Bird House Counselling

Bird House Counselling Bird House Counselling is a place you can explore, overcome and heal.

13/09/2025

Some wounds are written young. Rejection sensitivity often begins in the quiet spaces of childhood—where a parent’s sharp word, a peer’s cold shoulder, or the unspoken ache of emotional neglect first teaches the heart to flinch. Like John Bradshaw wrote in Healing the Shame That Binds You, children internalize rejection as a reflection of their worth, carrying that bruised sensitivity into adulthood.

Inconsistent caregiving, emotional unavailability, or chronic criticism can wire a child’s brain to scan for danger in every interaction. Being told "You’re too sensitive" or "Stop overreacting" teaches a child that their emotions are wrong. For neurodivergent minds, rejection isn’t just painful—it’s physically disorienting.

Like a tree growing around a fence, the mind adapts—but the old wounds remain. Avoidance, people-pleasing, or preemptive self-sabotage ("I'll leave before they can reject me") become survival strategies. John Bradshaw reminds us, "Shame is the lie someone told you about yourself." Healing begins when we trace that lie back to its source—and learn, at last, that tenderness is not a flaw.

11/09/2025

"Silence as a Wound"

When someone grows quiet after being hurt, it isn’t the silent treatment—it’s survival.
Their voice retreats like a tide pulled by the moon of old pain.
This is emotional withdrawal: a learned response, a shield.
Too many times, speaking up left them unheard or misread,
so now, when pain comes, they fold inward.

Inside, their mind is eloquent—
they know exactly how they feel, what went wrong, what they need.
But the words stay trapped, heavy behind sealed lips,
because silence feels safer than the risk of another misunderstanding.

So they carry it alone.
They vanish into themselves until the storm passes,
never asking for help, never explaining the distance.

You might know them as vibrant, even loud—
quick with a joke, filling the air with everything but the truth.
Yet when they ache? Stillness.
Not because they don’t trust you,
but because old wounds taught them trust is fragile.

They don’t need fixing.
Just someone who sees their silence not as rejection,
but as the echo of a time when speaking made things worse.

09/09/2025

"There’s a quiet moment—one we seldom speak of—when you finally whisper the truth to someone safe. And in the way their breath catches, in the stillness that follows, you see it reflected back to you: Oh. This wasn’t love. This was a wound wearing a disguise.

For so long, you tucked the sharp edges away—called it a season, called it their pain, called it your fault. You learned to live with the tremble in your bones because the heart clings to what it knows, even when what it knows is ache.

But then, a witness. A single pair of eyes widening in recognition—not of your story, but of your hurt. And suddenly, the veil lifts. No more softening the blow, no more folding yourself into smaller shapes to fit inside their chaos. Just the raw, tender truth: you were never ‘too much.’ You were enough. And what was done to you was never yours to carry.

This is where the unraveling begins—where the weight you’ve been holding becomes the ground beneath you. Where ‘survival’ turns into surrender: to grief, to anger, to the slow, sacred work of stitching your worth back together.

You are not alone. And this? This is how the light gets in."

✨ Gentle reminder: Healing isn’t linear. Let it be messy. Let it be slow. Let it be yours.

For every lesson whispered and every silence understood,For every strong hand that held us, in both the fire and the goo...
07/09/2025

For every lesson whispered and every silence understood,
For every strong hand that held us, in both the fire and the good.

For the echoes of laughter in memories dearly kept,
And for the love that watches over us, even while you slept.

For every dad who is far away, whose heart is reaching through,
This day holds a special thanks, sent especially to you.

To all the fathers, here and gone, and those who are apart,
You are forever the steady beat within our heart.

Happy Father's Day.

Inner child work centers around the idea that childhood experiences, particularly those involving abuse, neglect, or aba...
07/09/2025

Inner child work centers around the idea that childhood experiences, particularly those involving abuse, neglect, or abandonment, can lead to unresolved emotional wounds that manifest in adult behavior and relationships. This type of therapy incorporates the technique of "re-parenting" which aims to help individuals reconnect with their inner child, acknowledge and love it, and offer the care and support they may have lacked in childhood. This process helps individuals to better understand their patterns of behavior and relationships, ultimately promoting emotional stability and healing.

John Bradshaw’s inner child healing framework offers a powerful roadmap for addressing the roots of your trauma. By reconnecting with the wounded inner child, the part of us frozen in unmet childhood needs we can dismantle harmful patterns and reclaim authenticity.

Continue reading...
https://www.birdhousecounselling.com.au/inner-child

05/09/2025

Have you ever wondered why you react the way you do in relationships? Maybe you cling to your partner when they’re distant, or you pull away when things get too close. These patterns often trace back to childhood and the way we connected (or didn’t) with our caregivers shapes how we love as adults.

Psychologists like John Bowlby and Mary Ainsworth first studied attachment styles, and today, experts like John Bradshaw and the Gottmans (Julie and John Gottman) help us understand how these styles play out in adult relationships.

Continue reading...

https://www.birdhousecounselling.com.au/attachment

03/09/2025

Living with a narcissist can be emotionally draining and challenging. It's crucial to understand narcissistic behavior, set boundaries, and prioritize self-care to protect your well-being. Seeking support from friends, family, or mental health professionals can provide valuable coping strategies and a safe space to process your experiences.

Strategies for Coping:

👉Set Clear Boundaries: Establish and maintain firm boundaries regarding what you will and will not tolerate.

👉Practice Emotional Detachment: Try not to take their behavior personally, and avoid getting drawn into their drama.

👉Seek Support: Talk to trusted friends, family members, or a therapist about your experiences.

👉Prioritize Self-Care: Engage in activities that promote your well-being, such as exercise, hobbies, or spending time with loved ones.

👉Educate Yourself: Learn about narcissistic personality disorder and its common behaviors.

👉Consider Professional Help: A therapist can provide support and guidance in navigating the relationship and developing coping strategies.

👉Be Prepared for Manipulation: Recognize manipulative tactics like gaslighting and learn to respond assertively.

👉Avoid Arguments: Instead of arguing, calmly state your truth and disengage from the conversation

28/08/2025

Forgiveness is deciding to let go of the hurt and negative emotions associated with a wrong that was done, rather than holding onto them. It's about freeing oneself from the emotional burden of anger, resentment, and the desire for revenge. Forgiveness isn't about forgetting the wrong or excusing the behavior; it's a personal choice to release the pain and move forward.

The choice to forgive builds,

👩‍❤️‍👨Emotional Freedom: Holding onto hurt can be emotionally draining and negatively impact mental health. Forgiveness allows you to let go of these burdens and experience greater peace and well-being.

💪Improved Mental and Physical Health: Studies have shown that forgiveness can reduce stress, anxiety, and depression, and even improve physical health outcomes like lower blood pressure and a healthier heart.

💋Enhanced Relationships: Forgiveness can help heal and strengthen relationships with others. It can foster empathy and understanding, allowing for reconciliation and improved connections.

🌱Personal Growth: Forgiveness empowers you to take control of your own emotions and reactions, rather than being controlled by the actions of others.

🚶Moving Forward: It allows you to move past victim-hood and embrace resilience, enabling you to focus on the future rather than dwelling on the past.

🥰Self-Love: Forgiveness is ultimately an act of self-love. By choosing to let go of the hurt, you prioritize your own emotional well-being and prevent the negative emotions from harming you further.

In essence, forgiveness is a powerful tool for personal healing and growth, allowing individuals to break free from the chains of the past and embrace a more positive and fulfilling future.

26/08/2025

Asking for your needs is a powerful tool for personal growth and stronger relationships. It allows you to communicate your wants and needs effectively, leading to better understanding, support, and fulfillment in various aspects of life. By overcoming the fear of asking and embracing vulnerability, you can foster deeper connections and create a more authentic and satisfying life.

🗣Asking for your needs is so powerful because it fosters deeper connections and Relationships

🧠Increased Understanding: Asking for your needs helps others understand what you require, creating a foundation for empathy and support.

💪Stronger Bonds: Sharing your needs, especially in intimate relationships, builds trust and fosters a sense of closeness as you allow others to contribute to your well-being.

🫂Improved Communication: It encourages open and honest communication, which is essential for navigating challenges and resolving conflicts effectively.

By embracing the power of asking for your needs, you can create a more fulfilling and meaningful life for yourself and strengthen your connections with others.

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Bannockburn, VIC
3331

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Monday 10am - 8pm
Tuesday 10am - 8pm
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Thursday 10am - 8pm
Friday 10am - 8pm
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