Millions of Australians are benefiting from seeing a psychologist. You can contact a psychologist directly or be referred to one by your GP. Medicare rebates are available. Since 2006, when GPs were first able to refer people to see a psychologist, there have been 26.5 million individual psychology treatment sessions for members of the public, for a whole range of mental health disorders, such […]

There has always been – and probably will always continue to be – confusion surrounding what a psychologist does, and what a psychiatrist does. While the names sound similar, there are important differences in their job roles and responsibilities. “Psychologists are university-educated experts in human behaviour, emotions and mental processes. They work with people across the lifespan to help individuals to […]

Up to 40% of Australians will experience a panic attack at some point in their lives. Learn about the various symptoms of a panic attack and what you can do to manage them. (reference reachout.com.au) What is a panic attack? A panic attack is an intense rush of fear or anxiety that causes a person to feel like they’re in […]

What Is Autism (ASD)? Autism is a lifelong developmental condition that affects, among other things, the way an individual relates to his or her environment and their interaction with other people. The month of April is Autism Awareness month and to support the cause we wanted to share a helpful guide to understanding ASD and ways to support this disorder […]

Bipolar disorder isn’t to be confused with simple mood swings. Bipolar disorder is a mental illness that is characterised by dramatic mood swings, racing thoughts, and restlessness. The condition was once-called “manic-depression” due the extreme mood swings between severe depression and elation, verging on euphoria, or mania. Sometimes people who are perceived to be “moody” are labelled by others as […]

This week sees the launch of ‘Believe in Change’, the first national campaign ever undertaken by the Australian Psychological Society (APS), the peak representative body for psychologists in Australia. The Believe in Change campaign centres around a TV advertisement, which will be broadcast nationally throughout the year, as well as in cinemas and on social media and radio. Psychologists are dedicated to helping […]

Perhaps you have been thinking about having therapy for a while or maybe you just feel isolated and unsure where to find support? One day you feel really low and want to speak to someone as soon as possible.  The next day you feel a little better and the thought of reaching out passes. Sound familiar?  We all have good and […]

Equine-assisted therapy & learning is almost here! I have been busily working behind the scenes and networking with some Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association (EAGALA) colleagues across the Pacific (Australia, US and Canada) to finalise my equine therapy and learning program “Empowering Equines” which is due to launched very soon! The EAGALA Model of Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy and Personal Development, is experiencing […]

Today marks the beginning of this years Psychology Week celebration. Psychology Week is an annual initiative of the Australian Psychological Society that aims to increase public awareness of how psychology can help Australians lead healthier, happier and more meaningful lives. To support the campaign this year the Australian Psychological Society (APS) has introduced the Compass for Life initiative, which will help Australians measure […]

The team at Pure Empowerment would like to warmly welcome Donna Dunham to our team. Donna has just commenced with the practice and is working under the supervision of Rachael Willis. She is a 5 + 1 intern, consulting Mondays and Fridays and is now taking bookings. The past two months has been an exciting time at Pure Empowerment as […]