The Psychology Sisters

The Psychology Sisters
undefined
Aug 20, 2025 • 41min

Raising Securely Attached Children

Welcome back to a Psychology Mama's episode!!– What is Secure Attachment? A securely attached child is free to explore the environment, confident that the caregiver will be available and responsive if needed.Secure attachment is not about being perfect; it’s about being present, attuned, and repairing when things go wrongAttachment is a basis for a child’s health. Nourishing close secure attachment with adults is a protective factor for our child’s health and well-being and a developmental basis for child development. A secure attachment allows our children to be their full expression of self and explore the world with confidence, because they have a safe enough base to return to. – The Core Ingredients Emotional attunement: reading and responding to your child’s cues.Consistency: being reliable without being perfect.Presence and quality Vs quantity Safe exploration: balancing independence and protection.Repair after rupture: modelling how to come back together after conflict.– Practical Tips what supports security?Simple rituals that build connection.Aimee + KatYou can find more of us here: Our Online Psychology practice: Did you know we have online appointments available with our amazing therapists Lisa or Maddie. Learn more here https://thepsychcollaborative.com.au The Thriving Therapists: To connect with a safe and supportive community of like-minded therapists, head to our Thriving Therapists Facebook group: https://m.facebook.com/groups/224252457083630/?ref=share&mibextid=S66gvFOr find us on our Instagram: https://instagram.com/thethrivingtherapists?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA==The Psychology Sisters Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/thepsychologysisters/?hl=enThe Psych Collaborative instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/thepsychcollaborative/?hl=enPlease note: this episode is for informational purposes only and does not replace personalised psychological advice.
undefined
Jul 30, 2025 • 52min

Unfiltered - Our top 3 business lessons

Hello and welcome back to The Psychology Sisters Unfiltered!!Love and leaves Love – Carmen’s black truffle popcorn Leaves Dyson vacuums Aimee's peek: time with family and friends lately and pit: experiencing social awkwardness and anxiety, which is very new and uncharted waters to navigate. In a clunky stage of life at the moment!! Also, illness has plagued me!Kat's pit: slapped in the face with sneaky burn out that crept up. Struggling with motivation, exhaustion, struggling to show up for work and life and not prepared for the busyness of work. Doing a lot of inner work to let go of perfectionism and high expectations. Peek: giving myself permission to not please, to honour the parts of me that need aloneness and disconnection to fill my cup. It has been healing to let go and disconnect. In celebration of our 5 year business anniversary, we are sharing Our top business lessons!1. Communication is key and own your mistakes. Accountability is leadership. Owning your mistakes doesn’t make you less professional, it makes you trustworthy. It signals to your clients, your team, and your community that you’re human, that you care, and that you’re willing to do better. The truth is, your clients, and your community feel safer around someone who can own their impact.Being direct, firm, assertive and honest in communication. Being able to trust and rely on other people to hand over control. Reliability is SO important.2. People will judge you - do it anyway! The simple truth is that people will judge you, however, when we are led by fear of judgement we restrict our own growth and prevent ourselves from taking opportunities. The purpose is not to be universally liked, it's to take the opportunity whether you're liked or not.You take back your power when you stop trying to please everyone and connect to vulnerability.  3.Time is your greatest commodity and resource, protect it! Your time is sacred, audit your calendar like your life depends on it. Giving away your time without intention is like stealing from your own business. Boundaries are a practice of self-respect.If you want to go fast go alone - if you want to go far, go togetherThe health of our business depends on the health of our friendship, it's hard to separate but leaning into our very different strengths and working to our strengths is helpful. Going into business together has been our smartest investment to date. You can find more of us here: Our Online Psychology practice: Did you know we have online appointments available with our amazing therapists Lisa or Maddie. Learn more here https://thepsychcollaborative.com.au The Thriving Therapists: To connect with a safe and supportive community of like-minded therapists, head to our Thriving Therapists Facebook group: https://m.facebook.com/groups/224252457083630/?ref=share&mibextid=S66gvFOr find us on our Instagram: https://instagram.com/thethrivingtherapists?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA==The Psychology Sisters Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/thepsychologysisters/?hl=enThe Psych Collaborative instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/thepsychcollaborative/?hl=enPlease note: this episode is for informational purposes only and does not replace personalised psychological advice.
undefined
Jul 23, 2025 • 37min

The Avoidant Attachment Style - Learning to stay when it feels safer to leave

 Love me, but from over there - The Avoidant attachment style  I want to send out a hopeful message to everyone listening – you have secure attachment in your system biologically. It’s in your system and your system wants to be connected, that’s what it’s wired for. It’s that throughout development stuff get’s dumped on your system, which interrupts this. Wounds, attachment injuries, trauma disconnects us and our system wants us to return to security. People use different language for attachment style which can be confusing so, were going to refer to the avoidant attachment style today – can also be referred to as the dismissive avoidant, insecure, fearful avoidant etc.How it develops The avoidant attachment develops through absenteeism – it’s a message of “nobodies there”. Think of a vacant, dissociated parent – a child might be trying to find their parents eyes staring at them and there’s nobody home! Which is scary for infants who are 100% dependant on their parents! I also want to add that sometimes it’s not just the parenting of the child – sometimes it’s a medical procedure or an illness, maybe there was birth trauma or the parent is unwell – different factors can come in here. Any parents listening please take the burden to be perfect off your shoulders, we only need 30% attunement for secure attachment and it is a very forgiving system. Another way it can show up is when only left-brain activities are responded to – so whenever there is a learning of a skill, or an achievement in some way they were there, but whenever it was emotional or there was a need for comforting, they weren’t available enough. So, what this means is there sense of self is largely felt as isolated and they tend to regulate through dissociative mechanisms like zoning out to Netflix because they have a knee – jerk reaction to withdraw and a stress on connection. If you’re an avoidant you need time to surface to connection – it’s like you’ve been deep deep diving in the ocean and if you come up too quick you get the bends, so when I’m working with couples sometimes I’ll ask how much time they need to re-surface or what helps them come up slowly, because it’s hard to go from deep deep isolation to connection. Avoidance is a deep withdrawal that has helped them survive – it doesn’t mean they want to be alone. And often when an avoidant starts to connect to the longing of connection, it’s incredibly painful, that’s also our secure attachment surfacing! How to move towards security?Experiment with low-risk situations of connectYou can find more of us here: Our Online Psychology practice: Did you know we have online appointments available with our amazing therapists Lisa or Maddie. Learn more here https://thepsychcollaborative.com.au The Thriving Therapists: To connect with a safe and supportive community of like-minded therapists, head to our Thriving Therapists Facebook group: https://m.facebook.com/groups/224252457083630/?ref=share&mibextid=S66gvFOr find us on our Instagram: https://instagram.com/thethrivingtherapists?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA==The Psychology Sisters Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/thepsychologysisters/?hl=enThe Psych Collaborative instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/thepsychcollaborative/?hl=enPlease note: this episode is for informational purposes only and does not replace personalised psychological advice.
undefined
Jul 9, 2025 • 47min

The truth about sleep deprivation

Welcome back to The Psychology Mama’s — the podcast that holds space for your full emotional spectrum and cheers you on when you finally drink a coffee while it’s still hot.Today, we’re diving into one of the most universal yet wildly under-discussed parts of early parenthood: sleep deprivation — or more accurately, the full-blown nervous system crisis that comes from being woken up every 90 minutes by a tiny dictator in a Bonds onesie.We’re talking about how a lack of sleep messes with your brain, your emotions, your sense of self, and sometimes your sanity. We’ll also unpack the mental load of new parenthood — the identity shifts, the rage-crying, the pressure to enjoy every moment while hallucinating from exhaustion.And of course, we’ll wade into the murky, guilt-soaked waters of the sleep training industry — the conflicting research, the polarising opinions, and why it can feel like everyone’s an expert except the person actually doing the 3am rocking.This one’s for the parents, the therapists supporting them, and anyone wondering why “just sleep when the baby sleeps” might be the most unhelpful advice of all time.So, grab a snack, lie down if you can, and let’s get into it.You can find more of us here: Our Online Psychology practice: Did you know we have online appointments available with our amazing therapists Lisa or Maddie. Learn more here https://thepsychcollaborative.com.au The Thriving Therapists: To connect with a safe and supportive community of like-minded therapists, head to our Thriving Therapists Facebook group: https://m.facebook.com/groups/224252457083630/?ref=share&mibextid=S66gvFOr find us on our Instagram: https://instagram.com/thethrivingtherapists?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA==The Psychology Sisters Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/thepsychologysisters/?hl=enThe Psych Collaborative instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/thepsychcollaborative/?hl=enPlease note: this episode is for informational purposes only and does not replace personalised psychological advice.
undefined
Jun 25, 2025 • 54min

Unfiltered - when it all feels like a lot + the power of going soft

Welcome back to The Psychology Sisters unfiltered, where we chat all things being human, with a mix of clinical insight, real talk, and a few chaotic tangents.In today’s episode, we’re exploring something that feels especially needed right now: softness. What does it mean to go soft in a world that’s constantly asking us to toughen up, keep going, and stay informed, even when it all feels like a lot?We start with what it means to feel alive, not just functioning, but actually alive in your body, your joy, and your presence. Then we dive into the weirdness of the current world climate — from global conflict to digital burnout — and how to look after yourself without disconnecting entirely. And finally, we unpack the Soft Girl Era, not as an aesthetic, but as a nervous system rebellion. Resting, feeling, slowing down, and saying no? That’s the real power move.So, if you’ve been feeling flat, frantic, or just deeply tired — this one’s for you.Aimee + KatYou can find more of us here: Our Online Psychology practice: Did you know we have online appointments available with our amazing therapists Lisa or Maddie. Learn more here https://thepsychcollaborative.com.au The Thriving Therapists: To connect with a safe and supportive community of like-minded therapists, head to our Thriving Therapists Facebook group: https://m.facebook.com/groups/224252457083630/?ref=share&mibextid=S66gvFOr find us on our Instagram: https://instagram.com/thethrivingtherapists?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA==The Psychology Sisters Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/thepsychologysisters/?hl=enThe Psych Collaborative instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/thepsychcollaborative/?hl=enPlease note: this episode is for informational purposes only and does not replace personalised psychological advice.
undefined
Jun 12, 2025 • 48min

Can you "fix" an Anxious Attachment?

In today’s episode we are diving deep into the ambivalent attachment style, where it comes from, how it shows up in your relationships and how you can start rewiring it.If you often feel like you’re too much and not enough or constantly waiting for the other shoe to drop in relationships, this one is for you. Understanding Attachment:o Attachment is a biological system, its innate.o Attachment is developed within relationshipso People with adverse childhood experiences, experience higher levels or incidences of insecure/anxious attachment.o Internal working models (blueprint)- patterns of relating are internalised = how we relate to others.We have a pro-social system – our system wants to return to secure attachment so it’s possible for everyone.Attachment styles are designed to; maximise available care provided by the caregiver and limit the level of distress.We dive into the following:The Ambivalant Attachment Style develops when there is inconsistency in the way the caregiver responds to the child. The Fear of Being Left •How it shows up in adult relationships•The loop: fear > control > guilt > shameRewiring & Repair  Nervous system!!!-Corrective experience of being present with love and connection -Secure attachment rituals – e.g. before bed connection and rituals because that can be a separation too. Greetings!! Our systems are delicate and responsive and that’s a strength too-Learn how to make requests in a positive way (no shame/blame) -The story I’m telling myself about being unloveable -Notice caring behaviours without deflection Let us know if you'd like more attachment episodes!!You can find more of us here: Our Online Psychology practice: Did you know we have online appointments available with our amazing therapists Lisa or Maddie. Learn more here https://thepsychcollaborative.com.au The Thriving Therapists: To connect with a safe and supportive community of like-minded therapists, head to our Thriving Therapists Facebook group: https://m.facebook.com/groups/224252457083630/?ref=share&mibextid=S66gvFOr find us on our Instagram: https://instagram.com/thethrivingtherapists?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA==The Psychology Sisters Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/thepsychologysisters/?hl=enThe Psych Collaborative instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/thepsychcollaborative/?hl=enPlease note: this episode is for informational purposes only and does not replace personalised psychological advice.
undefined
Jun 5, 2025 • 25min

Unfiltered - should you track your partners phone?

hello psychology sistas and mistas!! Welcome back to another unfiltered episode!Kat's pit was forgetting to press record on the first episode we recorded!! Her Peek is taking herself out on dates and having treats with herself, savouring being in her own company and loving time with herself. Aimee's pit was also being a tech tragic! Aimee share's her LOVE for the week is Siren's on Netflix and organising her phone notifications so she is less interrupted and more focused.Is it OK to track my partner’s phone?Care vs. controlWhen it might feel justifiableThe emotional cost of surveillanceTrust Tech, boundaries, and healthy communicationCatch-up friends A reflection on how friendships today are often built on updates instead of shared moments — and how that shapes connection, loneliness, and meaning.Why is it easier to catch up than to connect?The role of effort and planning in adult friendshipsWhat would it look like to make “new memories” this week?We hope you love this episode!!Aimee + Kat xYou can find more of us here: Our Online Psychology practice: Did you know we have online appointments available with our amazing therapists Lisa or Maddie. Learn more here https://thepsychcollaborative.com.au The Thriving Therapists: To connect with a safe and supportive community of like-minded therapists, head to our Thriving Therapists Facebook group: https://m.facebook.com/groups/224252457083630/?ref=share&mibextid=S66gvFOr find us on our Instagram: https://instagram.com/thethrivingtherapists?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA==The Psychology Sisters Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/thepsychologysisters/?hl=enThe Psych Collaborative instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/thepsychcollaborative/?hl=enPlease note: this episode is for informational purposes only and does not replace personalised psychological advice.
undefined
May 22, 2025 • 55min

Unfiltered - Red Pill Paradox: why self-improvement isn't making you secure

hello lovely listeners!! Welcome back to another unhinged/ unfiltered episode! Loves and leaves: Kat's love this week is a fun, easy, watch on Netflix - Ransom Canyon. Aimee has been loving going back to comfort consumption in Grey's anatomy on Disney+. No leaves this week, just love!!Pit and Peak of the week: Aimee discusses being in the tension of trade offs of getting the things you choose. Being in a transition stage can be tricky because it requires re-prioritising things. The reality of this can feel like restriction or a loss of agency - even though you chose it. Aimee reflects on struggling with a loss of agency and choice in this new stage of life and sitting in the trade off of juggling it all. Aimee also discusses working on practicing asking for help and the relationships blossoming as a result. Kat has a toilet blunder with some unfortunate toilet events. In this episode we discuss:Red pill men - emotional intelligence is the new dating currency?Red Pill men are individuals who embrace a philosophy that emphasises self-reliance, emotional detachment, and a belief in gender dynamics shaped by evolutionary psychology, often focused on avoiding vulnerability and maximising personal power in relationships.•These men may struggle with deep emotional connection.•They protect their independence so fiercely that true intimacy feels unsafe or emasculating.Red Pill is a reaction to wounded AttachmentThe miserable parents Vs happy single narrative:•Societal Expectations: From childhood, many people are socially conditioned to view marriage and parenthood as the ultimate goal.•Narrative Shift: Media often portrays parents, especially mothers, as overwhelmed or struggling. This reinforces the idea that parenthood is exhausting and fulfilling only through sacrifice. •Social Media and Idealisation: Social media plays a huge role in perpetuating the miserable parent vs. happy single dichotomy. •The Grass is Greener Fallacy: Comparing your life to an idealised version of someone else’s is a form of social comparison. The Truth: It’s About Personal Fit: Both parents and singles can experience profound satisfaction and stress. The key is recognising that there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to happiness. You can find more of us here: Our Online Psychology practice: Did you know we have online appointments available with our amazing therapists Lisa or Maddie. Learn more here https://thepsychcollaborative.com.au The Thriving Therapists: To connect with a safe and supportive community of like-minded therapists, head to our Thriving Therapists Facebook group: https://m.facebook.com/groups/224252457083630/?ref=share&mibextid=S66gvFOr find us on our Instagram: https://instagram.com/thethrivingtherapists?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA==The Psychology Sisters Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/thepsychologysisters/?hl=enThe Psych Collaborative instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/thepsychcollaborative/?hl=enPlease note: this episode is for informational purposes only and does not replace personalised psychological advice.
undefined
May 7, 2025 • 29min

Healing body stories we inherited

Hellooooooooooo and welcome back to a psychology mama's episode!If you grew up in the ’90s or early 2000s, you probably remember it well — low-rise jeans, calorie-counting, and the constant message that thinness equaled beauty, success, and self-worth. Many of us internalised those messages before we even understood them. We learned to shrink ourselves — literally and figuratively — to fit into a version of ‘enough’ that was never really about health or happiness.Now, as adults — and for some of us, as parents — we’re starting to unlearn it. We’re beginning to ask: What if our bodies were never the problem? What if we could break the cycle, not just for ourselves but for the next generation?Thinness was never the real goal — it was approval, love, and belonging. I don’t want my child to grow up believing that her body is a problem to be solved.In this episode, we’re diving into toxic body culture, the lingering effects of diet culture, the rise of the ‘almond mom,’ and what it really means to raise children — and ourselves — in a world that still hasn’t made peace with body diversity. I’m not just raising a child. I’m re-raising myself.This is personal, powerful, and deeply necessary. Let’s talk about it.”You can find more of us here: Our Online Psychology practice: Did you know we have online appointments available with our amazing therapists Lisa or Maddie. Learn more here https://thepsychcollaborative.com.au The Thriving Therapists: To connect with a safe and supportive community of like-minded therapists, head to our Thriving Therapists Facebook group: https://m.facebook.com/groups/224252457083630/?ref=share&mibextid=S66gvFOr find us on our Instagram: https://instagram.com/thethrivingtherapists?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA==The Psychology Sisters Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/thepsychologysisters/?hl=enThe Psych Collaborative instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/thepsychcollaborative/?hl=enPlease note: this episode is for informational purposes only and does not replace personalised psychological advice.
undefined
Apr 16, 2025 • 41min

Unfiltered - trad wives and the return of concerning 90's trends

Hello lovely listeners!Join us for a very unfiltered chat discussing some concerning trends we are seeing making the rounds on social media.Why are we going back to trends that we know have been so damaging?Before we get into today's episode, Kat shares her pit of struggling with a loud inner critic and her peak of exciting business ventures, feeling aligned with work and enjoying the ride. Aimee shares an embarrassing couch blunder as her pit and a peak enjoying some wholesome time with friends and her relationship with alcohol changing. We hope you enjoy! Don't forget to comment and follow if you like this episode. Aimee + KatYou can find more of us here: Our Online Psychology practice: Did you know we have online appointments available with our amazing therapists Lisa or Maddie. Learn more here https://thepsychcollaborative.com.au The Thriving Therapists: To connect with a safe and supportive community of like-minded therapists, head to our Thriving Therapists Facebook group: https://m.facebook.com/groups/224252457083630/?ref=share&mibextid=S66gvFOr find us on our Instagram: https://instagram.com/thethrivingtherapists?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA==The Psychology Sisters Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/thepsychologysisters/?hl=enThe Psych Collaborative instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/thepsychcollaborative/?hl=enPlease note: this episode is for informational purposes only and does not replace personalised psychological advice.

The AI-powered Podcast Player

Save insights by tapping your headphones, chat with episodes, discover the best highlights - and more!
App store bannerPlay store banner
Get the app