Slip Psychology

16/02/2026

Ever get to the end of the day and think, “I was busy… but I wasn’t really there”?

Autopilot is something many people notice more when they’re tired, stressed, or overloaded. The therapy skill is noticing it sooner, then making one small choice that aligns with what matters.

Try this: feet on the floor + soften your shoulders + ask “am I here or on default?”

General information only — not personal psychological advice.

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13/02/2026

This is your reminder that you're not a robot.

There’s solid evidence that time in nature (even brief exposure) is associated with reductions in physiological stress markers like cortisol and blood pressure, and improvements in restoration and wellbeing.

If you’re burnt out, aim for tiny, repeatable doses:
🌿 5–10 minutes outside
🌿 eyes on something green
🌿 slower breathing
🌿 phone down

It won’t solve everything, but it can help your body shift out of “on/alert” mode.

- Kirra Williams (Psychologist)

General information only — everyone’s needs are different...

12/02/2026

11/02/2026

Feeling stuck can look like procrastination on the outside… but on the inside it often feels like shutdown: foggy brain, heavy body, “I can’t move.”

When stress is high (or chronic), our bodies can swing into freeze, not because you’re lazy, but because your brain is prioritising survival and conserving energy.

In therapy we often work with “micro-moves” because small actions reduce overwhelm and rebuild a sense of agency.

Try this instead of “fix everything”:
1. Pick the smallest next step (2 minutes).
2. Make it specific: “Walk to the mailbox and back.”
3. Pair it with a soft body cue (long exhale, feet on the floor).
4. Then stop. Let that be enough.

A body that feels safe enough can start moving again.

- Kirra Williams (Psychologist)

General information only — everyone’s needs are different.
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10/02/2026

If you could tell yourself one thing 10 years ago, what would it be?
For many people, it’s learning sooner that their needs matter, boundaries are allowed, and self-compassion can ease anxiety rather than create it.
What would you say?
General information only. Everyone’s needs are different.
boundaries psychologyeducation mentalhealtheducation emotionalhealth personalgrowth queenslandpsychologist australianpsychologist

10/02/2026

If you’re stuck between “here” and “there”, it’s usually not because you’re incapable, it’s because your body is trying to protect you by thinking harder.

The aim isn’t to find the perfect choice. It’s to build psychological flexibility: the ability to stay present with uncertainty, notice what your mind is doing, and choose actions that move you toward what matters.

A quick values check (simple, but powerful):
🌿 If fear wasn’t driving this… what would I choose?
🌿 Which option supports the person I want to be?
🌿 What’s the smallest “values step” I can take today (even if I still feel unsure)?

You don’t need 100% certainty. You just need a next step that fits you.

- Kirra Williams (Psychologist)

General information only — everyone’s needs are different.
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09/02/2026

When we talk about fight / flight / freeze / fawn, we’re really talking about what your nervous system does when it senses threat (even if the “threat” is a difficult email, conflict, or being judged).

The goal isn’t to “delete” these responses, it’s to notice what’s happening, make space for it, and choose actions that match your values (instead of letting threat-mode run the show).

Here’s a simple way to understand the 4Fs:

🟥 FIGHT
“I need to push back / control / argue.”
Reframe: “My mind is trying to protect me.”
Value-based pivot: “Can I respond firmly and respectfully?”

🟦 FLIGHT
“I need to escape / avoid / keep busy.”
Reframe: “Avoidance gives relief now, but costs me later.”
Value-based pivot: “What’s the smallest step I can take toward what matters?”

🟨 FREEZE
“I can’t think / I go blank / I shut down.”
Reframe: “This is overload, not failure.”
Value-based pivot: “Can I ground first, then choose one doable action?”

🟩 FAWN
“I need to people-please so I’m safe.”
Reframe: “Appeasing kept me connected before.”
Value-based pivot: “Can I practice one boundary that protects my energy?”

You don’t need to be perfectly calm to act in line with your values, you just need a tiny bit of space between the trigger and the autopilot.

General information only — everyone’s needs are different.
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03/02/2026

Working from home can quietly keep your stress system “on” all day.

When there’s no commute (or clear transition), your brain and nervous system don’t get the usual cue that work is finished, so you can stay in problem-solving mode long after you close the laptop. Over time, that “always on” state can contribute to fatigue, irritability, poor sleep, and burnout.

Try a 2–5 minute shutdown ritual to create a clear off-switch:
🌿 Close tabs + write tomorrow’s top 3 priorities
🌿 Physically close the laptop + put it out of sight
🌿 Change your environment (step outside / short walk / different room)
🌿 Add a body cue: stretch, shake out tension, slower breathing, music, shower
🌿 Same time each day, if possible (consistency = stronger cue)

If you’re feeling stuck in survival mode or burnout is creeping in, support can help. 🤍

General information only — everyone’s needs are different.
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30/01/2026

Your “overthinking”, might be trying to protect you

“Stop overthinking” is advice that sounds nice in theory. In practice, it can feel like being told to stop bleeding.

Because for many people, thinking isn’t the problem, it’s the strategy.

Overthinking can be an attempt to:
🌿 predict what might go wrong
🌿 prevent embarrassment
🌿 avoid conflict
🌿 stay in control
🌿 reduce uncertainty
🌿 earn safety through preparedness

When you tell yourself to stop, you’re often fighting a protection system that believes it’s keeping you safe.

A different approach can be curiosity:
🌿 What is my mind trying to prevent right now?
🌿 What outcome am I trying to guarantee?
🌿 What would it mean about me if this didn’t go well?

- Kirra Williams (Psychologist) ..

General information only, everyone’s needs are different.

29/01/2026

“Therapy didn’t work for me” is data, not a dead end

I hear this sentence a lot:
“Therapy never worked for me.”
And it’s often said with a mix of frustration and resignation, like the door is closed.

But that sentence usually contains useful information.
Sometimes “therapy didn’t work” means:
🌿 I didn’t feel safe enough to be honest
🌿 We didn’t have clear goals
🌿 The sessions felt like talking in circles
🌿 I wanted tools, but it stayed abstract
🌿 I wanted depth, but it stayed surface-level
🌿 I didn’t feel understood
🌿 I didn’t feel like we were a team

And sometimes it’s not that therapy “doesn’t work.”
It’s that the fit wasn’t right, approach, pace, structure, relationship, timing.
If you ever try again, a surprisingly powerful move can be naming what you didn’t like last time.

Examples:
🌿 “I need more structure.”
🌿 “I need help applying this between sessions.”
🌿 “I need space to explore patterns, not just symptom management.”
🌿 “I need us to check in on whether this is helping.”

Good therapy isn’t about pushing through discomfort alone. It’s about collaboration.

- Kirra Williams (Psychologist)..

General information only, everyone’s needs are different.