Noodles and Neurosis Zine Launch; An evening of discussions about schema therapy and the queer experience


The zine launch of “Noodles and Neurosis” by Dr Xi Liu took place at the Bearded Tit in Redfern and served as a celebration of the complexity of the queer experience. Xi was joined by two other remarkable queer writers of colour, Cherry Zheng and Oliver Vincent Reyes, who shared excerpts from each of their respective published works. The night was filled with readings and conversations facilitated through a Q&A about the zine and Xi’s work. 

To begin, the host of the evening, Mai Kanhukamwe, settled any jitters in the room with her humour and nurturing presence. She introduced the first writer, Cherry, who delivered a poignant piece titled “Libations”. In this piece, Zheng, discusses their mother’s migration to Australia and the traumatic events that surrounded it. 

After such an emotional reading of “Libations” we were once again comforted with Mai’s jovial tone who introduced the next writer, Oliver, who presented the comic “Latinx Feels Best”. The comics central theme was Reyes’ complicated relationship with the distance they feel to their Latinx heritage while growing up as a queer person in Australia.


Finally, Xi read a poem from the “Noodles and Neurosis” zine called “Love Languages”, the poem examined the diffusion of boundaries for migrant mothers who are enmeshed in the lives of their children. 

After the reading of each writers pieces there was a short break before Xi and Annie Huang, Xi’s editor and a talented writer and comic artist, engaged with the audience in a Q&A. The questions ranged from discussion of the queer experience, familial and cultural relationships for people of colour, Schema Therapy and psychology’s current limitations for treating queer clients, as well as naviagting being a queer parent. Xi’s reflection and consideration when answering these questions created an atmosphere of security in the room, here it felt as though anything could be discussed without condemnation. 

During this time an audience member asked the question “how have you reclaimed your body?” to which Xi replied that in their personal experience they struggled between the choice between identity and cultural background saying, “for some, the cost of reclaiming our bodies means losing our cultures” and talked about the complex decisions that queer POC often have to make.

The whole evening felt like a warm fluffy blanket being wrapped around the queer community, although we may have to explore difficult topics of conversation that effect our community, we still have protection in spaces such as this zine launch to explore those topics. All 3 writers, Cherry, Oli, and Xi did a brilliant job in displaying the diverse array of queer experiences.

When the personal is political: Formulation and treatment of mental health struggles in gender minorities using Schema Therapy

Dr Xi Liu’s presentation for Gale’s “Power to the People” symposium, titled "When the personal is political", delves into the effective approach to therapy when working with transgender and gender-diverse clients. Beginning with a foundational exploration of Schema Therapy, its evidence based support, and therapeutic objectives, Xi highlights how transgender and gender-diverse individuals are ideal candidates for this approach, given the societal and political pressures influencing schema development. Additionally, the presentation discusses the vital role of therapists in these interactions and the necessity of addressing gender-related beliefs to provide effective treatment for these clients.

Watch the presentation on Youtube here: https://youtu.be/oCU2xhw_-ec?si=atky3X8Z_ek7eEnH

How to care for my child with complex PTSD

It can difficult for parents when they learn that their child has complex PTSD. There may be a huge learning and adjustment process. This may bring up grief, disbelief and other strong emotions. Please care for yourself as you are also caring for your child, whether they are an adult or young person.

Providing care for a your child with Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (C-PTSD) goes beyond therapy and involves creating a supportive environment that promotes healing and resilience. Here are some practical things you can do to provide care for your child with C-PTSD:

  1. Establish Safety and Routine:

    • Create a physically and emotionally safe home environment (if they are living at home) where your child can predict what to expect. Consistent routines can help reduce anxiety.

    • If your child is no longer living at home, provide predictability and emotionally nurturing connection to the best of your ability whenever you are interacting with each other

  2. Emotional Regulation:

    • Encourage them to identify and express their feelings in healthy ways. Provide a safe space for them to talk about their emotions.

  3. Education and Normalization:

    • Learn about cPTSD symptoms, helping them understand that their reactions are normal responses to past trauma.

    • Normalize their experiences and reassure them that they are not alone in their struggles.

  4. Build Trust and Attachment:

    • Foster secure attachment by consistently providing love, support, and care. Your reliability can help your child learn to trust others.

    • Be patient and understanding, even when your child struggles with trust issues or pushes you away.

  5. Empowerment and Choice:

    • Allow your child to have choices and a sense of control over their life whenever possible. This can help counter feelings of powerlessness.

    • Encourage them to make age-appropriate decisions and express their preferences.

  6. Healthy Boundaries:

    • Set clear and healthy boundaries for behavior while also respecting your child's boundaries when it comes to personal space and emotional disclosure.

  7. Limit Exposure to Triggers:

    • Be mindful of potential triggers for your child's symptoms, and minimize their exposure to them when feasible. This might include avoiding certain topics or situations.

  8. Self-Care for You and Your Family:

    • Take care of your own mental and physical health. Caring for a child with C-PTSD can be emotionally demanding, so make self-care a priority.

    • Encourage other family members to understand the condition and participate in creating a supportive environment.

  9. Healthy Lifestyle:

    • Promote a healthy lifestyle with a balanced diet, regular exercise, and adequate sleep, as physical health can have a significant impact on mental well-being.

  10. Advocacy and Education:

    • Advocate for your child's needs at school and in the community. Educate teachers, coaches, and other adults who interact with your child about C-PTSD to ensure appropriate support.

  11. Supportive Activities:

    • Encourage your child to engage in activities they enjoy, whether it's art, sports, music, or hobbies. These activities can provide a sense of accomplishment and joy.

  12. Celebrate Achievements:

    • Acknowledge and celebrate your child's progress and achievements, no matter how small they may seem. Positive reinforcement can boost self-esteem.

  13. Stay Informed and Connected:

    • Stay informed about developments in trauma therapy and research. Consider joining support groups or networks of parents who share similar experiences.

  14. Model Healthy Coping Strategies:

    • Model healthy coping strategies for dealing with stress and adversity. Your behavior can serve as a positive example for your child.

  15. Be Patient and Understanding:

    • Understand that healing from C-PTSD is a gradual process with ups and downs. Patience, empathy, and unconditional love are crucial.

Remember that you don't have to do this alone. Seek support from mental health professionals, support groups, and trusted friends or family members to help you navigate the challenges of caring for a child with C-PTSD. Collaborating with experts and building a strong support network can provide invaluable assistance in promoting your child's healing and well-being.

Part 1: An Australian in New York

An article in the Gothamist last year highlighted the influx of Australians to New York City.  Armed with the E3 (or E3D), O1, or J1 visas, Australians are coming to New York City in droves.

But after the tearful goodbyes, promises from friends and family to visit (they will), the rush of navigating the dreaded apartment broker system, Craigslists, setting up a bank accounts, and more, you finally feel like you settled down, right?

Urban Mindfulness

There are numerous secular and religious based centers where you can develop your practice throughout the city. These meditation sittings often operate on Dana (the Pali word for generosity) and payment is by donation. Here is a wonderful list compiled by Urban Mindfulness of the many meditation Centres throughout Manhattan and Brooklyn. 

Urbagedon - is living in New York driving you mad?

Whilst we may be drawn to living in the big city because of the great culture scene or career opportunities, living with constant stimulation takes it's toll. New York is renown for the high cost of living, physical difficulties of navigating housing problems and relationship challenges. You may have already heard that city living is associated with a plethora of mental health issues including anxiety and depression.

What is coaching, therapy and Life Therapy?

The goal of Life Therapy NYC is to cater for clients who are in the space between therapy and coaching. As the article describes, therapy is about healing and coaching is about following the trail of dreams. But often there are so many stuck points and patterns of behavior that prevents us from following that trail of dreams. The motto of “just do it” just doesn’t fly.