Therapist
Tess Tholstrup
Tess walks beside you, creating a space where insight and resilience unfold—helping you discover the skills and perspectives needed to adapt and thrive.
Therapy Dog
Shorty
Hello, my name is Shorty and I’m the resident therapy dog here at Mind Care for Women in Maylands.
Focus Areas
Anxiety
Anxiety extends beyond typical stress or worry, making even simple tasks feel overwhelming.
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ADHD Testing
Undiagnosed ADHD can result in low confidence and increased stress. If you suspect you may have Adult ADHD, we offer assessments.
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Depression
A depressive episode goes beyond regular mood fluctuations, lasting most of the day, nearly every day, for at least two weeks.
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Eating & Body Image Concerns
A range of factors can play a role in developing body image concerns.
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Insomnia
Insomnia is a sleep disorder that makes it hard to fall or stay asleep, and may impact mood, energy levels, and daily functioning.
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Relationship Challenges
Relationships can be one of life’s greatest challenges. Whether you’re navigating conflict, coping with separation, or rebuilding after divorce.
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Stress
Stress occurs when life’s demands exceed your ability to cope. While it’s a natural response, unmanaged stress can lead to physical and mental health problems.
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Trauma
Everyone’s reaction to potentially traumatic experiences is different. Harrowing or distressing events may result in some people experiencing unwanted symptoms.
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Anxiety
Anxiety extends beyond typical stress or worry. While occasional stress is a natural response to pressure, anxiety persists and often lacks a clear cause. It can interfere with daily life, making even simple tasks feel overwhelming.
Symptoms:
- Unease or fear that doesn’t subside and is difficult to control
- Difficulty managing everyday responsibilities
Causes:
- Hormonal changes, including those during menstrual cycles or menopause
- Traumatic events such as abuse or accidents
- Family history of anxiety disorders
- Stressful environments, including bullying, harassment, or discrimination
- Substance use or withdrawal (alcohol, cannabis, sedatives) • Personality traits like a timid or negative temperament
- Excessive caffeine consumption
Resources:
Visit Beyond Blue for more information on anxiety
ADHD Testing
If you suspect you may have Adult ADHD, we offer assessments that will help you determine if you have ADHD, and where possible, offer coaching.
Benefits of Diagnosis:
- Relief: Provides validation and alleviates self-blame.
- Control: Empowers individuals to adopt strategies and manage challenges.
- Self-Acceptance: Boosts self-esteem and reframes ADHD as a strength.
- Growth: Enhances self-awareness and personal development.
Impact of Underdiagnosis:
- Social-Emotional Wellbeing: Challenges with self-esteem, peer relationships, and emotional regulation can lead to depression and anxiety.
- Relationships: ADHD may affect intimacy, family dynamics, and the ability to sustain meaningful connections.
- Sense of Control: Undiagnosed ADHD often results in low confidence and increased stress.
Resources:
Access detailed research on ADHD
Depression
A depressive episode goes beyond regular mood fluctuations, lasting most of the day, nearly every day, for at least two weeks. During such an episode, individuals may experience a depressed mood—feeling sad, irritable, or empty—and often lose interest or pleasure in activities they once enjoyed.
- Additional symptoms can include:
- Poor concentration
- Excessive guilt or low self-worth
- Hopelessness about the future
- Thoughts about dying or suicide
- Disrupted sleep
- Changes in appetite or weight
- Persistent tiredness or low energy
Causes:
- A family history of depression can increase risk.
- Differences in brain structure and function are observed in those with depression.
- Imbalances in brain chemicals regulating mood, thoughts, sleep, appetite, and behavior may play a role.
- Hormonal changes during menstruation, pregnancy, postpartum, perimenopause, or menopause can increase vulnerability. Miscarriage also elevates risk.
- Significant life stressors—such as trauma, loss, unhealthy relationships, caregiving, abuse, or financial strain—can trigger depression.
- Coping with serious health conditions like stroke, heart attack, or cancer may contribute.
- Prolonged emotional or physical pain increases the likelihood of depression.
Resources:
Visit Beyond Blue for more information on depression
Eating & Body Image Concerns
Symptoms
- Feeling overly worried about your appearance
- Strongly believing you have a defect that makes you look unattractive.
- Thinking people notice and judge your appearance in a negative way.
- Repeatedly trying to fix or hide the flaw, like checking the mirror, grooming, or picking at your skin.
- Using clothing, makeup, or hairstyles to cover up
- Constantly comparing your looks to others.
- Often asking for reassurance about your appearance.
- Striving for perfection in how you look.
- Avoiding social situations because of concerns about your appearance.
Causes
Genetics – Body dysmorphic disorder may run in families, especially in those with a history of mental health conditions like obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Other mental health conditions – People with anxiety or personality disorders are more likely to develop body dysmorphic disorder.
Personality traits – Perfectionism and self-criticism can contribute to body image struggles.
Past experiences – Childhood trauma, teasing, or verbal abuse about appearance can play a role in developing body image concerns.
Resources:
Visit Health Direct for more information on body dysmorphic disorder
Insomnia
Insomnia is a sleep disorder that makes it hard to fall or stay asleep. It may lead to waking up too early or feeling tired upon waking. Insomnia impacts mood, energy levels, and daily functioning.
Symptoms:
- Tension headaches
- Low energy and fatigue
- Poor memory and concentration
- Worry about sleep
- Irritability, mood swings, or loss of motivation
Causes:
- Stressful life events
- Changes in sleep environment
- Mental health conditions like anxiety or depression
- Overuse of technology, poor diet, or lack of exercise
Resources:
Learn more about insomnia from Health Direct
Support for Women Experiencing Relationship Challenges
Relationships can be one of life’s greatest challenges. Whether you’re navigating conflict, coping with separation, or rebuilding after divorce, we’re here to support you.
We offer a compassionate space to:
- Resolve conflict and communication issues in relationships
- Process emotions from separation or divorce
- Build resilience and rediscover your identity
- Explore co-parenting strategies or embrace independence
Resources:
Visit Relationships Australia for more support
Stress
Stress occurs when life’s demands exceed your ability to cope. While it’s a natural response, unmanaged stress can lead to physical and mental health problems.
Symptoms:
- Physical: Headaches, chest tightness, dizziness, stomach issues
- Mental: Racing thoughts, worry, difficulty focusing
- Behavioral: Insomnia, low energy, social withdrawal
Causes:
- Major life events like divorce or bereavement
- Work-related pressures
- Relationship difficulties or caregiving responsibilities
- Financial strain
- Physical illnesses or injuries
Resources:
Learn more about stress management at Yale Medicine
Trauma
Trauma is an emotional reaction to a deeply distressing event, such as an accident, crime, natural disaster, abuse, neglect, violence, loss of a loved one, or war.
Symptoms
- Physical symptoms – Always on alert, easily startled, tired, trouble sleeping, aches, and pains.
- Thinking symptoms – Unwanted memories, flashbacks, nightmares, trouble focusing, confusion.
- Behavioural symptoms – Avoiding reminders of the event, withdrawing from others, losing interest in activities.
- Emotional symptoms – Fear, numbness, sadness, guilt, anger, anxiety, panic.
Causes
- Interpersonal Violence – Domestic violence, sexual assault, and other forms of abuse
- Childhood Adversities – Neglect, exposure to violence, and adverse childhood experiences
- Racism and Discrimination
- Accidents and Health-related Trauma – Serious accidents, sudden illness, and medical procedures can result in PTSD and emotional distress.
- Economic and Social Pressures – Financial hardship, unemployment, and social isolation are significant stressors linked to trauma.
- Climate Change and Environmental Concerns – Anxiety about climate change, combined with the mental health impact of extreme weather events.
Resources
Visit the Australian Psychology Society (APS) website for more information about trauma.
Where to find us
Join us at Inspiration Place, a cosy spot at the corner of Ninth Ave. and Beaufort St. Inglewood.
Address
Unit 1 / 885 Beaufort Street, INGLEWOOD, WA, 6052. (View map)
Costs Involved
Medicare Rebate
- Access up to 10 Medicare-rebated sessions per calendar year with a GP referral.
Fees
- Session Costs: $225 per 50-minute session, with $96.65 reimbursed by Medicare.
What to Expect
Enjoy convenient parking behind the Inglewood Library and frequent buses along Beaufort St. We’re right next to the Inglewood Post Office, with nearby coffee shops, parks, and resources for reflection.
Resources
Don’t forget to grab your take-home materials for learning and growth!
Review
“Thank you for being a shining example of compassion and kindness, providing me with the care and support I need to overcome obstacles.”
– Timothy
Review
“❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ 5 love hearts for Shorty”
5 love hearts for Shorty because he is such a good little boy and his quite the sweetheart. His happy to chill on your lap or beside you on the lounge and sometimes his cool just doing his own thing. His presence is calming and comforting and his just a delight.
Review
“⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Tess gets 5 stars”
Tess gets 5 stars. She is really friendly, compassionate and easy to talk too. Ive found her to be creative in her approach and with meeting my needs.
They make a great team and I highly recommended Tess and Shorty.
