Thriving Now

18/08/2025

When clients start bringing their guinea pigs to therapy…
We’re no longer just a therapy dog clinic, we might need to rebrand as a full-blown therapy zoo. 🐶🐹🦜🦎
Next session: emotional support alpaca? 🦙

30/06/2025

Understanding Sensory Sensitivity in ADHD 🌟

Sensory sensitivity is a common experience for many people with ADHD, but it’s not always talked about enough. Research shows that individuals with ADHD are more likely to have heightened sensory processing, meaning their brains respond more intensely to sensory input.

This can mean:
🔊 Everyday noises might feel painfully loud or distracting
👕 Certain fabrics or tags in clothing can cause discomfort or irritability
💡 Bright lights or busy environments may increase feelings of overwhelm
😣 Sensory overload can contribute to emotional dysregulation, anxiety, and difficulty concentrating

Why does this happen? ADHD involves differences in how the brain processes information, including sensory signals. These differences can make it harder to filter out irrelevant stimuli, leading to increased distractibility and stress. 🤯

Recognising sensory sensitivity is important because it can impact daily life, from work and school to social situations and self-care.

Helpful strategies include:
✔️ Creating sensory-friendly spaces (quiet rooms, dim lighting)
✔️ Using tools like noise-cancelling headphones or sunglasses
✔️ Taking regular breaks to reduce sensory overload
✔️ Communicating your sensory needs to others

If sensory sensitivity is impacting your wellbeing or ADHD symptoms, working with a psychologist can help develop personalised coping strategies. 🧠💡

09/06/2025

Meet Ellie's buddy, Chester 🐶💛. Chester joins us each session thanks to one of our lovely clients, and Ellie couldn’t be happier to share cuddles on the couch or peaceful bushwalks with her furry friends.

At Thriving Now, we believe in the power of connection with people and animals. Our therapy dogs help create calm, safe spaces that support emotional regulation, social connection, and joy.

Because healing doesn’t always come from words, sometimes it’s in a wagging tail and a quiet moment shared.

13/05/2025

Here’s How a Cognitive and Academic Assessment Can Help

Is your child working hard at school but still falling behind?
Maybe they avoid homework, struggle to focus, or get frustrated with reading or writing.

These difficulties are not a reflection of intelligence or effort, they often point to underlying learning differences. And that’s where a cognitive and academic assessment can make all the difference. 🧠📘

At Thriving Now, our assessments are gentle, child-friendly, and designed to understand how your child learns best. Led by our provisional psychologist Alyssa, we take a neurodiversity-affirming approach that highlights strengths and supports, not labels.

Our assessment package is $1,900 includes:
✔️ 1-hour initial parent session to understand your concerns and history
✔️ Up to 6x 1-hour 1:1 sessions with your child, using standardised tools like the WISC-V (cognitive abilities) and WIAT-III (academic skills)
✔️ A comprehensive 3-hour diagnostic report with tailored recommendations for home, school, and next steps

We assess areas like:
✔️ Working memory
✔️ Attention and processing speed
✔️ Verbal and visual reasoning
✔️ Reading fluency and comprehension
✔️ Spelling, writing and maths

Whether you suspect dyslexia, dysgraphia, ADHD, or simply want to understand why learning feels harder for your child, our assessments can provide clarity, confidence, and a way forward.

📣 Note: Every child is different, so some assessments may require extra time. We include up to 6 sessions in the package—any additional sessions are charged at the standard rate.

🌱 Early support can make a big difference. Let’s work together to help your child feel seen, supported, and capable.

📩 DM us or visit our website to book with Alyssa or learn more about our assessments at Thriving Now.

06/05/2025

Let's talk about ADHD in Women.

Many adult women with ADHD grow up feeling overwhelmed, often mislabelled as emotional, disorganised, or lazy. In reality, they’ve been working incredibly hard to function in a world that wasn’t built for their brains.

ADHD often presents differently in women and is frequently overlooked in childhood. Frequently overlooked symptoms can include:
🌱 Emotional sensitivity
🌱 Perfectionism + people-pleasing
🌱 Difficulty focusing (except on things you love)
🌱 Exhaustion from masking
🌱 Losing friendships and feeling “too much”
🌱 Impulsive spending on hobbies or interests

Getting an ADHD diagnosis as an adult isn't about putting yourself in a box... It’s about opening one!
🌿 It gives language to your lived experience
🌿 It reduces shame and self-blame
🌿 It offers a path to healing and authenticity

Thriving Now offers a safe, neuroaffirming space for late-diagnosed or questioning adults.

Our Adult ADHD assessment package includes:
✔️ 1-hour initial consultation
✔️ 2 x 1-hour assessment sessions
✔️ A clear, strengths-based diagnostic report
💰 Starting from $755 with provisional psychologist Alyssa Ives

📩 DM us or call (07) 3186 6956 to enquire or book.

14/04/2025

🌈 The Full Spectrum of Autism 🌈
Autism isn’t a straight line from “mild” to “severe.” It’s a beautiful, complex spectrum filled with many strengths, challenges, and unique experiences. Every autistic person has their own blend of traits; just like this vibrant, swirling figure, no two are exactly alike.

🧠 Understanding the Spectrum
The autism spectrum doesn’t mean someone is "more" or "less" autistic; it reflects different ways the brain processes the world. Some autistic individuals might have strong verbal skills but struggle with sensory overload. Others may be non-speaking but highly independent in daily life. Autism looks different for everyone.

🌍 Embracing Neurodiversity
Too often, autism is misunderstood. Instead of asking, "How autistic is someone?" we should ask, "What support do they need to thrive?" Every autistic person deserves understanding, acceptance, and the right to live authentically without judgment.

By recognising and respecting the full spectrum of autism, we create a world that values neurodiversity, inclusion, and support for all.

11/04/2025

We want to remind clients that they are always welcome to bring their furry friends to their session to meet Ellie, our therapy dog! 🐾

Our provisional psychologist, Alyssa, recently brought in her fur baby, Coco, for a playdate. Coco had an amazing time in the clinic; it looks like we may have another therapy pup in the making! 🐶✨

Animal-assisted therapy is known to reduce stress, promote emotional regulation, and enhance well-being. Having a furry friend in the room can help create a safe, supportive environment, making therapy even more effective.

We’re looking forward to some exciting possibilities ahead! 🐕💙

07/04/2025

✨ Meet Alyssa! ✨

We’re thrilled to welcome Alyssa, a Provisional Psychologist, to the Thriving Now team! 🎉

Alyssa brings six years of study and experience in psychology. She is passionate about supporting individuals across the lifespan with mental health, neurodivergence, and emotional well-being. She has a special interest in working with children and adolescents experiencing anxiety, emotional regulation challenges, social difficulties, ADHD, Autism, and learning differences.

Alyssa completed her undergraduate degree at UQ and her Master's in Professional Psychology at Griffith University. She works under the supervision of Jay Hobbs and is dedicated to providing evidence-based, tailored interventions to help clients thrive.

Fun fact: Alyssa previously worked with the RSPCA’s disability program, helping individuals connect with and care for animals. She’s particularly passionate about the therapeutic benefits of animal interaction in mental health! 🐾💙

Join us in giving Alyssa a warm welcome! 👏✨

10/06/2024

On 20 June we will get a small glimpse into what it’s like to sleep rough for one night in Brisbane at the Vinnies CEO Sleepout . This is such an important charity and so many Queenslanders are currently homeless. This includes some people with developmental disabilities.

https://www.ceosleepout.org.au/fundraisers/thebirkdaleboys
The Vinnie CEO Sleepout is an annual event to raise vital funds for people experiencing homelessness or at risk of finding themselves without a safe place to call home. Every dollar we raise goes to Vinnies’ services, which include food, accommodation, education,
counselling, employment and health programs.
We would greatly appreciate your support for this
important cause.

07/06/2024

12/05/2023

Therapy dogs are the best!!

28/04/2023

Happy Friday everyone 😊 Time to chill out!!! Ellie 🐾