Depression is a common mental health condition that can affect people at any stage of life. This is more than usual sadness and involves very low mood as well as loss of interest and pleasure in your usual activities for at least 2 weeks or more.
It might be triggered by change or loss that has occurred in your life, or there may not be any apparent reason.
Other symptoms might include emotional numbness, lack of motivation, sleep or appetite disturbance, and increased thoughts of self-harm or suicide.
Anxiety is the most common mental health condition, occurring in about 1 in 4 people. Everyone gets worried and anxious sometimes. An anxiety disorder occurs when this is persistent and interferes with a person’s occupational, social, and academic functioning. Anxiety disorders include:
Some of the other mental health conditions listed also involve anxiety.
Eating disorders occur when thoughts, feelings, and behaviours about body shape or size become entrenched, cause high anxiety, and are very difficult to change. The most common eating disorders include:
PTSD occurs in some people after exposure to a life-threatening event such as war, motor vehicle accident, or sexual abuse. The brain develops ways of coping with the event that can cause problems in the long term (e.g. avoidance). The brain and body can become too sensitised to danger and things seem more frightening than they actually are.
Intrusive symptoms include flashbacks, nightmares, and intrusive images and memories of the event that make it seem like it is happening again.
PTSD can impact people’s relationships and their sense of self.
PTSD is diagnosed when these symptoms have been present for 1 month or more. Acute Stress Disorder is an intense and challenging reaction to a traumatic event that lasts less than 1 month.
OCD occurs when thoughts (obsessions) become stuck in the brain and cause intense anxiety, and the person experiences urges (compulsions) for behaviours to try to reduce their distress. OCD is diagnosed when these urges cannot be resisted and repetitive patterns of behaviour become entrenched.
Autism is when people have long-term developmental differences that affect their style of communication, sensory experiences, repetitive interests, and social interactions.
This often also impacts their learning, ways of paying attention, and the intensity of their emotions.
At Sevens Creek Psychology we assess and diagnose autism in children and adults in a neuroaffirming way. We work with people once diagnosed to help them face the challenges of living with this neurodiversity.
Depression is a common mental health condition that can affect people at any stage of life. This is more than usual sadness and involves very low mood as well as loss of interest and pleasure in your usual activities for at least 2 weeks or more.
It might be triggered by change or loss that has occurred in your life, or there may not be any apparent reason.
Other symptoms might include emotional numbness, lack of motivation, sleep or appetite disturbance, and increased thoughts of self-harm or suicide.
Anxiety is the most common mental health condition, occurring in about 1 in 4 people. Everyone gets worried and anxious sometimes. An anxiety disorder occurs when this is persistent and interferes with a person’s occupational, social, and academic functioning. Anxiety disorders include:
Some of the other mental health conditions listed also involve anxiety.
Eating disorders occur when thoughts, feelings, and behaviours about body shape or size become entrenched, cause high anxiety, and are very difficult to change. The most common eating disorders include:
PTSD occurs in some people after exposure to a life-threatening event such as war, motor vehicle accident, or sexual abuse. The brain develops ways of coping with the event that can cause problems in the long term (e.g. avoidance). The brain and body can become too sensitised to danger and things seem more frightening than they actually are.
Intrusive symptoms include flashbacks, nightmares, and intrusive images and memories of the event that make it seem like it is happening again.
PTSD can impact people’s relationships and their sense of self.
PTSD is diagnosed when these symptoms have been present for 1 month or more. Acute Stress Disorder is an intense and challenging reaction to a traumatic event that lasts less than 1 month.
OCD occurs when thoughts (obsessions) become stuck in the brain and cause intense anxiety, and the person experiences urges (compulsions) for behaviours to try to reduce their distress. OCD is diagnosed when these urges cannot be resisted and repetitive patterns of behaviour become entrenched.
ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) is a condition involving long-term developmental differences, particularly around the brain’s executive functioning. It can often result in difficulties with self-regulation, thought processing, time-management, concentration, forgetfulness, distractedness, restlessness, impulsiveness, procrastination, fatigue and overwhelm. It is important to note that, although these difficulties can and do impact daily functioning, they arise from the strain of conforming to a neurotypical world as a neurodivergent individual, and are intrinsic elements of the creative, unique, chaotic and wonderful individual who experiences them.
Though people with ADHD can be impacted by both inattentiveness and hyperactivity, they will usually be categorised into one of the subtypes. These are:
ADHD Inattentive Type
ADHD Hyperactive Type
ADHD Combined Type.
ADHD is severely underdiagnosed in women, and particularly people who learn from a young age to mask or to overcompensate for their struggles to fit into neurotypical society. The strain of this can lead to burnout, Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria or low self-esteem, despite the unique skillset and individuality that neurodivergence brings.
ADHD is common in autistic individuals, though experiencing both can lead to a slightly different presentation.
At Sevens Creek Psychology we assess and diagnose ADHD in children and adults in a neuroaffirming way. We work with people once diagnosed to help them face the challenges of living with this neurodiversity.
The DSM-5 includes 5 dissociative disorders:
Dissociative Amnesia
Depersonalisation/Derealisation Disorder
Other Specified Dissociative Disorder (OSDD)
Unspecified Dissociative Disorder, and
Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID).
Most people experience some dissociation as a response to stress and trauma or as a part of other conditions such as anxiety, PTSD or ADHD.
In dissociative disorders, people experience dissociation as a primary symptom and it has a significant impact on their lives. Dissociation is especially common in C-PTSD and many people experience both conditions.
The main difference between OSDD and DID is the way in which people experience alters and/or amnesia. In OSDD passive influence of alters is common and they are usually experienced as less separate than in DID.
Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID)
Previously known as Multiple Personality Disorder, DID (Dissociative Identity Disorder) is characterised by the presence of two or more distinct personality states or identities within an individual (alters), which may have unique names, behaviours, memories, and ways of perceiving the world. Other key features include losing time and amnesia for periods of time, as well as feeling influenced by the thoughts, feelings and urges of internal parts (called passive influence).
DID often arises as an adaptive response to severe trauma, which is typically experienced during early childhood. It can result in memory gaps, identity confusion, and dissociation.
At Sevens Creek Psychology we use trauma focused CBT, Compassion focused therapy, EMDR and trauma and dissociation protocols to help people to recover from their early life experiences. Trauma-focused therapies work to help people be grounded in the current time instead of feeling as though they are reliving traumas; enhance communication among the alters to ensure all parts are able to have their needs met; and addressing underlying traumas, ultimately improving the ease and experience of life.
Further information: https://did-research.org/
Complex PTSD (C-PTSD) results from prolonged or repeated trauma and neglect, particularly when the individual is unable to escape the traumatic situation. It impacts the functioning, mood, relationships and sense of self of those affected by it. Though the symptoms of Complex PTSD and traditional PTSD overlap, including hypervigilance, avoidance behaviours and intrusive memories, Complex PTSD also involves emotional dysregulation, negative self-perception, difficulties in relationships, and persistent feelings of shame or guilt.
Through trauma-focused therapy C-PTSD can be managed and one’s quality of life improved.
At Sevens Creek Psychology we use trauma focused CBT, Compassion focused therapy, EMDR and trauma and dissociation protocols to help people to recover from their early life experiences. This work typically takes at least 2 years of fairly intensive therapy.
Our clinicians help people to navigate through typical life challenges such as transitions to new school or workplace, managing relationship difficulties, or adjusting to change.
With support from our clinicians you can gain the skills to live a more meaningful life and learn tools to deal with challenges.
We help people learn to tolerate distress and to work with and regulate their emotions, enabling them to live the most fulfilling life possible.
Most commonly, clients attend appointments on their own, to work on individual issues with a psychologist or accredited mental health social worker.
Our psychologists and accredited mental health social workers often help parents and families to support young people who are experiencing difficulties or distress.
We sometimes offer group interventions to develop specific skills such as mindfulness or compassion-focused approaches.
We provide a peaceful environment at our cottage near the banks of the Sevens Creek in Euroa, for you to feel safe to explore your challenges.
Clients who are not able to get to Euroa and who are eligible can have sessions via telehealth, utilising private and safe video calling technology.
Get to know our team members, their interests and skills. Find out more information about fees and making an appointment to help you get prepared.