Thriving Pathways

15/09/2025

I feel so fortunate that this is so close for my morning walk. I always feel so much better when I get out and do it. Sunshine and exercise is so important for our wellbeing and along with with good sleep are some of the must-haves we should always include in our day!

13/01/2024

This is a great list of things people with ADHD (particularly women) may be misdiagnosed with before realising it was ADHD all along.

"I’m a therapist, and I was one of those clinicians who didn’t fully get ADHD. Sure, I knew the criteria for diagnosing it. But beyond that, my knowledge was seriously limited. And it wasn’t just me… I had seen therapists myself — and those professionals didn’t get it either. After 10 years, 5 counselors, and 2 doctors, I was finally diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder at the age of 28. Until then, it had been called something else. Well...a few something elses..."

Were any of these hidding YOUR ADHD? Drop me a comment.

Article: 6 Inaccurate Labels that Disguise ADHD in Adults

https://littlemisslionheart.com/6-inaccurate-labels-that-disguise-adhd-in-adults/

Edited to add the link ⬆️ because ADHD

09/03/2023

I just love this for helping us to see things from a different - not deficit - perspective.

29/05/2022

Fantastic episode with Ross Greene and brings hope that CPS could be brought into NSW schools. Such a different approach and outcomes to the PBL program that’s currently being implemented.

Please share this news! Click on the link to listen to the episode but please also subscribe to Square Peg Round Whole podcast.

CPS is Collaborative Proactive Solutions, an evidenced non behaviourist model of care that helps all children, especially our most vulnerable children.

Please write to Education Minister, Sarah Mitchell and request that CPS be introduced to NSW schools: office@mitchell.minister.nsw.gov.au

Lou has been working towards this interview for a long time and her determination has paid off. She secured a meeting to introduce Dr Greene to the NSW Department of Education and staff from the NSW Education MInister's office. Dr Greene will explain CPS and advocated for NSW to move beyond behaviourism, and towareds neurodiversity-affirming teaching practices. If NSW implement this, it will be the first state in Australia to take this huge step, which would bring students and families improved access to leaning and a sense of safety and belonging.

In this episode, Lou and Dr Ross Greene passionately argue in favour of the introduction of CPS in Australian schools.
https://www.squarepegroundwhole.com.au/episodes/cps-is-coming-to-australia-with-dr-ross-greene

10/05/2022

This is a fantastic infographic on the complexities around challenging behaviours and why the ‘traditional’ way of managing them isn’t effective.

Only looking at observable behavior (surface behaviors), doesn't tell you anything about what's actually causing the behavior.

You start solving problems when you start diggin'!

Image Description: Title: The “Why of A Behavior”. Two holes with a man digging in each hole: First hole is shallow with subtitle “The old way of thinking”. Underneath are the words “defiant”, “escape”, “avoiding” and “attention seeking”. Second hole is very deep with the subtitle “A necessary paradigm shift” (supported by brain science). Underneath are the words: sensory processing”, “emotional regulation”, “motor challenges”, “learning disabilities”, “trauma”. The function of any behavior is much deep than phrases like attention seeking. This shallow analysis will lead to using rewards and punishments to get compliance. Want to improve behavior? Solve the problem. How do you solve the problem? Dig Deeper. Greg Santucci, Occupational Therapist.

11/03/2022

I love a good infographic! And this perfectly sums up why rewarding children for compliance is completely different to adults working for pay.

Advances in neurosience have taught us to move on from token boards. It's a controlling, inauthentic intervention that teaches a child to ignore their body so they can get their reward.

Some professionals like that control, so they will defend the use of them. They'll argue that "working for" tokens is the same as working for a paycheck. It's a terrible argument. This graphic only scratches the surface about why its a false equivalence.

Thank you to this amazing community for helping to build this infographic. Please SHARE this so we can ditch the tokens for more humane, compassionate supports for children. Let's choose connection over control.

This infographic is available in PDF format at gregsantucci.com

05/03/2022

I confess I used to promote the token system, until I realised that it didn’t work on my own child. Not because the reward wasn’t right but because the task (going to sleep in his bed alone) was beyond his abilities. No reward can make you feel not anxious or overwhelmed.

17/02/2022

What a difference we’d see for both parents and their children if we focused less on behaviours and more on nurturing.

04/08/2021

I remember trying to make this argument with my kindergartener’s principal. I likened the school’s management of my son’s social challenges to throwing a child who was struggling with reading into a room with a pile of books and telling them not to come out until they knew how to read. Unfortunately they weren’t willing to budge for my child but I often wonder if that principal ever reflects on the analogy and if it’s changed how he treats children who have come since.

03/06/2021