Join lawyer Rebecca McLeod and psychologist Aspasia Karageorge to learn about coercive control in intimate partner relationships. This episode explains what coercive control means, as well as painting a picture of what you can expect if you go to see a solicitor in response to experiencing coercive control in your domestic relationship. What are your rights, what can you expect the process to be like, how does separation or divorce factor into all of this, and what other supports are important to consider?

Aspasia and Rebecca discuss the overlap between law and psychology when addressing coercive control, the challenges of identifying and supporting people, and we offer practical information for anyone in that situation (for that reason, this episode is a little longer than normal!)

About our guest: Rebecca McLeod is the Practice Leader (Northern Beaches) at Watts McCray lawyers. She was admitted as a solicitor in 2008 and has practiced almost exclusively in Family Law since 2012. You can find Rebecca and other compassionate family law solicitors who can help with matters of coercive control at Watts McCray Lawyers: www.wattsmccray.com.au

The legal context: Based on the Crimes Legislation Amendment (Coercive Control) Act 2022, coercive control is a criminal offence in NSW from 1 July 2024. This is when a person uses abusive behaviours towards a current or former intimate partner with the intention to coerce or control them. The criminal offence captures repeated patterns of physical or non-physical abuse used to hurt, scare, intimidate, threaten or control someone.

A reminder that free 24-hour support is available for domestic violence or abuse of any kind in Australia on the 1800 RESPECT phoneline: 1800 737 732. Or call your country’s police phone number for support.

-------------------------------------

Want to make an appointment with Aspasia or one of the clinical psychologists at Sydney City Psychology? Get in touch with us today: (02) 9235 3127 or email info@sydneycitypsychology.com.au

This episode was recorded in May 2025 by Aspasia Karageorge and Rebecca McLeod in Sydney, Australia.

In this episode, clinical psychologist, Dr Veena Sothieson, provides a helpful overview of EMDR therapy. We understand you might be wondering: What exactly is EMDR? What does a session involve? And how might it help you? Dr Sothieson clearly explains how bilateral stimulation can assist in processing and supporting healing from distressing experiences. She also walks you through the different stages of EMDR therapy, from your initial assessment and preparation, right through to the active processing sessions. If you're seeking to understand more about EMDR and whether it could be a helpful path forward for you, this episode offers valuable insights. And if you're interested in delving deeper, keep an eye out for a future episode where we'll explore the Adaptive Information Processing Model (AIP) that underpins EMDR.

Timestamps:

00:36 What is EMDR?

02:05 Applications of EMDR

05:12 EMDR Session Structure

06:55 Processing Sessions Explained

10:32 Flexibility and Adaptations in EMDR

Want to make an appointment with one of our EMDR psychologists at Sydney City Psychology? We provide sessions online and in Sydney CBD. Get in touch with us today: ⁠(02) 9235 3127⁠

This episode was recorded in March 2025 by Aspasia Karageorge and Veena Sothieson in Sydney, Australia. The information provided here does not replace personalised medical or psychological advice from your doctor or clinician. Always seek individualised medical advice from your health practitioner, and not from the content of podcasts.

Learn about the benefits of self compassion to your mental health, physical health, relationships, and productivity. Many people think that practising self compassion will lead to stagnation or laziness, but clinical psychologist Dr Aspasia Karageorge is here to explain the science behind why self compassion actually increases motivation, confidence, resilience, and meaningful engagement in life.

Here are three quick ways to start doing self-compassion today:

• Self-Compassion Break: When you’re upset, pause. Name what you’re feeling, remind yourself others feel it too, and say something kind like, “I’m trying hard today, even though it isn’t going to plan.”

  Letter to Yourself: After a rough moment, write a note to yourself as if you’re comforting a friend who has been through that rough moment, then read it back to yourself. It’s a perspective-changer.

  Check-In Moments: Ask yourself throughout the day, “How am I? What do I need in this moment?”, and then take a moment to give it to yourself. Even a sip of water counts. Treat yourself as though you are valuable and someone to be cared for - because you are.

• --------------------------

  Check out our website sydneycitypsychology.com.au to learn more about how we can help you to live well, or get in touch with us today on ⁠(02) 9235 3127⁠.

  This episode was recorded in March 2025 by Aspasia Karageorge in Sydney, Australia.

  The information provided here does not replace personalised medical or psychological advice from your doctor or clinician. Always seek individualised medical advice from your health practitioner, and not from the content of podcasts.

There’s a lot out there about parenting children with ADHD, but what about the ADHD parents? In this episode, Aspasia (clinical psychologist and mother) covers the challenges and strengths of parenting with ADHD. She covers common issues such as planning, organisation, sensory overwhelm, and impulse control, while offering practical solutions like using visual cues, breaking tasks into small steps, and leveraging technology. Additionally, she highlights the strengths that ADHD can bring to the parenting game, emphasising that neurodiversity leads to parenting diversity, and ADHD is no obstacle to being a safe, secure, loving and connected parent. Find your own unique ways of doing it!

---------------------------------

Want to make an appointment with one of the psychologists at Sydney City Psychology? Get in touch with us today: ⁠(02) 9235 3127⁠

This episode was recorded in February 2025 by Aspasia Karageorge in Sydney, Australia.

The information provided here does not replace personalised medical or psychological advice from your doctor or clinician. Always seek individualised medical advice from your health practitioner, and not from the content of podcasts.

This is my full conversation with Johannes Kieding - an experienced ISTDP therapist, teacher, and trainer. We discuss psychodynamic therapy and Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy (ISTDP), an evidence-based therapy approach developed by Dr Habib Davanloo. We discuss the psychodynamic focus on emotions, the conflicts inherent in human life, and how the unconscious might play a part in all of this. Johannes explains core principles of ISTDP such as the Triangle of Conflict, what to expect in ISTDP therapy, and how ISTDP differs from other therapeutic models like CBT. We also discuss emotional development, complex mixed feelings, new ways of thinking about anxiety, and practical insights for parents on emotional management and attachment trauma. This one is an enriching discussion on a powerful therapeutic approach, all in the one conversation. You can also find parts of this conversion in 10-minute clips on episodes 18, 19, and 20 of the 10 Minute Mood Podcast.

More about Johannes KIeding

Contact him via his website: https://johanneskieding.com/

His youtube channel: www.youtube.com/@LearningForPsychotherapists

More about Sydney City Psychology

sydneycitypsychology.com.au

Call or email us today: ⁠(02) 9235 3127⁠ or ⁠info@sydneycitypsychology.com.au⁠

-----------------------------------------

This episode was recorded online in October 2024 by Aspasia Karageorge and Johannes Kieding. The information provided here does not replace personalised medical or psychological advice from your doctor or clinician. Always seek individualised medical advice from your health practitioner, and not from the content of podcasts.

This episode continues from Episode 15 and the theme of healthy vs. unhealthy relationships to exercise. In this episode, clinical psychologist Dr Veena Sothieson provides a practical roadmap to assess and improve your exercise mindset - so that exercise becomes about supporting your values and your greater wellbeing, and not something restrictive. Veena steps through some questions you can ask yourself, some concrete ways to monitor how you are currently relating to exercise, and simple strategies to shift towards healthier habits and attitudes when it comes to all things exercise, movement, and body.

For the full 30-minute discussion, visit sydneycitypsychology.com.au

Want to make an appointment with Veena or one of the psychologists at Sydney City Psychology? Get in touch with us today: ⁠(02) 9235 3127⁠ or email ⁠info@sydneycitypsychology.com.au⁠

This episode was recorded in September 2024 by Aspasia Karageorge and Veena Sothieson in Sydney, Australia. And a reminder to always seek individualised medical advice from your health practitioner, and not from the content of podcasts.

In this episode, clinical psychologists Aspasia and Veena discuss the nuances of exercise and wellbeing. habits. Rather than the common misconception that all exercise is universally good for us, this conversation highlights a distinction between approaches to exercise which may become harmful to our wellbeing, bodies, and/or relationships (e.g., rigid, guilt-driven, or weight-loss-motivated exercise mindsets), and a healthier relationship to exercise which operates in service of our values and overall wellbeing (e.g., building a meaningful, flexible, and enjoyable relationship with physical activity that emphasises the importance of awareness, variety, and listening to the cues of our body).

Practical advice for shifting towards healthier exercise attitudes and behaviours is also offered in the next episode of this podcast - Episode 16. Or you can listen to the full unabridged 30-minute conversation in one place on our website: sydneycitypsychology.com.au

Want to make an appointment with Aspasia or one of the psychologists at Sydney City Psychology? Get in touch with us today: ⁠(02) 9235 3127⁠ or email ⁠info@sydneycitypsychology.com.au⁠

This episode was recorded in September 2024 by Aspasia Karageorge and Veena Sothieson in Sydney, Australia. And a reminder to always seek individualised medical advice from your health practitioner, and not from the content of podcasts.

Join clinical psychologist & researcher, Dr Aspasia Karageorge, for a short dive into the complex world of emotions. What does the term really mean, and how might it be useful to consider our emotions in more depth?

Want to make an appointment with Aspasia or one of the psychologists at Sydney City Psychology? Get in touch with us today: ⁠(02) 9235 3127⁠ or email ⁠info@sydneycitypsychology.com.au⁠ or visit our website: www.sydneycitypsychology.com.au

This episode was recorded in July 2024 by Aspasia Karageorge in Sydney, Australia. The information provided here does not replace personalised medical or psychological advice from your doctor or clinician.