Latest news with #OnlinePsychologistsAustralia
The Advertiser
22-06-2025
- General
- The Advertiser
Coming out an 'indelible memory' with lasting impacts
Coming out as LGBTQI to friends and family can be one of the most vulnerable times in a person's life. Despite growing acceptance culturally, research shows almost half - 49 per cent - of young people who come out experience heartbreaking parental rejection. James Wright was 19 years old when he decided to tell his mum and dad he was gay. Now 46, the memory of that experience remains clear. "I would say for all gay people, coming out becomes an indelible memory, whether it's a good or bad experience," he told AAP. "I came out to mum and dad separately, within a few weeks of each other, and it really shocked me the difference in their response." Mr Wright's father, a devout Catholic with Italian heritage, was completely accepting. "He said loving his son was the priority over adhering to what the Catholic Church told him," Mr Wright said. "It brought us so much closer together ... I felt relieved and that he made it so easy was so beautiful." His mother, who Mr Wright had expected to be more accepting, did not respond the same way. "She was horrified," he said. "We've not had a great relationship since then." Almost 45 per cent of LGBTQI youth experience high or very high levels of psychological distress and almost half (48 per cent) have seriously considered suicide - more than three times the rate of their heterosexual peers. The impact of rejection could be particularly devastating for young people beginning to understand and explore their identities, Online Psychologists Australia clinical psychologist Michelle Olaithe said. "We are seeing increasing numbers of youth questioning their sexuality or gender, reaching out to us out of fear of a lack of acceptance from the adults in their life, or are already facing discrimination and prejudice," she said. "The impacts of this experience can continue to be damaging for the rest of their lives if they do not get support." Three in four LGBTQI people have experienced a mental disorder at some point in their lives. This is not due to a predisposition to poor mental health within the community but rather stigma, discrimination and a lack of acceptance, particularly from those closest to them. Many people did not realise just how much their first reaction impacted someone who has come out to them, Online Psychologists Australia chief executive Sarah Richardson said. "The truth is, when someone comes out to you, they're opening up in an incredibly vulnerable way - they're not just telling you something personal, they're asking for acceptance and for safety," she said. "The best response is to lead with love: say 'thank you for trusting me', tell them you support them. "You don't need to have all the answers. Just being warm, open and non-judgmental can mean everything in that moment." The psychologists' platform has released a free guide for parents, teachers, carers and friends as part of Pride Month, celebrated each June. The guide includes tips on what to say and what not to say, how to be a "safe person" and how to support someone after they come out. "This guide is for people who care but maybe aren't sure how to respond when someone comes out," Ms Richardson said. "It's here to take the fear and awkwardness out of that moment and replace it with empathy and confidence." Mr Wright said he had one piece of advice for the parents of LGBTQI children. "My advice to parents would be to be brave," he said. "If you have your suspicions, choose a safe time to raise it, because the child or young adult is probably aching for you to give them permission to talk about it. "It's your responsibility as a parent to have these conversations and gently give them that opportunity." Lifeline 13 11 14 beyondblue 1300 22 4636 Coming out as LGBTQI to friends and family can be one of the most vulnerable times in a person's life. Despite growing acceptance culturally, research shows almost half - 49 per cent - of young people who come out experience heartbreaking parental rejection. James Wright was 19 years old when he decided to tell his mum and dad he was gay. Now 46, the memory of that experience remains clear. "I would say for all gay people, coming out becomes an indelible memory, whether it's a good or bad experience," he told AAP. "I came out to mum and dad separately, within a few weeks of each other, and it really shocked me the difference in their response." Mr Wright's father, a devout Catholic with Italian heritage, was completely accepting. "He said loving his son was the priority over adhering to what the Catholic Church told him," Mr Wright said. "It brought us so much closer together ... I felt relieved and that he made it so easy was so beautiful." His mother, who Mr Wright had expected to be more accepting, did not respond the same way. "She was horrified," he said. "We've not had a great relationship since then." Almost 45 per cent of LGBTQI youth experience high or very high levels of psychological distress and almost half (48 per cent) have seriously considered suicide - more than three times the rate of their heterosexual peers. The impact of rejection could be particularly devastating for young people beginning to understand and explore their identities, Online Psychologists Australia clinical psychologist Michelle Olaithe said. "We are seeing increasing numbers of youth questioning their sexuality or gender, reaching out to us out of fear of a lack of acceptance from the adults in their life, or are already facing discrimination and prejudice," she said. "The impacts of this experience can continue to be damaging for the rest of their lives if they do not get support." Three in four LGBTQI people have experienced a mental disorder at some point in their lives. This is not due to a predisposition to poor mental health within the community but rather stigma, discrimination and a lack of acceptance, particularly from those closest to them. Many people did not realise just how much their first reaction impacted someone who has come out to them, Online Psychologists Australia chief executive Sarah Richardson said. "The truth is, when someone comes out to you, they're opening up in an incredibly vulnerable way - they're not just telling you something personal, they're asking for acceptance and for safety," she said. "The best response is to lead with love: say 'thank you for trusting me', tell them you support them. "You don't need to have all the answers. Just being warm, open and non-judgmental can mean everything in that moment." The psychologists' platform has released a free guide for parents, teachers, carers and friends as part of Pride Month, celebrated each June. The guide includes tips on what to say and what not to say, how to be a "safe person" and how to support someone after they come out. "This guide is for people who care but maybe aren't sure how to respond when someone comes out," Ms Richardson said. "It's here to take the fear and awkwardness out of that moment and replace it with empathy and confidence." Mr Wright said he had one piece of advice for the parents of LGBTQI children. "My advice to parents would be to be brave," he said. "If you have your suspicions, choose a safe time to raise it, because the child or young adult is probably aching for you to give them permission to talk about it. "It's your responsibility as a parent to have these conversations and gently give them that opportunity." Lifeline 13 11 14 beyondblue 1300 22 4636 Coming out as LGBTQI to friends and family can be one of the most vulnerable times in a person's life. Despite growing acceptance culturally, research shows almost half - 49 per cent - of young people who come out experience heartbreaking parental rejection. James Wright was 19 years old when he decided to tell his mum and dad he was gay. Now 46, the memory of that experience remains clear. "I would say for all gay people, coming out becomes an indelible memory, whether it's a good or bad experience," he told AAP. "I came out to mum and dad separately, within a few weeks of each other, and it really shocked me the difference in their response." Mr Wright's father, a devout Catholic with Italian heritage, was completely accepting. "He said loving his son was the priority over adhering to what the Catholic Church told him," Mr Wright said. "It brought us so much closer together ... I felt relieved and that he made it so easy was so beautiful." His mother, who Mr Wright had expected to be more accepting, did not respond the same way. "She was horrified," he said. "We've not had a great relationship since then." Almost 45 per cent of LGBTQI youth experience high or very high levels of psychological distress and almost half (48 per cent) have seriously considered suicide - more than three times the rate of their heterosexual peers. The impact of rejection could be particularly devastating for young people beginning to understand and explore their identities, Online Psychologists Australia clinical psychologist Michelle Olaithe said. "We are seeing increasing numbers of youth questioning their sexuality or gender, reaching out to us out of fear of a lack of acceptance from the adults in their life, or are already facing discrimination and prejudice," she said. "The impacts of this experience can continue to be damaging for the rest of their lives if they do not get support." Three in four LGBTQI people have experienced a mental disorder at some point in their lives. This is not due to a predisposition to poor mental health within the community but rather stigma, discrimination and a lack of acceptance, particularly from those closest to them. Many people did not realise just how much their first reaction impacted someone who has come out to them, Online Psychologists Australia chief executive Sarah Richardson said. "The truth is, when someone comes out to you, they're opening up in an incredibly vulnerable way - they're not just telling you something personal, they're asking for acceptance and for safety," she said. "The best response is to lead with love: say 'thank you for trusting me', tell them you support them. "You don't need to have all the answers. Just being warm, open and non-judgmental can mean everything in that moment." The psychologists' platform has released a free guide for parents, teachers, carers and friends as part of Pride Month, celebrated each June. The guide includes tips on what to say and what not to say, how to be a "safe person" and how to support someone after they come out. "This guide is for people who care but maybe aren't sure how to respond when someone comes out," Ms Richardson said. "It's here to take the fear and awkwardness out of that moment and replace it with empathy and confidence." Mr Wright said he had one piece of advice for the parents of LGBTQI children. "My advice to parents would be to be brave," he said. "If you have your suspicions, choose a safe time to raise it, because the child or young adult is probably aching for you to give them permission to talk about it. "It's your responsibility as a parent to have these conversations and gently give them that opportunity." Lifeline 13 11 14 beyondblue 1300 22 4636 Coming out as LGBTQI to friends and family can be one of the most vulnerable times in a person's life. Despite growing acceptance culturally, research shows almost half - 49 per cent - of young people who come out experience heartbreaking parental rejection. James Wright was 19 years old when he decided to tell his mum and dad he was gay. Now 46, the memory of that experience remains clear. "I would say for all gay people, coming out becomes an indelible memory, whether it's a good or bad experience," he told AAP. "I came out to mum and dad separately, within a few weeks of each other, and it really shocked me the difference in their response." Mr Wright's father, a devout Catholic with Italian heritage, was completely accepting. "He said loving his son was the priority over adhering to what the Catholic Church told him," Mr Wright said. "It brought us so much closer together ... I felt relieved and that he made it so easy was so beautiful." His mother, who Mr Wright had expected to be more accepting, did not respond the same way. "She was horrified," he said. "We've not had a great relationship since then." Almost 45 per cent of LGBTQI youth experience high or very high levels of psychological distress and almost half (48 per cent) have seriously considered suicide - more than three times the rate of their heterosexual peers. The impact of rejection could be particularly devastating for young people beginning to understand and explore their identities, Online Psychologists Australia clinical psychologist Michelle Olaithe said. "We are seeing increasing numbers of youth questioning their sexuality or gender, reaching out to us out of fear of a lack of acceptance from the adults in their life, or are already facing discrimination and prejudice," she said. "The impacts of this experience can continue to be damaging for the rest of their lives if they do not get support." Three in four LGBTQI people have experienced a mental disorder at some point in their lives. This is not due to a predisposition to poor mental health within the community but rather stigma, discrimination and a lack of acceptance, particularly from those closest to them. Many people did not realise just how much their first reaction impacted someone who has come out to them, Online Psychologists Australia chief executive Sarah Richardson said. "The truth is, when someone comes out to you, they're opening up in an incredibly vulnerable way - they're not just telling you something personal, they're asking for acceptance and for safety," she said. "The best response is to lead with love: say 'thank you for trusting me', tell them you support them. "You don't need to have all the answers. Just being warm, open and non-judgmental can mean everything in that moment." The psychologists' platform has released a free guide for parents, teachers, carers and friends as part of Pride Month, celebrated each June. The guide includes tips on what to say and what not to say, how to be a "safe person" and how to support someone after they come out. "This guide is for people who care but maybe aren't sure how to respond when someone comes out," Ms Richardson said. "It's here to take the fear and awkwardness out of that moment and replace it with empathy and confidence." Mr Wright said he had one piece of advice for the parents of LGBTQI children. "My advice to parents would be to be brave," he said. "If you have your suspicions, choose a safe time to raise it, because the child or young adult is probably aching for you to give them permission to talk about it. "It's your responsibility as a parent to have these conversations and gently give them that opportunity." Lifeline 13 11 14 beyondblue 1300 22 4636
The Advertiser
12-06-2025
- Health
- The Advertiser
Stuck in a bad relationship? Spot the warning signs with a 'red flag radar'
Spotting signs of manipulation, coercive control and trauma bonding in relationships has become a little easier with the development of a new therapy platform. The 'Red Flag Radar: Relationship Self-Assessment', a free guide developed by Online Psychologists Australia, was released in June to help people recognise negative relationship patterns. "If you've ever found yourself googling questions like, 'Am I being manipulated?', 'Is my relationship toxic, or just intense?', 'Why is it so hard to leave?'...you're not alone," the guide said. "So many people quietly search for answers, trying to make sense of pain they can't always name. "While Google can give definitions, not all the answers are online. Sometimes the truth reveals itself only when you pause, reflect, and honestly listen to your own inner voice." Sarah Richardson, the CEO of Online Psychologists Australia's parent company, Healthbright, said the guide takes readers through the warning signs of controlling, critical and gaslighting behaviours. She said it also provided resources for planning a safe exit from the relationship. Around one in five Australians have reported experiencing physical, sexual, family or domestic violence since the age of 15, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Personal Safety Survey 2021-2022. Recent crime data from NSW showed that domestic violence and sexual assaults were surging in regional areas, with some parts recording a spike of up to 24 per cent over two years. Despite the scale of the issue, reporting remains low, with less than 40 per cent of victims seeking advice or support, according to the Red Flag Radar guide. This was due, in part, to "a little-understood psychological response" known as trauma bonding, where victims form deep emotional attachments to their abusers, the guide said. "When you are bonded through a trauma, it's because someone has criticised you, it's because someone is being manipulative towards you, and you don't really know how to get away from that person," Ms Richardson said. "So you are bonded to them through the trauma that they are creating." The behaviour was often followed by "regret and affection" from the partner. It may be very difficult for victims to identify, and even harder to escape, she said. "The signs of trauma bonding and toxic dynamics aren't always obvious, especially when love, fear, and hope are tangled together," the guide said. "Healing begins when you stop looking for permission to trust your instincts and start honouring what you already feel." Support is available for those who may be distressed: Spotting signs of manipulation, coercive control and trauma bonding in relationships has become a little easier with the development of a new therapy platform. The 'Red Flag Radar: Relationship Self-Assessment', a free guide developed by Online Psychologists Australia, was released in June to help people recognise negative relationship patterns. "If you've ever found yourself googling questions like, 'Am I being manipulated?', 'Is my relationship toxic, or just intense?', 'Why is it so hard to leave?'...you're not alone," the guide said. "So many people quietly search for answers, trying to make sense of pain they can't always name. "While Google can give definitions, not all the answers are online. Sometimes the truth reveals itself only when you pause, reflect, and honestly listen to your own inner voice." Sarah Richardson, the CEO of Online Psychologists Australia's parent company, Healthbright, said the guide takes readers through the warning signs of controlling, critical and gaslighting behaviours. She said it also provided resources for planning a safe exit from the relationship. Around one in five Australians have reported experiencing physical, sexual, family or domestic violence since the age of 15, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Personal Safety Survey 2021-2022. Recent crime data from NSW showed that domestic violence and sexual assaults were surging in regional areas, with some parts recording a spike of up to 24 per cent over two years. Despite the scale of the issue, reporting remains low, with less than 40 per cent of victims seeking advice or support, according to the Red Flag Radar guide. This was due, in part, to "a little-understood psychological response" known as trauma bonding, where victims form deep emotional attachments to their abusers, the guide said. "When you are bonded through a trauma, it's because someone has criticised you, it's because someone is being manipulative towards you, and you don't really know how to get away from that person," Ms Richardson said. "So you are bonded to them through the trauma that they are creating." The behaviour was often followed by "regret and affection" from the partner. It may be very difficult for victims to identify, and even harder to escape, she said. "The signs of trauma bonding and toxic dynamics aren't always obvious, especially when love, fear, and hope are tangled together," the guide said. "Healing begins when you stop looking for permission to trust your instincts and start honouring what you already feel." Support is available for those who may be distressed: Spotting signs of manipulation, coercive control and trauma bonding in relationships has become a little easier with the development of a new therapy platform. The 'Red Flag Radar: Relationship Self-Assessment', a free guide developed by Online Psychologists Australia, was released in June to help people recognise negative relationship patterns. "If you've ever found yourself googling questions like, 'Am I being manipulated?', 'Is my relationship toxic, or just intense?', 'Why is it so hard to leave?'...you're not alone," the guide said. "So many people quietly search for answers, trying to make sense of pain they can't always name. "While Google can give definitions, not all the answers are online. Sometimes the truth reveals itself only when you pause, reflect, and honestly listen to your own inner voice." Sarah Richardson, the CEO of Online Psychologists Australia's parent company, Healthbright, said the guide takes readers through the warning signs of controlling, critical and gaslighting behaviours. She said it also provided resources for planning a safe exit from the relationship. Around one in five Australians have reported experiencing physical, sexual, family or domestic violence since the age of 15, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Personal Safety Survey 2021-2022. Recent crime data from NSW showed that domestic violence and sexual assaults were surging in regional areas, with some parts recording a spike of up to 24 per cent over two years. Despite the scale of the issue, reporting remains low, with less than 40 per cent of victims seeking advice or support, according to the Red Flag Radar guide. This was due, in part, to "a little-understood psychological response" known as trauma bonding, where victims form deep emotional attachments to their abusers, the guide said. "When you are bonded through a trauma, it's because someone has criticised you, it's because someone is being manipulative towards you, and you don't really know how to get away from that person," Ms Richardson said. "So you are bonded to them through the trauma that they are creating." The behaviour was often followed by "regret and affection" from the partner. It may be very difficult for victims to identify, and even harder to escape, she said. "The signs of trauma bonding and toxic dynamics aren't always obvious, especially when love, fear, and hope are tangled together," the guide said. "Healing begins when you stop looking for permission to trust your instincts and start honouring what you already feel." Support is available for those who may be distressed: Spotting signs of manipulation, coercive control and trauma bonding in relationships has become a little easier with the development of a new therapy platform. The 'Red Flag Radar: Relationship Self-Assessment', a free guide developed by Online Psychologists Australia, was released in June to help people recognise negative relationship patterns. "If you've ever found yourself googling questions like, 'Am I being manipulated?', 'Is my relationship toxic, or just intense?', 'Why is it so hard to leave?'...you're not alone," the guide said. "So many people quietly search for answers, trying to make sense of pain they can't always name. "While Google can give definitions, not all the answers are online. Sometimes the truth reveals itself only when you pause, reflect, and honestly listen to your own inner voice." Sarah Richardson, the CEO of Online Psychologists Australia's parent company, Healthbright, said the guide takes readers through the warning signs of controlling, critical and gaslighting behaviours. She said it also provided resources for planning a safe exit from the relationship. Around one in five Australians have reported experiencing physical, sexual, family or domestic violence since the age of 15, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Personal Safety Survey 2021-2022. Recent crime data from NSW showed that domestic violence and sexual assaults were surging in regional areas, with some parts recording a spike of up to 24 per cent over two years. Despite the scale of the issue, reporting remains low, with less than 40 per cent of victims seeking advice or support, according to the Red Flag Radar guide. This was due, in part, to "a little-understood psychological response" known as trauma bonding, where victims form deep emotional attachments to their abusers, the guide said. "When you are bonded through a trauma, it's because someone has criticised you, it's because someone is being manipulative towards you, and you don't really know how to get away from that person," Ms Richardson said. "So you are bonded to them through the trauma that they are creating." The behaviour was often followed by "regret and affection" from the partner. It may be very difficult for victims to identify, and even harder to escape, she said. "The signs of trauma bonding and toxic dynamics aren't always obvious, especially when love, fear, and hope are tangled together," the guide said. "Healing begins when you stop looking for permission to trust your instincts and start honouring what you already feel." Support is available for those who may be distressed:
