The Blooming Collective Talks: Quieting the Inner Critic – Managing Self-Doubt & Negative Self-Talk

Open to public (registration essential!)

The Blooming Collective is a series of monthly gatherings for women. Each session offers thoughtful conversation, practical tools, and shared experiences designed to support living well at every stage of life. The tone is relaxed, friendly, and inclusive - more like a group conversation than a class or lecture.

While topics explore areas such as emotional health, ageing confidently, sleep, nutrition, creativity, and connection, the real focus is on enjoying meaningful discussions, learning from one another, and building community.

Talks will be held every month with guest speakers joining throughout the year. Come to one or come to many - you’ll take something valuable away each time.

Session 5: Quieting the Inner Critic – Managing Self-Doubt & Negative Self-Talk

Self-doubt and negative self-talk are experiences many of us live with quietly, yet they can have a powerful impact on our confidence, relationships, work, and overall wellbeing. In this session, we are delighted to welcome Anneliese Smith who is a registered psychologist, for a thoughtful and practical conversation about understanding and managing the critical inner voice.

Anneliese is currenlty the Clinic Manager at Health in Mind and brings extensive clinical experience having worked in the field for over 17 years. Her career has spanned a variety of settings including state government departments, schools, non-government organisations, psychiatry and emergency services. Her work is grounded in evidence-based psychological approaches and delivered with warmth, clarity, and deep compassion. She is passionate about helping people develop healthier relationships with their thoughts and emotions, and about making psychology accessible and relevant to everyday life.

In this session, Anneliese will explore where self-doubt and negative self-talk come from, why they can be so persistent, and how they affect our behaviour and mental health. She will share practical, evidence-based strategies to recognise unhelpful thinking patterns, challenge the inner critic, and cultivate a more balanced, supportive internal dialogue. 

As with all Blooming Collective gatherings, the emphasis is on meaningful conversation, shared experience, and learning together in a supportive environment. Whether self-doubt shows up occasionally or feels like a constant companion, this session offers insight, reassurance, and practical takeaways for anyone wanting to be kinder to themselves.

Guest Speaker – Anneliese Smith, Registered Psychologist
Location – TBC