Not Your Average Counsellor

Has Society Turned Co-Dependency into a Love Story?

💭 Are we mistaking emotional over-reliance for true love? This episode unpacks how society romanticises co-dependency and where we should draw the line between deep connection and unhealthy attachment.
Inside This Episode:
❤️ What is co-dependency? The difference between healthy interdependence and losing yourself in a relationship.
🎬 The media’s role. How movies, TV, and books glorify obsessive love as the ultimate romance.
🛑 The “ride or die” mentality. Is staying no matter what really love—or just fear of letting go?
🚩 Signs of co-dependency disguised as love. Feeling responsible for a partner’s emotions? Losing your identity? Let’s talk red flags.
😨 The fear of being alone. How societal pressure keeps people in unhealthy relationships.
💡 Love vs. emotional enmeshment. True love nurtures independence, not dependence.
📱 Social media’s influence. The pressure to prove love online and its impact on relationship dynamics.
🔄 Can co-dependent relationships become healthy? Exploring whether change is possible through self-awareness and boundary setting.

Should Couples Have Access to Each Other’s Phones and Social Media Accounts?

Should Couples Have Access to Each Other’s Phones and Social Media Accounts?
 
💭 Does full access build trust, or is it crossing a boundary? In this episode, we’re diving into the ongoing debate over privacy, transparency, and control in relationships.
 
Inside This Episode:
🔑 Trust vs. transparency. Is sharing passwords a sign of honesty or insecurity?
🚧 Healthy boundaries matter. Personal space doesn’t mean secrecy—it means respect.
❤️ Why do some couples share everything? From openness to past betrayals, what drives this choice?
🛑 When privacy gets mistaken for secrecy. Autonomy can strengthen a relationship—if handled right.
⚠️ Red flags or unnecessary worry? Secretive behavior vs. personal insecurities—how do you tell the difference?
📱 Social media and relationship anxiety. Exes, online interactions, and the need for boundaries.
🔍 Is checking a partner’s phone ever okay? When does suspicion justify a closer look?
🤝 Finding middle ground. What if one partner wants full access and the other values privacy?
 

Should You Change Who You Are for Your Partner?

💭 Is love about compromise, or should you be accepted exactly as you are? This episode dives into the fine line between healthy growth and losing yourself in a relationship.
 
Inside This Episode:
❤️ The nature of change. Relationships naturally shape us, but when does growth turn into self-sacrifice?
🎭 The pressure to change. Societal, cultural, and personal expectations can make you feel like you’re not “enough” as you are.
⚖️ Compromise vs. self-sacrifice. Adjusting habits is one thing—abandoning your core identity is another.
🤔 Are you changing for YOU or for them? Self-reflection is key. Is this growth or just people-pleasing?
💬 Love and acceptance. Should true love embrace you as you are, or push you to evolve?
🚧 The role of boundaries. How to maintain individuality while still growing as a couple.
⚠️ The danger of losing yourself. Signs you’re sacrificing too much and how to reclaim your identity.
🔄 Can a relationship work if one person won’t change? Knowing when to stay, when to push for growth, and when to walk away.

What’s Your Role in Coercive Control?

💭 Could you be unknowingly enabling, experiencing, or even exercising coercive control? This episode unpacks the complexities of manipulation, power, and control—helping you recognize, address, and break free from harmful dynamics.
 
Inside This Episode:
⚠️ What is coercive control? How it differs from other forms of abuse and where it shows up in relationships, work, and family.
🔍 Recognizing the signs. Isolation, gaslighting, financial control—coercive behaviors can be subtle but damaging.
🤔 Are you being controlled? Self-reflection questions to help identify coercive control in your life.
💬 Are you enabling it? How societal norms, silence, or dismissing concerns can reinforce controlling behaviors.
🚨 Could you be exercising control? Understanding the root of controlling tendencies and how to change harmful behaviors.
🧠 The mental toll. Anxiety, depression, and self-doubt—how coercive control affects mental health.
🔑 Breaking free. Steps to exit a controlling situation safely and reclaim independence.
🚪 Setting boundaries. How to establish and respect healthy boundaries to prevent coercion.
 

Is It Possible to Be Friends with an Ex?

💭 Can you truly move on while keeping your ex in your life? This episode dives into the emotional, practical, and relational challenges of post-breakup friendships—when they work, when they don’t, and how to navigate them.
 
Inside This Episode:
❤️ Why do some people stay friends with an ex? Shared history, mutual respect, or just avoiding awkwardness?
🛑 When it’s a bad idea. Mixed signals, lingering feelings, and the struggle to truly move on.
🗣️ How to set boundaries. Friendship only works when both parties are on the same page—no blurred lines.
⏳ The role of time and space. Taking a break before trying to be friends can be the difference between healing and heartbreak.
💡 Does being friends impact future relationships? How new partners feel about it and when transparency is key.
🚩 Red flags to watch for. Is the friendship really healthy, or just an excuse to hold on?
 

Should You Tell Your Partner If You Cheat on Them?

💭 Is honesty always the best policy, or can some secrets do more harm than good? Today, we’re tackling one of the most controversial relationship dilemmas—should you confess to infidelity, or take it to the grave?
 
Inside This Episode:
❤️ What counts as cheating? Emotional affairs, physical infidelity, blurred lines—everyone defines it differently.
🤔 Why do people cheat? Unmet needs, emotional disconnect, impulse—let’s unpack the reasons behind betrayal.
⚖️ The ethics of honesty. Is confession about accountability, or just easing guilt?
💥 The impact of telling the truth. Can a relationship survive an affair? Or is it better left unsaid?
🛑 What happens if you stay silent? The weight of secrecy, guilt, and the risk of being found out.
🗣️ How to have ‘the talk.’ If you choose to confess, when and how should you do it?
🔄 Can trust be rebuilt? Strategies for moving forward if both partners decide to work through it.
🚩 When silence isn’t an option. Signs that keeping it hidden could cause more damage in the long run.
 

What Are Your Thoughts on Open Relationships? Can They Work?

💭 Are open relationships the key to deeper connection, or a fast track to heartbreak? Love isn’t one-size-fits-all, and today, we’re exploring the world of non-monogamy—its challenges, its benefits, and what it really takes to make it work.
 
Inside This Episode:
❤️ What exactly is an open relationship? It’s not just one definition—every couple creates their own rules.
🔄 Why do people choose it? Freedom, variety, deeper intimacy—what’s the real motivation?
🗣️ Communication is EVERYTHING. Without trust and clear boundaries, things fall apart—fast.
😬 Let’s talk jealousy. It happens. But can it be managed?
🌱 The unexpected perks. Some couples say non-monogamy makes their connection stronger—could it?
⚠️ And the challenges. Misalignment, insecurity, and social stigma—can everyone handle it?
🤔 Is it right for YOU? Not everyone is built for open relationships, and that’s okay.
 
💬 Let’s Keep This Conversation Going! What do YOU think? Could an open relationship work, or is it a disaster waiting to happen? Slide into my DMs, email me, or share your thoughts on socials.
 
If this episode hit home, send it to a friend who needs to hear it. Until next time—stay true to you.

Is It Okay to Stay in a Relationship If You’re No Longer in Love?

Is It Okay to Stay in a Relationship If You’re No Longer in Love?
💭 What if love isn’t gone, just buried under routine? Or what if staying means sacrificing your happiness? This is one of the toughest questions in relationships, and there’s no simple answer.
 
What We’re Covering in This Episode:
❤️ How do you know if you’re truly out of love—or just stuck in a rut?
🔥 The difference between passion fading and emotional disconnection 
🤔 Why do people stay: fear, obligation, or hope for change?
💍 The role of commitment—should it outweigh emotional fulfillment? 
🧠 What happens to your mental health when you stay in a loveless relationship?
💡 Is it possible to reignite love, or is it sometimes best to walk away?
 
This episode isn’t about giving you a black-and-white answer. It’s about helping you explore your own truth. If you’re facing this question in your own life, you’re not alone—and there’s no one-size-fits-all solution.
 
💬 Let’s Keep This Conversation Going! I want to hear from YOU. Have you ever been in this situation? What did you do? Slide into my DMs, email me, or share your thoughts on socials.
 
If this episode resonated with you, share it with someone who needs to hear it. Until next time—stay true to you.
 
💡 Want to know more?
Join MMI here
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Explore my Services here

Welcome to the New Era of Not Your Average Counsellor!

Welcome to Not Your Average Counsellor 2025!
I’m back with bold, thought-provoking conversations on relationships, mental health, and personal growth.
This season, we’re shaking things up with big questions like: 👉 Should you stay in a relationship if you’re no longer in love? 👉 Should you tell your partner if you cheat? 👉 Have we turned co-dependency into a love story?
No sugar-coating. Just raw, honest discussions embracing life’s messy realities.
Your Voice Matters – This podcast is a two-way conversation. DM me, email me, share your thoughts. Let’s talk!
The Me, Myself, and I Mastery Program is BACK!
🚀 Next intake: March 17 – Ready for change? This 12-week program is designed to get you where you truly want to be.
Past participants have: 🔥 Reignited marriages 🔥 Launched businesses 🔥 Shifted careers with confidence ✨ Set boundaries & prioritised their mental health
I teamed up with Maria Doyle, an Instructional Designer and past MMI participant, to make the program even better.
Join us as we discuss:
What makes MMI a game-changer
How a strong learning environment fuels transformation
The power of accountability
Maria shares her first-hand experience—if you’re on the fence, this is for you!
Join the Conversation!
This season is all about real, raw, and necessary conversations that challenge your perspectives.
If today’s episode resonated with you, if you’re feeling stuck or ready for change—you’re not alone. Check the notes for MMI details.
Got thoughts? Questions? Stories? Let’s shake things up together!
Stay curious, stay bold, and most of all, stay true to you.
💡 Want to know more?
Join MMI here
Follow me on socials – Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn
Explore my Services here

Navigating Toxic Relationships: Is It Me or Is It Them? (PART 2)

Have you ever wondered if you're in a toxic relationship but just can’t quite put your finger on what feels off? Maybe you’re questioning if it’s you or them.
Toxic relationships aren’t limited to romantic partners. These unhealthy dynamics can show up with friends, family, and even colleagues. You might not even realise how much they’re affecting your mental and emotional well-being until you know what to look for.
In this episode, we continue the conversation from Part 1, where I shared Jane’s story to show you firsthand how toxic relationships can play out. In this episode, we dive further into the behaviours that make these relationships so damaging—things like manipulation, control, and emotional abuse.
If you’ve ever felt drained or confused, this episode is packed with insights to help you spot the red flags and take back control.
If you haven’t listened to Part 1 yet, I highly recommend starting there so you can fully understand how these dynamics unfold.
Take a moment for yourself today and tune in. It might just be the clarity you’ve been looking for.
If after listening, you feel you need extra support, my team and I are always here to help you navigate these challenges. Feel free to book in a ​FREE 15 minute chat​ to discuss how we can support you.
Additional Support Services
Support for Victims of Financial Abuse
Hotlines and Helplines
1800RESPECT
White Ribbon Australia
Banking SupportMost banks have dedicated services to assist victims of financial abuse. Contact your bank directly or visit their website for detailed information and support numbers.
Domestic Violence SheltersMany shelters provide financial counselling and resources to help victims regain independence. (See resources below.)
Support for Victims of Physical Abuse
Domestic Violence Shelters: Family and Domestic Violence Women’s Refuges
Hotlines and Helplines: 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or text 0458 737 732
Non-Profit Organizations: Centre for Women’s Safety & Wellbeing, White Ribbon Australia
Legal Assistance: Legal Aid Western Australia