Kokoro Psychology & Health
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I’m Kelley Pickett, a Registered Psychologist, Meditation Teacher, and Mama Rising Coach.
I believe that more than ever, we are in need of tools and practices to understand ourselves better and know who we are; to recognise what we stand for and why we feel a certain way, and to explore and unpack our core beliefs that may be impacting our ability to thrive. When we are feeling stressed and anxious, we can be a volcano of emotions, and we can find it hard to navigate through the problems and challenges we face. We can find ourselves feeling exhausted, debilitated, our resilience is lowered and burnout can result – I too have been there. I know the struggle and place great importance on understanding and recognising emotions and thought patterns for active healing. I practice what I preach and believe that a multi-faceted, holistic approach is the secret to sound mental health. It has taken committed action to get to where I am, and I’m extremely passionate about sharing my learnings, knowledge and wisdom to support others to regain their energy and transform their mindset to nurture personal growth. I have been a practising Psychologist for 9 years and have recently embarked on my own private practice in Torquay, Victoria. I completed my Meditation Teacher Training in 2015, Mama Rising studies whilst on maternity leave in 2022/2023, and I maintain ongoing study in new and evolving psychological and wellness techniques. My family of five includes my partner, our two children (a spirited 4-year old and a curious 1-year old), and our fur baby. I enjoy soaking up the energy of the ocean and nature, cooking healthy meals, reading romantic novels, and hanging out with my friends and family for social gatherings, which really fills me up. In my spare time, you will find me tapping into the wisdom and knowledge from different thought leaders in the fields of wellness, self-compassion, holistic psychology, meditation, and mindfulness – all to improve upon my own knowledge, but also to share and empower my clients with. I love to travel, but often a good Netflix series, a book and some ‘alone’ time on the couch is what I need the most.
17/12/2025
As 2025 comes to a close, I’m wrapping up my clinical work and stepping into maternity leave, with plans to return around mid–2026.
I want to say a heartfelt thank you to my clients — for your trust, your courage, and the deeply meaningful work we’ve done together this year. It continues to be an absolute privilege to sit alongside people in their vulnerability, growth, grief, and becoming. This work fills me in ways that are hard to put into words.
As I prepare to welcome another baby, I’m also entering my third matrescence — this time with more knowledge, more compassion, and (hopefully) more patience. I’ll be navigating this season alongside my eldest starting school, and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous about these two big transitions happening alongside each other.
I know that every matrescence changes us. Alongside resting and being with my family, I’m also looking forward to undertaking further therapy trainings in the near future, so that when I return I can continue to support clients with even greater depth, skill, and care.
I am continually growing and evolving — as a psychologist, a mother, and an imperfect human doing the best I can for my family, my friends, and the people I work with.
Wishing you all a safe and Merry Christmas, a nourishing start to the new year, and some space for rest, reflection, and what truly matters.
With gratitude,
Kelley.
This transition is lifelong. The discomfort, the struggles, and the tears are not signs of failure—they’re signs of growth. The more compassion you can show yourself, the more integrated this new chapter will feel.
💌 Save this as a reminder: you are evolving, and that’s powerful.
Priorities shift.
Time feels different.
Concerns for your child’s future grow stronger.
And the clash between society’s 24/7 pace and the slower, cyclical rhythm of motherhood can feel overwhelming.
💭 How has motherhood reshaped your perspective?
Your body is recovering. Your hormones are recalibrating. Your nervous system is adapting to sensory overload and sleep deprivation. This is a marathon, not a sprint. Be gentle with yourself.
🌸 What’s one small way you can honour your body today?
Partnerships, friendships, family ties—everything shifts. Sometimes you’ll feel closer, sometimes more isolated. Community support is vital, yet often missing in our modern world.
💬 Tag a friend who has been a lifeline for you in motherhood.
Joy and love can co-exist with anger, guilt, and grief. This emotional complexity is normal—you are not broken. Rage, frustration, sadness, and overwhelm are valid responses to the intensity of this role.
💭 Which emotion surprised you most in your journey?
Matrescence is a profound identity shift. You may feel grief for the person you once were, while also trying to embrace the person you are becoming. Many mothers feel pressure to “mask” their struggles, when really this transformation is messy, layered, and beautiful in its own way.
👉 Have you felt this identity shift?
Becoming a mother isn’t just about the physical changes—it’s a profound emotional and psychological journey. Over the next few weeks, I’ll be sharing a series diving into the 6 key shifts that shape who we become as mothers, including how they affect our identity, relationships, and sense of self.
These shifts can feel intense, confusing, and sometimes isolating—but understanding them is the first step to navigating them with compassion and clarity.
✨ Stay tuned as we explore each shift in detail, and learn practical ways to honour yourself, your emotions, and your evolving identity as a mum.
24/09/2025
So many of us say we want to “do the inner work,” but what does that really mean?
It’s not about perfection—it’s about coming home to yourself. 🌿 It might look like:
Breaking up with the “good girl” and people-pleaser habits
Living more in line with your values
Creating space for spiritual connection
Setting and holding boundaries without guilt
Sitting with your heavy emotions instead of avoiding them
Processing trauma or grief in safe, supportive ways
Inner work is about listening to your body, your truth, and your voice, and showing up authentically for yourself. 💛
If you’ve been feeling the pull to go deeper, to live more authentically, or to break free from old patterns… you’ve already started the inner work. Get in touch to explore further. ✨
17/09/2025
Why didn’t anyone teach us this? Women run on a monthly cycle. Men run on a 24-hour cycle.
And the kicker? The world we live in is built on that 24-hour rhythm—expecting everyone to show up with the same energy, mood, and productivity every single day. But we are absolutely not the same.
Understanding your menstrual cycle isn’t just about fertility—it’s about your quality of life. Your mood, your energy, the way you schedule your week, the compassion you give yourself—all of it is influenced by your cycle.
When we learn to work with our cycle instead of against it:
🌙 We make sense of our energy and emotions
🌙 We notice our own patterns
🌙 We build in the right supports
🌙 We increase self-compassion
This is the wisdom I wish I had as a teenager. It would have changed how I treated myself and how I understood those ebbs and flows. And it’s something I will 100% be teaching my daughter as she grows… and my son too. Because this is not just “women’s business”—this is human connection and understanding.
Imagine if our teenage girls knew their “inner seasons” instead of fighting them. Imagine if boys grew up respecting those rhythms. Imagine the permission we’d all feel to rest, to rise, to flow.
This is not indulgence—it’s biology. It’s mindfulness. It’s power.
💌 Parents, women, mums—if this sparks something in you, what’s one way you could honour your cycle this week?
11/09/2025
✨ A love letter to my children… ✨
Some days I feel like I’m running on empty—chasing after two little people, 5 and 3, who can turn the house upside down in seconds. Add in this pregnancy, and the exhaustion is real. The mess, the noise, the constant demands—it’s a lot.
And yet… I wouldn’t trade it for the world.
Because then come your cheeky smiles, your endless questions, your quirks that make me laugh out loud. The way you look at each other with such love, the fun we’re having as you grow, and those quiet moments at night when I peek at your angelic faces while you sleep—my heart feels like it could burst.
To the little one growing inside me—we are waiting for you with so much love. Your siblings are already talking about you, planning cuddles and adventures. You are already part of us.
You three are my heart, my greatest teachers, and the loves of my life—forever and always. ❤️
💌 To the mums, dads, parents, carers—this season is messy, exhausting, and chaotic. But in the middle of it all, there’s so much magic if we just pause long enough to feel it.
25/08/2025
The pressure on women’s bodies hasn’t gone anywhere.
From Jenny Craig and Weight Watchers in the 90s, to today’s wellness trends and “bounce back” culture postpartum—the messages may have changed outfits, but the impact is still the same.
Constant commentary about appearance shapes self-esteem, keeps us judging ourselves and others, and disconnects us from how our bodies actually feel.
It doesn’t have to be this way. Here’s how we can reframe the narrative:
✅ Focus on what your body can do, not just how it looks.
✅ Celebrate movement, health, and strength for you, not for others.
✅ Prioritise experiences, connection, and values over numbers on a scale or dress size.
At the end of the day, you’ll be remembered for your kindness, courage, and the way you made others feel, not your appearance.
Next time you feel the urge to comment on someone’s appearance—pause. Choose words that affirm who they are, not how they look.
If this resonates with you and you’re ready to reclaim your relationship with your body, reach out to book a session and let’s work together to break free from these cultural pressures.
👉 Book via the link in my bio
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