The Mood and Mind Centre

The Mood and Mind Centre The Mood and Mind Centre is a private psychology practice, located in Hope Island and Upper Coomera. Visit our website to learn more...

We love what we do and we deliver our service with warmth and care.

This Loneliness Awareness Week, 3–9 August, the theme Make Room for Connection encourages people to create opportunities...
05/08/2026

This Loneliness Awareness Week, 3–9 August, the theme Make Room for Connection encourages people to create opportunities for connection at home, work, school and in the community.

Making room for connection might look like:

💬 starting a genuine conversation

☕ inviting someone to share a coffee or activity

📱 checking in with someone you have not spoken to recently

👂 listening without judgement or immediately trying to solve the problem

🌿 helping someone feel welcomed and included

Connection may look different for everyone. A small moment of kindness, an invitation or simply making time to listen can help create space for belonging.

This week, consider one small way you could make room for connection. 💜

🌿 The Mood & Mind Centre

📍 Hope Island, Upper Coomera & Online

📞 07 5573 2200

🌐 moodandmindcentre.com

ℹ️ This content is general in nature and is not a substitute for individual professional advice.

🌏 International Day of FriendshipFriendship can begin with something small: a genuine conversation, listening with curio...
30/07/2026

🌏 International Day of Friendship

Friendship can begin with something small: a genuine conversation, listening with curiosity, including someone who feels left out, or taking the time to learn from experiences different from our own.

The International Day of Friendship recognises the role friendship can play in building understanding, respect and connection between individuals, cultures and communities.

Small moments of connection may help create a greater sense of belonging and remind others that their wellbeing matters.

Today can be an opportunity to appreciate the people who support us, reach out to someone we care about, or make space for a new connection. 💛

Who is someone you are grateful to have in your life?

🌿 The Mood & Mind Centre

📍 Hope Island • Upper Coomera • Online
📞 (07) 5573 2200
🌐 moodandmindcentre.com

ℹ️ This information is general in nature and is not a substitute for professional advice.

“Why can I focus better with music or the TV on?” 🎵📺Some people with ADHD find that a little background stimulation—such...
28/07/2026

“Why can I focus better with music or the TV on?” 🎵📺

Some people with ADHD find that a little background stimulation—such as music, a podcast or a familiar television show—may make certain tasks feel easier to begin or continue.

One possible explanation is that attention can be influenced by a person’s level of stimulation. When an activity feels repetitive or under-stimulating, maintaining attention may feel more difficult. Adding a manageable amount of background stimulation may help some people feel more alert and engaged.

However, more stimulation is not always better. What supports focus varies between people, tasks and environments. Something that feels helpful during housework may be distracting while reading, studying or completing a complex task.

The aim is not to force yourself to concentrate in the same way as everyone else. It may be useful to experiment with your environment and notice what supports your attention without becoming overwhelming.

✨ What helps you focus?

🎵 Instrumental music
📺 A familiar television show
🎧 White noise or a podcast
☕ Background café sounds
🚶 Movement or a standing break
💬 Something else?

Share your preferred focus environment in the comments—we would love to hear what you have noticed.

These are some of the topics and practical, evidence-informed strategies we will explore in our Thriving with ADHD group program.

📅 Mondays: 10, 17, 24 & 31 August 2026
🕠 5:30–7:00 pm
📍 The Mood & Mind Centre, Hope Island

📲 Scan the QR code on the post to register your interest.

🌿 The Mood & Mind Centre
📍 Hope Island • Upper Coomera • Online
📞 (07) 5573 2200
🌐 moodandmindcentre.com

ℹ️ This information is general in nature and is not a substitute for professional advice.

Neurodiversity MentalHealthEducation Psychology HopeIsland UpperCoomera TheMoodAndMindCentre

ADHD is not a problem with intelligence… it’s a different way of regulating attention, motivation and emotion. 🧠For many...
23/07/2026

ADHD is not a problem with intelligence… it’s a different way of regulating attention, motivation and emotion. 🧠

For many adults, learning they have ADHD can feel like finally finding the missing piece of a puzzle. Suddenly, years of wondering “Why am I like this?” may begin to make more sense.

Research suggests that ADHD is associated with differences in brain networks involved in executive functioning, motivation and emotional regulation. These differences can make everyday tasks—such as getting started, staying organised, managing time or regulating emotions—feel more challenging for some people.

At the same time, many people with ADHD also recognise strengths such as creativity, curiosity, resilience, empathy and the ability to think outside the box.

Understanding how your brain works isn’t about finding excuses—it’s about discovering practical strategies that may help you work with your brain, rather than against it.

That’s exactly what we’ll be exploring in our Thriving with ADHD group program.

Over four weeks, participants will have the opportunity to:
🧠 Better understand the ADHD brain
🛠 Learn practical, evidence-informed strategies for focus, organisation and follow-through
💬 Explore approaches that may support emotional regulation and managing overwhelm
🤝 Connect with others who share similar experiences in a supportive group environment

Whether you’ve recently been diagnosed or have been living with ADHD for years, this program is designed to support adults in developing practical skills and a greater understanding of how ADHD may affect their daily lives.

📍 Thriving with ADHD begins Monday, 10 August 2026
🕠 5:30–7:00 pm
📍 The Mood & Mind Centre, Hope Island

🌿 The Mood & Mind Centre
📍 Hope Island • Upper Coomera • Online
📞 (07) 5573 2200
🌐 moodandmindcentre.com

ℹ️ This information is general in nature and is not a substitute for professional advice.

Psychology GoldCoastPsychologist

“Why do I procrastinate… even when the task is really important?”If you’ve ever asked yourself this question, you’re cer...
21/07/2026

“Why do I procrastinate… even when the task is really important?”

If you’ve ever asked yourself this question, you’re certainly not alone.

One common misconception about ADHD is that procrastination is simply laziness or a lack of motivation. In reality, many adults with ADHD care deeply about getting things done but may experience difficulties with task initiation—one aspect of executive functioning that can make it difficult to get started.

This can look like:
• Staring at a task for hours without beginning.
• Cleaning the kitchen instead of sending an important email.
• Researching for hours instead of writing the report.
• Waiting until the last minute before finding the momentum to begin.
• Feeling frustrated because you know what needs to be done, but getting started feels incredibly difficult.

One insight many people find helpful is that action may come before motivation, rather than the other way around.

That’s why it can be helpful to stop asking:

“How am I going to finish this?”

and instead ask:

“What’s the smallest possible first step?”

It might be:
✔️ Opening the laptop.
✔️ Putting on your walking shoes.
✔️ Writing the title.
✔️ Reading one paragraph.

Small actions can build momentum, and momentum may make it easier to keep going.

Procrastination isn’t always about avoiding a task. For some people with ADHD, it can reflect differences in how the brain approaches getting started.

These are some of the practical, evidence-informed strategies we’ll be exploring in our Thriving with ADHD group program. Together, we’ll explore why everyday tasks can feel challenging and discuss practical approaches that may help people work with their ADHD, rather than against it.

📍 Mondays: 10, 17, 24 & 31 August
🕠 5:30–7:00 pm
📍 The Mood & Mind Centre, Hope Island

📱 Scan the QR code on the post to register, or contact us to learn more.

🌿 The Mood & Mind Centre

📍 Hope Island, Upper Coomera & Online
📞 (07) 5573 2200
🌐 moodandmindcentre.com

ℹ️ This information is general in nature and is not a substitute for professional advice.

Meet your facilitator: Dr Kat van ZylOne of the greatest privileges of my work as a Clinical Psychologist is supporting ...
19/07/2026

Meet your facilitator: Dr Kat van Zyl

One of the greatest privileges of my work as a Clinical Psychologist is supporting people as they make sense of experiences they’ve often carried for years.

Many adults tell me they spent much of their lives believing they were simply disorganised, lazy, “too emotional”, or not living up to their potential. For some, receiving an ADHD diagnosis (often following their own child’s diagnosis) can provide a new way of understanding these experiences.

My doctoral research explored ADHD through a holistic biopsychosocial lens, looking beyond symptoms alone to understand the complex interaction between the brain, emotions, lifestyle, relationships, environment and overall wellbeing. This perspective has shaped the way I work with clients.

Thriving with ADHD is a practical, evidence-informed and supportive 4-week group program designed to help adults better understand ADHD, explore practical strategies that may be useful in everyday life, and connect with others who have shared similar experiences.

If you’ve ever wondered why life feels more challenging than it seems to for others, or you’ve recently been diagnosed and are asking, “What now?”, this program may be a supportive place to learn more about ADHD and connect with others on a similar journey.

I’d love to welcome you to the group. 💛

💙 Healing after birth trauma may take time.There is no single “right” way—or timeline—to heal after a difficult birth ex...
15/07/2026

💙 Healing after birth trauma may take time.

There is no single “right” way—or timeline—to heal after a difficult birth experience.

For some people, healing may involve being compassionate with themselves, talking about their experience when they feel ready, taking care of their physical recovery, finding moments that feel grounding, or reaching out for support if things continue to feel difficult.

Healing doesn’t mean forgetting what happened. Instead, it may involve finding ways to process the experience over time.

Everyone’s journey is different, and it’s okay if recovery doesn’t look the way you expected.

At The Mood & Mind Centre, our clinicians provide a range of psychological services, including support for people experiencing difficulties related to pregnancy, birth and the postnatal period. If you would like information about our services or appointment options, our reception team is happy to assist.

🌿 The Mood & Mind Centre

📍 Hope Island & Upper Coomera & Online

📞 (07) 5573 2200

🌐 moodandmindcentre.com

ℹ️ This information is general in nature and is not a substitute for professional advice.

Birth Trauma Awareness Week (13–19 July)Birth can be one of life’s most significant experiences. For some people, it may...
14/07/2026

Birth Trauma Awareness Week (13–19 July)

Birth can be one of life’s most significant experiences. For some people, it may also be experienced as frightening, overwhelming or traumatic.

Birth trauma is not defined by the type of birth someone has. Rather, it reflects how that person experienced the event. It can occur following vaginal birth, caesarean birth, assisted birth or unexpected complications during pregnancy, labour or delivery.

Some people may experience:
🤍 intrusive memories or nightmares
🤍 difficulty processing the birth experience
🤍 feeling emotionally disconnected
🤍 heightened anxiety around pregnancy or healthcare
🤍 feeling frightened or helpless when thinking about the birth

Everyone’s experience is unique, and there is no “right” way to feel after giving birth.

At The Mood & Mind Centre, our clinicians provide a range of psychological services, including support for people experiencing difficulties related to pregnancy, birth and the postnatal period. If you would like information about our services or appointment options, our reception team is happy to assist.

🌿 The Mood & Mind Centre

📍 Hope Island & Upper Coomera & Online

📞 (07) 5573 2200

🌐 moodandmindcentre.com

ℹ️ This information is general in nature and is not a substitute for professional advice.

Have you ever felt like your brain has a mind of its own? 🧠Thriving with ADHD is a practical and supportive 4-week group...
11/07/2026

Have you ever felt like your brain has a mind of its own? 🧠

Thriving with ADHD is a practical and supportive 4-week group program for adults with ADHD.

Facilitated by Dr Kat van Zyl, Clinical Psychologist, this small-group program is designed to support participants to better understand ADHD, learn practical strategies for focus, motivation and emotional wellbeing, and connect with others who share similar experiences.

The program combines psychoeducation with evidence-informed psychological strategies in a supportive, small-group environment.

📅 Mondays: 10, 17, 24 & 31 August 2026

🕠 5:30–7:00 pm

📍 The Mood & Mind Centre – Hope Island

👥 Maximum 8 participants

Places are limited.

To find out more or reserve your place, contact us:

📞 (07) 5573 2200

📧 [email protected]

If you can’t make these dates, let us know and we’ll be happy to add your name to the waitlist for the next group.

As we continue our OCD awareness series, we’re looking at a concept that may be helpful for some people: pausing before ...
09/07/2026

As we continue our OCD awareness series, we’re looking at a concept that may be helpful for some people: pausing before responding to an intrusive thought. 💚

Intrusive thoughts are a common human experience. Most people experience them from time to time.

For people living with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), these thoughts can become distressing and may be accompanied by a strong urge to perform a compulsion, such as checking, seeking reassurance or repeating a behaviour.

One skill that forms part of evidence-based psychological approaches for OCD involves:

💭 noticing the intrusive thought

🏷️ labelling it as a thought

⏸️ pausing before responding

🌿 allowing uncertainty to be present, even briefly

For some people, practising this skill with appropriate support may help reduce the urge to respond to every intrusive thought over time.

Everyone’s experience with OCD is different, and what feels manageable will vary from person to person.

If intrusive thoughts or repetitive behaviours are becoming persistent or affecting daily life, it may be worth speaking with a qualified health professional.

At The Mood & Mind Centre, our clinicians provide a range of psychological services, including evidence-informed approaches for OCD. If you’d like information about our services or appointment options, our reception team is happy to assist.

🌿 The Mood & Mind Centre

📍 Hope Island & Upper Coomera & Online

📞 (07) 5573 2200

🌐 moodandmindcentre.com

ℹ️ This content is general in nature and is not a substitute for professional advice.

Psychology

Address

Suite 8/8 Santa Barbara Road
Hope Island, QLD
4212

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 7pm
Tuesday 8am - 7pm
Wednesday 8am - 7pm
Thursday 8am - 7pm
Friday 8am - 7pm
Saturday 8am - 1pm

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