Mind, Doggy & Spirit. How pets help reduce stress, and uplift you
Life without dogs is like a night-sky without stars
Dogs have an uncanny ability to be in tune with their owners’ emotional state. They act as a ...
The battle. How to cut down on week night drinking.
Have you come to the realisation that you or a loved one is drinking alcohol more than you should? Have you become reliant, and don’t know how to begin to control it? Having a few drinks when we get home from a tiring day is something that we often resort to - ...
Details »
New Year. New You.
It’s a new year. But what does this mean to you? The new year can mean many different things to different people. You may find yourself re-thinking what you want to strive for in the year ahead; you may be busily thinking about the school year and kid’s activities; you may ...
Details »
Rushed appointments – who is actually listening to you?
Have you ever walked away from an appointment thinking what just happened? I can’t remember what he just said, it was all too quick and he lost me at “you have………” You make time to schedule an important health appointment, take time out of your day because you’re concerned. The problem ...
Details »
It’s that time of year! How to cope with Redundancy & Job Loss in the holidays
Redundancy. A word we all don't like to hear. We spend a lot of our lifetime at work. So what would you do if you lost your job unexpectedly? How do you think you would cope? Christmas time can be an extremely busy time of year for many businesses, however it can also ...
Details »
Teenage romance and break ups – how to cope as a parent
Do you have a teenager who’s actively dating? Or has your teenager just broken up with their boyfriend or girlfriend? Adolescent romance is an important developmental marker for a teenager’s self-identity, functioning and capacity for intimacy. It is important ...
Details »
Listen to your emotions. They are powerful!
Do you feel like you are on an emotional rollercoaster? Are your emotions dominating your decisions? Reacting more to events than others? Why is it that so-called ‘negative’ emotions, seem to hinder our life? You finish your day, feeling tense, and as you head home a weight bares down on you. ...
Details »
Perfectionism at school – How to manage your child’s expectations
Does your son or daughter have unrealistic high standards? Do they show signs of Perfectionism? Do they often not feel good enough, or think they should have worked harder? Perfectionistic tendencies are often seen in teenagers and young adults studying for their school exams or at university. They can often feel ...
Details »
My daughter is self-harming – what do I do?
Is your daughter self-harming, and you don’t know how to help? Is her self-harming taking its toll on the whole family? The teenage years can be troublesome for any adolescent, and outside influences such as peer pressure, family life ...
Details »
Fatherhood equals no social life. How to work through the challenge
Becoming a father to a child is a very rewarding experience, however it also comes with an immense amount of responsibility and stress. The lifestyle adjustments you experience when you become a parent are very real. You find yourself having to look after your new child, and juggle this with work responsibilities. So where does ...
Details »
HSC, Study Stress & Anxiety – How to help your teenager cope
Do you have a teenager at home going through the HSC this year? Or maybe a young adult studying at University or College? HSC stress - it's a reality for many Australian teengers. The adolescents of today will become part of one of the most educated generations in Australia’s history. While we ...
Details »
Creating Change is 7 years old! Here’s what you can expect from the Hills leading team of Psychologists
We have been creating change in people's lives for 7 years now, but have you often wondered what to expect from a session with one of our psychologists? Creating Change is proud to be the Hills Districts largest team of Psychologists and Counsellors. If you’ve recently made the decision to change your ...
Details » Changing excessive social drinking. How to help your loved ones
Drinking socially - when does one become one too many? Some alcohol researchers insist that because alcohol is a toxin, there is no ‘safe’ level of intake. Whilst most of us might think this is a little extreme, many families and marriages are seriously affected by one person’s drinking. Tolerance develops ...
Details »
Why is it a challenge for men to ask for help?
Why is it so difficult for men to ask for help when it comes to their health? It’s known as the quiet crisis. Men not asking for help when needed, or talking to someone when they could really benefit from advice or a different perspective. Did you know that ...
Details »
Withdrawn and down teenagers. Are they hurting them self?
Do your teenager’s emotions oscillate like a rollercoaster? Are their moods extreme, and they are finding it all too much? Maybe their behaviour has become more withdrawn and avoidant? 1 in 6 young people have considered self-harm at some point, with 1 in 10 having acted on it. Australian studies suggest that 6-8% of ...
Details »
My moods are like a rollercoaster. How do I regain control?
Are you feeling like you are always moody? Do you often wonder why you let your feelings get the better of you? Many people experience fluctuations in their moods each day, but you should stop and reflect when your moods are taking over your life, your relationships, ...
Details »
I can’t sleep! Constant worrying – how to combat it
Are you drowning in your own thoughts? Are you struggling to sleep, as your mind won’t let you switch off? Everybody worries from time to time. Perhaps you might worry about meeting a deadline, completing a task, whether your child’s strange rash may be ...
Details »
I think my child is falling behind in class. What do I do?
Is your child avoiding their homework, getting easily distracted or finding it hard to read? Does your child have meltdowns, hate going to school or seem to be getting into more trouble? The beginning of each school year can be an apprehensive time for parents. We worry which teacher they will have ...
Details »
The importance of Sadness – what is its purpose in our lives?
What is Sadness? What is its purpose in our lives?
The emotion of sadness is essential to our survival and has been a part of human experience since the beginning of time. Sadness is our body’s way of telling us that an event (e.g. the ... Details »
Eat Away Your Anxiety and Depression
Did you know that healthy eating affects anxiety and depression? We always hear about how you should eat well – it’s good for you, gives you energy and makes you feel better. However there are many ways healthy eating can help your mental health too, including anxiety and depression. Australian’s every year ...
Details »
Welcoming the New Year! Do you have any goals this year? – Creating Change
As each new year rolls around, many of us look to set new year resolutions, but are these achievable goals that are really going to make your life healthier? Now is the time to really think about what you want out of 2018. Many choose to set goals for their physical health – losing more weight, joining ...
Details »
Family Relationship Stress Tips for the Holidays
It’s a bit of myth that all families are happy. A family can be a place of love, support and encouragement, but on the other hand they can also be a source of judgement, frustration, criticism and irritation. Growing up in our families we play certain roles, and these roles become consistent overtime. For ...
Details »
Family Challenges at Christmas Time
For many people, Christmas time is a happy time of year with the opportunity to be joyful and grateful with family, friends and colleagues. However, for a lot of people, Christmas can bring about other less pleasant emotions such as anger, low mood or loneliness. Family challenges arise. Bringing family together can open up old ...
Details »