Peak Performance Psychology in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia | Mental health service

Peak Performance Psychology

Locality: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Phone: +61 3 9973 1930

Address: Suite 1/48 Edgewater Boulevard, Maribyrnong 3032 Melbourne, VIC, Australia

Website: http://www.peakperformancepsychology.com.au

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25.01.2022 When new opportunities arise, how do you respond? When a new opportunity arises, you may find the opportunity itself exciting however, you might also feel anxious about the idea of accepting the new opportunity and consequently, end up backing down. Experiencing fear of the unknown is common. It is in human nature to hold onto current habits and resist change in life, especially if you feel comfortable with the habits you have previously established. In addition, you might r...eflect upon opportunities that you rejected in the past and feel regretful about your decision. This is not helpful because you cannot go back in time to change your decision but what you can however is think about what you might like to do in the future when another opportunity arises. You might find it helpful to evaluate the possible outcomes of saying ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to the particular opportunity. Instead of focusing purely on what could go wrong when considering to say ‘yes’, it is important to also consider the positives that could result from taking up the opportunity before weighing up both sides. While making the change might be scary at first, you might like to ask yourself whether the possible long-term outcome the opportunity allows for outweighs any element of fear you may initially experience whilst implementing the change. See more

25.01.2022 There are so many informative and useful Instagram pages to follow when wanting to learn and be educated about topics surrounding mental health. These include: @kidshelplineau @ruokday ... @smilingmind @realdepressionproject @reachout_aus When scrolling through Instagram, it can be beneficial to use it to your advantage when it comes to supporting yours and others mental health. These pages are designed to provide descriptive information regarding mental health and mental health issues that may not be discussed in everyday life. Following at least one of these pages, will be extremely beneficial in creating a greater understanding on issues you may not have known or thought about before. These pages offer tips on how to help those that are having a tough time, and how to recognise when someone close to you is not coping well. By having access to these small bits of information, your knowledge of mental health will grow and the ability to understand the different ways people express their feelings and emotions will advance. If there is an Instagram page that you find to be helpful, don’t be afraid to leave it in the comments for others to have a look at too!

24.01.2022 Why you don’t need to prolong your visit to a psychologist There are many common misconceptions about who can see a psychologist. Some people believe that they must be experiencing certain symptoms however, there are a range of reasons individuals seek out therapy. The list is unlimited but here are some: * Going through a stressful event or life changes * Experiencing depression or simply low mood... * Feeling anxious, worried or fearful * Experiencing suicidal thoughts * Experiencing bullying * Experiencing identity issues, low self-esteem or body image * Experiencing relationship issues (with partners, family members or friends) * Experiencing addiction to alcohol, gambling, drugs or other things * Feeling disconnected from the world or activities you once enjoyed * Experiencing grief, anger or trauma * Experiencing spiritual issues or phobias * Feeling like you have poor communication skills * Experiencing obsessive thoughts * Experiencing physical pain * Experiencing hallucinations * Feeling isolated or loss of control * Experiencing sleeping or appetite issues * Feeling demotivated at work, school or in life * Inability or no energy to carry out daily tasks * You just feel like you need to chat to someone * Wanting to enhance performance or prepare for a challenging life event Another common misconception some people have is that symptoms experienced must be at a certain level of severity, however in reality, symptoms can range from mild to severe. It is also important to remember that what you may find distressing, others may not and vice versa. Experience of life and its events are subjective and unique to the individual. Your feelings are valid. See more

23.01.2022 Mental health is important across the lifespan, including during childhood. Good mental health of children has positive effects on their overall wellbeing and development. Did you know that 50% of all mental health conditions in adulthood develop before fourteen years of age? Parents, teachers, carers and any other significant adults in a child’s life have an impact upon their development and have a critical role to foster their mental health. The adults who are influential i...n a child’s life are capable of noticing signs of poor mental health so that the appropriate action/s can be taken, such as seeking appropriate help. Some indications of poor mental health in children include: Trouble concentrating Experiencing persistent negative thoughts Withdrawal from activities, family members and friends Experiencing outbursts of anger Feeling anxious or sad Exhibiting behaviour different to usual It is also helpful to reflect on how long the child’s emotions and behaviour have persisted and if this is impacting their physical health, performance at school and social interactions. If you are concerned about how your child has been feeling, thinking or behaving, a good starting point might be to use the Child Mental Health Checklist created by Beyond Blue which aims to give an overview of your child’s mental health and provide some general suggestions for seeking treatment depending on individual answers. You can access the checklist via the following link. https://healthyfamilies.beyondblue.org.au//child-mental-he Swipe to learn more helpful tips about how you can foster mental health in childrens’ lives! #peakperformancepsychology #childrensmentalhealth #mentalhealth #mentalhealthawarenessday #positivethoughts #happylife

23.01.2022 Saturday, October 10th was ‘World Mental Health Day’. Australia’s message for this year is ‘Look after your mental health, Australia’. One in five Australians are affected by mental illness annually, in which Mental Health Day is merely a call to action and to change. However, through this pandemic, increased uncertainty and anxiety has continued to arise over the past few months. It’s more important than ever to reach out to each other and speak up about what you are experiencing. Your thoughts and feelings are so valued and speaking about them can be extremely beneficial. As well, don’t be afraid to seek professional help in order to encourage positive changes in your life.

22.01.2022 Thursday, 10th of September marked ‘R U Ok Day’ which highlighted the importance of checking in on others however, we must not forget how important it is to check up on ourselves also! It is important to set aside time for reflection upon how we are personally doing. You might like to ask yourself, How has my mental health been lately? Am I taking time out to care for myself in every aspect of my life mentally, physically, emotionally, socially and spiritually? We won’t b...e 100% okay all of the time and it is okay to acknowledge this so then moving forward we can take steps to help ourselves feel better. You might identify through this self-reflection process that you have not been taking care of yourself as much as you would like. It may help to write a list of the things you’d like to improve and set a reminder on your devices to support an action plan which can help you execute self-care behaviours. If you feel like you do not know where to begin or that you need some extra guidance, consider whether you might benefit from seeing a professional. For example, a clinical psychologist can assist you to develop a healthier mindset, process emotions and help you to refine your stress management skills amongst an abundance of others things! If you are feeling like your nutrition is not on track, you might like to visit a nutrition who can advise on what is healthy for you and how to increase your energy and overall health through diet. Whatever your personal situation is, a good place to start might be visiting your General Practitioner to discuss your concerns who can then help direct you to the right professional. Alternatively, you may just feel that you need some extra social support and you already have a person in mind you would like to confide in. If so, this is a sign to go for it! We are all equally deserving of support. See more

21.01.2022 Step 4. Listen When someone has chosen to open up to you, it is important to take what is being said seriously, and not to interrupt or rush the conversation. This ensures the person feels they are being listened to wholeheartedly. Judgement of their experiences or feelings is unnecessary, instead acknowledge that what they are going through is tough for them and they are strong for opening up about it. Encourage them to be thorough and explain their thoughts and feelings in ...more depth. Asking questions like How does that make you feel? or How long have you been feeling that way? can be reassuring to the person. Ensuring you are being an active listener when someone is expressing their vulnerabilities can be vital in making them feel supported within their thoughts and feelings. Active listening involves you to make a conscious effort to hear the message being communicated by the person, paying complete attention towards the person. It’s important to consider how you would feel if you were in their position, and the type of listener you would prefer someone who is fully committed in what is being said, and not distracted by things around them. To show you have been listening, it can be beneficial to repeat what is being said by the person, and ask if you have understood them correctly. See more

20.01.2022 Implicit bias what is it and why you should be aware of it Implicit bias refers to the beliefs and attitudes one may hold about a person or a group of people outside of their awareness. What this means is that biases are activated without an individual’s intention and can form the basis of prejudicial behaviours and actions. Implicit bias can occur in any place in the workplace, in social settings or in educational settings, just to name a few. Extensive research has sugg...ested that we behave and act without consciously thinking about it and therefore, while we may have conscious values and intend to express these through our actions, we may behave according to our implicit biases. We develop implicit bias over many years through exposure to both direct and indirect messages including through the media’s depiction of certain groups in society. Additionally, our minds are wired to constantly categorise things in our environment and this includes other people. Our brains then associate beliefs and feelings with particular categories which helps us make important decisions, for example, to decide if someone poses a threat to us or is safe to be around based on how their physical attributes. Implicit bias may result in racist, sexist, ageist or other discriminatory acts. Often, implicit bias may manifest in microaggressions - verbal or behavioural acts that make others feel offended or uncomfortable. This may look like a derogatory statement or an insensitive question to a person belonging to a marginalized group. So, if we aren’t consciously aware of our implicit biases, how do we reduce them you may ask. The first step is to accept that we all have implicit biases, none of us are immune. One of the things we can do is think and reflect on what we are about to say before execution. We can also increase our exposure to people of different minority groups or at the very least, take the steps to educate ourselves about various groups. The process is not easy and there is no quick fix, but if we make an effo

19.01.2022 There are two key types of coping strategies used in everyday life. These are avoidance and approach strategies. Avoidance coping is about the actions and behaviours used to avert stressors, whereas approach coping is about confronting the problem. For many of us, it can feel like avoiding stressors is the best way to deal with a problem, however, this is not necessarily the case. For individuals with or prone to anxiety, avoidance techniques may have been established early o...n as a way to cope, which can make it difficult to learn new proactive strategies. In which, these avoidance techniques have a greater likelihood of intensifying anxiety symptoms rather than reducing them. An example of this is procrastination, where we choose to avoid doing or thinking about something that is stressing us out. However, most of the time, we actually don’t stop thinking about it until it gets done. Choosing to confront a problem or stressor will be the most effective way of reducing the stress it has caused. This is ‘approach coping’, or otherwise known as ‘active coping’. Approach coping can be either cognitive or behavioural in nature. Cognitive approach coping involves attempting to see the positives of a situation, and considering alternatives for dealing with the problem. Whereas, behavioural coping refers to finding out more about the situation, seeking help from others who have had similar experiences and compromising to gain positive out of the situation.

14.01.2022 The stigma around men’s mental health is slowly breaking, however there is still a long way to go. One in seven (13.3%) Australian men will experience depression and/ or anxiety in any given year, however they are less likely to seek psychological support than women when dealing with a mental health issue. It is common for men to mask their emotions, limiting their ability to speak out and express how they are feeling. This is due to a number of factors including societal exp...ectations, upbringing and role models. Men are expected to fight their battles in silence and ignore their mental health problems because society has set standards of weakness in expressing emotion. This is an issue that needs major changing and it is important to encourage conversation with boys & men about their mental health and being open with their thoughts and feelings. Being expressive and emotional does not make a man less than a man. Men require positive and emotional support just like anyone else, if not more due to the standards set for boys at a young age and the expectations to overlook how they are feeling as it shows weakness. Break the stigma surrounding men’s mental health, and encourage the men/ boys around you to be open and honest about how they are feelings, both good and bad.

13.01.2022 It doesn’t stop there! - Step 5: Encourage action, continue to check in and provide support Remember, you do not need to have all the answers to the person’s problems! If you feel that the person would benefit from the extra support of a professional, encourage them to access further assistance. As a starting point, it may be helpful to mention the many hotlines that are available 24/7 free of charge for extra support such as Lifeline, 1800 Respect and Men’s Line. You may ask... the person to consider visiting their General Practitioner to determine whether they are eligible for a Mental Health Care Plan so that they can visit a psychologist and receive a Medicare rebate. It is also a good idea to ask the person you are helping if they can identify anyone in their personal life who can act as an additional support person. If they do, this is great! Encourage them to reach out. If not, keep in mind that you might be the only person that they have confided in and ensure they know that you are and will continue to be there for them. Either way, checking in on the person after a couple of weeks is a good way to make sure they are taking the right steps to recovery. Sending a message or giving them a call to let them know you’ve been thinking about them can make all the difference. Find out if they’ve discovered any better ways to manage their situation and feelings, ensuring there is no judgement if they haven’t done anything. They may just be looking for someone to listen to them for the time being. By having genuine care and concern for the person will assist in bettering their situation. Make sure to stay in touch regularly and be there for them during this time. Finally, you don’t have to wait for R U OK week to ask someone if they are okay!

10.01.2022 CELEBRATING YOUR INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVEMENTS One may exert too much pressure on themselves to reach their ultimate goal as their primary focus is on how far they have left to go. If this sounds familiar to you, keep reading below! When you are so preoccupied with what else you have to do to get to the finish line, you may tend to forget what you have already accomplished. It is important to reflect on how far you have come. Perhaps, you might like to write down each of your achie...vements, no matter how big or small. Yes, you read correctly; every small achievement is just as important to the process of attaining your goal. It can be easy to forget all of the small steps you have taken that have led you to this point and you might not see the significane of these small steps when reflecting at first. However, a deeper reflection may not just involve identifying each of your smaller accomplishments but also incorporate thinking back to how hard it was at the time to implement that particular change in your life or to take that next step forward. It is only then that you may realise how far you have come. Some important things to keep in mind during your personal journey It is YOUR journey for a reason every person’s journey is different and this is why it is so crucial to your mental health that you do not compare your journey to anyone else! The journey is not always linear and this is perfectly normal and okay. At your own pace, you will get back up and resume. Also, it takes great strength to ask for extra support when you feel that it is needed. There is no shame in being proud of yourself; give credit to yourself when it is due! #celebrateyourself #beproudofyourself #implementingchange #goalattainment #believeinyourself

09.01.2022 Just notice this moment and then the next.

09.01.2022 Dear clients of Peak Performance Psychology, As you may already know, Daniel Andrews, the Victorian premier made new announcements about the restrictions in relation to COVID-19 on Sunday, 18th of October which included Allied Health. Due to the mandatory wearing of face masks and the advice we have since received specifically for psychology practices; we will continue to operate exclusively via Telehealth (no face to face sessions). We appreciate your understanding following... this update and we also thank you for the patience that you have shown us during the COVID-19 pandemic and government policy implementation. We will continue to update you in relation to any future changes to Peak Performance Psychology and contact you prior to each of your future sessions to confirm the method of each appointment. Take care and stay well. Warm regards, Dr Theresa Marasco and Admin Team Peak Performance Psychology

08.01.2022 How much do you think you know about mental health conditions? Did you know that 45% of Australians will experience a mental health condition at some point in their life time? There are many misconceptions surrounding mental illness which are not spoken about often. Mental health conditions vary in degrees of severity and there a many different types however, perhaps the best place to start is with an overall definition of mental health: Mental health is an individual’s state... of psychological and emotional wellbeing. In fact, we ALL have mental health as this term simply refers to our own level of mental wellness (which exists on a continuum) rather than illness. In addition, mental illness is the term that should be used for the wide range of mental health conditions that impact one’s thinking, mood and behaviour. When someone says, I am experiencing poor mental health on a basic level this means that they are not functioning at a satisfactory level mentally. The person may OR may not also be experiencing mental illness. Essentially, we can all experience poor mental health at times in our lives. When poor mental health is experienced continuously it may be an indication of a mental illness. SWIPE to learn more and see some of the common misconceptions about mental illnesses debunked! #mentalhealthmatters #mentalhealthawareness #ocdawareness #depressionawareness #schizophreniaawareness #mentalillness #debunkingmentalhealthmyths See more

07.01.2022 Here is a reminder of the 4 steps we have unpacked on how to start a conversation with someone having a tough time. Remember, it is important to ask ‘R U OK?’ any day of the year, especially when you notice someone is presenting signs of poor mental health.