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Introduction There is a moment in therapy that many practitioners recognise — the moment a client says something like, “Part of me wants to leave the relationship, but another part is terrified of being alone,” or “I know I shouldn’t be so hard on myself, but I can’t seem to stop.” These are not signs… Continue reading Internal Family Systems Therapy: Working with the Parts of Ourselves

By Mitchell Webb | Webb Therapy, Surry Hills Sydney We all have moments in relationships where we give too much, worry too much, or lose ourselves a little in someone else. That is not codependency — that is being human. But when those moments become the architecture of the entire relationship, when your sense of… Continue reading Am I in a Codependent Relationship? How to Recognise It — and What to Do About It

Characteristic Dependence Codependence Independence Interdependence Overall pattern Unbalanced — reliant Dysfunctional — enmeshed Disconnected — isolated Healthy — mutually supportive Respect Excessive deference to the other; own views and preferences are regularly abandoned to avoid conflict or disapproval Respect is extended to the other at the direct expense of self-respect; personal autonomy and needs are… Continue reading Comparison table of four relationship dependency types: Dependence, codependence, independence, and interdependence, across seven psychological characteristics

Picture a runaway trolley hurtling down a track. Five people are tied to the rails ahead. On a side track, there is one person — a child. You are standing at the lever. Pull it, and the child dies. Leave it, and five adults are killed. What do you do? This is the Trolley Problem… Continue reading The Trolley Problem Problem

Reading isn’t that same as doing: Most people read these books and feel genuinely inspired — and then return to the same environment, same habits, same triggers, and same social circles that shaped their original behaviour. The insight lands but the conditions that created the old patterns don’t change. Knowledge and behaviour change are genuinely… Continue reading Inspired and Unchanged: Why Self-Help Doesn’t Help

A peer-reviewed exploration of how unresolved trauma rewires the brain, regulates the nervous system, and silently orchestrates our everyday lives. There is a particular kind of suffering that doesn’t announce itself with a single, datable event. It doesn’t always arrive in the form of a car accident, a natural disaster, or a violent assault —… Continue reading Understanding Complex Trauma and How It Shapes the Human Mind, Body, and Behaviour

NOTE: All these skills will require practice 1. Cognitive (thinking) techniques Changing how we see stressful situations We may not be able to change our circumstances, but we can see them differently (Forsyth & Eifert, 2016). For example, stress can be viewed as an experience that will support our learning, growth, and personal development. Technique:… Continue reading Stress Management

The word ‘trauma’ originates from the Greek word ‘wound”, which at the time, was primarily used to refer to physical injuries. Today, trauma is also frequently used to refer to “emotional wounds” that can cause psychological symptoms any time after the traumatic event has occurred, including years later. Emotional and psychological trauma can be lifelong.… Continue reading Trauma: Emotional and Psychological Wounds

Across Australian Demographics in Today’s Climate: A Review of Current Statistics and Research | webbtherapy.org | 2025–2026 Introduction Australia is navigating one of the most psychologically challenging periods in its modern history. Converging social, economic, and political forces — including a cost-of-living crisis, housing unaffordability, the lingering aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, and growing climate… Continue reading Psychological & Emotional Challenges

Not long ago, words like “triggered,” “gaslighting,” “narcissist,” and “neurodivergent” belonged almost exclusively to therapists’ offices and psychology textbooks. Now they’re everywhere; in workplace training sessions, community organisations, TikTok comment sections, and casual conversation between friends over coffee. That shift has brought some genuinely important changes. But it’s also introduced some problems worth taking seriously.… Continue reading When “Trauma” Became a Buzzword: What We Gain and What We Lose when Clinical Language goes Mainstream

Love isn’t a single chemical but it does involve powerful chemicals in your body. When people say “love is just chemicals,” that’s oversimplified. Love is a complex emotional and psychological experience, but it’s strongly influenced by brain chemistry. Here are the main chemicals involved: 1. Dopamine — the reward chemical This is linked to pleasure,… Continue reading What is love and how do I know if I’m in love?

Addiction is a chronic, relapsing disorder involving changes in brain reward, motivation, learning, stress and executive control systems. While different substances (and behaviours) act through distinct primary mechanisms, they converge on common neurobiological pathways — particularly the mesocorticolimbic dopamine system. Below is an overview in Australian English of the core mechanisms and then substance-specific and… Continue reading Neurobiological Mechanisms of Addiction

1. High selectivity is normal, especially as we get older When you enter the post-20’s dating world, your life experience has shaped your preferences. You’ve likely developed clear ideas of what you want in a partner, both in terms of personality and compatibility. 2. Same-sex dating dynamics can be tricky 3. Emotional vs. physical attraction… Continue reading Same-sex dating challenges when you’re over 30

Abstract Addiction is a complex, multifaceted phenomenon that has been described variously as a disease, disorder, syndrome, obsessive-compulsive behaviour, learned behaviour, or spiritual malady. Modern scientific understanding emphasises addiction as a chronic brain disorder shaped by neurobiological changes, learning, and social context. This article examines each conceptualisation and presents an integrated definition that aligns with… Continue reading Understanding Addiction: A Modern, Integrative Perspective

Addiction fundamentally alters the brain’s reward and decision-making systems through well-documented neurobiological mechanisms. When substances like drugs (including alcohol and nicotine) are consumed, they trigger massive releases of dopamine in the brain’s reward circuit, particularly in areas like the nucleus accumbens and ventral tegmental area. With repeated exposure, the brain adapts by reducing natural dopamine… Continue reading Addiction – What You Need To Know