Self-doubt means we won’t take a chance on ourselves. We’re pessimistic about our abilities and assume others see us in the same, negative light. Instead of speaking up, we sit on the sidelines, hoping others will notice our skills. It’s not uncommon for people who experience constant doubt to self-sabotage and procrastinate in their work. But this doesn’t mean doubt is wholly negative. There are plenty of circumstances for self-doubt to act as a positive.

Everyone wants to know how to perform at their very best - In sport, in business…in our personal lives. It seems Sleep could be the key! Sleep is increasingly becoming recognised as a vital part of the health, wellbeing and performance mix. In the pursuit of improved performance, your first consideration should be your sleeping routine - Whether you’re a busy parent, stressed employee or elite athlete, there is arguably nothing better for improving your mental state, capacity

Our bodies and minds have amazing ability to restore healthy balance. Broken bodies heal themselves - infections are fought & overcome - we automatically adapt to temperature changes and anticipate and respond to threats and we don't give it a conscious thought! This self-righting, natural balance - monitoring and adjusting our chemical and hormonal blood levels is working all the time to keep us “well” - physically and emotionally…and it’s managed by the mysterious Subconsc

The new year - Some people are inspired by their New Year’s goals. Their goals provide just enough motivation to make important lifestyle changes. But for others, moving into the New Year can seem overwhelming. Resolutions and expectations – especially if you’re already falling short of what you had hoped for – create anxiety.

The holiday season often brings unwelcome guests — the SADs - Stress, Anxiety and Depression. And it's no wonder. The holidays present a dizzying array of demands .....Being realistic, planning ahead and seeking support can help you prepare for the challenge and even reclaim some of the missing joy in the season!

Recent brain research has shown us that the brain actually possesses a remarkable capacity to reorganize pathways, create new connections and in some cases, even create new neurons… throughout our lives. Referred to as “neuroplasticity”, it means we can change the way we think about things and amazingly… rewire our anxious & depressed brain for a happier, balanced outlook!

Flu-like symptoms - Malaise, lethargy, social withdrawal, decreased appetite, and body aches - should always be taken seriously, so talk with your doctor. It could be a dose of the flu…. or it could be a depression... Both are treatable!

Ok, the chances are you’re reading this because you…or someone you care about…is suffering. You’re facing the very real daily challenges of anxiety, depression, ptsd and the associated range of negative thoughts, behaviours and physical symptoms…. But here’s a fact…most sufferers are NOT seeking help. The question has to be asked….Why? (Particularly when, for so many conditions, there are clinically tested, effective, proven therapies)

Loving someone with anxiety - witnessing their struggles, feeling their pain and working with them as they navigate their way through their confusion and terrors, is tough. Every week in our practise we see couples, close friends, parents helping their child, grown up kids with a struggling parent - each supporter doing ‘whatever it takes” to relieve the pain with loving intentions. The question repeatedly asked at each session? “What can we do to help?”

New Year resolutions… Ok, so we set out with the best intentions …but just weeks later, it’s same old, same old! What went wrong? Well it’s simple…and not. You see, when we resolve to do something, whether it’s quitting smoking, improving our diet or starting an exercise routine, both our conscious and subconscious minds (in other words, your Head & Heart) have to be on board. Without both aligning, were doomed to fail.

Everybody feels anxious! Butterflies in your stomach before a job interview, that queasy feeling as you step up to make a speech or the “rush” that propels you out the door when you are running late - these feelings of anxiety are as uncomfortable as they are recognisable - and they're a totally normal part of being a human being! So why have them? Protection! The body has developed anxiety, panic, and worry as a protective alarm system to aid in coping with potential thre

If you’ve read any of my previous blog posts you’ll already know that, despite the discomfort, anxiety is a part of what makes us human - a survival instinct that’s there to help. That said, excessive anxiety isn’t normal and it’s crippling! (read my blog Anxiety? Panic? Worry? Fear? for details) The trick lies in getting the balance right. How? Well, that is the question we’re out to answer! So…here are seven (because 7 is somehow, the magic number!!) suggestions to help y

Ever had a random thought pop into your head and leave you wondering “Am I going crazy?” Like, driving down the freeway and thinking ‘I could just turn the steering wheel a few degrees and I would hit that truck head on and… ’ Sounds a little crazy! But the fact is, in having that thought, you wouldn’t be alone…random, irrational and sometimes morbid thoughts are completely normal and almost everyone has them! (of course if you're regularly having thoughts of self harm - that

It seems that every day we hear somewhere in the news that depression is on the rise. Some have referred to it as the 21st century epidemic. Diagnosis continues at an alarming rate and prescribed medication isn’t making a dent on it! So what’s going on? The first insight is that our entire society is not that well and that our western culture is at the core of our “dis-ease”. The demands of our frenetically driven “More is better” society are straining us emotionally and psyc

The “Pits” of depression can vary from person to person - what they share is their ability to perpetuate a vicious cycle. Here are the top six - and how you can steer clear of them.(yeah, I know these things usually come in sevens, but let’s just deal with these to start with!) Pit #1 "The more I'm alone, the deeper my depression gets” It’s a comment I hear a lot. Social withdrawal is the most common telltale sign of depression - skipping activities normally enjoyed - isolati

Every skill we learn is by trial and error - Think about it! We make an attempt, miss the mark, consciously correct on the next trial and repeat, until finally…. after so many failed attempts…we eventually hit on success! Success feels good - it’s rewarding and we recall the process that delivered it - reinforcing it through repetition and practice! Whether it’s learning to walk, ride a bike, drive a car or get along socially with other human beings, the process is the same.

"Game Changing" innovations and breakthrough performances all start with just an idea....a thought. From this seed, a belief is formed deep in the subconscious...a belief that repeats and repeats, each time gaining strength. The belief is "I can..." From thought to belief, to goal with desire and focus - the path is clear With this clarity of focus you begin to direct your subconscious mind to deliver your breakthrough goal! The theory is simple but the process requires disci

You’ve probably heard of the placebo effect - where medicines are substituted with sugar pills and saline solutions, but patients respond as if the “meds” were real. Examples can be found everywhere in the medical annals….injured soldiers on the battlefield far from medics being given salt tablets and told that they’re powerful painkillers and the pain is eased, patients being “hypnotised” and operated on without anaesthetics and without pain… The Placebo Effect is the subcon

I'm sure you've heard about the physical health benefits of just a gentle walk - the cardio workout, the weight loss and anti-diabetic effects...but what about the mental health benefits? Even an easy walk or ride releases chemicals in the brain like endorphins and serotonin that can reduce your stress and improve your mood. Make it a regular routine and not only can it can help manage depression and anxiety, but it's proven to improve our quality and quantity of sleep - crit