Walking into therapy for the first time can feel incredibly vulnerable. You might be wondering what to say, whether you'll cry, if your problems are "big enough," or what your therapist is really thinking.

The truth is... I've wondered those same things too. Before I became a counsellor, I was a client. In this personal episode, I share what I've learnt from sitting in both chairs..first as someone asking for help and now as someone privileged enough to walk alongside others on their healing journey.

If you've ever thought about going to therapy, have your first appointment coming up or simply want to understand what therapy is really like, I hope this conversation leaves you feeling a little less afraid and a lot less alone.

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What if the reason you still don't feel "good enough" has nothing to do with positive thinking?

In this episode, I'm unpacking one of the biggest misconceptions about self worth. So many of us believe that if we just thought more positively, repeated enough affirmations or became more confident, we'd finally feel enough.

We'll explore:

• Why affirmations often don't stick
• How childhood experiences and conditioning shape the way you see yourself
• The everyday habits that quietly erode your self worth
• Why people pleasing, weak boundaries and self abandonment reinforce the "I'm not enough" story
• Practical ways to start building genuine self worth one small action at a time

If you've ever questioned your value, struggled with confidence, constantly put others before yourself or felt like you're never quite enough, this episode is for you.

Remember... self worth isn't built in the mirror. It's built in the moments when nobody else is watching.

If this episode resonated with you, I'd love to hear your thoughts. Please follow the podcast, leave a review and share it with someone who needs to hear this conversation today.

Want to work with me?

I'm Barbara Thompson, therapist and founder of Self Care Studio. I work with adults and teens navigating anxiety, overthinking, relationships, self worth and building a healthier relationship with themselves.

@self_care_studio
www.selfcarebybarbarathompson.com.au

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Have you ever felt like you're not good enough, no matter how hard you try?
In the very first episode of The Barbara Thompson Podcast, I explore one of the most common core beliefs I see in my counselling practice: "I'm not enough." Together we'll unpack where this belief comes from, how it can show up in our relationships, anxiety, people pleasing, overthinking and self doubt and most importantly, what you can start doing today to challenge it.

If you've ever questioned your worth, compared yourself to others or felt like you have to constantly prove yourself this episode is for you.

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In this episode I talk openly about anxiety. What it actually is, what it can feel like in the body and why it looks different for all of us.

For me anxiety showed up through grief, people pleasing, disconnection from myself and staying in an unhealthy relationship longer than I should have. I remember feeling dizzy, lightheaded, my heart racing and constantly on edge. It was horrible. Over time I realised my anxiety wasn’t against me it was trying to communicate with me.

This episode is not about “fixing” anxiety overnight. It’s about understanding it differently. Learning to listen to your body instead of fighting it. Understanding your nervous system. Recognising the signs your body may no longer feel emotionally safe, aligned or heard.

I also share:
– why anxiety happens
– the message that can sit underneath it
– how anxiety can show up physically, emotionally and mentally
– practical tools to help regulate your nervous system
– how therapy and self awareness changed my life

If you are someone who overthinks, feels constantly on edge, struggles to switch off or feels exhausted from carrying everything alone. This episode is for you.

You can find me on Instagram @self_care_studio.

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So many of us think that if something is right it should feel easy. The right path will challenge you just as much as it inspires you. It will stretch you, confront you and sometimes even scare you not because it’s wrong, but because it’s growing you.

In this episode I talk about the difference between something that is hard because it’s aligned and something that is hard because it’s not right for you. We dive into the signs to look for, how your nervous system plays a role in what feels “safe” and why discomfort doesn’t always mean you’re going the wrong way.

If you’ve been questioning where you are in life this episode will help you come back to yourself and start trusting what actually feels true for you.

Instagram: self_care_studio

www.selfcarebybarbarathompson.com.au

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In this episode I break down something I see every single day in my clients and something I’ve personally lived through too. The constant overthinking, second guessing and feeling like you have to be liked to feel okay.

From a survival perspective being accepted used to mean safety. Being rejected meant danger. Even though we don’t live in those times anymore… your nervous system still responds like you do.

So now you find yourself:

• overthinking everything you say
• worrying how you’re perceived
• shaping yourself to be accepted
• feeling like you can’t fully be you

In this episode I take you through: 

• Why your brain works this way
• How this pattern forms
• How social media is making it worse 
• How to start taking your power back

I’ve also included a short bonus at the end of this episode with practical tools and a journaling exercise to help you begin changing this pattern.

If you’ve ever felt like you’re living your life based on what other people think… this episode is for you. If this resonates and you’re ready to go deeper, you can work with me through Self Care Studio online or in studio sessions available.

Instagram: self_care_studio

Website: www.selfcarebybarbarathompson.com.au

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This episode is for anyone who is single right now… and questioning it.

Maybe you’re over it.
Maybe you’re craving connection.
Maybe you’re wondering why it hasn’t happened for you yet.

What if being single isn’t the problem? In this episode I talk about what this season is actually here to show you, your patterns, your standards and your relationship with yourself. It’s not just about who you’re attracting. It’s about how you’re showing up.

We get into:
– why you keep choosing the same type of person
– how your patterns can feel like chemistry
– the difference between loneliness and being alone
– and what it actually takes to be ready for a healthy relationship

Being single isn’t a waiting room… it’s where you either keep repeating or you finally change.

If you feel like you’re ready to go deeper with this… you can work with me through Self Care Studio. I offer both in person sessions and online sessions as well. Head over to Instagram @self_care_studio.

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In this episode I’m joined by Nicole Green, spiritual mentor and founder of Euphoric Energy Healings for a grounded and open conversation about energetics, intuition and reconnecting with yourself. 

Nicole works as a psychic medium and spiritual guide, helping people reconnect with their intuition and step into a deeper understanding of themselves and their life path. This conversation isn’t about making spirituality complicated. It’s about making it real, simple and accessible for everyday life.

Together we talk about:

• What energy actually means in simple terms
• Why people sometimes feel drained, heavy or “off”
• How energetics shows up in daily life and relationships
• Intuition – what it is and how to recognise it
• Signs we’ve become disconnected from ourselves
• Simple tools and practices you can try at home
• The connection between energy, breath, the nervous system and the physical body

This is a beautiful conversation for anyone who feels curious about healing, spirituality or personal growth but wants to keep it grounded and practical.

If you’ve ever felt like something inside you is trying to guide you… this episode is for you.

Connect with Nicole Green:
Euphoric Energy Healings
https://www.euphoricenergyhealings.com.au/

Instagram: euphoricenergyhealings

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New relationships can feel magical exciting, hopeful and full of possibility and I LOVE that. Healthy love isn’t just about chemistry… it’s about safety, respect and emotional wellbeing.

In this episode I talk about how to enjoy new love while staying aware of early patterns that can signal control or unhealthy dynamics.

Together we explore:

• why the beginning feels intoxicating
• the difference between intensity and genuine connection
• love bombing and fast tracked intimacy
• subtle controlling behaviours
• coercive control explained
• why we often don’t see the signs when we’re in it
• Clare’s Law and relationship safety awareness
• what healthy love actually feels like

This episode isn’t about fear, it’s about awareness, self trust and protecting your heart. The right love will never require you to abandon yourself to keep it.

If you would like me to focus on anything specific from this episode I would love to hear from you. Please send me a DM on Instagram @self_care_studio or you can send me an email at [email protected].

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It’s Valentine’s Day.
Love is everywhere. But, beneath the surface so many people are carrying a quiet fear: the fear of being alone.

In this first episode for 2026, I explore the deep human need for connection and the difference between choosing love from wholeness versus choosing someone to avoid loneliness.

I talk about:

✨ why we are wired for connection
✨ why so many people settle in relationships
✨ the importance of spending time alone
✨ how attachment styles shape who we choose and how we love
✨ breaking patterns and choosing conscious relationships
✨ learning to feel safe within yourself

This episode is compassionate, honest and grounding whether you are single, partnered, healing or questioning your relationship patterns.

This is the work I do with my clients. If you would like to find out more or to book an appointment with me, please head over to my website for more information: www.selfcarebybarbarathompson.com.au

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