For this edition of our journal we had the opportunity to interview Kobie Alison, the founder of Modern Minds, a space that caters to individuals emotional and physical needs through offering an assortment of holistic services. Kobie shares open, honest & insightful answers as we explore breaking down stigma that surrounds caring for one's mental health, practices to facilitate nurturing and connecting with our bodies.

In your own words can you tell us what you do & a little about Modern Minds?

Modern Minds strives to support every individual in a modern manner (love over fear based). We want others to be able to step into their truest potential by providing a space that caters to mental, physical and emotional needs. We have a skilled team of experienced psychologists, clinical nutritionists, and a dietitian to assist in our client’s journey.

What was the journey that got you to where you are now?

That’s a long story but since meeting my darling daughter Willow as a solo parent in reflection I wouldn’t change one thing about my story and journey as everything I have lived through led me to her. I now live without regret or sorrow knowing I would go through everything I have been through to be here now, a solo strong mother to a phenomenal toddler.

Modern Minds takes a holistic approach, offering clients access to practitioners including psychologists, dietitians, and a clinical nutritionist. Can you tell us a little bit about the process of following this path?

It ties back to the name Modern Minds and the humility of knowing each one of us plays a part in a client’s journey, but it is naïve to think we can play all roles: body, mind, and soul. Modern is about meeting a client with unconditional love rather than fear and pathologizing, and Minds is a representation of our team and that it is about finding one’s network of support and safety.

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Modern is about meeting a client with unconditional love rather than fear and pathologizing, and Minds is a representation of our team and that it is about finding one’s network of support and safety.

We're living in a time that is highly stressful on the body, are there any practices you'd recommend people can implement into their daily lives to help reduce stress?

A daily practice that is easiest to implement into our everyday to reduce stress is through meditation which is practically, becoming more aware of our breath. Even if it’s 5 minutes, giving yourself time to slow down, focus on your breath and being aware of our body has multiple benefits. Depending on your schedule, further daily practices such as journaling, yoga, a creative outlet, exercise or a simple walk are all favourable to reducing stress.

When we consider the idea of holding space for oneself, what are some ways you choose to honour this?

Holding space for oneself is to be present with yourself and or others by creating space that is centred on kindness, compassion and unconditional love. Holding space looks like not wanting to change the person or challenge the situation and simply let others be human in the present moment.

As a mum & the creator of Modern Minds how do you create balance in your life?

It’s been a very hard three years since finding out about my unplanned pregnancy and it has been incredibly hard raising a baby single handed and a new company at the same time! The doors to Modern Minds Pty Ltd opened the same day I gave birth to my daughter. It has been a journey in which I have had to call on my bravery more than ever and be the type of woman I wish to be, a role model: kind, strong, and can stand firmly on my own two feet to protect and provide.

In moving forward from this time, I look to spend more time starting and ending each day near the water with my daughter and resting in the presence of our relationship. Balance in all honesty is something I am only catching up to now. It’s been a huge mountainous journey & now, rest.

When looking at the stigma that exists around mental health, what are some of the ways you see this being broken down?

One of the ways that the stigma around mental health can be broken down is understanding the social determinants of health such as interpersonal relationships, childhood trauma, socio-economic status, environmental stressors and cultural factors. Mental health is a combination of social and environmental factors that have contributed to the enduring hardships in one’s life rather than individual deficit. Being able to openly talk and normalise personal hardships will be one of the steps forward in breaking the stigma that surrounds mental health.

I think being able to respect others needs to care for their mental health and celebrate that they are doing something to invest into their best self is needed more. Whether the stigma exists in the workplace, family or friends, people need communities that encourage them to care for their mental health just as they would for their physical health.

What are you currently working on or towards?

My focus is on building Modern Minds and investing in our client’s and our incredible team of dedicated practitioners who genuinely care about one another and client care. My aim is to model a new type of Modern Leadership and a leader that is both kind and strong.

What are some of your favourite self-care rituals?

I am an introvert at heart and highly empathic, so I need alone time to refuel, to read a book, or to spend time near the ocean.

Learn more about Modern Minds here & @modernminds.com.au

Images provided by Kobie

Words by Natasha Bruce