Navigating Work-Related Mental Health Challenges

In today's fast-paced world, the intricate relationship between mental health and the workplace is increasingly recognized. From the stressors of everyday tasks to the lasting impact of traumatic incidents, our mental well-being is deeply intertwined with our professional lives.

At Tonic Psychology, we are committed to providing specialized support for individuals grappling with mental health conditions arising from work-related physical injury, trauma, and stress. Join us as we delve into how you can find healing, reclaim happiness, and support you to reintegrate into the workplace.

Understanding the Connection

It's not uncommon for work-related challenges to take a toll on our mental health. Whether it's coping with physical injury or chronic pain stemming from workplace incidents, processing trauma experienced on the job, or managing the strain of workplace stress, the impact on our psychological well-being can be profound. This intricate connection necessitates a holistic approach that acknowledges the interplay between physical and mental health.

Tailored Support for Healing

At Tonic Psychology, we believe that healing begins with a personalized approach. Our experienced psychologists employ evidence-based therapies, such as Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), to address the unique challenges faced by individuals dealing with work-related mental health concerns.

For those contending with physical injury or pain arising from work, our approach integrates psychological support with pain management strategies. By focusing on both the body and mind, we empower individuals to manage their conditions while fostering resilience.

Recovering from Workplace Trauma

Workplace trauma can leave deep emotional scars that impact various facets of our lives. Our trauma-informed therapists at Tonic Psychology provide a safe haven for individuals to process their experiences, develop coping mechanisms, and embark on a journey towards healing. Through compassionate guidance and proven therapeutic techniques, we help individuals rebuild their sense of security and strength.

Equipping for Workplace Resilience

The modern workplace can often be a breeding ground for stress and anxiety. Our tailored treatments are designed to equip individuals with the tools needed to manage workplace stress effectively. By enhancing resilience, teaching stress reduction techniques, and promoting a balanced work-life equilibrium, we empower individuals to not just survive, but thrive in their professional environments.

Returning to the Workplace

At Tonic Psychology, our mission goes beyond symptom management. We are dedicated to helping individuals reclaim their vitality. Our holistic approach nurtures personal health and happiness, supporting you on your return to work journey to the workplace with renewed energy and empowerment.

How Sports Psychology Can Help You Reach Your Peak Performance

Whether you're an elite athlete or just someone who enjoys playing sports, sports psychology with Tonic Psychology can help you reach your peak performance. The specialist sports psychologists here at Tonic Psychology use a variety of techniques to help athletes improve their mental skills, such as focus, concentration, goal-setting, and coping with pressure.

There are many benefits to working with a sports psychologist. Some of the most common benefits include:

Improved focus and concentration: Sports psychologists can help athletes learn how to focus on the present moment and block out distractions. This can be especially helpful in high-pressure situations.
Increased confidence: Sports psychologists can help athletes develop a positive mental attitude and believe in their own abilities. This can lead to improved performance.
Better goal-setting: Sports psychologists can help athletes set realistic and achievable goals. This can provide them with a sense of purpose and direction.
Enhanced coping skills: Sports psychologists can help athletes develop coping mechanisms for dealing with stress and pressure. This can help them stay calm and perform at their best under pressure.

How Does Sports Psychology Work?

Sports psychology is a relatively new field, but it has been growing in popularity in recent years. There are a number of different techniques that sports psychologists use, but some of the most common include:

Cognitive-behavioral therapy: This type of therapy helps athletes identify and change negative thoughts and behaviors that are holding them back.
Imagery training: This technique helps athletes visualize themselves performing successfully. This can help them build confidence and prepare for competition.
Hypnosis: Hypnosis can be used to help athletes relax and focus. It can also be used to help them change negative thoughts and behaviors.
Biofeedback: This technique uses electronic devices to measure physiological changes, such as heart rate and muscle tension. This information can then be used to help athletes learn how to control their bodies and improve their performance.

Who Can Benefit from Sports Psychology?

Sports psychology can benefit athletes of all ages and skill levels. However, it is especially beneficial for athletes who are struggling with performance anxiety, lack of confidence, or other mental blocks. Sports psychology can also be helpful for athletes who are recovering from an injury or who are trying to improve their overall mental well-being.

How to Find a Sports Psychologist

If you are interested in working with a sports psychologist, there are a few things you can do to find one. First, you can ask your doctor or coach for a referral. You can also search online for sports psychologists in your area. When you are choosing a sports psychologist, be sure to find one who is qualified and experienced. Here at Tonic Psychology we have qualified, specialist professionals in sports psychology to support you.

Sports psychology is a valuable tool that can help athletes reach their peak performance. If you are an athlete who is struggling with mental blocks or who wants to improve your overall mental well-being, working with a sports psychologist can be a great way to achieve your goals.

To learn more about how sports psychology at Tonic Psychology can help you reach your peak performance, contact us today.

Parenting Support: Find the Help You Need

Parenting is a challenging but rewarding experience. However, it can also be stressful, especially when you are facing difficult challenges. If you are feeling overwhelmed as a parent, counselling can help.

What is Parents Counselling?

Parent counselling is a type of therapy that helps parents deal with the challenges of parenting. Counsellors can help parents to:

Understand their own parenting style and how it affects their child.
Develop coping mechanisms for dealing with stress and anxiety.
Learn how to communicate effectively with their child.
Resolve conflict with their child.
Build a stronger relationship with their child.

Why Should Parents Seek Counselling?

There are many reasons why parents might seek counselling. Some of the most common reasons include:

Stress and anxiety: Parenting can be a stressful experience, and this can lead to anxiety and other mental health problems. Counselling can help parents to manage their stress and anxiety and improve their mental health.
Depression: Depression is another common problem that can affect parents. Counselling can help parents to understand their depression and develop coping mechanisms to manage it.
Conflict with child: Conflict with children is a normal part of parenting, but it can be difficult to resolve. Counselling can help parents to communicate effectively with their child and resolve conflict in a healthy way.
Parenting style: Parents may want to seek counselling to understand their own parenting style and how it affects their child. Counselling can help parents to develop a parenting style that is effective and supportive.
Postpartum depression: Postpartum depression is a type of depression that can affect women after childbirth. Counselling can help women to manage their postpartum depression and improve their mental health.

How Can Tonic Psychology Help?

Tonic Psychology offers counselling for parents in Melbourne and Sydney. Our experienced counsellors are trained to help parents with a wide range of parenting issues. We offer a confidential and supportive environment where parents can talk about their concerns and get the help they need.

What to Expect

When you first come to Tonic Psychology, we will meet with you to discuss your concerns and goals for counselling. We will then develop a treatment plan that is tailored to your individual needs.

Our treatment plans typically involve a combination of individual and family counselling. We may also recommend other resources, such as support groups or educational programs.

Our Approach to Parents Counselling and Psychology

We believe that every parent is unique, and we tailor our approach to each parent's individual needs. We also believe that the family is an important part of the healing process, and we involve the family in our treatment plans whenever possible.

Our Commitment

We are committed to helping parents thrive. We believe that every parent deserves to feel supported and empowered. We will work with you to help you develop the skills and knowledge you need to be the best parent you can be.

How Employee Assistance Programs Can Improve Your Workplace

Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) are a valuable resource for businesses of all sizes. They offer confidential counseling and support to employees who are struggling with personal or work-related issues. EAPs can help to improve employee morale, productivity, and overall well-being.

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There are many benefits to offering an EAP to your employees. Some of the most common benefits include:

Increased employee morale: EAPs can help to reduce stress and anxiety among employees, which can lead to improved morale.
Increased productivity: When employees are feeling better, they are more likely to be productive at work.
Reduced absenteeism: EAPs can help to reduce absenteeism by providing employees with the resources they need to address their personal problems.
Reduced turnover: EAPs can help to reduce turnover by making employees feel more valued and supported by their employer.

In addition to these general benefits, EAPs can also help to address specific workplace issues. For example, EAPs can be used to help employees who are struggling with addiction, mental health problems, or work-life balance issues.

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How to Choose an EAP

There are many different EAP providers available, so it is important to choose one that is right for your business. When choosing an EAP, you should consider the following factors:

The size of your business: Some EAP providers specialize in working with small businesses, while others focus on larger organizations.
The type of industry you are in: Some EAP providers have specialized expertise in certain industries, such as healthcare or manufacturing.
The level of coverage you need: Some EAPs offer a limited range of services, while others offer a more comprehensive package.

EAPs are a valuable resource for businesses of all sizes. They can help to improve employee morale, productivity, and overall well-being. If you are considering offering an EAP to your employees, Tonic Psychology based on Melbourne and Sydney can be of assistance!

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To learn more about how EAPs can benefit your business, visit our website or contact us today.

Emotional Regulation

Emotion regulation refers to the ability to manage and control our emotions in healthy and adaptive ways. The opposite of emotion regulation is emotion suppression which happens when individuals seek to push uncomfortable feelings and thoughts out of the mind.

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Why is emotion regulation important?

When we’re feeling excited, we might want to feel a little less excited and instead more focused; when we’re feeling angry, we might want to feel less angry and more relaxed. Regulating our emotions is about finding a balance between how you feel in the moment and what you want your experience of that emotion to be; emotions essentially drive behaviour. The goal is not to “get rid” of emotions because they ultimately serve a very helpful purpose, but rather to maximise our experiences of our emotions; in other words, effectively use our emotions.

It’s important to regulate your emotions because the alternative i.e., suppression, leads to long-term difficulty in how we relate to ourselves, and others. When we suppress our emotions we don’t build any skill in our ability to cope with difficult emotions and we can fall into the trap of displacement which involves diverting feelings in an unhelpful way. For example, dumping angry feelings that were suppressed earlier in the day onto your colleagues by yelling at them for small mistakes. When we can effectively regulate our emotions, we are less likely to experience negative psychological states such as anxiety, depression and stress.

How to regulate our emotions

Self-awareness

To effectively regulate our emotions, it can be helpful to begin by reflecting on how our emotions trigger us, specifically, trigger us to act, trigger us to inhibit and trigger us to manage. We may find we feel excited when we have something planned after work, which may trigger the action of unproductivity that day in the office. We may find we feel angry because the vending machine malfunctioned and inhibit the act of kicking the machine. We may find we feel anxious in the lead-up to a big presentation and find that we are having to manage by talking to a trusted person and taking long, deep breaths. The process of emotion regulation needs self-reflection to be effective.

Re-appraisal

This skill is essentially placing focus on coping with negative emotions by altering the way we think. By altering how we think, we are more likely to accept our subjective reality, albeit it a difficult one. Let’s use an example where you made a mistake at work and your boss becomes noticeably annoyed. We can replace thoughts like “my boss hates me,” “I have no worth here anymore” etc., with alternatives such as “my boss is upset at the moment, I am sure I can make up for this”, or “I know I am good at my job, everybody makes mistakes”. Chances are the feelings you had once been feeling might shift a little. This is the act of emotion regulation.

Outlets

A great and often easy way to regulate our emotions is to release them! In safe and positive ways of course. Journalling (on paper or virtually) talking to a trusted person, painting, exercising etc. The idea behind these outlets is you’re doing something with your emotions rather than keeping them stagnant inside. It also shows you notice what you’re feeling and are acknowledging the emotions.

At Tonic Psychology we have psychologists that can guide you to build these emotion regulation skills. We want to help you build a more effective relationship with your emotions because they are so important! Book an appointment today or visit our website for more information.

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Building Resilience

According to the definition from the American Psychological Association (APA), Resilience refers to both the process and the outcome of successfully adapting to difficult or challenging life experiences. “It’s your ability to withstand adversity and bounce back and grow despite life’s downturns,” says Amit Sood, MD, the executive director of the Global Center for Resiliency and Well-Being and the creator of the Resilient Option program.

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What is resilience?

According to the definition from the American Psychological Association (APA), Resilience refers to both the process and the outcome of successfully adapting to difficult or challenging life experiences. “It’s your ability to withstand adversity and bounce back and grow despite life’s downturns,” says Amit Sood, MD, the executive director of the Global Center for Resiliency and Well-Being and the creator of the Resilient Option program.

Resilience and Wellbeing

Many people from different walks of life experience challenges and stress at different stages of their life. Stress is a natural response to any difficult or threatening event or a situation. Eustress and distress are different kinds of stress. Distress, as most of us are aware can be difficult and can cause negative impact on our wellbeing. But stress is not always a bad thing. Eustress is positive and can be manageable and motivating. Many times, eustress can turn into distress and there, resilience comes into play - like how we deal with the distress and turn it into eustress so that we are productive and not burnout and live meaningful lives even when the stress persists.

However, over time, due ongoing distress people may find difficulty to handle stress and cope with it effectively which can cause negative impact on our wellbeing and quality of life. According to one of the studies, resilience is negatively correlated to negative indicators of mental health such as depression, anxiety, and negative affect, and positively correlated to positive indicators of mental health such as life satisfaction and positive emotions (Hu et al.,2015).

Resilience will not fix the problems, but it can help to enhance our ability to respond to difficult situations and handle stress effectively.

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Let us look at some of the ways to develop resilience:

Relaxation: Practicing relaxation strategies including breathing exercise, progressive muscle relaxation, mindfulness. It slows the heart rate, lowers blood pressure, and reduces levels of stress hormones. It can help you bounce back a little faster and prepare you for the next day.

Social connectedness: Developing positive relationships with loved ones, family, colleagues and in the community. There is an emerging literature on how social support and the neurobiological pathways act to foster resilience and reduce the risk for developing mental health concerns.

Values: Developing alignment between your values and your goals and actions to live a meaningful life. Being aligned with your values can make you feel purposeful, happy and increase your flexibility, adaptability and ability to bounce back.

Helpful thinking: Identifying if the thoughts associated with an event or situation are helpful or unhealthy and unhelpful. Restructuring your thoughts by thinking if there is any other way to think about the situation that can help in reducing stress levels.

Building resilience takes time and practice. But if you are struggling, it is important to seek professional support.

Helping Children Thrive with Counselling

Children are resilient, but they can also be vulnerable. They are constantly learning and growing, and they are often faced with challenges that can be difficult to navigate. If your child is struggling with emotional or behavioral problems, Tonic Psychology can help.

Tonic Psychology is a child and family psychology clinic that specializes in helping children thrive. We offer a variety of services, including individual counseling, family therapy, and play therapy. We believe that every child is unique, and we tailor our approach to each child's individual needs.

Some of the common issues that we help children with include:

Anxiety: Anxiety is a common problem in children, and it can manifest in a variety of ways, such as difficulty sleeping, separation anxiety, and social anxiety.
Depression: Depression is another common problem in children, and it can cause symptoms such as sadness, loss of interest in activities, and changes in appetite.
Behavioral problems: Behavioral problems can range from mild to severe, and they can include things like aggression, defiance, and hyperactivity.
Trauma: Children who have experienced trauma, such as abuse or neglect, may need help to cope with the emotional and behavioral effects of the trauma.
Learning and attention problems: Children with learning and attention problems may struggle in school or in social situations.

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How Can Tonic Psychology Help?

Our team of experienced child psychologists can help your child in a variety of ways. We can provide individual counseling to help your child develop coping skills and improve their emotional well-being. We can also offer family therapy to help your family communicate better and support your child's needs. And we can provide play therapy, which is a fun and effective way for children to express their emotions and learn new coping skills.

What to Expect

When you first come to Tonic Psychology, we will meet with you and your child to get to know you and your child's needs. We will then develop a treatment plan that is tailored to your child's individual needs.

Our treatment plans typically involve a combination of individual and family therapy. We may also recommend other resources, such as support groups or educational programs.