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Sometimes we understand exactly what is happening to us, yet our body seems to respond in its own way. We may know we are safe but still feel on edge. We may want to relax but find it difficult to switch off. Even when we understand why certain situations affect us, we can still find ourselves reacting in familiar, repeated patterns.

Sometimes we understand exactly what is happening to us, yet our body seems to respond in its own way. We may know we are safe but still feel on edge. We may want to relax but find it difficult to switch off. Even when we understand why certain situations affect us, we can still find ourselves reacting in familiar, repeated patterns.

Finding out your teenager is AuDHD can bring a mix of relief and worry. Relief, because things that never quite made sense finally have an explanation. Worry, because you're not always sure what happens next, or how best to help. If that's where you are right now, you're not alone, and there's no need to have it all figured out straight away. What does AuDHD actually mean? AuDHD describes the combination of Autism and ADHD, two neurotypes that often show up together and inte

During Mental Health Month, we often hear words like thriving, flourishing, and wellbeing. They can sound inspiring, but they can also feel out of reach, especially during times when we're struggling. The truth is that thriving isn't about feeling happy, motivated, productive, or confident all the time. Thriving is not the absence of stress, grief, uncertainty, anxiety, or difficult emotions. Instead, thriving is about staying connected to yourself, to others, and to what mat

Masking (also called camouflaging) refers to the conscious or unconscious strategies people use to hide or suppress traits associated with ADHD, Autism or AuDHD, in order to appear more "typical" in social, academic or workplace settings (Alaghband-rad et al., 2023). For many neurodivergent people, masking isn't a choice made once. It's a quiet, constant recalibration, done dozens of times a day. It might look like forcing eye contact that feels uncomfortable, rehearsing conv

Health is not measured by perfection. It is reflected in our capacity for flexibility, connection, meaning, self-compassion and engagement in life.

Eating disorders and body image concerns in men are often misunderstood, missed or minimised. While many public conversations about eating disorders have centred on women and girls, men also experience distress around food, body image, exercise, identity and emotion. For some men, this distress may be shaped by pressure to appear strong, self-reliant, lean, muscular or in control. Understanding these experiences matters because it helps us offer support that is more compassio

For us, intersectionality is not simply a framework; it is a commitment to seeing the whole person and understanding their experiences within the broader context of their identities, relationships, communities, strengths, challenges, and lived experiences. We also understand the impact of early attachment, underlying biology and our human need for connection. At Treat Yourself Well, we recognise that not everything needs to be fixed. Many aspects of our identities, including

Nutrition & Mental Health: Why Our Basic Needs Matter More Than We Think The pyramid of Maslow has fascinated me for years. Not because it is a perfect model—no model ever is—but because it reminds us that our capacity to think, connect, and grow is deeply influenced by whether our basic needs are being met. In my work, I often return to this simple but powerful principle.

There is broad recognition across society that men are facing a range of mental health challenges, and that society has socially conditioned men to focus on practical issues, problem solving, to be stoic, and to somewhat deny and/or avoid the extent of how they are feeling.

There is broad recognition across society that men are facing a range of mental health challenges, and that society has socially conditioned men to focus on practical issues, problem solving, to be stoic, and to somewhat deny and/or avoid the extent of how they are feeling.

We already know that too little control can be a very bad thing. You know, drunken scenes, ugly break-ups, maxed-out bank accounts … emotions – big, loud and oh-so-public emotions! There are those who ride the rollercoaster of under-control. And then there are those who attempt to fathom it, with their faces unflinching, postures high and stiff, and all hairs remaining precisely in place, as their hearts pound wildly against noise-cancelling chests. Here, we want to talk abou

If you are considering an ADHD, Autism, or combined (AuDHD) assessment in Sydney, we appreciate that it is important that the process feels respectful, attuned, and aligned with how you understand yourself. At Treat Yourself Well, we offer neuroaffirming autism assessments for children, adolescents, and adults in Balmain in Sydney’s Inner West. Our approach is grounded in curiosity, nuance, and care — focusing on understanding how a person experiences and engages with the wor

If you are considering an ADHD, Autism, or combined (AuDHD) assessment in Sydney, it is important that the process feels respectful, attuned, and aligned with how you understand yourself. At Treat Yourself Well, we offer neuroaffirming assessments for children, adolescents, and adults in Balmain and across Sydney’s Inner West. Our work is grounded in curiosity and care — focusing on understanding how your mind works, rather than viewing neurodivergence as something that needs

We recognise the overlap between Autism and ADHD - and we consider both

Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) is finally starting to get the recognition it deserves. For years, many families, adults, and even professionals assumed these eating challenges were simply “picky eating” or a phase a child would eventually outgrow. But ARFID is very different—and far more complex—than a preference for certain foods.

With the growing stress that is occurring nationwide for all people, it can be hard to even determine when you are regulated and when you are not. All parents need and deserve support so that they can be the values oriented parents that they are seeking to be.

Focal psychodynamic treatment (FPT) for eating disorders is a form of psychodynamic therapy that was developed to address core emotional, psychological, and relational factors that can maintain disordered eating patterns.

What do we celebrate! and we aren't new to this.... We genuinely celebrate neurodiversity and we have been doing this for years! We have been recognising, validating, honouring and celebrating difference. Let's be clear though... We don’t ignore real impairments and We don’t just validate and the goal is not ‘fix’ As the Principal Psychologist and Director of Treat Yourself Well Sydney, I have witnessed significant changes in how difference is understood. Throughout my car

New E-Book: Eating Disorders Across the Lifespan A deeper understanding from Treat Yourself Well Sydney At Treat Yourself Well Sydney , we believe people are more than symptoms. More than diagnoses. More than behaviours. Sure these descriptions can help us understand but it doesn't tell the whole story. Our new e-book, Eating Disorders Across the Lifespan , was created to reflect that belief — offering insight into how eating disorders evolve across different stages of life,