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Welcome to The ProActive Psychology Practice, where we truly believe that your mental health journey is as unique as you are. Kids having a hard time at school, teens navigating the tricky path to adulthood, adults dealing with the rollercoaster of life, or families seeking harmony—we understand. What sets us apart is our deep respect for your story. We celebrate who you are and where you come from, providing psychological support that’s sensitive to your cultural background. Our Personalised Session Plans are tailored just for you, taking into account your individual needs and cultural identity. This way, the therapy you get is not just effective, but it’s also meaningful to your personal healing and growth. Our team is made up of knowledgeable Clinical, Registered and Provisional Psychologists who are dedicated to using proven methods to help you. You can trust that your mental health is in good hands with us. We’re committed to creating a place where everyone feels included and empowered. Our psychologists are more than just supporters—they’re advocates for your culture and diversity, ensuring your therapy experience is as unique as you are. We’re here to listen, to support, and to collaborate with you on your journey. We want to make sure you’re heard and that we help you find strategies to cope, grow, and flourish. Age or background doesn’t matter—we’re all in this together. Your well-being is what matters most to us, and we’re dedicated to providing mental health care that’s both reachable and effective for you and those you care about.
02/11/2025
You have time to panic for an hour.
But you don't have 3 minutes to breathe?
When anxiety hits, your breathing changes.
↳ Short, shallow breaths send a signal to your brain: "DANGER."
↳ Heart races. Chest tightens. Panic spiral begins.
You can interrupt it in 3 minutes.
Deep belly breathing activates your parasympathetic nervous system—your body's "calm down" system.
🧠It tells your brain: "We're safe."
Research proves controlled breathing reduces anxiety and calms the nervous system.
How to do it:
1. One hand on chest, one on belly
2. Breathe in for 4 counts (belly rises)
3. Hold for 2
4. Exhale for 6
5. Repeat 5-10 minutes
Use when anxiety STARTS—don't wait for full panic.
❌ You cancel the plans.
❌ You skip the event.
❌ You avoid the phone call.
And for a moment... relief.
See? Anxiety says.
↳ That thing WAS dangerous.
↳ Good thing we didn't go.
But here's what actually happened:
You just taught your brain to be MORE anxious next time.
Every time you avoid something, your brain updates its threat database: "That situation = danger. Must avoid."
The anxiety gets stronger.
Your world gets smaller.
→ At first, it's just highways.
Then main roads.
Then leaving your driveway.
→ At first, it's work lunches.
Then team meetings.
Then walking into the office at all.
→ At first, it's parent-teacher night.
Then school drop-off.
Then anything involving other parents.
The list of things you're afraid of doesn't shrink. It grows.
And here's the cruel part:
Avoidance feels like self-protection.
It feels smart. It feels safe.
It's actually a contract with anxiety: "I'll stay small if you leave me alone."
Your brain never learns the truth—you CAN handle it.
Here's what research shows: Gradual exposure—facing feared situations in small, manageable steps—is one of the most effective treatments for anxiety.
Why? Because every time you face something and survive, your brain updates: "Oh. That wasn't actually dangerous."
The amygdala calms down. The fear response weakens.
But you have to face it. Avoidance keeps you trapped.
Try this:
1. List what you're avoiding (be honest)
2. Pick the easiest one—3 out of 10 scary
3. Face it once. Stay until the anxiety naturally drops
4. Repeat until that situation feels manageable
5. Move to the next level
Your world can get bigger again.
But it starts with one small step toward the thing you've been avoiding.
Your anxiety is like a smoke alarm stuck on—screaming "DANGER!"
↳ When you're sitting at your desk.
↳ When you're lying in bed.
↳ When you're in the grocery store.
No actual threat. Just panic.
Here's what's happening:
Your amygdala (the fear center in your brain) is supposed to alert you to real danger.
Car swerving into your lane? Yes.
Stranger following you at night? Absolutely.
But in anxiety, it goes off at everything.
Meeting at work? THREAT.
Phone call to make? THREAT.
Leaving the house? THREAT.
Meanwhile, your logical brain (prefrontal cortex) is trying to tell you: "We're actually fine. No need to panic."
But the alarm is too loud. It can't get through.
So you're left with racing thoughts, tight chest, and a brain absolutely convinced disaster is coming.
And here's what most people don't realise:
↳ This isn't a character flaw. It's not weakness. It's biology.
Your smoke alarm is miscalibrated.
The good news? It can be recalibrated.
You're not stuck with this.
Your brain can learn the difference between real danger and everyday stress.
You've tried everything.
Every productivity system. Every focus hack.
Nothing sticks.
Here's why:
1. You've been solving the wrong problem with impressive commitment.
2. It's like using antivirus software to fix a hardware problem.
3. You can run that scan a thousand times. It won't help.
There are 3 simple tests that reveal what's actually going on.
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Contact The Practice
Send a message to The ProActive Psychology Practice:
Established since 2012, The ProActive Psychology Practice is a child, adolescent, adult, and family-friendly psychological practice with clinics based in Fairfield and Bankstown. Our highly qualified and experienced team of psychologists are motivated and inspired by our daily interactions with children, adolescents, adults, parents and families. Essential to meeting your emotional and mental health needs we work together in partnership with you, your child, your spouse, or your family to help reach your specific goals.
At The ProActive Psychology Practice, you can expect a non-judgemental, empathetic and warm environment that:
1. Values the importance of establishing a positive relationship with you or your child and extended family members;
2. Reduces barriers to accessing high quality and professional psychological services by offering face to face clinic-based, school and home-based and Online Therapy, Telehealth services;
3. Incorporates a variety of evidence-based treatments such as CBT, psycho-education, attachment-based interventions, mindfulness, acceptance and commitment therapy, parenting skills, and behaviour management advice.
We provide individual counselling services, group therapy, training and workshops within both face-to-face and online settings. Most importantly, all our Psychologists are committed to providing a warm, relaxed counselling environment that is safe, secure and confidential.
We offer:
After hours and Saturday appointments;
Online Telehealth services to enhance inclusiveness and access for parents, carers, caseworkers, GPs, schools and daycare providers.
Bilingual, practitioners and interpreters to meet the multi-cultural needs of our community.
