Solasta

Solasta Psychologist Priya recently travelled to Singapore to teach a postgraduate module on Trauma and Complexity, delivered in partnership with Flinders University. 🎓

The cohort included working professionals from social work, psychology, school counselling, youth work, and community mental health.

Priya was invited through her ongoing role as a casual academic at Flinders University, where she teaches across trauma-informed care, health psychology, and wellbeing.

A key reflection from her experience was the importance of flexibility in trauma work - not only in clinical practice, but also in how we consider culture, context, and individual lived experience. Effective practice is responsive and person-centred.

When she wasn’t teaching, Priya also joined her first (and most humid) international parkrun at Marina Bay Sands before heading into a teaching day. A small moment, but for Priya, it was a highlight of the trip! 👟

Have you ever found yourself avoiding a memory, a conversation, a place, or even a feeling?

If you answered, “yes”, you’re not alone.

In the short term, avoidance can bring relief. It's one of the ways our brains try to protect us after difficult or overwhelming experiences. But what happens when the things we're avoiding begin to shape our lives?

In this article, Solasta psychologist Dr Priya Sandanapitchai explores:
🧡 Why avoidance is such a common response to trauma.
🧡 How avoidance can keep us feeling stuck.
🧡 The impact avoidance can have on our relationships, wellbeing and daily life.
🧡 How trauma therapy can support recovery in a safe and structured way.

If you've ever wondered why some experiences feel impossible to think about, this article may offer some insight. Read more at solasta.net.au/news.

The opportunity to shine bright shouldn’t depend on where you live. 🌟

Our Senior Clinical Psychologist, Lisa, recently spent three days in Mount Gambier providing psychoeducational assessments for local children and young people.

These assessments help families and schools better understand a child's learning, attention, and social-emotional functioning, while identifying strengths and practical strategies to support them at home and in the classroom.

We're grateful for opportunities to support regional communities and make specialist psychological services more accessible across South Australia.

Of course, no trip to Mount Gambier would be complete without a little sightseeing! Lisa visited the beautiful Blue Lake, Umpherston Sinkhole, and Engelbrecht Caves while she was there.

To learn more about our psychoeducational assessment services, visit solasta.net.au.

📣 Don’t forget to register for our free upcoming information session for parents and carers of autistic children! 📣

Autistic children thrive in classrooms where they feel understood, included and supported.

Join us for a free information session to build your own and your child’s confidence in advocating at school.

Topics include:
✨ Collaborating with schools after a diagnosis
✨ Learning and wellbeing needs at school
✨ Navigating One Plans and school supports
✨ Practical classroom accommodations

📆 Tuesday 23 June, 9 am – 10.30 am

📍 Roma Mitchell Secondary College

Presented by Nataly Veal, Clinical Psychologist and Diagnostician at Solasta, with support from Alicia Quinn, Senior Project Officer from the South Australian Government Office for Autism.

👉 Register online: bit.ly/autism-23-june

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This session is funded by the South Australian Government Office for Autism.