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Worried about seeing a psychologist for the first time? These steps can help you have a positive experience.

05/07/2017/in Anxiety, Depression, Martin Hood, Psychologist, Stress /by Maria Bentancor

For many people, taking the plunge and going to see a counsellor or psychologist is a daunting prospect. If you are worried about taking this big step, you are not alone. There are many potential worries about the process that can stop you getting the help you need. People come to see us with […]

What is Psychological Trauma?

10/05/2017/in Miyuki Ono, PTSD, Trauma /by Maria Bentancor

Trauma is typically defined as life threatening experiences, or a significant threat to one’s (or someone close) physical and psychological wellbeing. And, unfortunately, trauma is omnipresent – for instance, the loss of a loved one is inevitable, and sometimes it happens in the least expected way and time. In addition, we may face our own […]

Add Value to Your Life

07/02/2017/in David Norman, Happiness /by Maria Bentancor

Sometimes we might feel as if there is a gap in our lives – between where we are and where we would like to be. Sometimes we feel that we’ve come to a crossroad and we’re not sure which way to go. Sometimes we ask questions about the meaning of life. A powerful way that […]

First Aid for Stress

17/01/2017/in Cherie Dalton, Stress /by Maria Bentancor

When you’re running short of time and under the pump, feeling stressed and worn out, what’s the typical human response? Skip meals, eat at your desk, cancel lunch, work back later, catch up on work at home, eat take-away, stop exercising and socialise less. While these coping strategies can help in the short-term, if they […]

Psychological Approaches to Chronic Pain

21/11/2016/in CBT, Hypnosis, Mindfulness, Valentina Dragicevic /by Maria Bentancor

Chronic or persistent pain is a pain that lasts for longer than 3 months. There are many causes of the chronic pain and the choice of treatment depends upon type, severity, location, impact on your current lifestyle. Chronic pain is a severely debilitating and complex condition that affects multiple areas of person’s life. Physical […]

Get Outside To Boost Your Mood

20/10/2016/in Depression, Laura Nash, Mindfulness, Stress /by Maria Bentancor

Many of us would acknowledge that we feel better, perhaps a bit refreshed, lighter or more relaxed after a day spent in nature, but not so many of us would consciously prioritise spending time in nature as a way to improve mental health. Scientists working in the field of eco-therapy have been studying the effects […]

Worried About Your Worry?

28/09/2016/in Anxiety, Cherie Dalton, OCD /by Maria Bentancor

Worry is one of the most common reasons people come for counselling. It’s time and energy consuming, anxiety provoking and very distracting. It takes us away from actually being in our lives and instead living inside our heads listening to a never-ending documentary. To a lot of people worry can be mistaken as a form […]

Taking in the good – just one drop at a time

25/08/2016/in Happiness, Hui Quek, Mindfulness /by Maria Bentancor

Humans are wired for survival. Our brain is like Velcro for negative and Teflon for positive [1]. Have you noticed that we tend to remember things that went wrong in our day or a negative comment that someone made, and how we replay these situations in our minds? Yet we may have missed the lovely weather, […]

12 Easy Ways to Be Mindful at Work

19/07/2016/in Anxiety, Happiness, Martin Hood, Mindfulness, Stress /by Maria Bentancor

How Being Rather Than Doing Can Change Your Life

08/03/2016/in Anxiety, Depression, Happiness, Martin Hood, Mindfulness, Stress, Yoga /by Maria Bentancor

So many of us today often feel stressed due to the pressures of modern life: meeting work demands, raising a family, paying the bills, trying to find time for exercise, spend time with our partner and have a social life. One powerful insight from psychology research that we can all benefit from is the difference […]

The Pursuit of Happiness:
3 Things You Can Do Right Now to Boost Your Happiness

09/02/2016/in Depression, Happiness, Mindfulness, Miyuki Ono, Psychologist, Relationships /by Maria Bentancor

Many clients have told me that they are not feeling happy, even though they have achieved a lot in their lives like having a good job, a house, a car, and so on. Happiness and psychological wellbeing are something that everyone is inherently striving for. But what is happiness and how can we achieve it? Why […]

Coping Strategies for Depression

04/12/2015/in Depression /by Maria Bentancor

Affecting approximately 1 million Australians each year, depression is one of the most frequently reported disorders nation-wide (Beyond Blue, 2015). Despite this, the symptoms of depression are commonly misunderstood. The Australian Psychological Society (2015) defines depression as a cognitive, emotional and physical state that is both chronic and intense. This booklet hopes enhance your understanding […]

What to Expect When you See a Psychologist?

26/11/2015/in Anxiety, Depression, Psychologist, Shannon Yeardley, Stress /by Maria Bentancor

Often the thought of coming along to see a psychologist for the first time can be daunting. However, for most clients the first session is an opportunity to share things that have been on your mind and start to gain some support and clarity in an environment that helps you to feel listened to, respected […]

Why Does Everyone Recommend Yoga?

02/11/2015/in Anxiety, Depression, Laura Nash, Mindfulness, Stress, Yoga /by Maria Bentancor

Many clients I see tell me that they have been told numerous times to try yoga, by their friends, family, GP and I find that I am yet another person encouraging them to give it a go. So why are so many people, including health professionals prescribing yoga as a great thing to practice? Part […]

Is Perfectionism Good or Bad For Us?

24/09/2015/in Anxiety, Laura Nash, Mindfulness, Psychologist, Stress /by Maria Bentancor

Many of us learn from a young age that approval from others only comes when you achieve a certain standard, and there are negative consequences when you make mistakes. At school for example, children are praised when they get full marks and provided with negative feedback when they fail. It is natural for human beings […]

Free Depression Relapse Prevention Toolkit

26/08/2015/in CBT, Depression, Martin Hood /by Maria Bentancor

Although most people recover from depression and have no further issues, some may experience a relapse within the following year. It is therefore important to learn how to prevent it from occurring again. Contact me and book a Free Consultation if you need help in using this toolkit.

Resilience… Otherwise known as ‘learning to surf the wave’… rather than getting dumped!

21/07/2015/in Anxiety, Shannon Yeardley, Stress /by Maria Bentancor

Most of us have had experiences where we’ve felt so swamped by a strong emotion (usually anger, fear or depression). Things happen that seem to trigger this emotion, and we feel so overwhelmed and stuck in our thoughts and feelings that it is like being emotionally overcome and dumped by a big powerful wave. Sometimes […]

Learn to Meditate the Easy Way

19/05/2015/in Anxiety, Depression, Martin Hood, Mindfulness, Psychologist, Stress /by Maria Bentancor

There is now a vast amount of research showing the benefits of mindfulness meditation on the health of the body and mind. We often find that it can be a great way to help our clients during counselling sessions for depression anxiety and stress, as well as to learn to reduce unhelpful coping behaviours like drinking […]

Tips for Managing Depression That You Can Use Right Now

28/04/2015/in Depression, Martin Hood /by Martin Hood

Negative emotions such as anxiety and depression may be worsened by lifestyle habits or physical issues. At the practice, some common areas we look at improving with clients are exercise and sleep. These are both areas where a lot of research has been done, and where you can make real improvements in your mood if […]

The Top Five Reasons That Prevent You From Overcoming Anxiety and Depression

20/03/2015/in Anxiety, Depression, Martin Hood, OCD, Phobia, Psychologist, Relationships, Stress /by Martin Hood

You are not alone… Most people struggling with depression, anxiety, stress and other common issues find it difficult to take the first step and seek professional help. If you are reading this article though, chances are you already started your journey. Looking for information about symptoms you are experiencing or to try and answer questions you have is […]

Understanding and Recovering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

17/11/2014/in EMDR, PTSD /by Martin Hood

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) can be a debilitating disorder that may affect not only an individual’s life but also the lives of family, friends and the community surrounding them. The disorder can emerge following exposure, either directly or indirectly, to a distressing situation such as witnessing a death, natural disaster, suffering or witnessing abuse, […]

Tips to Prevent a Depression Relapse

09/10/2014/in Depression /by Martin Hood

The likelihood of recovery from depression, with appropriate professional treatment, is very good. Depending on the type of treatment, most people start noticing an improvement in about two to six weeks. Although most people recover from an episode of depression, some may experience a relapse within the following year. It is therefore important to learn how to prevent it […]

Social Media and Relationships

23/09/2014/in Uncategorized /by Martin Hood

mX News, Thursday September 11, 2014 by Kelly Scott Constant arguing and a dwindling sex life might be usual signs a relationship is shutting down, but a new study has named Facebook as a home wrecker. Research by Boston University found social media users were more likely to be changing their relationship status to “single” as a […]

The Decision to Seek Professional Help

31/07/2014/in Psychologist /by Brisbane City Psychologists

No one is immune to feeling down, angry, helpless or just not emotionally ‘ok’. We all experience the highs and lows that life can bring and when it comes to the lows we generally make our way out to the other side again. But what about the times you feel you can’t see the light […]

Free Yourself of Executive Stress

10/07/2014/in Stress /by Brisbane City Psychologists

Too often in today’s world people suffer from work related stress and the many negative outcomes of putting too much in to their work life. Alongside affecting the ability of the employees to function at their peak performance it also affects the productivity of the business on a whole if the staff members are stressed […]

Emotional Focused Therapy (EFT) Eases Emotional Upheaval

13/05/2014/in EFT /by Brisbane City Psychologists

At Brisbane City Psychologists we offer a range of effective methods to help our clients remove emotional blocks, overcome issues and regain more control over their emotions and lives. Our caring psychologists successfully implement the agreed upon technique and work with each client on a personal level to achieve the best possible results for all involved.

Relationship Betrayal Can Bring Out Unexpected Emotion

23/04/2014/in EFT, Relationships /by Brisbane City Psychologists

Relationship breakdowns are at the heart of many of life’s trials and tribulations, and release deep-seated emotions that trigger extremes of behaviour. We can all recognise extreme violence as one of the worst, but often other unexpected emotions come to the surface.

Social Phobia Responds Well to CBT

14/04/2014/in Anxiety, CBT, Phobia /by Brisbane City Psychologists

Social anxiety disorder, also known as social phobia, can severely limit the social and career prospects of sufferers and up to 13% of Australians could develop social anxiety disorder at some point in their lives. However, social phobia is not well understood by the wider population and more information and education is needed to assist sufferers to overcome it […]

Breakups, Separations, Divorce – Working Through the Pain

14/03/2014/in EFT, Relationships, Stress /by Brisbane City Psychologists

Happy and fulfilling relationships give our lives purpose and challenge ourselves to grow emotionally and intellectually. Our associations with others in the workforce, through community involvement, in friendships, family groups and romantic relationships all enrich our lives and extend us as human beings. Romantic relationships are some of the most powerful, requiring as they do, […]

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) – A Brief Explanation

14/03/2014/in Anxiety, CBT, Depression, OCD, Phobia, Stress /by Brisbane City Psychologists

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is a structured, individualised treatment program that helps people understand the various behavioural and cognitive patterns that have brought them to the point where they need professional assistance. There are many types of behavioural, emotional and psychiatric problems that CBT has been successful in treating. The method is backed by extensive […]

Banish Social Anxiety and Reclaim Your Life

14/03/2014/in Anxiety, Phobia /by Brisbane City Psychologists

We recently checked some online surveys to find out what people feared the most, and very high on the list was public speaking. This is not surprising as standing in front of a group of people and talking is one of those situations where people feel very exposed. The main worry they have is that […]

Stressed Parents Need Help to Raise Happy Families

14/03/2014/in Stress /by Brisbane City Psychologists

Modern society places extraordinary demands on parents and without a support network close by to help when needed, many are anxious, tired and stressed out. They are juggling competing priorities, getting conflicting advice on parenting from everywhere and feeling guilty because they are not perfect.

Students Must Seek Help with Stress Before it Affects Their Results

14/03/2014/in Stress /by Brisbane City Psychologists

School and university students often find themselves in times of high stress, especially when exams are getting nearer or assignments are due. The pressure of a heavy study workload, looming deadlines and family expectations about the quality of the final results leave students feeling overloaded, tense and worried. They start to doubt their academic ability, […]

Struggling with OCD? Professional Treatment Could Change your Life

14/03/2014/in OCD /by Brisbane City Psychologists

Obsessive-compulsive disorder is a distressing anxiety condition affecting 1% to 2% of the population and it is characterised by ritualistic and sometimes bizarre behaviour that confines sufferers to the fringes of society. It is commonly referred to as OCD, and is often the butt of jokes, both in the media and, unfortunately, sometimes directed at […]

Psychologists Help Build Resilience and a Healthy Mind

14/03/2014/in Uncategorized /by Brisbane City Psychologists

It would be great to cruise through life without a worry, having only positive and happy experiences, being healthy and with enough money to buy whatever we want. As we know, life is not like that for most of us, and at many stages, we are faced with challenges, sorrows and situations where we feel […]

Therapy should be as Individual as Each Client

14/03/2014/in Uncategorized /by Brisbane City Psychologists

Whether our current time in history is “the best of times or the worst of times” depends mostly on the point of view of the individual and what they are experiencing at the time. There is no doubt that we are fortunate to live in a society where we have the freedom to pursue our […]

Cognitive Therapy, Relaxation and Meditation Top Tools for Beating Stress

14/03/2014/in Stress /by Brisbane City Psychologists

Stress is something that we all experience in varying degrees and at varying times. In fact, it is a natural response that has been part of us since prehistoric times. Humans have two reactive choices when confronted with danger. The first is to stand and fight, and the second is to run as far and […]

Adult Separation Anxiety Recognised As a Real Problem

13/03/2014/in Anxiety, CBT, EFT /by Brisbane City Psychologists

The New Year traditionally has been a time of renewal and rejuvenation, often accompanied by fervent declarations that we will rid ourselves of certain types of behaviour and strike out into uncharted waters. We call these New Year Resolutions and while they can sometimes be the impetus we need to make life changing decisions, mostly […]

Fly-In Fly-Out Working Arrangements Creating Stress at Home

12/03/2014/in EFT, Stress /by Brisbane City Psychologists

I have always thought that the old saying “money doesn’t buy happiness” was a bit of a cliché, but recent events being reported in the media are causing me to have second thoughts. Record numbers of willing workers have flocked to the resource-rich areas in remote parts of the country chasing high wages. However, the […]