Dr Amanda Mullin - Think Differently

12/02/2026

How comfortable are you disappointing others? Or do you prefer to:

➡️ Agree to the thing.
➡️ Stay quiet in the meeting.
➡️ Soften what you really think.
➡️ Take on more than you have capacity for.

So many of my clients tell themself they are just being helpful. But most of the time it’s anxiety. “I don’t want this to feel uncomfortable.”

People pleasing gives immediate relief. No tension. No awkwardness. Everyone’s okay. They don’t want to disappoint. They don’t want to look difficult. They don’t want the shift in tone.

So, every time you override yourself to keep someone else comfortable, you get short-term relief.

But then you feel resentful and exhausted. Your energy drains. You feel a bit unseen.

Letting someone feel a flicker of disappointment isn’t unkind. Constantly overriding yourself is. Learning how to set boundaries is a skill.

Try:

• “I can’t commit to that right now.”
• “That won’t work for me.”
• “I don’t have the capacity this week.”
• “I’m going to pass, but thank you for thinking of me.”

You don’t need a dramatic reason to say no. Someone else’s disappointment is not an emergency.

Learning how to tolerate the sensation of knowing someone is disappointed can be life changing.

15/12/2025

More community resources arriving today - including this one from lifeline.

Guidance for those impacted by the Bondi Beach incident on 14 December 2025. Understand common reactions, find coping strategies, and access help.

14/12/2025

The devastating events at Bondi tonight impact all of us, including our children.

As a local psychologist I wanted to share this factsheet, and provide a few tips that might help you when talking with your children.

1️⃣ Talk to your child. Be honest and keep it age-appropriate.

It’s better that they hear it from you than hear stories on the playground. Keep it simple. "There was a shooting incident at Bondi Beach. People were hurt, and some died. The Police caught the shooters and we're safe."

Don't elaborate unless they ask. If they do ask, provide simple age appropriate facts. Facts are usually a lot less terrifying than a child’s imagination.

2️⃣ Stick to routines, model calm not panic.

Our children watch how we respond. By sticking to a familiar routine we show them that even when scary things happen in the world, we can still feel safe in our homes and communities.

Take care of yourself. If you need help or aupport, reach out to services like Beyond Blue.

This factsheet has more information about helping children deal with tragic events:

https://psychology.org.au/getmedia/a61fcf9d-dc4c-40f3-b94d-65995c85995b/helping-children-affected-tragic-events.pdf?fbclid=IwdGRleAOrkPBleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEe2CbKsu_Uj6pij8Cy3bltuQP8yJFSH-UvpMZE5QI252kR2Bkt2vdajH4c4CM_aem_8AqoQoWUZT27kFTk3xMTyQ

04/12/2025

For me, there is no magic age that your child should or should not get a smartphone. Every family, every child is different. That said, every family needs to put supervision and rules around smartphones because our children can’t yet understand the risks.

What are your rules and boundaries for your child? Are you black and white with them, or are you more flexible.

I gave my children smartphones in primary school so that I could call them if I was running late to pick up (a frequent occurrence with my role and traffic at that time). I loved that they were young enough that they’d show me content which gave me the opportunity to talk often about risks. Oversharing, strangers, bulling, p**n, sexting, trolls - we’d discuss things like how we felt in response to posts. As a psychologist I know that it’s often harder for teens to have the same conversation with us - so for me, risk education, and being able to have influence and shape the conversations was one of my biggest priorities.

What factors influence you? If your children are older, do you regret the choice you made? Would you now do it differently based on what you’ve learned?

With the social media ban this month there has never been a better time to keep these conversations going.

A new study in Pediatrics found that twelve-year-olds who owned smartphones were more likely to experience depression and obesity and not get enough sleep than their peers without one. Consistent communication with children and teens about smartphones and screen time can help make sure that phones don’t crowd out important activities like exercise, sleep, and quality time with friends and family. Learn more in AAP News: https://bit.ly/3KvYJkB

27/11/2025

I’m so thrilled and still in a bit of disbelief after winning the Therapist & Counselling category in APAC Awards — what an incredible moment it was.

This award recognises the heart of the work I do every day: helping people understand their minds with evidence-based tools that truly make a difference.
From the therapy room at Mindworx Psychology, to our online programs, to the wellbeing, neurodiversity and ADHD education I deliver through Think Differently in schools and workplaces — my mission has always been the same:

Make mental wellbeing practical, accessible, and genuinely life-changing.

I’m deeply grateful to my clients for their courage, my team for their excellence, and my family and community for their constant support.

And to the many women across APAC who are creating change in their fields — it’s an honour to stand alongside you.

Here’s to continuing the work that helps people not just cope… but truly thrive. 💛

25/11/2025

✨ I’m honoured to share that I’ve been named a Finalist in the Changing The World APAC Awards. ✨

These awards celebrate women who are creating meaningful impact across the Asia–Pacific region through leadership, innovation, education, health, advocacy, entrepreneurship, sustainability, and humanitarian work.

To be recognised alongside so many remarkable women is both humbling and energising.

For me, this acknowledgement reflects the heart of the work I do every day - helping people understand their brains, creating awareness and eduation in the neurodiversity space, and bringing evidence-based wellbeing tools to schools, workplaces, and communities.

Across Mindworx Psychology, Mindworx Online, and Think Differently, my mission has always been the same: to make mental wellbeing practical, accessible, and grounded in science, and to show people that when we understand ourselves differently, we can thrive differently.

A huge thank you to my clients, my team, and everyone who continues to support this work. And congratulations to the other finalists who are doing extraordinary things in the world.

Here’s to continuing to change the world, one conversation, one classroom, and one nervous system at a time. 💛

14/11/2025

If you’ve worked wirh me you know that i love unpacking family of origin influences and exploring how our unconscious beliefs can shape us.

I also love talking about parenting. Such a privilege to see my artice published in Editors pick today on Child Magazines

Even the most mindful parents slip into old habits. Dr Amanda Mullin explains why we often parent like our parents—and how small moments of awareness can help us break the cycle, stay calm, and grow alongside our children.

08/11/2025

When the deadline hits and suddenly your brain decides now is the perfect time to start 😅

Adrenaline: 1️⃣ Procrastination: 0️⃣

07/11/2025

I’m so excited to share that I’ve written a chapter in Begin It Now, a powerful collection of stories and insights from innovators, business owners, and changemakers as part of

My chapter shares lessons learned from building Mindworx Psychology during the period I was diagnosed with breast cancer. It was honestly a difficult chapter to write, often reducing me to tears with memories I’d buried deep.

To see it in print… and meet my co-authors in person- It’s an incredible honour to be featured alongside such inspiring entrepreneurs who are redefining what success looks like, with courage, authenticity, and purpose.

I’ll share the purchase links once I get over my excitement - feel free to message me if you’d like a copy!

23/10/2025

Ever stare at your to-do list and feel your chest tighten — like your brain can’t even decide where to begin?
That’s not laziness. It’s your brain doing what it thinks will keep you safe.

When an ADHD brain sees too much, your nervous system interprets it as threat.
Cortisol rises, dopamine drops, and suddenly you’re in freeze mode.
The part of your brain that plans and prioritises (the prefrontal cortex) goes offline, while the emotional centre (the amygdala) takes charge.

It’s not that you don’t want to do it.
It’s that your brain is flooded — overwhelmed by too many open loops.

💡 What helps:
• Shrink the task until it feels doable. If “write the report” feels impossible, start with “open the document.”
• Add dopamine before you begin. Music, movement, sunlight, even a short timer — give your brain a cue that says “safe to start.”
• Celebrate small momentum. Finishing one micro-step releases dopamine and helps your brain want to keep going.

You don’t need to push harder — you need to start smaller.
And the moment you do, that fog of “I can’t” starts to lift.

Save this for the next time your list feels like a wall instead of a doorway. 💛

22/10/2025

What an inspiring day at WEXPO — surrounded by business owners who care deeply about making a difference.
Conversations about mental health, neurodiversity, and inclusion remind me why this work matters so much.

18/10/2025

I loved connecting with so many parents and professionals who are changing the story around ADHD at Sydney’s ADHD conference - and of course, getting to hang out for the day with the incredible Adele McFarland, one of the Clinical Psychologists on our team at - it’s been my honour to mentor Adele in her early career, and I now learn so much from her.

What were your key takeaways from the day?

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