-Rachel Dao, Clinical Psychologist The Emoji Safety Plan is an alternative communication strategy you can use when you are unable to articulate what we need through words. They act as short cuts for communicating complex emotions and needs. Just send the emoji as a text to the other person or say the emoji out loud "yellow circle emoji", "noodle bowl emoji". The key is to make communication connecting, fun and incorporating humor whilst still being serious and vulnerable. Thi

Inside the Therapy Room | Rachel Dao, Clinical Psychologist This post uses a fictional couple representing interracial couples I have worked with to explore how racial microaggressions, intergenerational trauma, emotional avoidance and grief can affect intimate relationships. Presenting Problem Amara and James, an interracial couple, presented with recurring conflict involving James's family. Amara experienced certain comments and interactions as racial microaggressions, leav

ADHD can go unnoticed for several different reasons. Here are some different unexpected ways in which ADHD can be masked: There were high expectations on you to achieve, so you prioritised achievement in order to get your needs met, receive love, avoid punishment or conform culturally. You received strict parental discipline around getting good grades and behaving well. You developed perfectionism to overcompensate or hide difficulties, for example, over-preparing, over-organ

List is not limited to but includes.. ADHD Unmet Childhood Needs 1. Need for stimulation, novelty, spontaneity E.g.. New hobbies, work challenges, creative projects 2. Need for clear and direct instructions E.g. assignments have clear non ambiguous instruction 3. Need for healthy realistic boundaries E.g. compassionately being told “no” or that things are “too much” 4. Need for special interests E.g. uninterrupted 3 hour hyper fixation on my hobby 5. Need for flexibility at w

This is for you who have a healing fantasy... A healing fantasy is “The expectation and longing that a problematic relationship can be...

It's hard to feel warmth for partners when we have spent an entire night arguing with them. Even after there is some logical resolution,...