Follow The Sun Psychology

Follow The Sun Psychology Lisa is a calm, warm and thoughtful psychologist who offers a safe and non-judgemental space where you can be heard, respected and understood.

Lisa works with adults, adolescents and children. Walk and Talk sessions are also available on certain days.

Just after Christmas, I found myself walking this stretch of beach in full goblin energy—absolutely steaming 😡… which is...
05/05/2026

Just after Christmas, I found myself walking this stretch of beach in full goblin energy—absolutely steaming 😡… which is exactly when you realise it would’ve been helpful to have Atsie the Elf on standby for some festive emotional regulation. And look, even the most grounded of therapists can be… ahem… momentarily be unreceptive to inner peace. 🤣

So I did what I always end up doing…I walked it out, straight to the ocean.

And here’s the thing I keep coming back to: it’s not just that the beach is “nice.” There’s actual science behind why this works.

Because as I stomped along the shoreline, the ocean didn’t argue back. The horizon didn’t escalate things. The waves just kept doing their thing: steady, rhythmic, completely unbothered. And somewhere in that, my nervous system got the memo: we’re safe here. Heart rate softens, breath deepens, the internal temperature drops a few degrees.

There’s also this quiet mental shift. Nature holds your attention, but gently. The colour of the sky, the pull of the tide, the patterns in the sand. No effort required. It’s like my brain finally unclenches after gripping too hard all day.

And maybe this is the deeper layer… we’re wired for this. Open water, soft edges, natural rhythms; these are the landscapes humans evolved in. My body recognises it before my mind catches up.

By the end of the walk, nothing externally had changed. Same situation. Same people. Same post-Christmas chaos.

But internally? Different story.

Less goblin. More human.

So yeah, when you find yourself barefoot at sunset, salty air on your skin (and perhaps even more on your tongue), watching the tide roll in and out… it’s not just a pretty moment for the camera roll.

It’s your nervous system settling, your mind getting a reset, and your whole being remembering: life moves in tides, not straight lines. And if all else fails… prescribe yourself one beach walk, repeat as needed (no referral required). 🌅

Windy. Drizzly. Slightly offended-looking sky. 🌧️💨After what felt like Brisbane stubbornly refusing to change seasons:“H...
01/05/2026

Windy. Drizzly. Slightly offended-looking sky. 🌧️💨

After what felt like Brisbane stubbornly refusing to change seasons:
“Hello autumn?? You coming or…?”…
it finally arrived.

Not gently.
Not subtly.
But with a full broody burst.

Grey skies. Drizzle. Wind.
Temperatures dipping below 25 degrees Celsius like it’s some kind of personality shift. And the humidity finally backing off…
I can put my makeup on without having to blow dry my face.
We love growth 😂

We’re subtropical people… sudden changes like this are confronting 😂

We love fair weather.
But there’s also something about the changing seasons;
the quiet nudge that things are shifting… including us.

And I noticed it all out at my estuary.

Nature doing that thing where it’s like:
“Nothing to see here…”
…but also…
“Please notice me.”

Because somehow, in all that moodiness,
there were these perfectly lined-up little clouds just casually showing off.
Main character energy ☁️✨

And then… the sandbanks.

Appearing right when I needed them.
Like: “Hey… maybe stop wading for a second?”

Because sometimes the wind picks up, the water gets choppy,
and suddenly you’re not exactly where you thought you’d be.

Life, but make it estuary.

Sometimes we need the blustery stuff
to shake us out of autopilot, to push us somewhere new.

But also… it can be a lot.

And when you’re not used to fast-moving tides,
sometimes the most regulated thing you can do is find a sandbank,
stand still,
dry your metaphorical wings,
and reassess.

Do I go deeper?
Do I let the current take me for a bit?
Do I stay here a little longer?
Or head home?

(No rush. Autumn’s just getting started.)

Quick science drop:
🌧️ time in nature (even “meh” weather) lowers stress + cortisol
🌧️ supports nervous system regulation
🌧️ boosts mood + clarity
🌧️ and makes you feel strangely… alive

So yes, this moody weather?
Not exactly postcard-worthy…
but maybe exactly what we needed.

And if in doubt…
follow the pelicans. Whether they’re effortlessly surfing the wind, dramatically swallowing a fish whole, or just bobbing about like floaty philosophers.

They’ve always got a plan 😂

Confession: your local walk-and-talk therapist… hugged a tree today 🌳😂Yes. Actually hugged it. Two hands. Full commitmen...
01/05/2026

Confession: your local walk-and-talk therapist… hugged a tree today 🌳😂

Yes. Actually hugged it. Two hands. Full commitment. Mild public embarrassment.

In my defence, I’d just finished a session, my next client cancelled (cue internal “ugh”), and instead of heading back to emails and missed calls, I kept walking. As always, nature did its thing… slowed me down, pulled me in.

Some days it’s the water.
Some days it’s birds.
Today… it was this absolute unit of a gum tree stretching into the heavens like it had somewhere important to be.

And look, I know how this sounds.
“Feeling the energy of the tree” 🌿✨
Who have I become? 🤣

But standing there like a complete weirdo with my hands on this big, glorious, slightly lumpy, imperfect gum… I felt calm.

Nobbly bits. Dry bark. Smooth patches. Half-dead branches. Uneven, weathered, a bit rough around the edges.

Honestly… relatable.

And maybe that’s the point.
These quiet giants just exist! Rooted, steady, not trying to be anything other than what they are.

Also… have you ever thought about the absolute chaos trees have silently witnessed over time??
If trees could talk, we’d all need therapy 😂

And yes, there’s actual science behind why this works:

🌿 time in nature reduces stress, anxiety, and rumination
🌿 lowers cortisol, heart rate, and blood pressure
🌿 supports immune function
🌿 activates the “rest and restore” nervous system
🌿 and even makes us a bit kinder (we love that for us)

So these days I make a point of noticing trees! Whether it’s a glance at the jacarandas out the office window or a full-blown moment with a “storybook tree” that looks like it wandered out of a fairytale.

Sometimes it’s just a look.
Sometimes it’s a quiet “thanks.”
And occasionally… it’s a full public display of tree affection.

If you see me out there hugging trees, just keep walking.
Or… join me 🌳😉 Have you ever had a moment like this in nature—or am I officially alone in my tree era? 🌳😂

There’s a place I keep returning to, an estuary where river meets sea.At low tide, the sand reveals everything. Tiny pat...
16/04/2026

There’s a place I keep returning to, an estuary where river meets sea.
At low tide, the sand reveals everything. Tiny patterns, soldier crabs, quiet movement.
At high tide, the mangroves hold steady in shifting water. Reflections blur the line between what’s real and what’s mirrored.
I’ve realised this place regulates me.
Not because it’s perfectly calm, but because it’s not. It’s changing, rhythmic, in-between. And something in me settles there.
As a therapist (and a human who feels deeply), I often think about this:
What we’re drawn to isn’t random.
Sometimes it tells us exactly what our nervous system needs.
Not everything has to be mystical to be meaningful.
Maybe for you it’s the ocean. Or a tree-lined street. Or the way light hits your kitchen in the morning.
If you’re feeling stretched or unsettled, you might try this:
Pause and notice—where do I feel even 5% more like myself?
And if you can, go there. Or recreate a small version of it.
When you’re in that space, gently ask yourself:
• Do I feel more quiet, more clear, or more expanded here?
• Am I drawn to the small details, or the bigger picture?
• Is it the stillness that soothes me, or the movement?
There’s no right answer. Just information.
Sometimes caring for ourselves starts with paying attention to what we’re already being pulled toward.
Curiosity is powerful. It doesn’t take much time, and it costs nothing, but it can have a profound impact on how we understand and care for ourselves.

🎄🏏 Two Sleeps to Go: Atsie vs Backyard Cricket & Family Systems 🧝‍♀️Two days to Christmas and Atsie the Elf is trying to...
23/12/2025

🎄🏏 Two Sleeps to Go: Atsie vs Backyard Cricket & Family Systems 🧝‍♀️
Two days to Christmas and Atsie the Elf is trying to protect her vital organs, fielding at Silly Mid On while narrowly avoiding one of her brother-in-law’s “medium pacers”…which, mysteriously, have a lot more zip this year.
Atsie did briefly receive a premonition that this game could descend into anarchy, particularly given last Christmas’ incident involving her B.I.L, the back door, and the “Door Kick“ TikTok challenge (see Day 7).
In two days’ time, families across the world will gather for Christmas. Some may already be recovering from early catch-ups like Atsie. Family Christmas usually begins with the best intentions. One minute everyone’s politely sipping a drink.
The next, a long-buried family dynamic erupts out of the ground with force, toxic sludge everywhere, no one equipped to clean it up, and at least one person staring into their plate wondering how we got here before dessert.
It usually starts innocently:
“So… are you still doing it that way?”
About the ham. The kids. Your life choices.
And suddenly…boom 🧨. Same cast. Same script. New year’s production.
So… choose your adventure 👀👇
😈👹Goblin Option: Arrive determined to “just keep the peace.”
Smile through clenched teeth.
Say nothing until you say everything.
Mix alcohol with emotional repression.
Attempt honesty over roast potatoes.
By dessert: someone’s crying in the laundry, someone’s rage-washing dishes, someone’s Googling flights home.
Goblin logic: Christmas will heal us.
✨🧝‍♀️ Functional Elf Energy
Adjust expectations: this context activates old roles. It’s not personal failure.
Notice your role (peacekeeper, scapegoat, responsible one) without fully stepping into it.
Decide in advance what you won’t engage with.
Regulate first, respond second.
Contain rather than fix! Christmas is not therapy.
Accept that some people won’t change (and you can still heal).
Use strategic distance, not dramatic exits.
Debrief with safe people. Plan recovery.
Functional Elf mantra: “I can stay kind without staying engaged.”
If family dynamics bubble up, it’s not because you’ve failed! It’s because Christmas can press ALL the buttons!

Address

187 James Street
New Farm, QLD
4005

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Tuesday 7am - 6pm
Thursday 7am - 6pm
Friday 8am - 7pm
Saturday 7:30am - 5pm

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