By Jessica Darvell (Clinical Psychologist). MPsych(Clin.),GradDipPsych, BCom/BSc. 2020 is an unprecedented year. We are all affected in different ways, but for everyone this is not shaping up to be the year we had thought we would be having. Our lives have changed, our plans have changed, and our mental health has changed. I listen to Read More …

By Jessica Darvell (Psychologist). MPsych(Clin.),GradDipPsych, BCom/BSc. Finally we have come to the fifth and last instalment of this blog series. It has been a wonderful experience to reflect back upon aspects of wellbeing, and to share these with my valued readers. Wellbeing is about being true to yourself and your values, it is about kindness, Read More …

By Jessica Darvell (Psychologist). MPsych(Clin.),GradDipPsych, BCom/BSc. Welcome to the fourth instalment of my wellbeing blog series. In prior blogs we have discussed the importance of implementing daily relaxation, and techniques for centring ourselves. We have also explored the idea of self-compassion and finding a way to be kinder to ourselves. This week is about how Read More …

By Jessica Darvell (Psychologist). MPsych(Clin.),GradDipPsych, BCom/BSc. Welcome to the third instalment of my blog series on wellbeing. So far we have covered implementing daily relaxation and centring as a technique for bringing your attention back to the present moment. This third instalment will discuss being kind to yourself. For some people this concept may seem Read More …

By Jessica Darvell (Psychologist). MPsych(Clin.),GradDipPsych, BCom/BSc. An important part of wellbeing is being able to centre ourselves and focus the energy within our bodies. Often when we become stressed or anxious we are occupied with our thoughts. Our attention is in our head. Our thoughts are usually focused in the past or future (the past Read More …

By Jessica Darvell (Psychologist). MPsych(Clin.),GradDipPsych, BCom/BSc. A survey by the Australian Psychological Society found that severe levels of stress are leading Australians to engage in risky behaviours to manage including drinking alcohol, gambling, smoking, and using recreational drugs. Being stressed makes us vulnerable, and it is concerning that so many of us are resorting to Read More …

By Jessica Darvell (Psychologist). MPsych(Clin.),GradDipPsych, BCom/BSc. Being a new parent is amazing, daunting, exciting, exhausting and much much more. The experience is different for everyone. It is often a persistent, relentless demand, you are most likely sleep deprived, and you are constantly facing new and unexpected changes in your baby. We spend our lives dreaming Read More …

By Jessica Darvell (Psychologist). MPsych(Clin.),GradDipPsych, BCom/BSc. You’ve never had a cup of tea like this before! Do you find yourself stressed on a regular basis? Do you get stuck going over and over things in your mind? Do you find it difficult to relax? Our lives are now so full, and we are trying to Read More …

By Jessica Darvell (Psychologist). MPsych(Clin.),GradDipPsych, BCom/BSc. It’s very common to worry about your sleep: “I keep waking up, I can’t fall asleep, I can’t stay asleep, I’m always tired”. Research by the Sleep Health Foundation (https://www.sleephealthfoundation.org.au/) has found 33 to 45 per cent of Australian adults sleep either poorly or not long enough most nights. Read More …

By Jessica Darvell (Psychologist). MPsych(Clin.),GradDipPsych, BCom/BSc. Most of us know what it feels like to be worried.  Worry/anxiety is a natural and important human response. We need anxiety to keep us aware of our surroundings and to sense danger. It is how we have evolved to keep ourselves safe. However, for many of us this Read More …