We are living through stressful times and facing problems beyond our control. When this happens, our bodies and minds go on alert, and the problem solver within goes into overdrive. Our bodies do too. When we feel threatened, our heart rate accelerates, our muscles tense, our breathing quickens,...
Â
We are meant to detect stress, to respond, and to survive
Let's talk about our innate learning first.
When a monkey senses a threat, its initial reaction is to seek protection from its group. If the monkey's family comes to the rescue, it’ll go back to swinging from trees. But if it must face ...
Here's something nobody tells you about developing expertise: As you get better, self-doubt often gets worse, not better.This seems backwards, doesn't it? Shouldn't increased skill lead to increased confidence?
But look at the illustration —that staircase of achievement.
Each step up represents...
There's a predictable path your clinical skills follow, whether you're developing expertise in a therapy focus, therapy model, or a focused client group. You'll move through four distinct stages: Beginner → Competent → Expert → Master*
Here's what happens at each stage:Beginner: You have basic k...
Â
You've probably heard the advice: "Practice makes perfect."
Except it doesn't. Not really.
What makes the difference between an expert therapist with 20 years of experience and someone who's simply been there for twenty years?
Â
Deliberate practice
Â
That's not head down working, seeing client...
Â
Â
Let me tell you about Bishop, a competent chess player who spent thousands of hours playing speed chess. His improvement? Nearly zero.
Bishop got frustrated. He thought maybe he needed some luck, a different strategy, better opponents. But his real problem was simpler: he was stuck in what w...
This is part three of my newsletter on using values to help us live according to what matters most.
Â
To revisit the key steps for part 1 and 2:
Key steps Part 1 - Click here to read part one
Key steps Part 2 - Click here to read part two
Â
Part 3 Balancing self and social valued actions:Â
Livin...
You know that feeling when you're working with a client who's stuck?
They're giving you one-word answers. Or they're lost in rumination. Or they keep saying "I don't know" when you ask about what matters to them.
I've been there countless times in my own practice. And I've spent years developing...
I've been thinking about something lately.We know that 28% of Australian children under the age of 15 are growing up across separated homes. We also know that these kids are twice as likely to present to a therapist’s office seeking support for anxiety and other distress.
And here’s the problem:...
Â
This is part two of my newsletter on using value cards and other physical tools to help us connect with what matters most to us.
A video is included at the end of this newsletter for those who prefer to watch.
Part one key steps:Â
Â
• Physicalise the Value • Open up the conversations with gent...
Â
While there are many ways to explore values in therapy—through discussion, reflection, and various exercises—there's something uniquely powerful about using physical values cards. The tangible nature of holding, sorting, and choosing creates an embodied experience that brings abstract concepts...
Â
Things you’re probably doing wrong… and how to fix them
Â
Over many years I have travelled the world, training thousands of professionals who work in therapy and counselling for adolescents and adults, and I have noticed 3 common mistakes we tend to make.
It is easy to fall into the trap of ma...
Welcome to a space where psychology meets compassion and growth. Each month, I'll share practical wisdom drawn from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to help you navigate life's challenges with greater psychological flexibility and purpose.
What you'll receive:
Evidence-based strategies to build resilience and foster wellbeing
Thoughtful reflections on mindfulness and present-moment awareness
Practical tools to help you connect with your values and create a rich, meaningful life
Updates on workshops, speaking events, and new resources
Whether you're a mental health professional, a parent supporting a young person, or someone on your own journey of growth, this newsletter offers a gentle guide to living fully with both the joy and the struggle that life brings.
Together, we'll explore how to create space for difficult thoughts and feelings while moving toward what matters most to you.
Get Instant Access to Louise’s Past Newsletters
Sign up to receive Louise’s newsletter and unlock her previous editions full of insights, inspiration, and support.
