Possibilities Psychological Services in Sydney, Australia | Psychologist

Possibilities Psychological Services

Locality: Sydney, Australia

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25.01.2022 Congratulations on your nomination Erika Gleeson and we hope you win! Even if you dont, youre already a winner to us. Thank you for your unique vision and incomparable hard work, leading an amazing team to make the world safer for our young ones with Autism.

25.01.2022 NSW peak transgender support organisation, The Gender Centre, together with just.equal, has launched a new initiative that encourages NSW political leaders to l...earn more about the needs of trans and gender diverse young people, and urges them not to support the Education Amendment Bill put forward by One Nation state MP, Mark Latham. We would very much like for the NSW Parliament to emerge from this debate with a better understanding of our amazing transgender children and families, and as a result, to reject this legislation. - Eloise Brook, The Gender Centre The One Nation bill would ban all recognition of trans and gender diverse school students and threaten staff with dismissal if they provide any support to these vulnerable young people or encourage other students to treat trans people with respect. Further, a parent could withdraw a child from any discussion of LGBTIQ+ issues in school. In conjunction with The Gender Centre, today we launch a webform that makes it easy for allies of trans and gender diverse young people and their families to write to NSW political leaders affirming these young people and expressing concerns about the One Nation bill. All emails sent through the webform will also go to the current Parliamentary inquiry into the bill. On top of their letter-writing initiative, the two groups have launched a global All Out petition calling for NSW leaders to affirm trans and gender diverse students, and not allow them to be erased from NSW schools. The Gender Centre spokesperson, Eloise Brook, said, By prohibiting the recognition of trans and gender diverse students, the Education Amendment Bill would effectively restrict the ability of these students to attend school. The bill would have a profoundly negative impact on trans youth health. Transgender children would struggle to access education safely in a way that every other NSW student receives. It would give a green light to bullying, and it would increase demand on the states already overstretched mental health system. What we are seeing currently being debated in Parliament is at odds with the reality of trans and gender diverse children and their families. This has led to the Gender Centre commenting on the proposed amendments and encouraging parliamentarians to become more informed about the negative impacts that would arise should this legislation be enacted. We would very much like for the NSW Parliament to emerge from this debate with a better understanding of our amazing transgender children and families, and as a result, to reject this legislation. Just.equal spokesperson, Rodney Croome, said there is national concern about the NSW bill. LGBTIQ+ people across Australia are worried bills like the one proposed in NSW may be introduced elsewhere. We want to do all we can to support LGBTIQ+ communities in NSW stand against this discriminatory legislation so it wont be enacted and so it wont spread to other states and territories. I urge everyone who wants to affirm trans and gender diverse people, and oppose the One Nation bill, to send an email and sign the petition. Letters sent through the webform will go to the parliamentary inquiry into the bill, as well as to the NSW Premier, Opposition leader, Education Minister and Shadow Education Minister. Email initiative here: https://www.equal.org.au/affirm_trans_kids All Out petition here: https://action.allout.org/en/m/d916e828/

25.01.2022 Wesley College student Luke de Laeter once thought school was a waste of his time as he struggled with dyslexia and found comfort in the great outdoors. He encouraged students like him to get the most of their schooling experience, even if they didn't seek an Australian Tertiary Admission Rank, which is required for university. "VET and ATAR are equal; both create jobs and pathways for the people who do them," he said.

24.01.2022 Breaking news: WARNING Trigger warning: Suicide... We suggest if you or your child uses the popular App Tik Tok, that you make sure they stay off for the next 2...4 hours or so. Overnight, sadly, there was a suicide that took place on a Tik tok live which has made its way into the feeds of many people around the world. The advice is to stay off Tik Tok for a 24 hour period until they have been able to take this video out of the algorithm. This is a very traumatising video. It is also circulating on MANY other social platforms (Facebook, Instagram and kids messenger), so please monitor your children. NB: if you are struggling and need to talk to someone, please reach out for help. Lifeline: 13 11 14 or lifeline.org.au Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636 or beyondblue.org.au Kids Helpline: 1800 55 1800 or kidshelpline.com.au Headspace: 1800 650 890 or headspace.org.au

23.01.2022 This ruling against the NDIS independent assessment model could be whats needed to prevent the rollout of the new model: http://www.villamanta.org.au//aat-rejects-ndis-independen/ Kudos to the amazing psych who helped her client fight the system and gain access!

23.01.2022 A little something to put a smile on your face on this cold, grey day.

22.01.2022 The festive and holiday season can be quite demanding for people with social anxiety or attachment challenges or anyone neurodiverse. Remember to practice being aware on the present moment while giving your anxious brain a space to say whatever the heck it wants, without actually getting sucked into the unhelpful messages. Once you have recognized this is happening, thank it for its feedback the way you would thank an internet troll, then return your attention to your social environment. Despite this being an effective management strategy, constantly working on not getting sucked in by the invisible troll in your mind can be mentally fatiguing, so don't forget to give yourself permission to recharge alone when you need to.

22.01.2022 "Genitals dont actually tell you anything. Yet, we define ourselves by them. In this society, we love putting people into boxes and labeling each other. It kind of gives us a sense of belonging and teaches us how to interact with one another. But theres one really big problem: biological sex is not black or white. Its on a spectrum."

22.01.2022 ASPERGERS In Adulthood Can it Worsen | With Age? (ESSENTIALS YOU Need To Know) Can Aspergers in adulthood get worse with age? I am breaking it down in 3 very... important topics right here. Aspergers Syndrome is a nuro-developmental condition that impacts the communication parts of the brain and is formally known as Autism Spectrum Disorder. It is non-exclusive to children and is a life long condition that impacts every part of the communication part of the brain. As I am aware the current consensus is that that autistic traits can become more support dependant the older you get. Here are the 3 main points that may potentially cause more support needs as one gets older with an autism spectrum disorder. 1. The Wave Of Support: When an autistic person is a child their support needs are grater than that of when they are teens / young adults due to the fact that when you are between school and full time employment there are less pressures. Once a full time employed adult with the pressure and stress of life, support needs increase. 2. Memory: Short term memory is already an issue for most autistic people. But as you get older this n also increase in difficulty causing more support in this area. 3. Executive Function: Everyone knows that life, social and executive function skills are a constant work in progress for autistic people, so it is just normal that these problems may persist and become more problematic the older a person gets. If you want to jump into this discussion, please leave a comment down below and follow @theaspieworld for more autism content. [FULL VIDEO LINK IN BIO] #aspergers #aspergersinadults #autsim

22.01.2022 Miss 8 wasn't too impressed by Chiu's drawing and decided she could do better (she did). Here is her picture on the parts of her brain that tell her stuff. Today we learned that not everything our Bully Part tells us is true, and that if we stop and ask Smart Brain what it thinks, it usually says helpful things.

22.01.2022 And sometimes, the two daughters work together to create long lasting, prosocial change. This is one of the reasons we never direct a client in therapy to "get rid of anger", instead, we encourage clients to channel it into good use. Mastery over emotions and constructive action are more important (and beneficial in the long run) than short term avoidance of unpleasant emotional states.

21.01.2022 Master 10 made a good point today. He asked what is the point of telling kids that they should be themselves, when we then insist they conform to our version of who we think they should be.

21.01.2022 The Autism Alert card is designed to assist Autistic individuals to communicate their need for support to others, in situations that may be challenging. Aspect are offering these cards free to people on the autism spectrum.* https://www.autismspectrum.org.au/alert-card

21.01.2022 "Dr. Rachel Klein, PhD, professor of psychiatry at the New York University School of Medicine, and a group of colleagues did a 2-year controlled study of more than 100 school-aged kids back in the late 1970s, and then followed up with them repeatedly over 33 years. Most are now 41 years old, and those who took ADHD medication showed no negative effects, in terms of medical health or other functioning, compared to those who didnt."

20.01.2022 Try these easy Wellness tips this week. Start to create daily healthy habits that overtime will lead to feeling better both physically and mentally. Let us kn...ow which ones you tried and how you felt?

20.01.2022 Some of us were parented by maternal figures who, for whatever reason, used criticism and control as primary management methods. These may be internalized and then becomes our inner voices. Some of us have highly critical inner voices that invalidate and dismiss, that often tell us how we are not "good enough". We may have inner voices that bully us when we're feeling low, that pushes us to function beyond our present capacity. At worst, it calls us terrible names, it may ...say horrific things, that is verbal abuse if said out loud to someone else. If this is our inner voice, and if we are unaware, we could accidentally parent our own children in a similar fashion. If we want to parent our children with more empathy, patience and connection, what can we do about it? Start by reading

19.01.2022 Another very good article by the romantic relationship experts that can be generalised to parent-child relationships. "I always tell couples that contempt is not a sign of sadism or wickedness on the part of the person throwing contempt. Rather, what drives contempt is desperation. It is an attempt to say to your partner, I am standing up for myself! That should be healthy you are expressing your needs, right? But unfortunately, with contempt, something else is going on: I am standing up for myselfagainst you. In these instances, your partner is not your sweetheart to work on an issue with; your partner is your enemy to be shot down."

18.01.2022 Independent assessments by NDIS contractors, for new NDIS applicants and for progress reviews, will be progressively rolled out from early 2021.

18.01.2022 Breaking the cycle of an unhappy relationship dynamic requires a radical shift in mindset. Here are 10 things you can do to repair your relationship and get back on track.

18.01.2022 Dr Erin Bulluss, Clinical Psychologist and autistic person, discusses the importance of pacing to prevent burnout in autistic people. Visit www.thend.co for more!

17.01.2022 Many people have kids with Sensory Processing Disorder and dont know theres a reason for their behaviors (and believe it or not, many adults have it and dont... know... that was me a few years ago! ) So... heres a post explaining it a little bit. ***SPD is complicated and can look different in every person who has it. This is a quick list of possible ways it can manifest... but its important to note that the left/right sides are not mutually exclusive. Many people exhibit a mix of behaviors from both sides.*** You can find some more SPD resources at nicolefilipponeauthor.com #positiveparenting #positiveparentingtips #specialneedskids #specialneedsparenting #specialneedsmom #specialneedseducation #specialneeds #spd #sensoryprocessingdisorder #spdawareness #sensoryprocessingdisorderparentsupport #sensoryprocessingdisorderawareness #autismacceptance #autismawareness #autismsupport #sensorystories

16.01.2022 Recently at the shops, we saw a small boy, around 5 or 6 years old, laying on the floor, hands over his ears, screaming and crying his little heart out. It was obvious he was overwhelmed and having a meltdown. Another child in that aisle was overhead asking his mother. "Mummy, why is that boy shouting? Is he naughty?" ... If we're around children often, either as a parent, relative, teacher, or health provider, being asked questions about why other people do what they do, say what they say or think what they think happens frequently. In such circumstances, the child is actually saying "Please teach me about the world and people in it. Please teach me how to relate to others, and how they deserve to be treated." If the mother at the shops were to reply "yes son, he is naughty", the indirect lesson she is giving the curious child is "when someone loses control of their feelings, or when someone behaves in a way that is not "socially appropriate", they are bad." "Bad people" are judged and so, the seed of contempt is planted. If the mother at the shops were to reply "no son, he is having a very hard time and he needs his daddy to help him", the indirect lesson she is giving the curious child is "when someone loses control of their feelings, or when someone behaves in a way that is not "socially appropriate", they might be having an extra tough time and deserve help from a safe person. If the mother at the shops were to reply "no son, he is having a tough time, he is still learning. You know how you're still learning to ride your bike? Yup, this little boy is still learning to deal with very big feelings, we are all still learning to get better at stuff", the indirect lesson she is giving the curious child is "when someone loses control of their feelings, or when someone behaves in a way that is not "socially appropriate", is that sometimes people don't yet have full mastery of a certain skill, and that is ok, because we're all work in progress deserving of time and space to grow at our own pace.

16.01.2022 Sometimes our Minds can get quite overwhelmed by many thoughts, making us feel panicked or uber stressed. One of the ways to manage the anxieties that result from this is by utilising this classic ACT technique. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1C8hwj5LXw&t=18s

16.01.2022 When you imagine what the act of empowering people looks like, do you see this?

14.01.2022 Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria: How does it feel to you? Often linked with ADHD, RSD is an extreme emotional response to the perception that one has failed..., or even the fear of failure. The reaction can be so severe it triggers feelings of worthlessness and pain. I feel a sudden rush of panic,when I think Ive disappointed someone. I might not have even actually disappointed them, but it can send me into such a state. And to others, it can look like an outburst, but on the inside my mind is swirling with an overwhelming fear of rejection. My anxiety peaks with a fear they might take away their approval or Ill loose their love or respect - even when there may not be any actual rejection at all.

14.01.2022 What are the signs of contempt and why should we do something about it if the relationship is an important one to us? Read on.

14.01.2022 Hello Brains! Need an #ADHD friendly way to plan your day? I partnered with Owaves to show you the latest version of their iOS app -- and we get to try it first :) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eo-GfTJD93o&feature=youtu.be

13.01.2022 "It just makes very little sense to me that people would see this kind of treatment as a social experiment it's just medical treatment," Isabelle says. "It's simply helping children feel more comfortable in their bodies and feel happier.

13.01.2022 This deserves a million likes!

13.01.2022 We're very fortunate that many of our adult clients and parent clients are exceptionally kind and loving people. Here is a reminder that all kind and loving people need every once in a while.

13.01.2022 Most parents are so efficient at taking care of their young ones, that they anticipate each and every need. They serve their children with the type of service that would make a 5 star hotel proud. If youre interested in helping your pre-verbal little ones develop social-communication skills, engage in deliberate mini-sabotage to create opportunities to verbalise requests. Or, if you have shy little ones, engage in mini-sabotage to build their self advocacy abilities.

11.01.2022 "More than 1 million psychologist and psychiatrist sessions have been held over the telephone or by video conferencing during the COVID-19 pandemic, but the Medicare item numbers that allow patients to claim a rebate for the service will end on September 30."

10.01.2022 Genetic Alliance Australia is a peak umbrella group for rare genetic conditions/diseases, so rare they do not have their own support group. Genetic Alliance Australia (GA) endeavours to facilitate contact between families/individuals affected by the same, or similar condition, and/or provide information about relevant support groups both nationally and internationally. GA also deals with enquiries about services and facilitates ongoing support for individuals, families, health professionals and other interested groups. GA has an extensive rare disease database representing 1400 conditions and over 3500 individuals and families affected by genetic conditions.

10.01.2022 Happy Fathers Day to all the men who stepped up, who love and protect, who teach and guide, who show our little girls how they should expect to be treated, and who model to our little boys what healthy masculinity looks like.

09.01.2022 Some important tips as some of us prepare for 2021. Clarifying school policy on sensory breaks is very important, as many of our young ones with ASD may experience increased sensory overload especially in the first year, which may be evident in Term 1 or Term 4. This may look like fatigue, school/work avoidance, emotional outbursts, irritation, withdrawal and/or teariness. When our systems go into overload state, it makes it much harder to learn and retain academic information as well.

09.01.2022 CMs new girls group working hard on movement, mindfulness, yoga and making new friends Happy days!!

09.01.2022 What educators need to know about teaching kids with ADHD: how it affects children in the classroom girls as well as boys and how we teachers can help kids with the disorder succeed in school.

08.01.2022 I found this picture of Charlie and couldnt resist sharing it. He was 6 months old and at first glance, looked like any baby his age. I often get asked if ther...e were any signs of autism before Charlie was 1 and thinking back on it, yes there probably were. Every single time Charlie saw another baby, he cried. He was absolutely terrified of them. Hed enter a room with a baby in it, and his lip would curl upside-down, forming the sweetest and saddest pout. During playdates, hed just crawl to the other side of the room, or hide under a table far from other babies and their babbling. Back then, we thought he was just shy. I was too. We didnt think much of it. Another thing we missed that I wouldnt miss anymore is that he never pointed a milestone that is so often overlooked, yet one of the most important ones, it shows joint attention and a desire for your baby to show you something they find interesting. At 7, Charlie still doesnt point. He said his first word after his first birthday and never had more than a dozen words, which he then stopped saying. But as a first-time mom, I brushed it all off. After 18 months, things went downhill quickly. I was part of an online mommy group who all had babies born in the spring of 2013, and every week we had a brag thread. Probably not a great idea, in hindsight. I was there week after week, reading about other moms highlighting their kids latest achievements while Charlie, who was one of the older kids in the group, wasnt doing any of the things they were doing. And then, over the course of a few weeks, Charlie lost the few words he had, and then stopped speaking altogether. I wasnt hearing his sweet little voice ask me for de leau or saying thank you after I gave him a cookie. Charlie became completely nonverbal, and it seemed as if our connection was loosening too. He didnt like to be touched. He avoided people, even us, his parents. Something switched, and while before he would occasionally sit with us, he now only seemed to want to be alone. He wouldnt even look at us anymore, and I was scared. I didnt recognize my child. This is when I started to understand that Charlie was different.

08.01.2022 As a community we're heading in the right direction in regards to being aware of neurodiverse children and recognising their right to being treated with respect, understanding and inclusive support. Let's remember that there are neurodiverse adults. And they too deserve respect, understanding and inclusive support. Hell let's just go one step further and treat everyone with respect, understanding and inclusive support, because at the end of the day, it doesn't cost us very ...much to be kind. We live in a village, albeit a very big one. We should take care of each other.

08.01.2022 If your therapist has done the ACT leaves on the stream mindfulness exercise, and you find that this is what your Mind looks like around the December holiday season prep, do not panic, you're not alone.

07.01.2022 Being "brave" means making space for unpleasant emotions but doing the right thing anyway. Suppressing unpleasant emotions so that nobody sees it isn't a mark of courage. It is, however, the start of discouraging emotional vulnerability and openness. At Possibilities, we do like going one step further beyond telling our children "it's ok to cry".... Instead we say, "It's ok to feel what you feel and cry. Cry alone, cry with a safe person BUT NEVER NEVER cry in front of people who would like to see you upset."

07.01.2022 Someone you know is: gay transgender intersex... lesbian asexual gender non-conforming bisexual pansexual gender fluid queer in the closet still figuring themselves out Words matter. Understanding matters. Love matters. For our best love stories, join the Love What Matters family and follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lovewhatmatters/ #LoveWhatMatters

07.01.2022 Yes, this is the second post this week on autistic burnout. We will bang this drum as often as we must until parent and teachers no longer wonder "why X was fine in Term 1 but melting down in Term 4".

06.01.2022 WHAT IS SENSORY OVERLOAD? Sensory overload happens when you’re getting more input from your five senses than your brain can sort through and process. Multiple conversations going on in one room, flashing overhead lights, or a loud party can all produce the symptoms of sensory overload. Anyone can experience sensory overload, and triggers are different for different people. Sensory overload is associated with several other health conditions, including autism, sensory processin...g disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and fibromyalgia. https://www.healthline.com/health/sensory-overload

06.01.2022 Education is more than schooling. Here's to every grown up playing an important role in a young person's life by providing them with support, guidance and positive role modeling. Your impact on one young person creates a ripple effect that may extend to generations to come.

06.01.2022 "We all live busy, stressful lives and have endless concerns as parents, but it is clear that one of the most important things we need to do is to stop and give our kids a big loving squeeze. Research over the past decade highlights the link between affection in childhood and health and happiness in the future."

05.01.2022 There is a huge number of experienced Autism parents amongst us so lets see if we can use that to help parents of children recently diagnosed. If you could travel back in time, what is something that you would tell younger you? It could be advice about mindset and attitude, it could be tips on navigating health system, it could be specific (or general) parenting techniques. It could be school related advice, or even how to support other family members as they enter this new world of ASD. It could be anything you think Younger You could benefit from.

05.01.2022 To the man who actually told his wife that her body isnt good enough for him anymore ... Its fucking disgusting. It blows my mind to hear that shit like th...at happens in 2020. To learn that there are women battling not only their own self-esteem issues but also their partners issues with them as well. How fucking dare anyone ever choose to have children with someone, allow them to sacrifice huge change with their body, not help them or motivate them when they are feeling unworthy and like nature and their own mind is against them and then still have the audacity to put them down. If youre a man and this shit comes across your ears and you ever happen to meet that other man... dont give him your time. Ladies... I want you to know something about men. I think you need to know this. When a man treats you like you need to be better after having children or when youre going through something; Its not you or your image hes ashamed of. Its his own insecurities shining through. Because a man who was secure in himself would have made you his princess all over again. Dont settle for less. If theyre not with you when you need them. They shouldnt be when you dont.

05.01.2022 What sweater should we get Teddy next? Suggestions in comments below!

05.01.2022 This morning Teddy met a new friend, a little black sausage doggy who was kinda cute. He went up to say hello, and the sausage doggy said hello back. But when Teddy wanted to keep playing, his new friend said "no thank you" and went back to his daddy. Teddy was a bit sad, because he really wanted to play with the sausage doggy. But Teddy knows that there are other friends he can play with today. So he solved his problem by going to say hi to another dog. ... #socialstory #friendship #rejection #resilience #problemsolving

03.01.2022 Also, some of our young ones take a bit longer to "grow" and that is ok. Their roots just need more time to build that foundation before they sprout above soil, that's all.

02.01.2022 Im so proud to share Camerons story with you. Cameron is an Operational Intelligence Analyst, and 1 of 11 new people weve employed as part of the new Aurora... Neurodiversity Program. This pilot program helps people with autism find meaningful work in the public service. And not just in ICT we match their unique skills and talents to specialist data roles. Weve partnered with Specialisterne Australia for this pilot. Theyve helped us create a unique recruitment process that shows off the amazing skills and talents of people with autism, which can be overlooked in traditional recruitment processes. Cameron said a few years ago, he couldnt even have hoped to have a full time job, or be part of a team doing meaningful work. Its wonderful to see how the program is offering hope and confidence to people with autism. Congratulations and welcome to Cameron and our other Aurora recruits! Watch the video to learn more about the Aurora program and its benefits:

01.01.2022 Many of our young clients say that while they know theyre loved by their parents, they wish mum and dad would "listen more". What they mean by "listen more" is they wished their parents would engage in active listening. These tips can be used to strengthen rapport with our young ones, but it can definitely be used to deepen our relationships with other loved ones too, such as our partners.

01.01.2022 We only have one of each. Its time to give them the respect and compassion they deserve.

01.01.2022 Replace "pandemic" with life and now we have an analogy to help us be kinder, more gentle, less judgemental, more patient. Life can be stormy. We dont all have the same boat to ride it out in.

01.01.2022 WELCOME 2020! This new decade sees Possibilities moving into a new direction. Chiu Lau, who founded Possibilities Psychological Services in November 2012, grew her team of dynamic and experienced clinicians over the course of 7 years. As a group practice, we have had the honor of serving hundreds of families in our community with utmost dedication.... A new decade brings new opportunities for further growth. The next 4 years will see Chiu focusing on regaining her health and completing a Masters of Clinical Psychology program on a part time basis, while continuing to see clients Wednesdays, Fridays and fortnightly Saturdays. Possibilities will open for business from Wednesday the 15th of January. She will be operating from Back To Balance, 182 Kingsway, Woolooware NSW 2230 As we are now travelling light, we will no longer be able to provide our clients with a 6 days a week access to an admin team (Goodbye Jon, Salwa and Julia *sob sob*) Chiu will be returning to her humble roots circa 2012-2013, where she will also manage the administrative aspect of the practice. To get in touch, you can TEXT 0491-188-891 or EMAIL [email protected] Please join us in welcoming this brand, spanking new chapter! We look forward to continuing to provide you and your family with the clinical excellence we have become known for. See you soon!