My Vision for the Blog

“A vision gets the dream started.” ~ Emmitt Smith

Why do a blog in the first place?

When I made the decision to pursue my license as a psychologist, I knew that I wanted one of my leading pillars to be accessibility. I wanted individuals to be able to access my strategies, ideas, resources and information across borders and other limitations. I wanted individuals to feel like they had somewhere to go if they were looking for some help with public-speaking, performing and other confidence challenges. I wanted people to have an online resource for their common questions and to learn about the latest in science. Some people like 1:1 sessions, others prefer group workshops and then there are those who are looking for D-I-Y (do-it-yourself) strategies.

Who is this blog for?

The main objective of my blog is to share resources and information to help individuals in finding their inner confidence and voice in the workplace. The topics covered in my blog posts will include: public-speaking, performance anxiety, interview preparation, career transitions, emotional intelligence, assertiveness, and other soft skills within the workplace. I often research in between my client appointments and what I share may be inspired by some of the issues I’m helping my clients with. What I have learned is that confidence issues show up at all levels across the workplace from students, professionals, mid-level managers and senior leaders - we all have some self-defeating beliefs that are holding us back. I want to help you with creating a mindset that will shape a confident, empowered YOU!

My mission for my blog posts:

1. Bring you science-based strategies

I will pull from multiple schools of psychology and bring you some of the latest research on strategies that have been found to be effective. I will aim to write about the research in a way that is conversational and easy to digest!

2. Help you build your own personal toolkit

I will write about strategies in a way that is clear, practical and empowering so that you can add to or build your own personal toolkit. I hope you will learn new insights and strategies that will be able to help you in both your personal and professional life.

3. Share my own personal experience and journey

As someone who has struggled with public-speaking anxiety herself, I will share some of my favourite strategies that have worked for me.

4. Introduce you to other professionals and experts

I will introduce you to other professionals that I come across who may help you on your own journey. I am happy to share other professionals and workshops that are relevant to this audience. If you are an expert in an area related to my blog, please reach out to me and we can talk about featuring you!

5. Share my favourite resources (articles, podcasts, apps and more)

I will share my favourite podcasts, articles, books and apps to help inspire you. I am excited to learn from you too so please share your favourite resources with me.

If you have any ideas for future blog posts, please email me here. I welcome constructive feedback and suggestions, always! I hope this blog inspires you no matter where you are in your journey.

MOST RECENT POSTS

Blog

“What’s wrong with me?!” How ‘medicalizing’ your public speaking anxiety fuels your fear before you speak

“What’s wrong with me?!” How ‘medicalizing’ public speaking anxiety fuels your fear

Using terms like public speaking anxiety to describe the experience can create a negative relationship with speaking itself. When we talk about the ‘symptoms’ associated with our fear (like shaky hands or a racing heart) we end up associating the fear with something truly dangerous.

Looking for an Effective App to Develop your Public Speaking Skills? Try Poised

When we avoid situations with public speaking, we end up feeling even more tense about the experience. Over time, our worries are reinforced by the negative cycle of fearful thinking and avoidance - which only leads to more fear. Even the most seasoned public speakers feel some level of fear, but too much of it can hold us back from saying yes to an opportunity or experience we might enjoy.

"How do I keep my voice from shaking?” Why your voice shakes when speaking in public, and what you can do about it

People with public speaking anxiety often feel like the fear is something they have to conceal. They often ask if there are and tricks to keep your voice from shaking. Fortunately, research has given us plenty of solutions and tools to stop a shaky voice - as well as the ways to understand why it happens in the first place.

Why choose a public speaking group over individual sessions?

Group work is inherently social, so the group setting is a bonus for those with a fear of speaking in the workplace. Not only is group therapy more affordable, group therapy can be just as effective, if not more so, than one on one. The fear of public speaking is rooted in concerns over other people’s perceptions of us.

Claire McCallumSeptember 26, 2019Amanda Tobe