Jigsaw Psychology

31/08/2026

Meet Maddy 👋
Maddy is a compassionate, strengths-based psychologist who supports adolescents and adults across a range of mental health, physical health and performance-related challenges.
Drawing on her experience across elite sport, Headspace and the Royal Children’s Hospital, Maddy tailors therapy to each person’s individual needs and goals.
Maddy offers telehealth appointments Australia-wide and walk-and-talk therapy in Melbourne.
To enquire about working with Maddy, contact our Administration team or visit our website.

09/08/2026

Our Admin team are away today. All calls and emails will be responded to tomorrow.
We apologise for any inconvenience.

06/08/2026

We’re currently welcoming new referrals at Jigsaw Psychology 🌿
We offer support across three key areas:
🟡 Kids & Parents - Therapy, educational and developmental assessments, and practical support for parents and families.
🟢 Adults - Support for anxiety, grief and loss, trauma, relationship difficulties, life transitions, neurodivergence, women’s health concerns, chronic illness and injury, and sports performance.
🔴 Training & Community - Clinical supervision, professional development, workshops and education for schools, workplaces and community organisations.
Appointments are available face-to-face in Park Orchards and via telehealth Australia-wide.
Our friendly administration team are here to answer any questions you might have. Feel free to get in touch.

03/08/2026

ADHD & Women’s Hormones: Exploring the emerging research in women 🧠🚺
Researchers are beginning to explore how hormonal changes may influence ADHD symptoms in women - an important area that has historically received relatively little attention.

A 2025 systematic review examined research into ADHD symptoms and s*x hormones across puberty, the menstrual cycle, pregnancy and menopause (Osianlis et al., 2025). The review found that hormonal changes may be associated with changes in ADHD symptoms, particularly across the menstrual cycle. However, only 11 studies met the researchers’ criteria. Many had small samples, used different methods and relied heavily on self-reported symptoms. The authors concluded that the relationship appears plausible, but the current evidence remains very limited.

A recent pilot study followed 30 women taking amphetamine-based ADHD medication (Zaritsky et al., 2026). Participants completed daily surveys for 35 days, recording ADHD symptoms, mood and medication use.

ADHD symptoms were most severe during menstruation and milder during the mid-follicular phase - the period after menstruation and before ovulation. Worsening symptoms were also associated with more negative mood.

What does this mean?
The findings suggest that ADHD symptoms may not remain consistent throughout the month.
But this does not prove that hormones directly cause these changes. The pilot study was small, involved only people taking one class of stimulant medication and tracked participants for approximately one cycle. We also do not yet have strong evidence telling clinicians exactly how medication or therapy should be adjusted across the cycle. Further research is needed - though it’s exciting to see this area getting more attention!

For now, it may be helpful for some women to track symptom (including attention, motivation, sleep, mood and medication effect) across cycles. A consistent pattern can then be discussed with a GP, psychiatrist or treating health professional.

References
Osianlis, E., Thomas, E. H. X., Jenkins, L. M., & Gurvich, C. (2025). ADHD and s*x hormones in females: A systematic review. Journal of Attention Disorders, 29(9), 706–723. DOI: 10.1177/10870547251332319
Zaritsky, R., Reed, S. C., & Evans, S. M. (2026). Changes in ADHD symptoms and mood across the menstrual cycle in females treated with stimulants: A pilot study. Journal of Attention Disorders, 30(3), 329–341. DOI: 10.1177/10870547251400038

29/07/2026

It can be challenging to know how to support a young person with grief, especially when everyone experiences loss differently. 💛

Small things like being ready to listen, staying connected through everyday moments, and creating space for different emotions can help a young person feel supported as they navigate grief in their own way.

Learn more about supporting a young person through grief and loss via the link. https://headspace.org.au/explore-topics/supporting-a-young-person/grief-and-loss/

26/07/2026

26/07/2026

⚠️ AusAlert national test - Monday 27 July: What to expect and how to prepare.

At 2:00 pm AEST, compatible mobile phones, smartwatches and some tablets across Victoria will receive a test emergency alert. Devices may vibrate and play a loud, siren-like sound for around 10 seconds - even when set to silent or “do not disturb”. The message will clearly state that it is only a test.
For people who may find the sound distressing, consider preparing beforehand: let supportive people know, move to a quieter or familiar space, use headphones or ear protection, and remind yourself that no action is required.
Important safety information: AusAlert may also sound on a concealed phone used by someone experiencing family or domestic violence. Critical Alerts cannot be disabled through phone settings. Official advice is to switch a hidden device off or place it in aeroplane mode one hour before the test and keep it that way for 24 hours afterwards.
For further information, visit ausalert.gov.au.
For immediate danger, call 000.
For confidential family violence support, contact 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732.

AusAlert is a new national warning system that uses the latest technology to send emergency messages to compatible mobile devices.

26/07/2026

The Dual Process Model of Loss by Stroebe and Schut (1999) conceptualises coping with every day life and coping as moving between the loss and then back to restoring and rebuilding life after loss.

The loss orientated coping might involve confronting the grief. The restoration activities might include adapting and practical aspects.

This process is thought to move forward when loss has occurred.

I have two other theories illustrated on my page in various ways. Please take a look.

What other theories or metaphors of grief would you like to see?

Does this model resonate?

13/07/2026

We’ve been working on something new behind the scenes at Jigsaw Psychology.
Our name is staying the same, but we’re giving Jigsaw a fresh look with a new logo, colour palette and website. You might notice over time that the clinic rooms look a little different too.
It’s still us - the same warm, thoughtful and supportive practice - just with a look that feels a little more like who we are now. We hope you like it.

03/05/2026

📣 No reception cover on Monday 04/05
While our clinic will remain open this Monday, we won’t have reception cover.
This means:
📞 Phone calls won’t be answered
📧 Emails will be monitored intermittently
We apologise for any inconvenience caused. If you need to get in touch, please send us an email and we’ll respond as soon as we can (though this might be the following day).
Thank you for your understanding! Normal operations will resume on Tuesday 05/05.