We are increasing our opening hours and ways we can connect

Find out more and read on for healthy tips to help you be the best you

Limited Evening and weekend bookings

From April we are increasing our hours of operation at the Mordialloc Health Rooms with limited evening and Saturday appointments available.

For private Rupert Street, Ringwood Clients please email contact@compasspsych.com.au for availability.

Remote sessions available

Did you know that if you prefer, you can arrange sessions with Louise Jardine via Telehealth (online video screen). You don't need to download anything, I will send you a secure link, you just need access to a laptop or smart phone/pad with camera and microphone.

For new clients, payment details must be provided before a remote session.

Your and our safety 

We are still open for face to face consultations at our Mordialloc rooms as per government guidelines.

In the current COVID-19 climate we are checking that any clients with clinic-based appointments have not returned from overseas or displayed cold and flu-like symptoms in the last 14 days, and have not been in contact with people with a confirmed positive  result to the coronavirus test. Online sessions should be booked whilst self-isolating or displaying symptoms.

For your and our safety the furniture in the health room is cleaned in-between consultations with hospital grade disinfectant.

For Ringwood clients, sessions are only available via video or telephone at the moment.

Physical, mental and social health

The world can seem very different at the moment with changes to work, travel, family and personal life. But some of us are dealing with situations, emotions and things that can sometimes be overlooked as we adjust to these changes.

Our lives are still affected by bereavement, grief and loss, anxiety, depression, conflict, overwhelm and 'feeling stuck'. Our mental well-being is an aspect of our lives that we need to spend time on, to complement our physical and social health.

Tips for staying healthy while observing physical distancing

Firstly, it is physically distancing, not socially distancing which we need to practice at the moment.

At the time of writing, we are still able to exercise outdoors, with members of our immediate household to catch those rays of sun and get some fresh air.

It's important to increase our social activities, if we are missing contact with the outside world right now.

• Take time to catch up with those people you may not have seen for a while by scheduling a coffee catch-up over the phone or screen.
• Check if those that are vulnerable need items that they are struggling to get out for. Can you drop items off or make a phonecall to check in on them? Helping others triggers impacts to our brain in many positive ways. When we help others, our brains release oxytocin, serotonin and dopamine.
• Don't be afraid to ask for help. There are people who care. Local Council's have a dedicated team for helping people who are finding it difficult to access services and supermarkets.
• Start a watch party with friends with many of the streaming services.
• Dress up and go to the theatre, there are theatres all over the world sharing their shows for free at the moment, find out more here.
• Share recipes, join one of the many virtual social experiences that are happening such as playing board games, start a book club with your friends, and you don't need to be a singer to join the couch choir (see below).

Enjoy some time alone

If you are having too much contact with others and the house seems smaller or noisier with others around, make your own sanctuary where you can pamper your mind and body.

Practice self care, take control! so that you feel more able to deal with things that are out of your control.

Try to do things mindfully. Sit in the garden and observe the different colours of the leaves on the trees. How many different noises can you hear?

Have that piece of chocolate but approach it with curiosity. How is it wrapped? what does it feel like? smell like? Taste a small amount, what does that do to your senses? Can you feel yourself relax?  You deserve that! What is happening inside your mouth, and your stomach right now? Allow yourself to feel the shape, the temperature and the texture inside your mouth. The flavours and the shape changes the longer you spend tasting the chocolate. You may find that you don't need to eat as many pieces as you might have done previously, just by appreciating all aspects of the 'chocolate experience'.

Take care, stay safe, reach out

Louise Jardine Compass Counselling & Psychotherapy