Does my child/teen have ADHD? Here’s how to find out, and get the best outcome if they do.
As a Family Therapist, I see many undiagnosed and untreated teens with ADHD who by the time they (and their parents) have reached me are completely out of their parents’ control. They’re often running away, leaving the house whenever they like, not …
How to share mental load in a relationship
If it feels like you carry an unequal portion of the domestic duties and mental load around them, then you’re not alone. Inequality between genders was a key finding of the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia Survey – 2019 – with …
How do I talk to my teen about self-harm and why it is important to get the right help.
Parents are rightly shocked when they discover their child is self-harming. A common response is to avoid the topic because they don’t know what to say, or to take drastic action to try to stop the behaviour immediately. Sometimes self-harm is dismissed …
Why does asking my child/teen to turn off their gaming console cause an explosion of anger?
Ever wondered why your child’s Xbox or PlayStation 4 – their most favourite thing to do in the world – can also be a complete source of misery? Why do they explode into fits of rage when you finally get them to …
Adolescent Violence and Abuse in Families
There is a lot of discussion about violence between adult partners, but very little about teenagers who are violent and abusive towards other family members. As a Family Therapist I meet many parents who feel like they are “walking on eggshells” around …
“My Husband or Wife is always angry” – How to Deal with an Angry Partner
In this article I discuss anger that shows up in a relationship. Typically, there is a complaint by one partner that the other partner is angry all of the time. The ‘anger’ we are talking about here is not violence or abuse …
My family doesn’t believe I was sexually abused
There are many different types of sexual abuse and assault. But every single act of sexual abuse or assault leaves an imprint on the brain, and every survivor is left with ongoing trauma. There is further trauma when the abuse has occurred …
My partner had a miscarriage. What do I do?
While miscarriages are common, the first thing to realise is that your partner’s connection to her baby is unique. So irrespective of how far along the pregnancy was, and how many pregnancies (successful or not) have preceded this one, her experience of …
Why did my partner cheat on me?
At the Sydney Couple and Family Specialists we see many couples for marriage and relationship counselling – and probably one of the most common (and painful) presentations is when one person has betrayed the other. There are lots of different ways to …
When is controlling behaviour from a partner toxic or abusive?
Many people can appear controlling in a relationship and I certainly see many examples of it in couples counselling. Often controlling behaviours show up because the person is feeling insecure or highly anxious. Anxiety fuels controlling behaviours in relationships. But there …