Balanced: Mind Body Life

09/09/2026

Body Image and Eating Disorder Awareness Day #3

Why do we buy into wellness stories?

Underneath a lot of wellness messaging are things that humans genuinely and understandably want.

We want to be healthy.

We want to feel comfortable in our bodies.

We want to belong.

We want some sense of control when life feels uncertain.

Life is often busy and complicated, and we get tired.

The idea of a simple solution that can be delivered by Amazon is pretty appealing!

Wellness culture didn't invent our desire for health, safety, acceptance or certainty.

It figured out how to commercialise it.

07/09/2026

Welcome to Body Image and Eating Disorders Awareness Week Day #2!

This year we’re exploring the theme “Redefining Wellness: Stories we’re sold about health and our bodies.”

A quick perusal of a 40-something-year-old woman’s social media feed:

“You need this tea to reclaim your sleep from the ravages of perimenopause!”

“Defy ageing with turmeric, ginger and garlic – all conveniently packaged in this pill.”

“This makeup will make your skin look 10 years younger.”

Five minutes ago I wasn’t thinking about any of these things!

It’s not exactly hard to see how message after message like this scrolling past can leave us feeling a little insecure.

So, what does social media try to sell YOU?

Is the wellness industry actually selling us wellness?

Or are they sometimes selling us the idea that we’re not quite well enough – and then selling us the “solution”?

06/09/2026

Is it just us, or has wellness become a bit… demanding?

Welcome to Body Image and Eating Disorder Awareness Week!

This year's theme asks us to think about “wellness” and the stories we're sold about our health and bodies.

There are certainly plenty of them to be had!

Get enough sleep.
(Here's a watch to track your sleep that will wake you up at the perfect time in your sleep cycle so that you can feel refreshed and focused all day!)

Exercise regularly.
(Use this pilates app to achieve a figure just like the person in the video! Regardless of your genetics, presumably!)

Eat well.
Cook from scratch.
Drink enough water.
Get outside.
Meditate.
Maintain meaningful relationships.
Have hobbies.
Practise gratitude.
Set boundaries.
Work on yourself.
(Make sure you get downtime, though!)

It's good to look after ourselves. It does feel like, somewhere along the way, though, looking after ourselves became less intuitive and embodied, and something else we have to be good at.

If something genuinely supports your wellbeing, we're all for it.

We just can't help noticing, though, that there seem to be a lot of programs and products out there that we never used to need to feel well before a promotion told us how much better, happier, and "on top of things" we could be if only we invested in them.

So, this week, we're reflecting on these stories and thinking about what it means to be “well.”

27/08/2026

Many of Meg’s clients will know she was away last week at the annual ANZAED conference on Gadigal country, Sydney.

She has been an enthusiastic attendee for about 13 years, and this year had the privilege of being invited to act as co-chair together with the amazing and lovely Dr Amy Talbot.

Together with the committee, a great program was put together (if she does say so herself!), and she’s back feeling very inspired and with some great new ideas.

Thanks to ANZAED for the invite, it was great!

14/05/2026

This Dietitians Week, with the theme “Celebrating Our Collective Impact,” we want to recognise the incredible contribution Dietitians make — not only to the people they support, but to the broader healthcare team and the community 💚

Dietitians do so much more than talk about food. They support people with navigating stress, anxiety, overwhelm, body image concerns, sensory challenges, gut health issues, busy schedules, family pressures, eating disorders, emotional eating, and the complicated relationship many of us have with food.

At our practice, our Psychologists and Dietitians often work together to support clients in ways that recognise the strong connection between nutrition, mental health, and overall wellbeing. Because eating well isn’t just about nutrition.
It’s about connection, energy, culture, enjoyment, and feeling supported.

We’re so grateful for the warmth, insight, and care our Dietitians bring to both our clients and our team every day 🌿

07/05/2026

This week we celebrated ‘No Diet Day’, although here at Balanced, we practice from a non-diet approach every day!

The ‘non-diet’ approach has been around for a while now, however we’ve noticed it is still often a little misunderstood.

Traditional dieting approaches typically dictate a set of rules about when, what, and how much you ‘should’ eat; moralise food, usually in black-and-white terms (e.g. good/bad food); and presume that any subsequent weight loss is ‘healthy’. However, dieting often results in chronic disconnect from the body; a complicated psychological relationship with food; and initial weight loss can be hard to sustain long-term.

In comparison, a non-diet approach is based on practices that promote connection with the body, view food as a form of self-care and nourishment, and shift the focus onto sustainable health behaviours rather than weight control.

To be clear, 'non-diet' is not 'anti-weight loss', it is also not 'letting yourself go' (more on these points in a blog post, coming soon!).

While a non-diet approach may not be as marketable as traditional diets as it doesn’t come with all the clear rules and promises of ‘results’, being open to this approach could save you years of stress, shame, and self-blame, and help you feel healthier and happier in the long-run. You know where to find us if you're curious to learn more!

02/04/2026

Balanced is hiring: We're on the look out for a contractor Psychologist to join us 1-2 days/week. Check out our ad to learn more about how the role could look for you, or please spread amongst your networks. We have been working hard behind the scenes to expand our practice's niche areas and are quite excited for this next stage!

More than just a standard private practice! We offer the flexibility of contracting roles within a unique, supportive, and values-driven environment

12/03/2026

Full recovery IS possible- don’t listen to anyone who tells you otherwise! 🙌👊🦋

26/02/2026

We are thrilled to see these developments happening for Tasmania! A stepped system of care is known to be best practice for eating disorder recovery and having local options for clients to step-up into and then back to an outpatient support service such as ours without traveling interstate away from family, is so valuable and exciting!

A new specialist eating disorder treatment centre has opened in Launceston, the first of its kind in Tasmania.

The Tasmanian Eating Disorder Service facility, takara narakupa, meaning “walking with kindness” in palawa kani, is located on Westbury Road and offers care for people with moderate to severe eating disorders, along with family support.

The $10 million project received $2.5 million from the federal government and $915,000 plus ongoing funding from the state government.

Health Minister Bridget Archer said the centre would provide evidence-based treatment close to home.

Tasmanian Eating Disorder Service state manager Anita Ryman said the service currently supports 365 clients across Tasmania.

The Launceston facility offers individual and group therapy programs, with a therapeutic kitchen central to treatment.

16/02/2026

Next up for our growing team is Klara!

Drawing on both family lived experience, and her 25+ years of dietetic experience, Klara aims to share her clear passion for food, movement, and all things physical and mental health in a way that helps clients feel seen, safe, and supported to navigate their health journey.

Klara is available to assist with a wide range of complex and chronic health conditions including:
-Eating disorder recovery, including ARFID
-Sports nutrition
-Gastrointestinal concerns such as IBS
-Allergies and intolerances
-Chronic health conditions such as diabetes and heart disease
-Support for those considering or managing bariatric surgery or medications

Klara is available at Balanced on Mondays- contact our friendly reception team to discuss making a booking 🌟