Suzi Wallis / Counsellor & Family Therapist / Auckland, Aotearoa

17/12/2025

Baby steps are still steps. Keep going warrior 💪💛

17/12/2025

If you have difficult family dynamics, please prioritise your mental health this holiday season 🥹

16/12/2025

"At the brain level, wanting and liking are distinct phenomena. In this excerpt from a lecture at HowTheLightGetsIn festival, Barry C Smith, the director of the Institute of Philosophy at the University of London’s School of Advanced Study, breaks down why this matters deeply in our everyday experience. Centring the discussion on how food marketers get us hooked, Smith details how sensations that we might think of as distinct from eating, like sight, sound and touch, are leveraged to keep us coming back for more – often to the detriment of our health, and even as our enjoyment of the experience diminishes."

Why does a soda can make that distinctive ‘pop’? A philosophy professor explains how food marketing manipulates our senses

15/12/2025

Believe in yourself, warrior 💪

14/12/2025

Part of growth is acknowledging your old strategies as necessary, until they weren't...

13/12/2025

"Have you noticed certain patterns in your life – themes or dynamics that seem to repeat, even when you try to do things differently? Maybe you’re always putting others’ needs before your own, struggling to assert yourself, staying in relationships that aren’t good for you, or continually doubting your abilities despite evidence to the contrary. These patterns can show up in your work life, friendships, romantic relationships and even in how you treat yourself."

Those frustrating patterns you keep experiencing might be because of your schemas – and there’s a therapy that can help

12/12/2025

Sadly, we haven't all had positive/affirming messages growing up. These will set girls up well 🙂

11/12/2025

Look for the magic 😊

10/12/2025

"When we talk about consent, we often frame it as a pretty simple concept. In a sense, it is — it’s a plain truth that you need to respect a partner’s “no,” no matter what.

But the underlying process that supports consent in a healthy relationship is a little more complex than that. First of all, before we say what we want, we have to know what we want — and that’s not always as simple as it sounds. Then, we have to take a leap of faith and communicate that to our partner, even if we think they might not like what we have to say. That’s not so easy, either — we could hurt our partner’s feelings or run up against our assumptions about what it means to be a “good” partner. The result is that oftentimes, one partner will give a surface-level “yes” – when what they’re really feeling is “heck no.”"

When we talk about consent, we often frame it as a pretty simple concept. In a sense, it is — it’s a plain truth that you need to respect a partner’s “no,” no matter what. 

10/12/2025

"Thinking about buying your child their first phone this Christmas? Exciting! And maybe a little daunting? A first phone isn’t just a shiny gift under the tree; it’s a step toward independence and responsibility. With the right intention and preparation it can be a milestone your child feels proud of and one which works well for the whole whānau.

Here are some things to consider before wrapping up that device."

Tech the halls? Things to consider before gifting devices

09/12/2025

Boundaries are essential, honour yourself through communicating them 💕

08/12/2025

"Even if you put in a grueling 40+ hour work week, cook dinner, change diapers, and coach your kid’s soccer team, guess what? You may still not get it right!

Despite your best attempts (and successes) at showing up for your family, it’s entirely possible you’re still coming home to an unhappy wife, feeling criticized and unappreciated.

To make matters worse, there seems to be no end in sight and nothing you can do to fix it. It feels like the bar keeps getting raised. Peace, it seems, is ever elusive and your partner increasingly impossible to please. Nothing you do or say seems to help, so you say nothing. "

Gottman research shows that applying these five tools will have enormous influence to create change and even save your relationship.