Nov 22Adolescent Challenges: The Dangers of Pathologising Natural EmotionsAdolescence is a period marked by profound change, many demands, and a rollercoaster of emotions. Teenagers have to deal with family and friendship issues, the stress of exams, bullying, the pressures of social media, struggles with self-worth, and the lingering effects of the pandemic. This blog post is a response…Mental Health4 min readMental Health4 min read
Nov 22Fight, Flight, Freeze — The Brain’s Stress Response explainedEvery emotion starts off in our brain. It can be surprising, therefore, how much we feel these emotions, often as strong physical reactions to the circumstances we find ourselves in. Sometimes if we don’t regularly express our emotions they can be stored up in our body over time until they…Anxiety4 min readAnxiety4 min read
Jul 27Supporting Your Child’s Development — A Brief Overview of The Key ElementsParenting isn’t always easy. It can be difficult to know when to lead and when to follow, when to step in and when to step back. It is a journey filled with moments of joy, surprise, confusion, and challenges. This article expands on the PACE model (https://ddpnetwork.org/resources/library/subjects/pace/) of parenting, often…Parenting3 min readParenting3 min read
Jul 11Unmasking — Embracing NeurodivergenceUnfortunately, it’s all too common for individuals who eventually meet the criteria for ADHD or autism to first seek help from mental health services because they’re struggling with sensory overload. This struggle might manifest as regular outbursts of anger, withdrawal and depression, or anxiety meltdowns. Often, these behaviours only surface…Adhd3 min readAdhd3 min read
Jun 28Difficulties with Transitions and how to create RoutinesI often encounter parents telling me that their child struggles with transitions. Be it from the car to the house, from watching TV to eating dinner, switching from playing board games to doing homework, or leaving the house in the morning. Before I describe some ways to support your child…Parenting3 min readParenting3 min read
May 15Active Listening for ParentsIn order to make your child feel truly heard, seen, and understood there is more to listening than “just” listening. In psychotherapy this is called active listening. Active listening is an essential skill in therapy, and parents can develop their own style of active listening to further deepen the meaningful…Active Listening3 min readActive Listening3 min read
Jan 11Gender IdentityGender identity is a complex interaction of several factors. At its core gender identity is a person’s deeply held sense of their gender, whether that might be male, female, both (e.g. genderfluid) or neither (e.g. non-binary). Gender identity is separate but closely intertwined with biological sex and sexuality. Everyone expresses…Transgender5 min readTransgender5 min read
Jun 29, 2022The LGBTQ+ CommunityAs an LGBTQ+ person it is very likely that you share a similar story with others who identify as LGBTQ+ . A journey that most likely began in your youth with questions like, “Who am I?”; “Where do I belong?”; “Who belongs to me and who do I belong to?”. …Pride2 min readPride2 min read
Jun 17, 2022#Selfcare Pairs — The GameWhat is it and describing the process of development #Selfcare Pairs is a resource for mental health professionals and parents alike. It helps teaching children and young people about the variety and importance of self-care in a fun and playful way. Learning about self-care supports mental well-being! #Selfcare Pairs is…Self Care4 min readSelf Care4 min read
May 4, 2022Tips for falling a sleep for children and adults with a diagnosis of ADHDOf course, we all find it difficult to fall asleep at times. However, research suggests that initiating sleep is a much more common and intense difficulty for people who have an ADHD diagnosis. An estimated 25–50% of people with ADHD experience sleep problems, ranging from insomnia or nightmares to secondary…Sleep3 min readSleep3 min read
