Dr Amanda Mullin - Think Differently

17/06/2026

'Why can't I just make myself start?' is something I hear constantly – from adults, from teenagers, from parents about their kids.

The truth is simpler than 'try harder': an ADHD brain is interest-driven, not importance-driven. It switches on for novelty, urgency, challenge and things that genuinely interest us – and stays stubbornly offline for the boring-but-important stuff, no matter how much we tell ourselves it matters.

So 'just push through' is never going to work. The fix is to set the task up for the brain you actually have – make it smaller, add some urgency, work alongside someone, and let starting be the whole goal.

If you're an ADHDer, what's the one task that always wins the staring contest? And what's ever helped you start it?

📍 More on the ADHD brain in my article – link in bio.

27/05/2026

Parents of anxious kids are often surprised at how small parenting changes can have big impacts. It’s not always obvious how to support a child with anxiety, and it’s common for parents to be “helping” in ways that can make anxiety worse. This workshop is one of my favourites to run because parents leave feeling empowered and confident.

Ready for change? Join me.

This engaging small group workshop is designed for parents of children who experience anxiety. Presented by Dr Amanda Mullin.

27/05/2026

Parent cafés are some of my favourite events to be invited to speak at.

There's always something special about the energy in a room full of parents who've made the time to learn more about how to support their kids.

This week I had the absolute pleasure of connecting with the parent community at Margaret Mary's Primary School. We started by asking parents to share the challenges they're navigating right now, and the responses said it all.

Regulating emotions. Focus. Confidence. Resilience. Attitude. Sharing. Anger. Bullying. Motivation. Friendships...

These are the conversations happening in every school car park and every group chat.

Here is one of the takeaways that really resonated with parents:

That our own regulation comes first. Our kids borrow our nervous systems. If we're frazzled, rushing, snapping, they feel it, and they match it. The single most powerful thing we can do for our child's emotional regulation is to take care of our own. Not perfectly. Just noticing when we're running hot, and taking a breath before we respond.

As with other schools I've worked with in the Catholic Schools Diocese, what stood out to me was not just how engaged and curious the parents were, but how much the school genuinely values the relationships between home and school.

Leadership and staff who understand that supporting children's wellbeing means supporting the whole family around them - it is always special to see this in action.

Thank you to Grace Carlo-Stella, Anthony and the team at St Margaret Mary's for having me, and to all the parents who braved the rain to come along.

12/02/2026

How comfortable are you disappointing others? Or do you prefer to:

➡️ Agree to the thing.
➡️ Stay quiet in the meeting.
➡️ Soften what you really think.
➡️ Take on more than you have capacity for.

So many of my clients tell themself they are just being helpful. But most of the time it’s anxiety. “I don’t want this to feel uncomfortable.”

People pleasing gives immediate relief. No tension. No awkwardness. Everyone’s okay. They don’t want to disappoint. They don’t want to look difficult. They don’t want the shift in tone.

So, every time you override yourself to keep someone else comfortable, you get short-term relief.

But then you feel resentful and exhausted. Your energy drains. You feel a bit unseen.

Letting someone feel a flicker of disappointment isn’t unkind. Constantly overriding yourself is. Learning how to set boundaries is a skill.

Try:

• “I can’t commit to that right now.”
• “That won’t work for me.”
• “I don’t have the capacity this week.”
• “I’m going to pass, but thank you for thinking of me.”

You don’t need a dramatic reason to say no. Someone else’s disappointment is not an emergency.

Learning how to tolerate the sensation of knowing someone is disappointed can be life changing.

15/12/2025

More community resources arriving today - including this one from lifeline.

Guidance for those impacted by the Bondi Beach incident on 14 December 2025. Understand common reactions, find coping strategies, and access help.

14/12/2025

The devastating events at Bondi tonight impact all of us, including our children.

As a local psychologist I wanted to share this factsheet, and provide a few tips that might help you when talking with your children.

1️⃣ Talk to your child. Be honest and keep it age-appropriate.

It’s better that they hear it from you than hear stories on the playground. Keep it simple. "There was a shooting incident at Bondi Beach. People were hurt, and some died. The Police caught the shooters and we're safe."

Don't elaborate unless they ask. If they do ask, provide simple age appropriate facts. Facts are usually a lot less terrifying than a child’s imagination.

2️⃣ Stick to routines, model calm not panic.

Our children watch how we respond. By sticking to a familiar routine we show them that even when scary things happen in the world, we can still feel safe in our homes and communities.

Take care of yourself. If you need help or aupport, reach out to services like Beyond Blue.

This factsheet has more information about helping children deal with tragic events:

https://psychology.org.au/getmedia/a61fcf9d-dc4c-40f3-b94d-65995c85995b/helping-children-affected-tragic-events.pdf?fbclid=IwdGRleAOrkPBleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEe2CbKsu_Uj6pij8Cy3bltuQP8yJFSH-UvpMZE5QI252kR2Bkt2vdajH4c4CM_aem_8AqoQoWUZT27kFTk3xMTyQ

04/12/2025

For me, there is no magic age that your child should or should not get a smartphone. Every family, every child is different. That said, every family needs to put supervision and rules around smartphones because our children can’t yet understand the risks.

What are your rules and boundaries for your child? Are you black and white with them, or are you more flexible.

I gave my children smartphones in primary school so that I could call them if I was running late to pick up (a frequent occurrence with my role and traffic at that time). I loved that they were young enough that they’d show me content which gave me the opportunity to talk often about risks. Oversharing, strangers, bulling, p**n, sexting, trolls - we’d discuss things like how we felt in response to posts. As a psychologist I know that it’s often harder for teens to have the same conversation with us - so for me, risk education, and being able to have influence and shape the conversations was one of my biggest priorities.

What factors influence you? If your children are older, do you regret the choice you made? Would you now do it differently based on what you’ve learned?

With the social media ban this month there has never been a better time to keep these conversations going.

A new study in Pediatrics found that twelve-year-olds who owned smartphones were more likely to experience depression and obesity and not get enough sleep than their peers without one. Consistent communication with children and teens about smartphones and screen time can help make sure that phones don’t crowd out important activities like exercise, sleep, and quality time with friends and family. Learn more in AAP News: https://bit.ly/3KvYJkB

27/11/2025

I’m so thrilled and still in a bit of disbelief after winning the Therapist & Counselling category in APAC Awards — what an incredible moment it was.

This award recognises the heart of the work I do every day: helping people understand their minds with evidence-based tools that truly make a difference.
From the therapy room at Mindworx Psychology, to our online programs, to the wellbeing, neurodiversity and ADHD education I deliver through Think Differently in schools and workplaces — my mission has always been the same:

Make mental wellbeing practical, accessible, and genuinely life-changing.

I’m deeply grateful to my clients for their courage, my team for their excellence, and my family and community for their constant support.

And to the many women across APAC who are creating change in their fields — it’s an honour to stand alongside you.

Here’s to continuing the work that helps people not just cope… but truly thrive. 💛

25/11/2025

✨ I’m honoured to share that I’ve been named a Finalist in the Changing The World APAC Awards. ✨

These awards celebrate women who are creating meaningful impact across the Asia–Pacific region through leadership, innovation, education, health, advocacy, entrepreneurship, sustainability, and humanitarian work.

To be recognised alongside so many remarkable women is both humbling and energising.

For me, this acknowledgement reflects the heart of the work I do every day - helping people understand their brains, creating awareness and eduation in the neurodiversity space, and bringing evidence-based wellbeing tools to schools, workplaces, and communities.

Across Mindworx Psychology, Mindworx Online, and Think Differently, my mission has always been the same: to make mental wellbeing practical, accessible, and grounded in science, and to show people that when we understand ourselves differently, we can thrive differently.

A huge thank you to my clients, my team, and everyone who continues to support this work. And congratulations to the other finalists who are doing extraordinary things in the world.

Here’s to continuing to change the world, one conversation, one classroom, and one nervous system at a time. 💛

14/11/2025

If you’ve worked wirh me you know that i love unpacking family of origin influences and exploring how our unconscious beliefs can shape us.

I also love talking about parenting. Such a privilege to see my artice published in Editors pick today on Child Magazines

Even the most mindful parents slip into old habits. Dr Amanda Mullin explains why we often parent like our parents—and how small moments of awareness can help us break the cycle, stay calm, and grow alongside our children.