On The Blog

The Cost of a Psychologist Are you wondering, "How much is a psychologist"? Look no further, as we break down the guidelines set by the Australian Psychological Society and our own approach to pricing. Our professional body, the Australian Psychological Society (APS), recommends that a 50-minute session with a psychologist should be $251 per session in 2020. At Scope Clinical and Educational...

What do mum’s really want for Christmas? It’s the million-dollar question which has us all googling, “Best Christmas Gift Ideas for Mum” each year. It can often be hard to find a standout gift for your mum, who—let’s be honest—probably deserves one more than anyone. Our way of answering this question is by looking at something that all mums need, but don’t necessarily always have the time...

Recently, when I was reviewing some previous goals and where I had got to with them, I came across a quote from teacher and philosopher Confucius. This quote is over 2,500 years old, yet the wisdom is still essential to our contemporary goal setting. “When it is obvious that the goals cannot be reached, don’t adjust the goals, adjust the action steps.” (Confucius 551-479 B.C.) We often have a...

Have you heard about the analogy of the blue sky and the weather? It is a metaphor that I find helpful in regaining perspective and a sense of calm when emotions are high. Imagine your observing self as the sky – calm, blue, unchanging. Your thoughts and feelings are the weather – changing continually, from the mightiest thunderstorm to warm sunlight to a severe winter blizzard. No matter what...

Most of us have likely experienced the stress of being without our phone for the day, feeling as though we're disconnected from parts of our world. This is understandable, seeing as our phones are these advanced, multipurpose tools that help us feel in touch and in control - even on the go. But when does this excessive use become a detriment to our mental health? Below we'll explore the signs...

Although we are blessed with crisp, sunny winters here in Brisbane, seasonal change can still give us the winter blues - especially if we've been diagnosed with a mood disorder. Below we'll discuss 8 things you can do to support your mental health this winter!   1. Get enough good quality sleep Sleep is the number one priority for our general health, as it is essential for pretty much all...

After reconnecting with the writing of some of my favourite authors, I've started to think more about my values and how I can specifically act on them so they are more present in my life.   Your values are not about what you want to obtain (i.e. success, wealth, 'stuff' etc.), they are about how you want to act on an ongoing basis; how you want to treat yourself, others and the world around...

With COVID-19 impacting many businesses and collectives worldwide, organised yoga has sadly been scarce this year. Nevertheless, there are still ways we can continue, or even begin, to practise this invaluable skill - with its many health benefits - in the comfort of our own homes.   Yoga is an ancient physical, mental and spiritual practise that originated in India. Today there are many...

What do we mean when we talk about perfectionism? Does it really involve being ‘perfect’ and is it even possible to be one hundred percent perfect anyway? The different types of perfectionism, as well as perfectionistic behaviours and beliefs, will be considered next.    Perfectionism describes the relentless striving for extremely high standards that are personally demanding. In fact, to...

Let's all stay okay 👌 A recent survey by the ABC and Vox Pop Labs has revealed that feelings of anxiety, stress and boredom have spiked due to the coronavirus pandemic. In addition: The number of Australians reporting poor mental health has more than doubled compared to a month ago. The number frequently feeling despair has more than tripled. Those frequently feeling confusion is up more than...

Being hopeful is much more than just wishful thinking... Hope predicts growth, helps with motivation and persistence, and can give us peace, vitality and a stronger sense of purpose.   Hope is defined as the perceived ability to produce pathways to achieve desired goals and to motivate oneself to use those pathways. American psychologist Charles Richard Synder devised 'Hope Theory' in the...

With Stress Awareness Month starting today, combined with the currently panicked state of our community and world at large, what better topic to discuss...   What is Stress? It is the physiological and psychological reaction an individual experiences when they perceive the demands of a situation to go beyond their ability to cope. Some stress is inevitable and necessary for all livings...

"Fulfilment does not mean our difficult emotions disappear; it means we change our relationship with them" - Russ Harris, author of the Happiness Trap.   We have previously explored the practise of mindfulness on our blog, covering how to bring ourselves back to the 'here and now' by tuning into each of our 5 senses. Now we want to focus more so on when our minds inevitably try to take back...

Scope Clinical and Educational Services will continue to provide safe care to our community in this demanding and fast changing environment.   Psychological distress will be a prominent emotion in workplaces and suburbs across the community, and it’s not something most of us know how to address. There are major disruptions to the way people work and live. People in our community will...

You've probably seen the buzzword 'mindfulness' around a lot recently, from broader media and marketing, to the titles of countless books. Although the concept is evidently popular, seeming to some like the latest New Age fad, we should not undervalue the true potential of mindfulness and much of the evidence-based science behind it.   Put simply, mindfulness is a state of nonjudgmental,...

The term self-love can mean many things: self-worth, self-compassion, self-acceptance, self-care, self-awareness… some may even say self-importance. It’s nothing new that self-love is often mistaken for selfishness, but in the wise words of Rupaul, “If you can’t love yourself, how in the hell you gonna love somebody else?”.   Self-love practices focus more so on interconnected (related to...

Is it alright for a kid to hurt themselves? It can be really hard as an adult who is charged with taking care of a child, especially if it’s your own, to not worry about all the dangers our young people face in their day to day lives. These days schoolyards have rules against climbing on playgrounds, parks have fences around trees so that kids don’t climb them, and children are encouraged not to...

January is the time of year where everyone is in refresh mode. Resolutions, new school supplies, new toys and new devices since Christmas. It is an opportunity to leave last year behind and try something different, brave new things. We all do it: jump at the chance to change, to improve, to be better. Full of hope, determination and resolve! We throw ourselves at opportunities, resolutions and...

Here at Scope, we understand that you are always on the lookout for activities to keep your child occupied and satisfied for the entirety of the school holidays. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of our favourite events and activities that are on around Brisbane during the upcoming September/October break. We’ve found activities nearby for the athletes, the creatives and the curious. To confirm...

Yet another school term has flown by and we are now half way through the school year. Scope has compiled a list of the best Brisbane has to offer these school holidays. Here are some of the most exciting events in the upcoming weeks which are sure to keep your young ones entertained every day of the holidays! 1- Free ice skating at Indooroopilly shopping centre Lace up your skates! Indro is...

Here at Scope Clinical and Educational Services, there’s not much that we love more than a cup of tea to start our work day. Whether you prefer green, black, or herbal, tea may be doing far more for your health than you think. Tea was first discovered in China thousands of years ago where it was used for medicinal purposes. In the modern day, it is the second most popular drink in the world,...

Can you believe it’s almost Easter already? We know it can be difficult to keep the little ones entertained over the holidays, so we’ve made things easy for you. Here are 8 of the best child-friendly activities and events around Brisbane in April. 1. Flipside Circus Workshops Jump, fly and flip your way through an unforgettable workshop at Flipside Circus! Located in Alderley, they have an...

We are all encouraged from a young age to ensure we are getting enough shut-eye every night. But what exactly is “enough” and what are the potential impacts of ignoring these recommendations? There are so many components that affect sleep; this blog post could be filled ten times over! So here are just a few of the key things that we currently know. How much sleep do we need? The American...

I am sometimes contacted by parents concerned about their child’s development. They ask about parenting practices that contribute to healthy wellbeing, educational confidence and social competence. There is so much information about child development, and I will touch briefly on one theory further illustrated with the sailing waters metaphor to simplify a complex area. Today’s researchers agree...

Wondering how to keep your kids occupied over the summer holidays? Here are our top 10 family friendly summer holiday activities in Brisbane! Check out some of Brisbane’s new “street libraries” Street libraries are starting to pop up all over Brisbane. They are “open” in peoples’ front yards and street corners. You and your child are free to take from it whatever tickles your fancy and even...

What is gaming addiction? Is it the sound of rapid mouse clicks at 3am? Or is it the zoned out appearance on your child’s face when they are engrossed by a video game? Gaming addiction can be defined as an impulse control disorder, which has been an increasing concern for parents. According to the Sydney Morning Herald, 94% of children aged 6-15 play games regularly and 95% of Australian homes...

Do you find yourself uncomfortable or panicked in crowded spaces? Sometimes this feeling is labelled ‘Agoraphobia,’ which translates from Greek to ‘fear of the marketplace’. Agoraphobia occurs when you become anxious about being in places or situations where you might have a panic attack. It’s best not to avoid social situations, as it’s not helpful for your mental health when we become isolated...

Sleeping well is a habit that you can learn! Small changes can have big effects. Start today by following these rules: Food and Drinks Caffeine free after 4 o’clock. We love to drink herbal tea Try to eat a big or spicy meal earlier in the evening and allow yourself time to digest Try not to go to bed hungry Avoid alcohol as it interferes with sleep Daily Activities Physical exercise, such as a...

The central idea behind mindfulness is focusing on your current experience and being in the ‘here and now’. Quite often we find ourselves in ‘automatic pilot’ mode. Mindfulness is the opposite of ‘automatic pilot’ mode – it’s all about the ‘being’ mode. It takes some time to develop but with patience and a little practice every day, you will start to enjoy the benefits of bringing yourself back...

I’m on a plane, on my way to Proserpine to visit St Catherine’s Catholic College, listening to the ABC Life Matters podcast. Osher Günsberg is speaking and he prompts me to reflect on conversations about mental health. He explores fear, comfort eating, alcoholism and drug use, ego, coping strategies and the human need for control. He’s calm, honest and open about challenging experiences and it’s...

Mental health and wellbeing are frequently used terms in books, on websites and even in the Australian curriculum. The concepts of mental health and wellbeing have applications across a broad range of disciplines. Different definitions can be found in relation to health, education, psychology and philosophy, to name just a few. Each discipline highlights the importance of positive mental health...

As adults we can underestimate the amount of stress that children are under. From school work to social pressures to wanting to please you, their parents, being young is not as easy as it is chalked up to be! So here are 3 tips that are great for helping your little ones tackle their life stresses, no matter what they may be: Read Danielle’s Full Article Here

We can all think back to moments where it’s been difficult to open up and talk about how we are feeling, or how a certain situation may have caused us to be upset or frustrated. When I was growing up, this was particularly challenging – especially when being probed with questions by mum or dad that I simply didn’t know how to answer. So, is there a better way to talk with your children when...