She came four weeks early on her grandmother’s 60th birthday. I remember watching her sleep in the special care nursery. She looked like a porcelain doll with no eyebrows or eyelashes. She was so beautiful and perfect in every way.That …
Filtering The World
“Part of mothering seems to be filtering the world so it’s bearable, taking in toxins and pumping out oxygen like a tree.” - Anna Funder (Wifedom).
A Trauma-Informed Perspective
The call to adopt a ‘trauma-informed’ approach is growing louder as awareness of PTSD increases. Each year, approximately 8 million adults experience PTSD, making it highly likely that we will interact with someone with these symptoms. Understanding the potential underlying …
New Research Shows: Optimism Boosts Longevity
Fascinating new findings in the realm of longevity! “Optimism is Associated with Exceptional Longevity in Two Cohorts of Men and Women,” published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, highlights the powerful link between a positive outlook and …
Believe Actions, Not Words
Notice patterns of behaviour. They will tell you a lot about a person. Agree?
Emotional Neglect
Emotional neglect is sometimes normalised in families. It might have been in the name of being ‘rational’, ‘successful’, ‘wealthy’, ‘busy’, or not ‘spoiling’ the children. Often, the parents have not been taught the language of emotional attunement. They are simply …
Leadership and Self-Awareness
In this episode of Psychotherapy Central, we welcome Sue McDonnell, a seasoned psychotherapist and executive coach, to explore the profound connections between leadership and self-awareness. Sue shares her extensive experience working with executive teams and senior leaders, highlighting how conscious …
How Trauma Affects the Brain
Trauma affects the brain, especially the prefrontal cortex, amygdala and hippocampus. Ongoing trauma is associated with “lasting change in these brain areas” (Bremmer, 2006). When there is a potential threat, the amygdala sends an instant message to the hippocampus, activating …
