Natalie Grimm is a warm, easy going, and compassionate psychologist at Inlight Psychology in Bondi Junction. After finishing her Bachelor of Psychology she worked as a youth worker with at-risk youth and their families in Out-Of-Home-Care, educational and legal settings. She was then inspired to work more personally with clients, so went back to studying postgraduate psychology.
Natalie completed her Masters in Clinical Psychology at ACU. She has a strong interest in borderline personality disorder, anxiety and low mood, and distress, and has deep compassion for those struggling with difficulties in their emotion regulation and relationships.
Interview conducted by Sara Simenson, UNSW psychology undergraduate completing an internship at Inlight Psychology.
What motivates you to practise as a psychologist?
I enjoy learning about clients’ stories and working with them to get the most out of their lives. I also enjoy working with people who have experienced great difficulties in their lives and struggle to connect with people. I want to offer everyone a chance to have a warm, supportive, and empathic relationship that will safely facilitate healing.
What is your favourite strategy for managing anxiety and stress?
I find the practice of grounding really helpful in managing distress. Grounding is basically a form of mindfulness which involves rooting yourself to the present moment and coming back into what is happening in the here and now. I recommend people practise grounding when they are well so that you don’t have to just start figuring it out when they aren’t feeling so great. We want to aim for this strategy to be more familiar and automatic.
Can you tell us a bit about what it is like for someone to go into a private psychiatric hospital?
People going into a psychiatric hospital can greatly benefit from the opportunity to trial medications under intensive supervision and to learn more about their mental health. It is also a good opportunity to learn a number of coping strategies. That being said, it is really important to understand the reason why one may self-administer into hospital and what they hope to gain out of the experience. Hospital can be a good respite which allows a chance to take a break from daily stressors and responsibilities. However, those triggers will still be there when they return home, and so preparation for this return is crucial while one is still in hospital.
Most inpatient programs involve attendance of skills-based sessions which allow patients to learn about adaptive coping strategies. However, the real healing begins after the hospital stay, when patients then have to trial utilising the strategies and skills they learnt about during their hospital stay.
What impact do you think that trauma has on someone’s life?
Trauma can have a huge impact on someone’s life. It can impact life in subtle ways that you’re unaware of and can pop up completely unexpected – which is part of the difficulty of overcoming trauma. It can also impact relationships most significantly. So learning adaptive coping strategies so that you can then face and heal from trauma is really important.
What advice would you give if someone is struggling with their sexuality?
You are absolutely not alone. The road is different for each individual and some find it easier than others. However, there are thankfully many communities out there that want to support anyone struggling with their sexuality. It is also really important to be aware of what you’re experiencing, including any shame or guilt that might be present, bringing self-compassion to that awareness, and developing acceptance. Sometimes it can be easier sharing your struggles with someone completely separate from your family and friends. This is where a psychologist can be a great person to start the conversation with. We are here to help!
INLIGHT PSYCHOLOGY | BONDI JUNCTION
If you are having any difficulties with your emotion regulation, relationships, or sexuality, Natalie could be a good fit for you. Natalie works at Inlight Psychology, which is situated in the heart of Bondi Junction, with spacious rooms and beautiful views. We have a lovely team of kind and compassionate psychologists, all with tertiary qualifications in Clinical Psychology.
If you would like to learn more about the team at Inlight Psychology, click here.
If you would like to book an appointment, please don’t hesitate to contact Inlight Psychology on (02) 8320 0566 or contact@inlightpsychology.com.au.