Mind Matters Cairns

Mind Matters Cairns Mind Matters Mind Matters is a private psychology practice based in Cairns specialising in mental health treatments for people of all ages.

Therapeutic interventions include brain based therapies like neurofeedback, traditional talk therapies, auditory training and integrative medicine. We also provide occupational therapy, multi sensory tutoring services and skills building for kids and adolescents on the spectrum. More than just talk therapy
....because a healthy mind matters!

Ten minutes outside is still outside…GO! Happy Sunday peeps 💙💛
08/11/2025

Ten minutes outside is still outside…GO!
Happy Sunday peeps 💙💛

A powerful new study (Shin et al 2025) shows that early-life trauma doesn’t just leave emotional scars, it rewires the b...
06/11/2025

A powerful new study (Shin et al 2025) shows that early-life trauma doesn’t just leave emotional scars, it rewires the brain in ways that may predispose people to both self-harm and aggression later in life.
It suggests that what seem like very different behaviours, aggression and self-harm, may in fact share a common neural root.
Why this matters:
It reinforces that trauma isn’t just a psychological issue—it’s deeply biological. Healing must attend to body + brain + mind.

• For young people in the justice system, in schools, or in recovery: if we see aggression and self-harm, we must ask: what trauma underlies that? What pain is being expressed?
• It opens new possibilities for treatment, targeting neural circuits, pain‐sensitivity, and trauma responses, instead of only behaviour.
• It strengthens our voice: when we speak of change, it’s not “just behaviour modification” but healing the wound in the brain & nervous system caused by adversity.

Healing isn’t one-dimensional. Our therapies are designed to restore balance across brain function, the nervous system, and emotional wellbeing.



(Artwork: Vukojevic)

Mental health care is always evolving and so are we. Four of our team attended ANSA’s neurofeedback conference for 3 day...
03/11/2025

Mental health care is always evolving and so are we. Four of our team attended ANSA’s neurofeedback conference for 3 days of jam packed lectures and workshops on the latest in this field.
Upskilling keeps our team informed, inspired, and equipped to deliver the highest standard of care, ensuring every client benefits from the best our field has to offer. 💙💛🧠

Another incredible ANSA Conference!As it wraps up, I’m filled with gratitude for the brilliant minds who continue to pus...
03/11/2025

Another incredible ANSA Conference!
As it wraps up, I’m filled with gratitude for the brilliant minds who continue to push the boundaries of neuroscience and share their expertise so generously. It’s inspiring to see so many evidence-based, science-driven approaches helping clients heal and grow beyond traditional talk therapy.

I’m grateful to all the speakers and attendees for their compassion, curiosity, and integrity — and for advancing our profession while inspiring continued growth x

31/10/2025

Charles Dickens once said “There is nothing in the world so irresistibly contagious as laughter and good humour”. Laughter is like a reset button for the body and mind. It lowers stress hormones, boosts immunity, and releases those feel-good endorphins that help us connect and cope. There were lots of laughs putting this together! 🦇😂

In our field, knowledge is never static, it evolves as science deepens, technology advances, and new therapies emerge. ...
29/10/2025

In our field, knowledge is never static, it evolves as science deepens, technology advances, and new therapies emerge. Mind Matters Cairns, has always been passionate about staying at the cutting edge of wellbeing science, exploring the latest research and tools that help our clients flourish.
Last weekend I was lucky enough to attend the Biohacking and Wellbeing Summit where I heard the latest findings on the best ways to optimise the function of our body and mind. Some of the best integrative medicine and biohacking experts took to the stage with one underlying core principal “ Mental health is not separate from physical health”
I have come back inspired! Watch this space!💫

On this day in 1940, Greece stood tall against tyranny. When Mussolini demanded free passage for Italian troops, Prime M...
28/10/2025

On this day in 1940, Greece stood tall against tyranny. When Mussolini demanded free passage for Italian troops, Prime Minister Ioannis Metaxas answered with one powerful word: “ΟΧΙ” (“No”). That single act of defiance ignited a nation. Ordinary men and women took to the mountains to defend their homeland, showing the world that courage, unity, and freedom are values worth any sacrifice.

As Greeks around the world celebrate that enduring spirit today, I think about the unseen legacy that followed, the intergenerational trauma that was passed down through families who lived through war, occupation, loss, and fear. The echoes of that suffering were carried in the silences between generations, shaping both our strength and our sensitivity to injustice.
And as I remember the bravery of those who said “No” then, my thoughts and heart go out to the bravery and endurance of the people who are still caught in wars not of their making, those fighting for survival, dignity, and peace, in homes, in workplaces and in lands still torn by conflict.
On this day I celebrate humanity’s capacity: to resist oppression, to hold compassion, and to keep believing in peace. ✌🏼💙🤍

OT Week 2025: Understanding the Role of Paediatric Occupational TherapistsPaediatric Occupational Therapists (OTs) suppo...
27/10/2025

OT Week 2025: Understanding the Role of Paediatric Occupational Therapists

Paediatric Occupational Therapists (OTs) support children to build the skills they need to participate fully in everyday life; at home, at school, and in the community. Their work bridges the gap between a child’s abilities and the demands of their environment, helping them do what matters most.

At Mind Matters Cairns, our OTs work with children experiencing challenges in areas such as:

💙Emotional regulation and sensory processing
💛Fine and gross motor coordination
💙Social participation and confidence
💛School readiness, attention, and learning skills
💙Daily routines such as dressing, eating, or handwriting

Through play-based, evidence-informed interventions, they assess how a child’s body, mind, and environment interact and then tailor practical strategies to support independence, wellbeing, and resilience.

Paediatric OTs are not just helping children “do tasks”; they’re building pathways for growth, connection, and lifelong confidence.

October rising, early this morning. May it be as awesome as its entry. Happy October 🧡
01/10/2025

October rising, early this morning. May it be as awesome as its entry.
Happy October 🧡

Lessons on deep rest inspired by LuluI watch Lulu in the garden. At a glance it may appear that she’s having a meander ...
27/09/2025

Lessons on deep rest inspired by Lulu

I watch Lulu in the garden. At a glance it may appear that she’s having a meander in bushes but as I watch I can see the intensity of her focus, her deliberate movements; a step here, a pause there. She’s curious, sniffing, scanning and tentatively moving through the hedges. Ears pricked, nose twitching, she is alert and focused, planning on her next move, ensuring it’s safe and moving delicately but deliberately into the dense dark foliage. It strikes me that is this similar to what happens in a therapist’s mind during session.
On the outside, therapy may look like a calm conversation. But inside a therapist’s mind, dozens of processes are running at once:
• Tracking emotions: Both our client’s and our own, monitoring subtle reactions, and making sure we don’t interfere.
• Holding the story: Remembering history, context, and patterns, while listening deeply to every new detail.
• Choosing responses: Balancing empathy with evidence-based strategies; deciding when to reflect, when to challenge, and when to stay silent.
• Assessing risk: Quietly scanning for red flags; suicidal ideation, safety concerns, trauma triggers that may require immediate action.
• Regulating presence: Keeping body language open, voice steady, and mind grounded, even when the room is filled with grief, anger, or despair.
• Planning next steps: Thinking several sessions ahead, considering therapeutic goals, potential obstacles, and how to gently guide the process forward.
All this happens while giving the impression of simply “being there.”

It is meaningful work, but it is also taxing. Each hour of therapy draws on deep reserves of emotional energy, focus, and compassion. This is why it is important for us to take a break, to allow our minds, bodies, and spirits to reset so that we can come back refreshed and renewed with the same passion to serve that we’ve always had.

Our offices will re-open on Tuesday 7th Oct

“Rest and be thankful.”
~William Wordsworth

Happy Caturday 🐾💙💛

Lessons on Love inspired by Lulu 🐾She jumps up beside me and my brain bathes in oxytocin. I start thinking about how LOV...
20/09/2025

Lessons on Love inspired by Lulu 🐾

She jumps up beside me and my brain bathes in oxytocin. I start thinking about how LOVE, is rarely loud or complicated. It arrives quietly, curling up beside us without demand, purring away and asking only for presence in return.

Lulu reminds me that love doesn’t require perfection. No need for the right image, the right mood, or the right setting. Simply showing up is enough.

As she nudges my hand with her nose she shows me that the deepest connections are often wordless. A gentle touch or a shared silence speaks more than declarations ever could.

And if I suspend my own desire to pick her up and hold her tight, I can see that her aloofness demonstrates that boundaries and love coexist. She teaches me that it’s okay to step back, to rest, to return when ready. True affection makes space for both closeness and solitude.

When she pounces at my ankles unexpectedly then runs in what appears to be a burst of pure joy, she shows me that love doesn’t live only in stillness, it dances in play.

And when she lies back to show me her soft belly, she reminds me that trust is a gift born of unconditional love. A gift that allows us to be vulnerable with those who have truly earned it.

Maybe this is what love is meant to look like:
A steady presence.
A respect for boundaries.
A playful spirit.
A trust that deepens quietly over time.

Maybe, if we loved one another with the patience, respect, and simplicity of a cat—we might just get closer to the kind of love that heals.

Happy Caturday, with Love. 💛💙

Address

90 H***e Street
Cairns, QLD
4870

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Mind Matters Cairns posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Practice

Send a message to Mind Matters Cairns:

Shortcuts

Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on LinkedIn
Share on Pinterest Share on Reddit Share via Email
Share on WhatsApp Share on Instagram Share on Telegram

Category