AM Mind Your Body, Adelaide (2026)

03/11/2026

Perfectionism is so much more than simply “wanting everything to be flawless”.

Perfectionistic behaviour (just like most human behaviour) is much more complex.

For some, perfectionism is a way of managing anxiety and uncertainty.

For others, it’s closely connected to deeply held beliefs about worth, acceptance, responsibility or failure.

And sometimes, it’s a pattern that developed early in life, when being capable, successful, helpful or getting things right served an important purpose.

These patterns aren’t necessarily the issue. They are the “surface symptoms” we might see (in ourselves or others).

Those patterns may have helped you succeed, feel accepted, avoid criticism or navigate difficult environments.

The difficulty arises when they become rigid.

When doing well is no longer satisfying because it never feels good enough.

When mistakes feel threatening and overwhelming.

When your standards stop being something you choose and become something you feel compelled to meet.

Understanding your underlying patterns and why you do what you do can change your relationship with achievement, failure and yourself.

02/11/2026

It’s been a big weekend…

And as luck would have it, the main moving day started with a flat tyre 🛞😜

Ah well, on my bike 🚲 and off to the practice 🤷‍♀️
(telling my clients about ‘resilience’ and ‘psychological flexibility’, so I had to literally take my own advice to not get stuck in sympathetic nervous system hyperarousal 😜).

A lot of heavy lifting, and the realisation that you can accumulate an astonishing amount of stuff over the years!

After all the sorting, packing, decluttering and making good, we’ve officially moved out of North Adelaide and in to Suite 18 at 33 Warwick street in Walkerville.

I’m looking forward to welcoming you to my new space ☺️ ✨

30/10/2026

In November 2025 I started my EMDR training.

It’s a specialized training that only eligible clinicians can do, and it’s not part of our 6 to 8yrs university degree to become a psychologist.

First you do Level 1, then Level 2, and a minimum of 10 hours of supervision with an accredited consultant.

And now, drum roll, 🥁 I’ve officially achieved Full Membership with the EMDR Association of Australia (EMDRAA).

For those wondering what EMDR actually is…

EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing. It’s an evidence-based psychological therapy that helps people process distressing experiences and memories, particularly those associated with trauma and PTSD.

One of the things I find most fascinating about EMDR is how it draws on the brain’s natural capacity to process information, adapt and recover.

And the more I learn, the more fascinated I become.

So in true fashion, I also completed additional training: in EMDR 2.0, the Flash Technique, attended my first national EMDR conference, and continued exploring the science of trauma, memory and recovery.

Of course, there’s a little irony in all this…
As someone who frequently works with clients on unrelenting standards (that persistent drive to achieve, improve and do more), I’m very aware of my own tendency to keep looking towards the next training! 😜

But today, I’m taking a moment to appreciate how far I’ve come.

Because professional growth isn’t just about what we learn next. It’s also about recognising what we’ve already accomplished.

And perhaps that’s a reminder for all of us: You can be proud of where you are AND excited about where you’re going.

28/10/2026

“Less is more”, especially when you’re recovering from chronic stress, burnout, or trauma.
Lying under a tree, watching the leaves move.

These simple ideas are all based on the principles of nervous system down regulation, safe social connectedness, and

Small moments that ask nothing of you.

When you’re used to constantly doing, achieving, caring for others or anticipating what needs to happen next, these moments of quiet, slowness, can initially feel uncomfortable.

Slowing down is not the same as stopping.

It can also mean learning to loosen your relationship with productivity, urgency and the belief that your time must always be put to good use.

And perhaps remembering that you don’t have to earn the right to enjoy your own life.

28/10/2026

You don’t always need to know exactly where you’re going.

We often want certainty before making decisions. Reassurance that we’re heading in the right direction. Some guarantee that things will work out.

But life rarely offers that.

Psychological resilience is about developing enough trust in yourself to navigate what may come up.

Knowing that

I can adjust my pace.
I can change direction.
I can tolerate uncertainty (and perhaps even see the beauty in what’s around me, on that untreaded path).

You don’t need to have it all figured out.

27/10/2026

You set a goal. You work hard. You achieve it.

But are you enjoying any of it?

And before you’ve had a chance to appreciate what you’ve accomplished, you’re already thinking about what’s next.

Always striving, and always moving forward.

Sound familiar?

In my work as a clinical psychologist, I see this pattern often, particularly in high-achieving women.

And here’s what I find interesting:

The drive itself isn’t necessarily the problem.

Ambition, high standards and determination can be wonderful strengths.

But sometimes, underneath that drive, there are less obvious motivations, like:

A fear of disappointing others.
A need to prove your worth.
A belief that you’re only as good as your last achievement.
Or the uncomfortable feeling that whatever you do, it’s never quite enough.

These patterns often have a history. They may have helped us succeed, gain approval or feel a sense of control.

The question is, are you CHOOSING to strive, or is there something inside you won’t let you stop.

On 11 November, I’ll be joining Rose Cocchiaro and Chanel Martin at Rise Saintgarde Store for a conversation about perfectionism, pressure and what really drives us.

It’s about understanding ourselves better, so we have more choice in how we live, work and pursue the things that matter.

💬 I’d love to know: When you achieve something you’ve worked hard for, do you allow yourself to enjoy it? Or are you already onto the next thing?

27/10/2026

📚 PASS IT ON | BOOK 04

Growing into Autism by Sandra Thom-Jones

For many autistic adults, self-understanding comes later than it should.

You may have spent years wondering why certain environments leave you exhausted, why social situations require so much effort, or why you seem to cope well until you suddenly cannot.

You may have learned to mask, adapt and meet other people’s expectations, while losing touch with your own needs in the process.

And when autism is finally recognised, it can bring relief, grief, confusion and a new way of understanding your life.

Growing into Autism explores the experience of discovering and understanding autism across adulthood, including identity, relationships, sensory experiences, communication and the process of moving towards greater self-acceptance.

One of the ideas I particularly appreciate is that autism is not something to be fixed or outgrown.

But here’s something I’d add from my clinical perspective:

Self-understanding is not about finding a label to explain everything. It is about developing a more compassionate and accurate understanding of how you experience the world.

Meaningful change may involve identifying your needs, reducing masking, creating more supportive environments, communicating boundaries and learning strategies that work with your neurotype rather than against it.

💭 Something to reflect on:

What is something about yourself that makes more sense now that you understand your neurodivergence?

🎁 I’m passing this book on!*
*Pick up North Adelaide

If you’d like to give Growing into Autism a new home, leave a 📚 in the comments.

26/10/2026

📚 PASS IT ON | BOOK 03

How to Do the Work by Dr Nicole LePera

You can understand your patterns and still find yourself repeating them.

It’s something I see regularly in the therapy room.

You might know exactly why you struggle to set boundaries, why you people-please, or why you become so self-critical when things go wrong.

And yet, when you find yourself in a familiar situation, there it is again. The same reaction. The same behaviour. The same uncomfortable feeling.

Why?

Because insight alone doesn’t necessarily create change.

Our patterns are often deeply learned responses, shaped by our experiences, relationships and the ways we’ve adapted to our environments.

Many of these responses once served an an important purpose.

How to Do the Work explores the relationship between our past experiences, habitual patterns, emotional responses and capacity for change.

One of the ideas I particularly appreciate is the importance of becoming curious about ourselves rather than simply trying to fix ourselves.

But here’s something I’d add from my clinical perspective:

Awareness is the beginning of change, not the whole process.

Meaningful change often involves learning new skills, experiencing emotions differently, developing greater flexibility and practising new responses, sometimes with therapeutic support.

And it rarely happens in a straight line.

💭 Something to reflect on:

What’s a pattern you’ve come to understand about yourself, but still find difficult to change?

🎁 I’m passing this book on!*
*Pick up North Adelaide

As I prepare to move my consulting practice, I’m sharing books from my collection, along with psychological insights worth passing on.

If you’d like to give How to Do the Work a new home, leave a 📚 in the comments.

Because understanding ourselves is valuable. Learning how to respond differently can be transformative.

breakingpatterns

26/10/2026

📚 PASS IT ON | BOOK 02

I Thought It Was Just Me (But It Isn’t) by Brené Brown

One of the most complex and yet fascinating (from a psychology point of view) emotion is shame.

Shame is different to guilt. Guilt is “I’ve done something wrong,” shame tells us “There’s something wrong with me.”

In this book, Brené Brown explores how shame shapes our sense of self, our relationships and our willingness to be seen.

Shame grows in isolation. Connection and empathy can help us challenge it.

🎁 I’m passing this book on!*

As I prepare to move my psychology practice, I’m sharing books that have informed my thinking and professional journey.

If you’d like to give this one a new home, leave a 📚 in the comments.

*Pick up North Adelaide before 30.10.

25/10/2026

📚 PASS IT ON | BOOK 01

The Happiness Trap by Russ Harris
(+ the Pocket book edition: fewer words, more images)

This book challenges the quest for happiness. Like, what if trying so hard to be happy is actually making us unhappy?

The Happiness Trap introduces Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), a psychological approach built around a deceptively simple idea:

A meaningful life isn’t necessarily a happy life.

We’re often taught that happiness is something we should strive for. That difficult thoughts and feelings are problems to solve, control or eliminate.

But the harder we try to avoid uncomfortable emotions, the more restricted our lives can become.

ACT invites us to develop a different relationship with our inner experiences.

Rather than asking, “How do I get rid of this feeling?”, we might ask:

💭 Can I make room for this feeling without letting it dictate what I do next?

💭 What really matters to me?

💭 What would I choose if I didn’t have to wait until I felt better?

The goal isn’t to feel good all the time.

It’s to build a life worth living, even when life feels difficult.

🎁 I’m passing this book on!*

If you’d like to give The Happiness Trap a new home, leave a 📚 in the comments.

*pick up North Adelaide OR add postage

Because some books are too valuable to leave sitting on a shelf.

AM Mind Your Body

03/11/2026

02/11/2026

30/10/2026

28/10/2026

28/10/2026

27/10/2026

27/10/2026

26/10/2026

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25/10/2026

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