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For so many women, menopause arrives carrying a story that isn’t our own. We’ve been taught to see it as an ending — the loss of youth, vitality, fertility, desirability. Society has spent decades convincing us that this natural transition is something to hide, fix, or push against. Yet what if it’s none of those things? What if menopause isn’t the closing of a door, but the quiet turning of a page? A time when the body, in its deep wisdom, begins to invite rest, reflection,

Book Review and an Invitation for Late-Diagnosed Neurodivergent Women Strengths in Neurodivergence — from Neurodevelopmental Disorders in Adult Women If you are a woman who discovered your neurodivergence later in life, you may have spent years trying to be who everyone else expected you to be. You may have learned to mask, to blend in, to work twice as hard just to feel “enough”. You may have carried a quiet belief that something was wrong with you. This chapter, Strengths i

The Trickster Dynamic in Therapy Sometimes in therapy, something playful and unexpected shows up right in the middle of pain. This is...

Ever feel torn between panic and logic? That’s the amygdala and prefrontal cortex in a tug-of-war. The amygdala reacts fast to keep you safe, while the prefrontal cortex helps you stay calm and think clearly. When stress hits, the amygdala can hijack your brain, making it hard to think or regulate emotions. Therapy helps restore balance, creating space between reaction and response so you can feel more grounded and in control.

🔥 Discomfort Isn’t the Enemy — It’s the Way We Grow Most of us avoid discomfort, thinking it’s bad. But according to former Marine and...

Fireworks may look fun, but they release fine particles (PM2.5) that pollute the air and can affect your brain. Just one day of exposure can reduce focus, memory, and mood, and increase inflammation linked to depression and irritability. The impact is often invisible but real—especially for those with health sensitivities. Consider safer ways to celebrate, like staying upwind or using alternatives like drone shows or glow sticks.

A global study found people across 13 countries agree on what makes someone “cool”: being outgoing, adventurous, independent, open-minded, pleasure-seeking, and influential. Coolness isn’t just trendiness — it’s about boldly being yourself and challenging the norm. While cool people aren’t always seen as “good,” they’re often admired for their edge and authenticity. This research shows coolness is a universal language of confidence and individuality.

A strength-based approach in therapy focuses on your existing resilience, values, and inner resources, rather than just your problems or pain. It helps you reconnect with the parts of yourself that have helped you survive and grow, even in difficult times. This approach sees you as a whole person — not broken, but capable — and supports healing by building on what’s already strong within you. It’s a gentle, empowering way to move forward with clarity and self-trust.

Ambivalence in therapy is a natural part of change — the pull between wanting something different and fearing what that might bring. Rather than seeing it as a problem, therapy explores the tension with curiosity and compassion, helping you understand the deeper needs behind each side. This gentle approach supports integration, allowing you to move forward with more clarity, choice, and self-trust. Ambivalence isn’t a block — it’s a doorway to deeper awareness.

Here’s a 500-character description you can use for your website or social media: This community support list includes a wide range of free or low-cost services to help during difficult times. From mental health and crisis helplines to family violence support, LGBTQIA+ services, First Nations support, and housing or financial aid — these organisations are here to help. You’re not alone, and support is available. Please reach out to the services that best suit your needs.

If you’re looking for a strengths-based take on ADHD, I highly recommend The ADHD Advantage by Dr Dale Archer. He explores how traits often seen as challenges—like high energy, impulsivity, and out-of-the-box thinking—can actually be powerful assets when understood and supported. It’s a refreshing, empowering read that helps reframe ADHD as a difference, not a disorder, and offers insight for both individuals and families navigating neurodivergence.

Neuroception is the body’s unconscious ability to detect cues of safety, danger, or life threat without involving the thinking brain. Coined by Dr Stephen Porges, it’s part of the autonomic nervous system and influences how we respond—whether we feel calm and connected, anxious and on edge, or shut down and numb. Neuroception shapes our relationships, emotions, and sense of self, especially in trauma recovery. Understanding it helps us regulate and feel safer in our bodies an

Part 5: Adolescent Withdrawal – Trust in the Encounter Gestalt therapy offers teens a safe space to stay present while gently exploring their world. Through attuned, relational support, the therapeutic encounter helps balance fear and curiosity—offering glimmers of hope, new possibilities, and a way back into connection.

In Gestalt therapy, we often speak about contact — the meeting point between ourselves and the world around us. But just as important as...

Part 4 explores how fear and courage often coexist in teens who withdraw from the world. In Gestalt therapy, the therapeutic relationship becomes a safe space where both can be seen and held. With support, teens begin to take small steps toward connection—feeling their fear without being ruled by it, and discovering the courage already within them. Healing starts with being met, not pushed.

Social Anxiety is more. Than just feelings shy or awkward in social situations Social anxiety is more than just feeling a bit shy or...

Part 3 - Teen Withdrawal Some adolescents who withdraw from the world don’t see their isolation as a problem. It can feel like a choice....

Part 2 – When Teens Shut Down: Understanding Social Withdrawal and Shame Some teens retreat not out of disinterest, but to protect themselves from overwhelm, shame, or fear of failure. This post explores how social withdrawal can be a survival strategy, and how Gestalt therapy offers gentle, relational support to help teens reconnect with themselves and the world.

Part 1: Understanding Adolescent Social Withdrawal – A Gestalt Perspective This post explores how Gestalt therapy understands teen social withdrawal not as defiance, but as a protective response. By focusing on the whole person in their environment, Gestalt therapy helps make sense of the retreat and gently supports reconnection through awareness, presence, and relationship.

Parenting is one of the most meaningful and demanding roles we’ll ever take on. As a parent myself, I know how overwhelming, confusing,...