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 together

The 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=S66gvF

Or find us on our Instagram:
https://instagram.com/thethrivingtherapists?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA==

The Psychology Sisters Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/thepsychologysisters/?hl=en

The Psych Collaborative instagram
https://www.instagram.com/thepsychcollaborative/?hl=en

Please note: this episode is for informational purposes only and does not replace personalised psychological advice.

 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 connect

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=S66gvF

Or find us on our Instagram:
https://instagram.com/thethrivingtherapists?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA==

The Psychology Sisters Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/thepsychologysisters/?hl=en

The Psych Collaborative instagram
https://www.instagram.com/thepsychcollaborative/?hl=en

Please note: this episode is for informational purposes only and does not replace personalised psychological advice.

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=S66gvF

Or find us on our Instagram:
https://instagram.com/thethrivingtherapists?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA==

The Psychology Sisters Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/thepsychologysisters/?hl=en

The Psych Collaborative instagram
https://www.instagram.com/thepsychcollaborative/?hl=en

Please note: this episode is for informational purposes only and does not replace personalised psychological advice.

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 + Kat

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=S66gvF

Or find us on our Instagram:
https://instagram.com/thethrivingtherapists?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA==

The Psychology Sisters Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/thepsychologysisters/?hl=en

The Psych Collaborative instagram
https://www.instagram.com/thepsychcollaborative/?hl=en

Please note: this episode is for informational purposes only and does not replace personalised psychological advice.

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 relationships
o 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 > shame

Rewiring & 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=S66gvF

Or find us on our Instagram:
https://instagram.com/thethrivingtherapists?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA==

The Psychology Sisters Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/thepsychologysisters/?hl=en

The Psych Collaborative instagram
https://www.instagram.com/thepsychcollaborative/?hl=en

Please note: this episode is for informational purposes only and does not replace personalised psychological advice.

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. control
• When it might feel justifiable
• The emotional cost of surveillance
• Trust 
• Tech, boundaries, and healthy communication

Catch-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 friendships
• What would it look like to make “new memories” this week?

We hope you love this episode!!

Aimee + Kat x

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=S66gvF

Or find us on our Instagram:
https://instagram.com/thethrivingtherapists?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA==

The Psychology Sisters Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/thepsychologysisters/?hl=en

The Psych Collaborative instagram
https://www.instagram.com/thepsychcollaborative/?hl=en

Please note: this episode is for informational purposes only and does not replace personalised psychological advice.

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 Attachment

The 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=S66gvF

Or find us on our Instagram:
https://instagram.com/thethrivingtherapists?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA==

The Psychology Sisters Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/thepsychologysisters/?hl=en

The Psych Collaborative instagram
https://www.instagram.com/thepsychcollaborative/?hl=en

Please note: this episode is for informational purposes only and does not replace personalised psychological advice.

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=S66gvF

Or find us on our Instagram:
https://instagram.com/thethrivingtherapists?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA==

The Psychology Sisters Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/thepsychologysisters/?hl=en

The Psych Collaborative instagram
https://www.instagram.com/thepsychcollaborative/?hl=en

Please note: this episode is for informational purposes only and does not replace personalised psychological advice.

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 + Kat

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=S66gvF

Or find us on our Instagram:
https://instagram.com/thethrivingtherapists?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA==

The Psychology Sisters Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/thepsychologysisters/?hl=en

The Psych Collaborative instagram
https://www.instagram.com/thepsychcollaborative/?hl=en

Please note: this episode is for informational purposes only and does not replace personalised psychological advice.

Hello lovely listeners!! Strap in for a goodie this morning as we have the incredible producer Keeshia joining us to lift the cloud on ADHD!

Keeshia may be best known as producer Keeshia on the "Life Uncut" podcast. Recently she has started her own podcast called "Cloud" which she created to discuss ADHD and late age diagnosis; a conversation that was sparked after Keeshia’s own diagnosis. The name Cloud is inspired by the experiences of many late-diagnosed women who describe finally feeling like a “cloud was lifted” after learning more about the different ways that their brains work and how they ‘fit’ into society.
With all of the content about ADHD on social media explaining what the condition is, she’s been on quite a journey figuring out the difference between what I thought were personality flaws and what is actually symptomatic of this condition. 

We speak with Keeshia about the following topics:

•ADHD diagnosis journey, in particular hesitations with starting the diagnostic process and then sharing.

•One consistent topic that comes up for us with clients is "I want to explore ADHD  but I don't want to be dismissed, 'or be part of a trend'. Keeshia shares advice for anyone who wants to explore ADHD but is fearful of 'jumping on the bandwagon'.

•How your relationship with yourself has changed since your diagnosis.

•What you noticed about the impact of undiagnosed ADHD on your relationships with those around you. 

We couldn't have loved our time with Keeshia more, she is so articulate, vulnerable and generous in this interview. We hope you love it too!

Let us know what you think in the comments.

Happy listening,

Aimee and Kat

You can find more of Keeshia here: 

Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/welcome-to-cloud/id1472126503?i=1000694097053

Instagram: @keeshiapettit

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=S66gvF

Or find us on our Instagram:
https://instagram.com/thethrivingtherapists?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA==

The Psychology Sisters Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/thepsychologysisters/?hl=en

The Psych Collaborative instagram
https://www.instagram.com/thepsychcollaborative/?hl=en

Please note: this episode is for informational purposes only and does not replace personalised psychological advice.