MY RECENT ARTICLES
Finding the Right Therapist on the Central Coast: Gosford vs. Terrigal Clinics
Central Coast Counselling and Therapy When it comes to mental health, finding the right therapist is crucial. On the Central Coast of NSW, Nick Bowditch
The Pros and Cons of Phone Therapy, Zoom Therapy, and In-Person Therapy on the Central Coast of NSW
Central Coast Counselling and Therapy As the demand for mental health services continues to rise, more people on the Central Coast of NSW are seeking
Counselling and Therapy Services in Terrigal, Gosford, and the Central Coast
Living in the beautiful coastal region of the Central Coast offers a unique lifestyle, but like anywhere else, residents may face challenges related to mental
The Psychology of Happiness: Tips for Living a Fulfilling Life
Discover the keys to unlocking happiness and living a fulfilling life. As a therapist and expert in the field, I share valuable insights into the
Decoding the Maze: Unravelling common misconceptions about mental health
This article dives deep into common mental health misconceptions, debunking myths and highlighting the realities of mental health. Introduction Welcome to our journey through the
The Autumn Blues: Exploring Why We Feel Sad as the Temperature Drops
As the days grow shorter and the air turns cooler, many of us experience a sense of melancholy known as the autumn blues. In this
How to Choose the Right Motivational Speaker for Your Event in a Post-COVID World
As the world recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic, events and conferences are starting to resume, and choosing the right motivational speaker for your event is
Understanding and Managing Your Stress: A Guide to Stress Management
Stress is a common experience that affects everyone at some point in their lives. It can be caused by a variety of factors, such as
My Interview with Carl Jung (who died 62 years ago)
Before I begin, I would like to clarify that this interview is a product of AI technology, and the responses given are obviously not directly
Discover the Power of Group Therapy: A Great Way to Begin Your Healing Journey
Group therapy is a form of psychotherapy that involves a small group of people coming together to talk about their experiences and struggles with a
Breaking Free from People-Pleasing: How to Practice Assertiveness and Build Self-Respect
Are you someone who always puts others’ needs before your own? Do you struggle with saying no, even when it means sacrificing your own well-being?
From Chaos to Calm: Managing Stress in Your Busy Life
Are you feeling overwhelmed and stressed out from the constant demands of your busy life? You’re not alone. Many people struggle to find balance and
Coping with Stress and Anxiety in Relationships: A Guide to Finding Inner Peace and Harmony
Relationships can be a source of joy, love, and support, but they can also be a major cause of stress and anxiety. Whether it’s a romantic
Understanding and Managing Your Emotions: A Guide to Emotional Intelligence
As a therapist, one of the most important skills I help my clients develop is emotional intelligence. Emotional intelligence refers to the ability to understand
Boost Your Happiness With These 9 Evidence-Backed Strategies
Happiness is an important aspect of our lives, and there are several simple things we can do to improve our happiness and mental well-being. In
7 Tips for the Perfect Self-Care Sunday
As a therapist, I am well aware of the importance of self-care and the positive impact it can have on our mental health. Sundays can
6 Tips for Staying Motivated and Achieving Success: Insights from Australia’s Best Motivational Speaker
As Australia’s Best Motivational Speaker, I understand the importance of staying motivated and driven in both your personal and professional life. In this blog post,
Mindfulness for Beginners: Tips for Cultivating Awareness and Presence
Are you feeling stressed, anxious, or overwhelmed? Do you find it difficult to focus on the present moment and enjoy the simple things in life?
Coping with Grief and Loss: Navigating life’s toughest moments
Losing someone we love is one of the most challenging experiences we face in life. Whether it’s the loss of a family member, a friend,
The Connection between Religion and Mental Health: How to Balance Your Spiritual Beliefs and Therapy
Religion and spirituality can play a significant role in our lives, especially when it comes to mental health. However, navigating the intersection of religion and
The Power of Toxic Positivity: How “Good Vibes Only” Can Harm Our Mental Health
Positivity has become a buzzword in recent years, with countless social media influencers and self-help gurus preaching the benefits of maintaining a positive outlook. While
7 Days of Reflection: How Journaling Can Help Improve Your Mental Health
Journaling is a powerful tool that can help improve your mental health in many ways. By taking the time to reflect on your thoughts and
10 things you need to know about living with mental illness (from someone who does)
As a therapist and someone who lives with mental illness, I understand the challenges and complexities that come with this experience. While every individual’s journey
The Power of Self-Compassion: Learning to be kind to yourself.
As a therapist, one of the most important lessons I teach my clients is the power of self-compassion. Many people are very hard on themselves,
Breaking the Silence: Addressing Suicide, Warning Signs, and Support Strategies
Suicide is a difficult and uncomfortable topic for many, but it is essential to discuss openly and honestly to raise awareness, reduce stigma, and ultimately
5 Reasons Why You Should Book Me As The Motivational Speaker for Your Next Conference
Are you planning a conference or event and looking for a motivational speaker to inspire and energize your audience? Look no further! As one of
Mindful Eating: How to Cultivate a Positive Relationship with Food
As a therapist, I often work with clients who struggle with their relationship with food. It’s definitely been something that I have struggled with in
Embracing the Good Times: Mindfulness, Self-Care, and Personal Growth in Mental Health
In the world of mental health and therapy, we often focus on healing and dealing with problems. But what about when things are going well?
How to Prioritise Your Mental Health During the Easter Holidays
Easter is often associated with joy, hope, and new beginnings. For many, it’s a time to celebrate with family and friends, attend church services, and
The Power of Movement: How to use exercise to support your mental health
In today’s fast-paced world, it’s easy to forget the importance of movement and exercise for our mental health and well-being. In this blog post, I
6 Effective Ways to Deal with Difficult Emotions: Tips for Managing Anger, Sadness, and Frustration
We all experience difficult emotions from time to time, such as anger, sadness, and frustration. These emotions can be challenging to manage and can have
Demystifying Therapy Sessions: Exploring Approaches, Relationships, and Benefits
Many people may find the concept of attending a therapy session intimidating, especially if they are unsure of what to expect. In this post, we
The Importance of Sleep for Mental Health: Understanding the Link Between Sleep and Mood
When it comes to maintaining good mental health, getting enough sleep is crucial. Sleep is a vital component of overall well-being, and it plays a
Childhood Trauma and its Effects on Mental Health: Understanding the Long-Term Impact
Childhood trauma can have a profound and long-lasting impact on mental health. In this blog post, I will explore the effects of childhood trauma on
The Link Between Running and Better Mental Health
As a therapist who has also become a reluctant fan of running, I have seen first-hand the positive impact that running can have on my
How to Overcome Fear and Build Confidence: Tips from a Motivational Speaker
As both a therapist and a motivational speaker, I have met countless individuals who struggle with fear and lack of confidence. Whether it’s a fear
Why Therapists Make the Best Motivational Speakers
As. a therapist, I believe that the skills and qualities that make us effective in helping clients also make us great motivational speakers. Here are
Embracing Imperfection: Overcoming Perfectionism for a Healthier, Happier Life.
Perfectionism is a trait that many people struggle with, and it can have a significant impact on our mental health and overall well-being. In this
The Art of Mindfulness: How to Live in the Present Moment and Find Inner Peace
Mindfulness is a practice that has been gaining popularity in recent years as more and more people are looking for ways to manage stress and
Breaking the link between Adult ADHD and Addiction: Understanding the risks and getting help
As a therapist, I frequently work with clients who struggle with addiction and also have ADHD. There is a strong link between adult ADHD and
Improving Self-Esteem: Techniques for Building Confidence and Self-Worth
Self-esteem is the way we view and feel about ourselves. It affects our confidence, self-worth, and our ability to navigate life’s chalenges. Low self-esteem can
Why Won’t My Therapist Just Tell Me What To Do
As a therapist, my clients often ask me, “Why won’t you just tell me what to do?’ It’s a valid question, and I can understand
Unlock Your Inner Resilience: Strategies to Bounce Back from Life’s Setbacks
Life is full of setbacks and challenges, and while we cannot avoid them, we can learn how to bounce back and grow stronger from these
Breaking the Cycle: How Reparenting Can Help You Overcome Childhood Trauma
Reparenting is a therapeutic approach that involves addressing and healing childhood wounds by taking on the role of a nurturing and supportive parent to oneself.
Unlocking Emotional Healing: A Guide to Inner Child Work in Therapy
Inner child work is a powerful tool in therapy that can help individuals heal from past traumas and improve their emotional well-being. In this blog
Overcoming Perfectionism: Embracing Imperfection and Finding Balance
Do you often find yourself striving for perfection, only to be left feeling stressed, overwhelmed, and never quite satisfied with your achievements? If so, you’re
From Inspiration to Action: The Role of a Motivational Speaker in Driving Change
Motivational speakers, like me, are known for their ability to inspire and uplift their audience. We have the power to create an atmosphere of positivity
Coping with Loneliness: Strategies for Feeling Connected and Supported
Loneliness is a common experience that affects people of all ages, races, and backgrounds. It’s a feeling of disconnection from others, and it can be
The Importance of Boundaries: Setting Limits to Improve Your Mental Health
As human beings, we are social creatures. We thrive on connection and interaction with others. However, sometimes we can find ourselves feeling overwhelmed, stressed, and
The Benefits of Therapy: How Counselling Can Improve Your Life
We all face challenges in life, whether it’s stress from work, relationship issues, or mental health struggles. Sometimes, it can be challenging to deal with
The Power of Positive Affirmations: How to Rewire Your Brain for Success
Positive affirmations are a powerful tool for creating change in your life. By repeating affirmations regularly, you can rewire your brain to focus on the
10 Questions to Ask Before Booking a Motivational Speaker for your Event or Conference
Hiring a motivational speaker can be a significant investment for your event, conference, or business. But how do you ensure that you are hiring the
How do you find the best therapist for you?
Finding the right therapist can be a challenging process, but it is crucial to achieving meaningful progress in your mental health journey. Here are some
Overcoming the fear associated with starting therapy
Overcoming the fear of starting therapy can be a daunting task, but it’s an important step towards improving your mental health and overall well-being. In
Breaking the Stigma: Let’s Talk About Mental Health and Its Impact on Society
In recent years, we have seen progress in breaking the stigma surrounding mental health. With celebrities and sportspeople speaking openly about their experiences, conversations about
Making Therapy More Enjoyable
Humour can play a beneficial role in therapy when used appropriately and respecting the client’s situation. Other tips for making therapy more enjoyable and effective
The Journey
Something in me gets a bit triggered when I hear someone talk about their ‘journey’. I don’t know what it is, it just seems a
Throwback : The 50 things nobody tells you before you become a Dad
I wrote this article 7 years ago when my kids were 5, 4, 3 and 1 year old, and all of it is still absolutely
The 5 reasons not to take unsubscribes from your mailing list personally.
There was a time when I would send an email newsletter out, and then for the next few hours, obsessively monitor the report and pore
Words have power: the stigma of labelling mental illness
Labelling mental health and mental illness, and applying those labels to people living with mental health conditions – or even people who are just experiencing
The psychology of conspiracy theories
Conspiracy theories are as old as time, but it’s only in more recent years that psychologists have begun to unravel the belief that some people
Beating depression with magic mushrooms
It’s kind of amazing that something that must have been a terrifying discovery back a long time ago when someone accidentally ate the wrong kind of mushroom
Smacking a child may affect their brain development
You just know that smacking children is going to get a response. Everyone has an opinion on this, and because of the nature of it,
Nobody is more resilient than anyone else.
At least, nobody is naturally more resilient than anyone else. Resilience can be built and fostered, when needed, and the more resilient we are, the more resilient
There is no such thing as an addictive personality.
Do you know someone who has an ‘addictive personality’? Or have you ever said that you have an addictive personality? Maybe they (or you) just can’t seem
Events and Conferences in 2020
2020 has seen a big change in how people run events, how people like me speak at events, and how everybody else attends events. We’ve
Magical thinking
Magical thinking is one of the many kinds of unhelpful thinking that can bring us undone and stop our growth and progression towards being the
Motivational Speaking: What I’ve learned from the last 11 years
This week marks 11 years since I started as a motivational speaker, delivering keynote addresses at, and MC’ing, professional and corporate events and conferences. Motivational
Decision Fatigue: Why I wear the same $10 shirt every day
Having to make complex (or even simple) decisions every day can be really draining and lead to decision fatigue and impaired mental health. Here are
Finding Strength
Finding strength is hard at the best of times, but in THESE time, when leaders and leadership seem missing, how do we find our own
How to find the best ZOOM motivational speaker for your event or conference
Post Covid-19, the conference and events space is going to look a lot different. It already does, of course, but where at the moment pretty
Is it feedback? Or is it criticism?
I do a lot of public speaking at conferences and events both in Australia and internationally. The audiences who hear me speak are usually a
Motivational Speakers, Inspirational Speakers, Keynote Speakers, Event Speakers … which is the right one for your conference or event?
I have been a professional motivational speaker now for over almost 15 years. In that time, I have delivered hundreds of presentations to an audience
Let go of fear and doubt
Fear is a very motivating thing. And, particularly for people who are co-dependent or don’t feel like they should be at the top of their
Healthy Shame or Toxic Shame?
Shame. Even the word sucks. I want you to think about something that you have felt shame about, either recently or long term. And, in
What CAN we do?
One of the funny things about being human is that, for a lot of us, our default position has become something less than positive. Sometimes,
How has the 2020 Pandemic changed business forever?
There’s no denying all of our lives have changed. Maybe not forever, but certainly in the midst of the COVID-19 Coronavirus crisis, everyone’s world is
People are good.
Humans are funny old things.
On the one hand, we are pretty non-compliant. We tend to, largely, not really go along with what we are asked to do, and we are even less likely to do what we are told to do. If that weren’t true, there would be no need for police, or even laws for that matter.
How you can go ahead with your event or conference if it’s under threat from Coronavirus
By now, you would probably have had to have been living under a rock – or at least have a very strong boundary set for yourself and how you interact with news and social media – to not at least have heard about a virus that is moving relatively quickly between countries on the planet, carried by unsuspecting human carriers, called COVID-19 or Coronavirus.
How to make space for growth
I talk a lot about growth, for one very good reason: I think a lot about growth. Whether it’s personal growth or business growth, I think that it is such an important aim for all of us to keep growing, keep changing and, hopefully, keep improving ourselves.
The Ultimate Step By Step Guide to Planning and Hosting an Event or Conference
My daughter is 10 right now. She is already a capable and confident person, and I can’t wait to see what kind of adult she becomes. These are the things that I want her to know, now as an 10 year old, but also for her whole life. I’m her Dad, and it’s my proudest job title.
What are the 3 things that stop us being the best version of ourselves?
And throughout my recovery, I have realised (finally) that there are 3 things that will also stop my growth, and always send me backwards to where I don’t want to be any more.
Meeting My Inner Child
Part of my treatment in rehab included a 5-day intensive workshop that was designed to root out the cause of my dysfunctional behaviour as an adult, by starting to heal the damage to my inner child.
What’s more important? The rupture or the repair?
Dan Siegel is a parenting and brain development expert. His insights into how children and adults sometimes resort to activating the most primitive parts of our brain because a situation becomes so emotional or so many other things are going on for us that we can’t clearly reason, problem solve and find a resolution.
The 33 things I want my daughter to always know.
My daughter is 10 right now. She is already a capable and confident person, and I can’t wait to see what kind of adult she becomes. These are the things that I want her to know, now as an 10 year old, but also for her whole life. I’m her Dad, and it’s my proudest job title.
The best sentence to ask someone if you want an honest answer.
We ask each other a lot of meaningless and trivial questions throughout every day: “How are you?” “How was your night?” “How’s the family?” Nothing sinister, sure, but how many times do we ask those questions because we are
I am doing my best (and so are you).
At any given moment, no matter how much I have hurt someone, hurt myself, misrepresented myself in the past, lied, cheated, used, gave in to my addictions, or been lying in bed anxious or depressed or both, I was, and am, still doing the very best I can do at that time.We all are. I think that every one of us is
How 4 clever Aussie businesses are utilising business growth coaching and personal growth coaching to win in 2020.
Small business and startup has been part of my life for a long time now. And in my 20 years of experience working in small
The 11 people to rid your life of (and never be)
Humans are fine. I mean, really, most of them are amazing. Humans can show me love and empathy and kindness and generosity and humility and
The 20 Best Motivational or Inspirational Conference Professional Speakers in Australia in 2020
If you are planning an event or conference in 2020, and you want to have some speakers that will be engaging, inspirational and motivational, where
Motivational Speakers: The ultimate guide for how to find the best one for your conference.
My daughter is 10 right now. She is already a capable and confident person, and I can’t wait to see what kind of adult she becomes. These are the things that I want her to know, now as an 10 year old, but also for her whole life. I’m her Dad, and it’s my proudest job title.
I am a motivational speaker because ALL speakers are motivational speakers.
When I first started speaking on stage at conferences and events as a keynote speaker, I was loathe to describe myself as a motivational speaker,
Meditation For Kids.
I love meditation.
It could have helped me a lot during times in my life before I was introduced to it.
One of the most interesting things about meditation, for me, is its uniqueness. There is no right or wrong way to meditate, no required duration, posture, location.
It is what it is to everyone who is doing it in that moment.
There are many different types of meditation today. Harvard University’s Dr. Anne Fabiny talks about how meditation can be done in many forms and for many reasons.
Big Minds vs Small Minds
There is a storm on Jupiter that is the same size as Earth. In fact, Jupiter can hold about 1,300 Earths inside it. The Sun is about 10 times bigger than Jupiter, and about 109 times bigger than our planet. But, even in our galaxy, there are stars that are HUNDREDS of times bigger than our Sun. And our Sun, which is the centre of so much of our thinking, and is difficult to think there is much more to space than just it, is just one of more than 100 BILLION stars in our Milky Way galaxy.
Fear In Business.
Fear is the single greatest motivator for people who run their own startup or small business. We live in fear of a lot of things. Fear of not being able to pay wages. Fear of not being interesting or needed. Fear of charging too much. Fear of not charging enough. Fear of nobody liking us or our product/service/business. Fear of cashflow. Fear of growth.
Language matters.
Language matters, and words have power. They have the power to encourage and praise and make someone feel really good, and they also certainly have the power to hurt and harm, and make someone feel less-than. Often, it’s the words that we use to describe ourselves which is most hurtful.
How we speak to ourselves matters.
I see and hear this everyday from my therapy clients, some of whom are very ‘successful’ entrepreneurs and business owners: ‘I am not enough’. ‘I
