The Counselling Armchair: Nurturing well being and study

In today's episode, Ruth joins Liz for chat about stress management. We all experience stress at some point in our lives and so the skill of managing our stress to minimise its impact on us is something we all need to develop. From calming our nervous system, to learning to say no and fostering self compassion, we'll provide you with ideas to navigate stress and reclaim your inner calm.

In this episode, we're diving deep into the world of building better boundaries and the art of assertive communication. Whether you struggle to speak up for yourself or find it challenging to maintain healthy relationships, this discussion is for you. Get ready to learn practical tips and strategies to enhance your communication skills and cultivate stronger boundaries.

Assertive communication and healthy boundaries are essential ingredients for building fulfilling relationships and living authentically. By honing these skills, you'll empower yourself to advocate for your needs, maintain self-respect, and nurture deeper connections with others.

In this episode, we talk all things ADHD with our expert counsellors Bec and Ruth. There is now an increased awareness and discussion around ADHD and so Melissa and Liz chat to guests Bec and Ruth to explore various aspects of ADHD and offer insights into how individuals can not only cope but thrive. We cover everything from recognizing the core characteristics of ADHD and dispelling common misconceptions, to how to get an assessment and treatment options, study hacks and the supports available at RMIT to support students with ADHD. Today's episode aims to provide a comprehensive guide for individuals navigating life and study with ADHD, offering practical advice, real-world stories, and information on the resources available for support and success.

In this episode of "The Counselling Armchair," we set sail on the turbulent seas of groupwork in university, armed with strategies to navigate the challenges, avoid the common pitfalls, and steer our ship toward harmony and success. Join us as we explore the art of teamwork, share personal anecdotes, and offer expert advice to help you not only survive but thrive in group projects. Whether you're a seasoned sailor or a first-time crew member, this episode will equip you with the tools to make your groupwork journey a smoother and more rewarding one. So, grab your life jacket and tune in to chart a course towards academic excellence and collaborative triumph!

You may be surprised to learn how common this phenomenon might be. So Liz and Yvonne decided to catch up to soak up Liz’s knowledge in this area. Hear about and/or revisit the fundamental skills in social situations to help ease that anxiety. They may sound rudimentary, but we might all be surprised to know how social anxiety can impact how we see or judge ourselves. Liz also highlight the importance of being kind to ourselves.  

One minute there is ample amount of time to do something. The next minute, the hour is upon us, and time seemed to have slipped away. Does that sound like a familiar experience? If so, you are not alone. Our guest in this episode, Plia, addresses the ever-popular topic on our perspective on time, our healthy and unhealthy use of time, and other effective ways to manage our time.   

We chat about what it’s like adapting to university life for those graduating from high school, moving interstate, and/or returning to studies after years of being in the labour market and with industry experience. We explore what local students may experience differently adjusting to university life and offer tips to those embarking on a new and exciting chapter in their lives.

Our episode will hear from Piera, Senior Advisor, International Student Wellbeing, who guides us through on settling into a new environment as an international student studying abroad. Such change can bring excitement but also nerves. From the emotional to the practical aspects, listen on as we dive into learning to live in “a (almost) whole new world”.

We’re nearing Census Date! This soundbite covers information on what it is when you are enrolled at a university. We help break down what students need to do by census date to stay in their studies.

Such a festive time of the year as we publish this episode. The weather is warming up, there seems to be a buzz in the local community, people out and about, loud music, parties and get-togethers can be heard and seen. Such a relaxing time! Or is it? Not all of us may feel that excitement for the festivities ahead; whether to do with being far from home, intense time to be spent with others we don’t normally, or whether this time of the year can bring up some painful memories or associations. We sit down with one of our psychologists, Bec, on winding down as the year wraps up, and on ways to care for our wellbeing.

Ever woke after a rough night’s sleep? Notice how that impacted on you the next day? And notice what a world of difference a good night’s sleep can have on your overall wellbeing? The implication of a good sleep on our physical, mental and social health is manyfold. Unfortunately, some of us may feel we don’t get enough sleep, while some of us struggle with the quality of it. Our episode explores this ever-popular topic with one of our psychologists, Dr Chloe. We unpack what factors stop us from achieving a good night’s sleep, the unpretty side of life when we don’t sleep well and what’s so important to having good night’s sleep. Importantly, Chloe also offers up her tips on building healthy habits for sleep. Intrigued? Listen on.

In this episode, our hosts chat with one of the senior co-ordinators at the Counselling Service, Lyndon, on a very interesting topic on impostor syndrome. We take a deeper look at what it is, how we experience it and why some of us go through this while others don’t. We also get personal on whether we, as psychologists, experience this too, and ask Lyndon for personal tips to overcome the impact of this.

This pilot episode introduces us to the two hosts of The Counselling Armchair, Liz and Yvonne, psychologists at the RMIT Student Counselling Service. What started as a fluffy dream and passion project is now a podcast that hopes to offer students and young adults a platform to understanding some of the common experiences they may face during their tertiary studies. We talk about what stresses students can encounter, from life adjustment, personal difficulties, all things mental health to academic skills, time management and assessment stress. We explore ways to handle challenges that come up during life at university. We also provide what may sound boring but necessary information relating to navigating processes with enrolment or university administration. We hope The Counselling Armchair will offer insights listeners can refer back to time and again at your convenience.