Archives

Should I give my child money for doing chores?

Parents often wonder whether children should be paid for household chores. On the surface, it seems like a good way to teach the value of work, but there is a deeper lesson to learn. Families thrive when everyone contributes to the wellbeing of the household, not because they get paid but because they belong. Chores […]

“How do wars overseas affect us here?”

When conflict is happening thousands of kilometres away in places like Ukraine or Iran, it can feel disconnected from everyday life in Australia. Most people have already felt the impact, or will very soon, not just through headlines, but through their wallets, their work, and their sense of security. The best way to understand it […]

“I am always being told not to overthink things, but I don’t know how to do this.”

Thanks for your question G, it is a frustrating piece of advice, isn’t it? Someone tells you to “Just stop overthinking,” as if you can flick a switch and your mind will suddenly go quiet. Most people who struggle with this already know they are stuck in their thoughts, the problem is not awareness, it […]

How do I go about making friends?

Thanks for your question T. A lot of people think friendships just happen by luck. Two people meet, talk, discover things in common, and suddenly they are close, of course that could happen, but it is not the usual story. For most of us friendship needs to be built and tended to, which starts with […]

I often feel like I am partly awake and can control my dreams, is this normal?

Thanks V, many people wonder about their sleep experiences but rarely talk about them. Your question comes up more often than you might expect. The short answer is yes, it is normal and far more common than most people realise. What you are describing is called lucid dreaming. It sits in that space between being […]

Why am I always disappointed and feel a sense of letdown after Christmas?

Thanks B, many people ask themselves this question every year. Christmas comes and goes, the decorations are packed away, the house feels strangely empty, and instead of relief there is a lingering sense of disappointment. You might feel flat, deflated, or vaguely unsettled, and then judge yourself for feeling that way. After all, Christmas is […]

Why are so many people openly dismissive and aggressive on social media?

Thanks A, that is a question many are asking right now. You open social media to catch up or  to learn something new or feel connected, and instead you are met with sarcasm, ridicule and outright aggression. People dismiss others without listening. They attack rather than discuss and it often seems far more intense online […]

“How do I get my teenage daughter to do what I want?”

Thanks V, this is a question many parents ask, usually delivered with a mix of exhaustion, worry and genuine care. Most parents are not trying to dominate their teenagers, they are trying to protect them, guide them and keep them safe in a world that seems more complex and riskier than the one they grew […]

Why are there so many more mental illnesses these days?

Thanks for your question, V. Everywhere we turn there seem to be new labels, new diagnoses and new treatments being discussed. For some people this increased awareness has been helpful. it has encouraged people who were suffering in silence to seek help and to talk openly about their struggles, which is undoubtedly a positive step. […]

The importance of touch for us all

The phrase “touch starved” has started to appear more often in everyday conversations, particularly after the period of lockdowns and social distancing. At first glance it can sound a little dramatic, but it describes something very real and very human. Touch starvation refers to a lack of physical touch, the ordinary everyday contact that reassures […]