The Healthy Mind Platter for Optimal Brain Matter. Copyright © 2011 David Rock and Daniel J. Siegel, M.D. All rights reserved. Used with permission. By Dr Yoko Hayashi There is no doubt that becoming a parent makes it challenging to look after your own physical and emotional wellbeing. It is difficult to find time for yourself […]
By Dr Bronwyn Leigh “Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson, philosopher and writer Slowing yourself down internally (your mind and physiology) and externally (your pace and behaviour) can help you observe and ‘be with’ your baby. Try to be aware of how you are feeling and how […]
By Dr Bronwyn Leigh “The good-enough mother is one who makes active adaptation to the infant’s needs, an active adaptation that gradually lessens, according to the infant’s growing ability to account for failure of adaptation and to tolerate the results of frustration.” – D. W. Winnicott, paediatrician and parent-infant therapist ‘Good enough’ parenting encompasses being […]
By Dr Bronwyn Leigh “Feelings come and go like clouds in a windy sky. Conscious breathing is my anchor.” – Thich Nhat Hanh, Buddhist monk, teacher and author When we are stressed, anxious or irritated our breathing tends to become rapid and shallow. We breathe higher in the chest, rather than deep in the […]
by Dr Bronwyn Leigh Babies have their own special language and it is our job to learn that language. By observing your baby you can begin to understand her language and communication. Being able to read your baby’s cues and communications allows you to respond appropriately to her needs. One way to understand baby’s communications […]
By Dr Bronwyn Leigh New and expectant Dads are increasingly getting our attention – and with good reason. Traditionally, mental health concerns have focused on new and expectant mothers, but it has become clearer in more recent years that the perinatal period is a time of psychological vulnerability for fathers too. Recent Australian research surveying […]