Not all trauma looks the same. For some people, it is linked to a specific event — an accident, loss, or medical experience. For others, it is something that built up over time: chronic stress, relationship dynamics, emotional neglect, or...
Happy Minds blog
Online Trauma Informed Services: Safe, Compassionate Support From Anywhere
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What Artemis II Can Teach Us About Grief, Distance, and Human Connection
Read MoreSomething remarkable happened this week. For the first time in more than 50 years, humans travelled further from Earth than ever before. The crew of NASA’s Artemis II mission passed the record set by Apollo 13, venturing over 400,000 kilometres...
PTSD in police officers: understanding trauma behind the badge in Geelong & the Bellarine Peninsula
Read MorePolice officers in Victoria play a vital role in protecting our communities, responding to emergencies, and supporting people on their worst days. From Geelong to the Surf Coast and across the Bellarine Peninsula, officers regularly witness trauma, violence, death, and...
Coping with grief after stillbirth: finding support and healing in Geelong
Read MoreLosing a baby through stillbirth is one of the most devastating experiences a family can face. It brings profound grief, disbelief, and emotional pain that can feel impossible to put into words. The joy of anticipation suddenly turns into shock...
Coping with miscarriage: finding support and healing with a Geelong psychologist
Read MoreExperiencing a miscarriage is one of the most profound and heartbreaking forms of loss. Whether it occurs early in pregnancy or later, miscarriage can bring a wave of emotional, physical, and psychological pain that often feels invisible to the outside...
Healing from birth trauma: how EMDR therapy can help
Read MoreFor many new parents, the birth of a child is expected to be one of life’s most joyful and transformative experiences. But for some, childbirth can be overwhelming, frightening, or even traumatic. When a birth doesn’t go to plan —...
Preparing for a second birth after a traumatic first experience: how EMDR therapy can help
Read MoreFor many parents, the thought of a second birth brings a mix of hope and apprehension. While they may long for a healing or redemptive experience, those who have previously endured a difficult or traumatic first birth often feel heightened...
Trauma and first responders: understanding the hidden impact and the path to healing
Read MoreBy Sarah-Jayne Duryea, Principal Psychologist | Happy Minds Psychology, Geelong Every day, first responders — police officers, firefighters, paramedics, emergency dispatchers, and SES volunteers — face situations most people can’t imagine. They are the ones who run toward danger, hold...
Healing After Surrogacy: Reclaiming Identity and Emotional Balance Post-Birth
Read MoreThe weeks and months following a surrogacy birth are often described as bittersweet. There is joy, gratitude, and relief — but also hormonal shifts, fatigue, and emotional recalibration. For surrogates, this can be a moment of pride mixed with unexpected...
Men’s Mental Health During Fertility Treatment: Breaking the Silence
Read MoreFertility treatment can be an emotional rollercoaster. While the focus often falls on women’s experiences, men’s mental health is just as important. At Happy Minds Psychology in Geelong, we see how uncertainty, financial strain, medical procedures, and shifting hopes can...
