As humans, we spend most of our life working to understand our personal identities. The question of “who am I?” is an age-old philosophical thought that resonates with all of us and is particularly difficult to answer. Cooley (1902) discussed the concept of our social selves as a looking-glass self-concept: “Each to each a looking-glass Reflects the other that doth pass.” Our personal identities are shaped from the moment we are born. Our family, upbringing, environment, genetic makeup (psychological and physical) and social interactions all play a role in identity formation. Subsequent resear ..read more

Parenting is one of the most enriching and challenging roles we can undertake in our lifetimes. There is a growing interest in alternative approaches to traditional parenting methods, with an emphasis on positive discipline and fostering nurturing and respectful relationships between parent and child. Another new approach is conscious parenting. Conscious parenting is a parenting philosophy based on the bestselling book The Conscious Parent: Transforming Ourselves, Empowering Our Children by Shefali Tsabary (2010). Conscious parenting rests on cultivating parental self-awareness, presence, and ..read more

While most of us would recognize a great leader, few of us know what it takes to become one (Hill et al., 2022). And it’s no surprise. Even psychology has trouble identifying a universal set of traits to define and support effective leadership across various situations and contexts (Villoria, 2022). The contingency theory of leadership recognizes the importance of a flexible style in response to key situational variables and factors (Fiedler, 1967). In this article, we introduce contingency theory and its importance for mastering leadership flexibility and explore the importance of being tuned ..read more

Early detection through regular screening is key to preventing and treating many diseases. Despite this fact, participation in screening tends to be low. In Australia, only 40% of adults opted for screening for bowel cancer in 2021, 3% lower than the previous year (AIHW, 2023). Why do people decide not to participate in a low-risk activity, like screening? Or visit the dentist regularly, or quit smoking? Why do we choose to ignore these necessary health steps? Why and how people view the risks of disease, and the subsequent likelihood of people adjusting their behaviors, can be better understo ..read more

In 2019, 970 million people worldwide were struggling with stress, anxiety, and mental health issues (World Health Organization, n.d.). Given these soaring numbers, many individuals would benefit greatly from developing better coping skills. Skills such as resilience, adaptability and emotional agility (David, 2016) would broaden their ability to cope, their window of tolerance ..read more

In the vast tapestry of human existence, woven with the threads of individual experiences and collective consciousness, lies a profound understanding of the human psyche. At the heart of this understanding, Carl Jung gifted us with a map—a map not of physical territories but of psychological landscapes. Within this guidance, we discover the intricate patterns of our deepest motivations, fears, and desires—the archetypes that underpin the very foundations of our personalities. As therapists, delving into the realm of Jungian archetypes offers us a lens through which we can better understand, em ..read more

If you’ve continued with a decision or an investment of time, money, or resources long after you should have stopped, you’ve succumbed to the ‘sunk cost fallacy’ (Ronayne, Sgroi, & Tuckwell, 2021). You’re not alone; most of us have. This cognitive bias is commonplace. Psychology recognizes that to avoid being overwhelmed and successfully negotiate our environment, we must make powerful–often immediate–decisions (Szpiro, 2020). However, there is a problem – such decisions are often wrong. This article helps us understand the nature of the sunk cost fallacy, its impact, and how we can help o ..read more

Company culture has become a buzzword, particularly in the post-COVID era, with more organizations recognizing the critical importance of a healthy workplace. During the Great Resignation in the U.S., a large number of organizations struggled as employees left their jobs at rates higher than ever before. A Columbia University study found that the probability of job turnover in organizations with low company culture was 48.4%; in comparison, it was only 13.9% in those with high company cultures (Medina, 2012). Data points like these have compelled business leaders to take notice and prioritize ..read more

Mental toughness is not about being the loudest and brashest athlete on the sports field, pitch, track, or in the pool. Instead, mental toughness is what gets the athlete out training at 5 am, enables them to play at their limits when their team is behind, and ramps up their focus when facing up to a more experienced and highly successful athlete (Clough, Strycharczyk & Perry, 2021). For our young athletes, boosting this aspect of their psychological makeup can protect them from stress, support their decision-making, and offer them more consistent performances—where they feel at their best ..read more

In our work as therapists, we often encounter the undeniable truth: we never truly outgrow our inner child. A youthful part within us persists, sometimes surfacing to seek acknowledgment and expression. Have you ever noticed an unexpected surge of emotion, seemingly from a place deeply rooted in your past, and you’re left wondering, “Why did I react that way?” This experience represents an integral part of our psyche, shaped during our formative years and yearning for recognition and acceptance. We call this part of ourselves our “inner child.” When nurtured and acknowledged, our inner child b ..read more