Topic
Stress
Resources for clients learning to recognise stress responses, expand their tolerance, and choose where to put energy.
Each psychoeducation page is checked against current Australian source authorities (RANZCP, APS, AASW, OT Australia, Beyond Blue, Headspace, Black Dog Institute) and updated at least annually.
Stress is unavoidable; chronic dysregulated stress is not. The handouts here help clients map their default stress response, expand their menu, and put energy where it can actually move the dial.
Handouts in this topic
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Fight, Flight, Freeze, Fawn: Stress Responses
stressUnderstanding the four main ways our nervous system responds to perceived threats.
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Window of Tolerance
traumaUnderstanding your optimal zone for processing emotions and stress, and what happens when we move outside it.
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Breathing Exercises for Calm
mindfulnessSimple breathing techniques to activate your relaxation response.
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Locus of Control
psychologyUnderstanding whether you believe outcomes are within your control (internal) or determined by external forces (external).
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SMART Goals Worksheet
planningSet effective goals using the SMART framework: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between acute and chronic stress?
Acute stress is the short-term mobilisation of resources to meet a demand and resolves with rest. Chronic stress is sustained activation without recovery — and is what predicts the downstream physical and mental health impacts (sleep, cardiovascular, immune, mood).
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