected to your primary caregiver. What can happen, as we get older is that we continue to discount our emotions, as a way of trying to stay connected to others. In extreme cases when it was actually dangerous for a child to express their emotions, if they were in abusive or emotionally dysregulated family systems. They may learn that its safer not to show their feelings, but of course they ...will still feel, but in a sort of internalised-contained way that can leave an individual experiencing AFFECT PHOBIA. This is a phobia to feel any type of emotion including the ones that make us feel good. Sometimes these individuals with a plethora of unexplained physical issues or symptoms. Or they get referred to me with possible psychosomatic issues. Sometimes we need to learn: Basic emotional states Feeling variations & levels of intensity Physical sensations that accompany different emotions I often explore the gentle feeling state of what its like to be calm? How might we notice this as sensations in our body? How can we learn to orientate back to this state? This is NOT an emotion as such, but its a great foundation state to neurocept safety, in the present moment. Swipe left See more

10.01.2022 I was asked at work the other day what to do when someone says they are feeling suicidal. The concern was that they didnt want to make the person feel worse or say the wrong thing. One thing research is clear on, is having a conversation with someone who is feeling suicidal is encouraged. In fact it is highly likely to help, even if it is a difficult conversation to have. This initiative below has been shared by a friend and colleague Anita Nodwell please take the time to do it and feel free to repost on your feed. #RUOK #RUOKEveryDay

10.01.2022 The three key biological abnormalities seen with individuals with PTSD are: 1. Hypoactive hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis 2. Hyperactive sympathetic nervous system (SNS) 3. Increased inflammatory tone All of which can be helped with talk therapy (as previously discussed) AND evidence based nutritional support. I am going to dive into the nutritional support here.... Ok so I want to keep this as simple as possible! And I am going to focus on the HPA axis for this post. So the HPA axis mediates our stress response, which is essential for maintaining homeostasis (the ability to regulate our internal world). In order to function efficiently our bodies require certain nutritional combinations for both neurotransmission & to regulate the endocrine system.....keeping it simple the HPA axis helps keep an on active and inactive cortisol. Specific B vitamins, vitamin C, & a few other nutrients are involved in the stress response, and Metagenics our bodies will become depleted of these nutrients if we experience ongoing stress. One of the points of difference with the way I work as a counsellor is I take a holistic approach, by incorporating my naturopathic knowledge to support someone at a physical, as well psychological level. This results in long lasting results, where clients often report a calming of their nervous system, before we begin to do the trauma processing. Of course it’s hard to sometimes separate the two, but I am a firm believer in a multifaceted approach to healing. Disclaimer this post is to provide information only & this product is a practitioner only supplement. Please see a qualified health practitioner before taking any additional support. See more

09.01.2022 How can I help? In my own small way I can help by teaching my children love over hatred, by teaching them curiosity over fear. And by teaching them that every single person born to this land has a birth right to life. A specific conversation I had the other day with my son about the ongoing racism in Australia towards the indigenous people of this land, went something along these lines.... When we dont feel safe one of our reactions can be to fight, but we need to respond rather than react. I then digressed to my work as a trauma therapist One of the most important aspects of working with an individual who has experienced trauma, is first and foremost to help their nervous system learn how to soothe and settle. In order to do this a person needs to feel safe enough, more often than not. They need to feel: Safe individually Safe in relationships Safe collectively The COLLECTIVE NERVOUS SYSTEM needs to FEEL SAFE. The collective nervous system needs to develop safe relationships, with governments, with the police, with each other. I am painfully aware that the eradication of racism is not a possibility, but awareness, speaking up and a shift in our collective conscience is definitely a possibility. See more

08.01.2022 It’s mental health week here in Perth, and after a busy week at Hollywood and Remede I put on my glad rags and headed to a black tie gala dinner for charity The Magic Coat, which supports youth mental health.

07.01.2022 Perth has just had an almighty storm, big winds, lashing rain and a very wild ocean! I love @charliemackesy work and thought this image sums up the work I have just posted on shame (and the literal storm ). Yes our love is stronger, but if you havent been taught how to love, then you need to learn how to do this.... It is not about others loving you, it is about YOU YOUSELF. What does LOVE look and feel like like to you? Post here or PM me, this is such an important topic especially when recovering from shame as shame literally teaches us how to hate ourselves. This can be a surprisingly hard question to answer. See more

07.01.2022 Our childhood experiences are not rational, they are RELATIONAL. At a biological level a child needs to attune to his / her mother in order to survive. So as children we sense our mother as an extension of ourselves. Our mother’s nervous system is an anchor to our own as we learn about the world around us. What happens if the anchor is secure and safe? We grow up with an attuned secure attachment style, that allows us to grow up feeling secure both within and outside... of relationships. We grow up with a secure sense of self. So we can effectively move from co-regulation to self-regulation with ease and grace. If on the other hand our mother (or primary caregiver) is dealing with her own insecurities, fears, attachment wounds etc, we will inherit these and our nerves system will adapt (in quite the most remarkable ways) to keep us connected. This types of attachment is known as insecure, and there are three different styles (which I will cover in a later post). The reason I am talking about childhood attachment straight after the PTSD posts, is that it can be in the wounding of these early relationships where the emergence of complex trauma in childhood (CTC) (also known as developmental trauma or attachment trauma) occurs. This can predispose someone to be more likely to experience PTSD later in life if they are exposed to a life threatening event. Also CTC is sometimes known as Complex (C)-PTSD, but I differentiate the two as C-PTSD can also include repeated trauma incidents that happen in adulthood (such as living in a war zone, repeated bullying at work, adult human trafficking, being held captive, being in an abusive adult relationship). The important distinction I am making here, is CTC happens alongside the rudimentary development of a child, they are not yet equipped to stand alone and make adult decisions because they are still developing and DEPENDENT. It is difficult to sometimes identify CTC as there may not be an obvious stand out trauma event, and experiences like neglect can be hard to pin point. But what we do know is any form of childhood abuse or neglect, witnessing others in the home being abused, a parent with an addiction or a mental health condition can be factors that influence CTC. Symptoms of CTC: Lack of emotional regulation Poor memory of childhood experiences Negative perception of self (I am not good enough, I am a bad person, shame) Difficulty in relationships (avoiding, drawn to dysfunctional ones, enmeshing) A feeling of despair and hopelessness First of all it is important to know that you, your behaviours and feelings make sense, they absolutely do. And secondly therapy with a trauma informed therapist is where you can begin to heal. See more

07.01.2022 I am often asked what does self-care really mean? And from the perspective of someone who has experienced childhood trauma, also known as attachment trauma or developmental trauma, it might be that the whole idea of ‘self’ feels confusing, let alone the notion of how one might care for the self. First of all what I will say is self-care is not an action, but it is an active process. In other words it’s not about how many manicures or massages you have, or how many essenti...al oils you burn, although this is often what people think about when they think of self-care. Self-care for me is actively knowing myself as fully as possible, even those dark and uncomfortable parts of me that I would rather project outwards than make real within myself. It is accepting the whole self and being able to care for that self. So having a manicure as an excuse to be with yourself, is not an act of self-care, if you are rejecting the self you actually are, by trying to make it better by doing this that or the other. Also self-care isn’t external (although sometimes external actions can create a pathway to allow for the activity of self-care), but an internal knowing of all the parts of our self; the parts of us we love, don’t love, maybe even hate, and the parts of us we don’t yet see or know. Self-care is the ability to care for THIS self, ‘warts and all’ exactly as it is, as you are in this moment. Not when you are fixed, better, stronger, thinner, happier, not addicted blah blah, but right now. How often do we judge parts of ourselves, with such scorn or hatred, and then turn to a friend or loved one and offer them unconditional love or support? Self-care is the caring of self as opposed to self-hate. Yep, we cannot practice self-care in the face of self-hate, not in the true sense. So true self-care is the willingness to lean-in and hold oneself in a loving embrace, even if you are struggling each and every day with an addiction, or with anxiety, or any trauma response that compromises your relationship with yourself or others. See more

06.01.2022 Eye Movement Desensitisation & Reprocessing (EMDR) is a very effective treatment for complex trauma, PTSD, anxiety, depression, grief & loss, panic attacks, eating disorders, addictions, low self-esteem, chronic illness and medical issues, sexual assault, sleep disturbances. What you need to know: It is evidence based. It allows the brain to resume its natural healing process.... It doesnt require extensive talking in detail about the distressing issue or situation. It gets to the core of the problem, therefore producing long-term life changing results. It produces faster results than talk therapy. It can be emotionally intense, but you are fully prepared. It can be done face to face or on line. It works! Only work with a trained EMDR professional. See more

05.01.2022 A powerful video that can help children (and probably some adults as well) make sense of the challenges some people face due to the experiences they were dealt

04.01.2022 The next Daily Work-In is Good Food, which of course is quite an opened ended concept. What does good food actually look like!? Prior to becoming a counsellor I worked as a naturopath for many years, working with individuals experiencing physical health challenges, such as digestive issues, high blood pressure, cancer, infertility, chronic fatigue, female and male hormonal imbalances, including infertility. As well as psychological challenges such as depression, anxie...ty, unexplained stress responses, eating disorders, somatic issues linked to past traumas. One of the messages I bring into my counselling practice is the importance of attending to the foods we eat when dealing with our mental health and overall wellbeing. One of the largest studies on gut microbiota (gut bugs) showed that those who eat more than 30+ plant based foods each week, have a higher diversity of bacteria living in their digestive system (this is a good thing by the way ). So what I mean when I talk about Good Food in the Daily Work-In is to encourage you to increase your intake of plant based foods, such as vegetables, fruit, nuts & seeds, grains, legumes, herbs & spices. When you eat 30+ plant based fibres each week you will feed the good bugs in your digestive system, you will have: more Neuro chemicals to support your mood help balance hormones robust immunity reduce inflammation less bloating and digestive issues. If you need a challenge to kick start this journey then jump onboard and join the 30+ plant based food challenge for the next 7 days! See the 30+ Table in my bio section or DM or M me below if you want a copy emailed to you. See more

04.01.2022 I am aware that it has been a while between posts and thank you to those who have mentioned missing my posts! I have been busy settling into a new role alongside private practice of co-facilitating a military group trauma recovery program for individuals with PTSD. Its been a good moment for me to practice what I preach re my DAILY & WEEKLY Work-Ins.... A quick recap I have shared the suggested DAILY Work-Ins....for more details on these see previous posts. Intention Connection Good Food Movement Here are the WEEKLY Work-Ins, that when combined with the daily, over 5 weeks offer a step by step framework to creating a healthy mind. Ok .... so without further delay here are the weekly actions. Self-Care = choose 2 external self-care options, such as doing something that makes you feel good. And 2 internal self-Care options, that are primarily focused on creating positive internal feedback / dialogue - attending to the parts of you that are hurting, overcoming avoidance, attending to intrusive thoughts .... Exercise = we need to do at least two exercise sessions per week, where you raise your heart rate for at least 20 minutes. Exercise is different from movement for this reason. And also because it helps to increase those feel good hormones, therefore helping reduce your stress hormones. Reflection Time = taking time each week to reflect helps you build self-awareness. Awareness doesnt sit in either our survival or our thinking brain, awareness sits above or beyond. Cultivating awareness helps you catch your triggers or challenges, it also helps you pause and notice what you might need to do more or less of something. I would suggest at least three reflection moments each week and they can be done at the end of your mindfulness moment. Therapy = once a week for five weeks. This offers you a safe place to work on something specific to you, such as trauma processing or relationship issues or ??? Therapy also helps create a deeper awareness of self, so it goes hand in hand with reflection. For both the daily and weekly options work out how often you need to apply them to your life and jump onboard to giving this ago. I would love to hear from you, either when I see you in session or in the comments below! See more

03.01.2022 I wanted to reach out and say hi and introduce myself to my new followers. For those that dont know me personally I am a counsellor, (click on the link in my bio to see more about the type of counselling I do)! I am particularly known for my work with trauma, both single incident and also complex (often stemming from attachment trauma in childhood). And it would be correct to say I am passionate about this area of counselling. It would also be fair to say that I... am a massive advocate for challenging the stigma around mental health. It is SO important that we talk about it, in the same way we do about our physical health. I work at Remede Wellness Clinic, in Mosman Park, Perth. It is a multi-disciplinary practice. I work alongside Naturopaths, Doctors, Acupuncturists, remedial massage therapists and I love the proactive and empowering approach we offer. Three things you might not know about me: 1. My absolute love of animals, including rats . 2. One of my favourite languages to listen to is Arabic (although I am really bad at speaking it)! 3. I have spent over 10,000 hours of my life underwater as a documentary filmmaker. Please stop by say hi & introduce yourself below. I know I need to get another photo of myself just need to get some taken, still happier taking photos I think! But in the meantime I have changed the background of this one See more

03.01.2022 Plant Based Food challenge Can you eat 30+ different plant based foods this week? That is only 4 (and a bit) per day!... Think of eating a rainbow !! No really, I am being serious! Choose different colours from plant based foods such as: Vegetables Fruit Nuts & Seeds Grains Legumes Herbs & Spices Add different coloured foods to your plate. Yellow, orange, green, red, pink, purple, brown, black, white! See previous post to see why this is important. See more

02.01.2022 These words were shared by a client after we completed some deep trauma processing. Part of the reality shift in therapy often occurs in the acceptance of emotions (even the ones we find uncomfortable). When we suppress our emotions, they don’t disappear, but rather show up in our body, as muscle tension, inflammation, hyperarousal, hypoarousal and pain. We can also attach certain negative beliefs to them such as I am weak, I am not good enough, I am broken. The l...onger we suppress them the more our body feels them. I often say to clients make space for these uncomfortable emotions, they will pass much quicker if we make space for them. If we push them down, our system becomes denser, and we can literally feel weighed down, heavy with emotion. This will impact how we relate to ourselves and to others. Remember emotions are important prompts and markers to help keep us safe, connected and tuned in to what’s happening in our inner world. Did you know that if we allow an emotion to be fully felt it will process in 90 seconds! That’s fast isn’t it? See if by just feeling the emotion it is easier to sit with it, if you don’t attach a negative belief to it. See more

02.01.2022 Here are some helpful word prompts to inspire your intention setting. This is one of the important daily Work-Ins that can help you along the path towards great mental health. What intention are you wanting to pay attention to at the moment?... See more

01.01.2022 Beautifully said