How do we work out healthy boundaries at work? Co-presenter Kristen Coggan.

Podcast: The confusion around Separation Anxiety.

When your child doesn't want to separate from from you at school drop off (as an example), is this due to it being their preference, a fear or a phobia? We talk about Separation Anxiety, but do we really now what we are talking about? Or are we all confused? I'm afraid that this is an area where Pop Psychology has taken most of us off track. It is so common to misunderstand 'Separation Anxiety'. We all really need to get the facts laid out for us so we can help our children. Hopefully this is achieved through this podcast. 

Hope you enjoy, and this clears up the confusion.

Podcast: The Psychology of Painting. Special Guest Catherine Ketton

Painting is definitely one of our creative outlets where we can both challenge and lose ourselves.  Beautiful Catherine Ketton is my mentor in the oil painting world, so I thought I would ask her along to hear about her process and her personal experience of oil painting. 

I love the complexity of oil painting and the depth of finished product that you can achieve. Catherine spoke of how she is constantly trying new approaches and remains intrigued by mastering the different techniques. 

If you are interested in oil painting, then this podcast is for you. But if you are interested in finding a passion that draws you into a world that you become lost and recharged in... then this podcast also provides an intriguing lens for your personal journey.

Grab your paintbrush and enjoy!

QUICK CHAT: Am I grieving properly?

Does it surprise you that this is a frequently asked question in session. Grief can be daunting and exhausting. We can experience a big dose of the deepest heartache. So I guess it's no surprise that we often look for reassurance about how we are grieving. 

I hope this podcast is helpful for those facing grief in some way or another. 

Take care. 

Podcast. Elite sport for kids; Pros and Cons. My Synchronised Swimming experience. Special Guest Sally Johnstone.

Sally is one of those lovely humble people. So when by chance I happened to discover that in her past life she was an elite Synchonised Swimmer I was intrigued and had to ask her along to do a podcast. I am so glad that I did. Because her story opened up to an intriguing can of worms with regard to the pros and cons of children being involved in elite sport. I appreciate this opportunity to enter into this unique world. It is one that we don't get to hear about very much. As a mother now, Sally shares even more indepth reflections. 

I hope you enjoy! I certainly did. Thanks so much Sally. 

Podcast: How do we work out healthy boundaries at work? Co-presenter Kristen Coggan.

There seems to be no rule book with this one. How do we balance the importance of relationship building in the workplace, and the need to support mental health, with a boundary of some sort to keep our workplace professional. 

As usual, Kristen and I threw this question at the wall to see how it would fall. We weren't disappointed. There is so much to this question. I'm sure that we all have our own experiences of this going well, and of course... not going well. 

We would love to hear your thoughts on your experience of this curly question. 

Podcast: Have you felt the hurt of Critical Humour?

Critical Humour is a sly fox. Have you ever had anyone say something that is truly hurtful, yet they say 'I'm only joking!', or 'can't you take a joke.'

How do you navigate this? What is going wrong? Do you have the right to feel hurt even though they are supposedly only joking? 

Let's talk about this tricky topic. Let's iron it out, expose it, once and for all!

Podcast: Relationships - how to heal hurts. Co-Presenter Kristen Coggan.

When we have said something or done something to hurt our special person, it is a skill to know how to heal the hurt. How to move forward and genuinely feel okay. This podcast breaks down what we need from the other person in order to overcome our hurts. A simple sorry doesn't cut it. Why? Well we talk through the why's and the how's in this podcast. 

Would love to hear your thoughts. 

Podcast: Doing school differently - for kids that haven't thrived in mainstream schooling. Special Guest Libby Rosentreter

Libby is an advocate for neurodiversity and alternative educational settings. She is the principle of Samaritan College in Toowoomba, SE QLD, Australia. Libby is one of those people that quietens all the noise, and gets to know what the inner working are of each child that she is working with. She doesn't think the children need to be a square peg that should fit into a square hole. Instead, she works to understand the child, and then she works to change the environment so that the child feels safe and can begin to show their potential. 

My heart and my head sang when I met Libby. We need millions more like her in the world to make the world an intelligent and compassionate place, where difference is embraced and celebrated. 

There is a very good reason that her school, Good Samaritan has a very long waiting list. 

Come and enjoy Libby's insights and her story. Thankyou Libby for being so generous with your time. We all really appreciate it. 

Podcast - Is it cliche that our childhood shapes us? Co-presenter Kristen Coggan.

In session, the Psychologist hopefully doesn't say the cliche words 'tell me about your childhood'... but the truth is, our childhood is central to shaping us. 

How we learn about ourselves (healthy or unhealthy), how we learn to be in relationships (healthy or unhealthy), how we learn to relate to the world (healthy or unhealthy), our values (healthy or unhealthy), etc, etc. The point is... we have absorbed healthy and unhealthy patterns and experiences from our childhood, and this is a large focus in learning about your psychology.

Kristen and I explore this issue together. It's so pivotal that we all get our head around our own inner workings to get that much happier and skilled. Perhaps this podcast will nudge a few people in the right direction.

Podcast: Do you appreciate your body in the good times?

We humans have a bad habit of taking things for granted. Our bodies are no exception. Yes, when we are unwell, we miss when we were well. But then, when we are back to health, we tend to stop appreciating the health and capacity that we have. What a great topic to take a moment to consider... and to wake up to. We truly benefit in our mental health when we have gratitude for our bodies - in so many ways.