A telehealth psychologist exclusively for women
Hi, I’m Sonia Harrison
Through my 20+ years as a clinical psychologist I’ve come to see the mental load for what it really is: a key factor linking poor mental health, burnout, family disconnection, and overwork for women.
Having personally juggled the demands of professional life and caregiving expectations, I have a deep understanding of the weight of what we carry as women. As a psychologist, I also know that there are therapeutic tools and techniques that can help us develop stronger coping strategies - we don’t have to accept things just the way they are. These strategies, along with practical, structured methods to rebalance the division of labour in the household can lead to more balanced partnerships, which in turn, allows you the increased space and capacity to pursue what's important to you, and ultimately helps improve your relationships.
Qualifications & societies
AHRPA Registered Clinical Psychologist
Member of the Australian Psychology Society
Board-Approved Supervisor (Psychologist)
The mental load isn’t a problem we can solve on our own
Often, one of those most challenging parts of addressing the exhaustion, overwhelm and mental health struggles caused by invisible labour and the mental load is that it’s not a situation we can solve on our own. Even the most detailed self-care plan and resilient mental health can’t overcome the fact that as women, society asks us to do so much. We need support from our partner and strategies to make changes.
As well as providing therapy using my expertise as a psychologist, the other key element of my approach is to offer practical, sustainable ways to make a change. It’s about how to have those meaningful conversations with your partner in a constructive and positive way. I also acknowledge how societal ‘norms’ can make it harder to achieve that balance, even with the most approachable and understanding partner, and equip you with tools and strategies to cope with that – it’s about being a team.
A focus on the mental load, founded in broad experience
While my focus is on supporting women, my experience in public and private healthcare is broad. I’ve supported a diverse range of people with evidence-based treatment in public and private healthcare settings, treating common and complex mental health concerns.
Working outside the clinic environment has allowed me to view psychology in a practical way. I’ve worked in leadership roles and research, have supervised and consulted with a range of other psychologists, and delivered university lectures. In the community, I’ve delivered mental health awareness programs and parenting groups, as well as supporting children and young people, alongside their parents.
I know the importance of maintaining good mental health. I’m passionate about supporting people – particularly women – to care for themselves, prioritise their own health and have easy access to high quality care. And this is why Be & Become Psychology exists.
This isn’t only about us. It’s about redefining ‘normal’ for our children.
Our children absorb everything around them, silently taking in and processing what they see and hear. For the mental load and invisible labour to become a relic of old generational roles, we need to role-model the shift for the next generation.
Our sons and daughters need to see the household acting as a true partnership, where roles aren’t defined by gender. Businesses need to accept and normalise men working flexibly, taking on primary caregiver roles and being the one ‘on call’ for sick children at daycare. Because until society shifts, we’re working against these entrenched patterns. But, sometimes you need to be the change you want to see.
At Be & Become Psychology, I love to see the ripple effects of the changes made in the families of my clients. Because of your efforts and drive for change, your children will have different expectations of what a partnership looks like.