We can help you with the following concerns:
Anxiety
Not only is anxiety overwhelming, it seems as though your brain never stops. It is relentlessly “ON”. Sometimes it seems as though your brain has a mind of its own. And while anxiety can be a normal response, for some it becomes overwhelming. Well, for a lot of people actually. More than 2 million adult Australians suffer from it every year. Don’t let anxiety take over your life. Book an appointment today and get some help.
Depression
Are you feeling down? Is it hard for you to find pleasure in everyday life? Are you having trouble eating, sleeping, socialising, or even getting out of the house? You do not need to cope with this on your own. We can help you get your life back on track. Make an appointment today, so that you can start enjoying life again.
Panic Attacks
These are horrible to experience. All of a sudden your heart starts racing. You might start sweating and trembling. You might feel like you are choking, or feel pains in your chest. Perhaps you feel nauseous or dizzy. And you are suddenly overcome with the thought that you might have a heart attack, or lose control and make a fool of yourself. It seems to come out of nowhere. And when it’s over and you feel ‘semi-normal’, you begin to worry that it will happen again. Help is available. These can be controlled, and once you have the skills to do so, will reduce in frequency over time. We work with you to develop these skills to help manage these experiences so that you can get back control of your life.
Phobias
These can be quite varied. Flying, spiders, snakes, heights, blood, open spaces, enclosed spaces, injections. Regardless of the cause of the phobia, they all produce the same result. Fear and anxiety. On one level, these phobias are perfectly understandable. Snakes and spiders can be venomous. Injections may hurt. We may have experienced severe turbulence in a plane. But for some people, the fear and anxiety they experience is causing distress and negatively impacting on their day to day life. So don’t let this issue stop you enjoying your life. Make an appointment today to get some help.
Social Anxiety
It may be a dread of public speaking or it may be the thought of having to socialise with others. The thought of going to a party can fill some people with fear. What, I will have to speak to people? What if I make a fool of myself? If this type of fear is stopping you from enjoying your life and making the most of it, we can help. This fear can be conquered. With empathy and understanding, your particular concerns can be addressed. Make an appointment today to get some help.
Bullying in the Workplace
Workplace bullying is a major issue in Australia with research suggesting that between 5-7% of employees have recently been bullied. A further 40% have been bullied at some stage in their working life. The consequences can be serious with depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder common outcomes. Workplace bullying can be work-related, with aspects of the individual's work being targeted or the individual can be targeted on a personal level. Either way, the effects can be devastating. Please book a time today and let us help you address this problem. It can be a very difficult one to manage alone.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
If you have been involved in a traumatic incident, or perhaps witnessed someone else in a traumatic incident you may find you experience recurring, involuntary and distressing thoughts related to it. You may even have flashbacks or distressing dreams about it. You may be triggered by something that reminds you of it – a place, a person, a smell, a noise. If you have become hypervigilant, are feeling distressed, and very emotional, perhaps irritable or even angry at times, then it may be time to get some help. Please call us today. We can help you deal with the outcomes of the trauma and help you get on with your life.
Substance Use
Are you getting to the stage where you are worried about how much you are drinking? Or perhaps you have started taking drugs and are not sure you can stop. Initially alcohol and drugs can feel like a solution but if your drinking or drug-taking is beginning to affect your life in a negative way it’s time to get some help. Come and talk to us about strategies to help you cut down and/or stop. We will work with you to develop a plan that you are happy with and will be with you along the way. Make an appointment today and begin to get back control of your life.
Eating Issues and Poor Body Image
Are you having difficulty with your eating patterns? Are you preoccupied with losing weight or keeping it off? Are you over-exercising? Or do you think you are eating too much? Perhaps you binge eat then make yourself vomit? It is estimated that almost one million Australians has an eating disorder. We understand it’s not a lifestyle choice. It can be extremely difficult to make changes but if you are ready we can help. Make an appointment today to get back on top of your life.
Health Problems – help for you and your loved ones
- Coping with terminal illness - Coping with long-term chronic illness (e.g., Parkinson’s Disease) - Adjusting to long term incapacity - Adjusting to a loved one’s illness or injuries A diagnosis of a terminal illness is devastating. How do you mentally deal with it? How do your loved ones deal with it? A qualified psychologist is trained to help you through this very difficult time. Please call today and make a time to see us. It can also be extremely difficult to cope with being told that you have a chronic illness that it is likely to continue. How do you deal with that? You have been thrown a curve ball for which there is no answer. We can help you with some strategies to adjust to your illness or incapacity.
Sleep disorders
Do you have trouble getting to sleep at night? Do you wake up a lot during the night? Maybe you find yourself needing too much sleep? If this is causing you problems, and you find yourself exhausted, and perhaps irritable and moody during the day, then you should get some help. You will be low in energy which affects your mood, health, and concentration levels. This can not only make you less effective during the day but can be dangerous if, for example, you are driving or operating some type of machinery. We can help you develop a sleep hygiene plan to help improve your sleep. Of course you may need medical help if, for example, there is an abnormality with your breathing, but we will work in conjunction with your medical professional to ensure you have a comprehensive plan in place to optimise your sleep, and your life.
Grief and Loss
Grieving is a natural response to loss. It might be the death of a loved one or a miscarriage that has overwhelmed your emotions. It may even be news of infertility that leaves you devastated and questioning your life purpose. The ending of a relationship can often be another cause for grief and you may be thinking your life will never be normal again. Other kinds of grief such as the loss of a family pet, sudden employment, or even children leaving home can leave people struggling with daily life, pondering what feels like a bleak future wrought by the change. There is no set pattern with grief. It is very individual and can affect you not only emotionally, but also your thoughts and behaviours, as well as your physical health. Grief and loss counselling can help you manage these effects and help you find a way through the distress.
Life Issues
Do you feel as though life is getting on top of you? Maybe life has presented you with a challenge (as it can do!) that is starting to overwhelm you. Maybe you feel your low-esteem is stopping you enjoying your life, from making the most of it. Perhaps you find yourself paralysed with indecision, or maybe you find yourself getting unreasonably angry at times. It can help to talk through these issues with a qualified psychologist. We can provide another perspective and work with you to develop some strategies for change. If you ready to make some changes in your life please call us today to make an appointment.