Chris Mackey and Associates Newsletter

Bianca Completes Neurodiversity Training

Bianca Tassone recently completed a training workshop on affirming therapy for neurodivergence. The training was run by Monique Mitchelson who is a psychologist specialising in the psychological treatment of people with neurodiversity and is neurodivergent herself. As research has progressed, we are coming to understand more about those who experience neurodivergence and modern psychology is adopting a more affirming model that sees neurodivergence as more of a difference than a deficit.

Those interested may want to check out Monique Mitchelson's podcast The Neurodivergent Woman, which covers a range of topics related to the experience of people with neurodivergence.

Appointment Availability

We are pleased to report that our waitlist time to get an appointment has reduced and is currently at pre-pandemic levels. We are able to accommodate flexible new clients within a month of making the first call. This time is greatly reduced from what it has been over the past couple of years when our books were often closed.

For those hoping to get into an appointment sooner, you may wish to try telehealth, which can be a good way to start with a transition to face-to-face therapy later. Our efficient waiting list still provides sooner appointments, particularly to those lucky enough to be flexible with times throughout the week.

We cannot take on new clients if appointments after 4 pm are required. Those appointment slots are much in demand and our current clients fill these times many months in advance.

Government Makes Investment in Post-Graduate Psychology Positions

As reported by The Australian Psychological Society, the Federal Government is investing an additional $91 million in the psychology workforce as announced in the recent Federal Budget.

This investment is primarily designed to create an additional 500 psychology postgraduate placements and 500 one-year internships, acknowledging the important role of post-graduate trained psychologists in our mental health system.

Podcast - Psych Spiels and Silver Linings

The practice podcast Psych Spiels and Silver Linings has recently released a series on schema therapy called The Essentials of Schema Therapy. A schema is a pattern of behaviours or thoughts that develops early in life which we apply in adulthood that may be helpful or unhelpful. If a child’s emotional needs are not met, then coping styles, schemas and problematic modes of behaviour can develop. Schema Therapy aims to identify and replace problematic schemas with more viable or adaptive ones to help us better organise and understand new information or situations we encounter in our personal and professional relationships.

In the first episode, Feeling Disconnected & Rejected, we discussed 5 of the 18 schemas outlined by psychologist Jeff Young when he created schema therapy. We discuss the schemas related to a lack of positive attachment during childhood that can make people feel disconnected and rejected in later life.

These schemas include emotional deprivation, abandonment, mistrust/abuse, defectiveness, and vulnerability to illness or harm.

In the second episode, Developing Your Self & Your Self-Control, we discussed the next group of schemas relating to impaired autonomy and performance or your sense of self, and impaired limits or your self-control. These schemas include dependence/incompetence, enmeshment/undeveloped self, vulnerability to illness or harm, failure, entitlement/grandiosity.

The third episode in the series, due out Monday, May 15, will be called Expressing Ourselves Freely and involve the schemas relating to over-vigilance and other-directedness, which means being overly focused on the thoughts of others. These schemas include negativity/pessimism, emotional inhibition, punitiveness, approval seeking/recognition seeking, subjugation and self-sacrifice.

You can listen to the podcast on your favourite podcast player or at psychspiels.com.au

If you've enjoyed the podcast, we would love it if you could rate, review, and share it with a friend, as this will extend the reach to others who may benefit.