Castieau Consultancy

20/10/2025

This a brilliant wheel - no need to repeat all of the information on the original post 😁

The Window of Tolerance.
Credit : Lindsay Brahman.

We always stand a much better chance of staying on course if they pay close attention to our nervous system.

This is especially true for those with a history of trauma.

Learning about fight, flight, fawn, and freeze can be helpful, but learning how these responses manifest in our bodies is where the magic really starts.

When we understand how fight, flight, freeze, or fawn show up for us, we can develop an internal template to refer back to in moments where we are feeling a lot of (or beginning to shut down and feeling no emotion at all) that alerts us when it’s time take steps to soothe our and return to our window of tolerance.

No one has an innate ability to pause during a conflict and reflect “Gosh, I think I might be moving into a freeze response.”

Instead, this realization tends to be something we recognize as we reflect on an experience later.

Growing the capacity to check in with ourselves and notice, in the moment, when we are slipping into a response is one key to learning how to self-soothe, expand our , grow emotionally, and build .

That’s where my new comes in: it’s a tool specifically for helping us recognize when we are moving out of our window of tolerance (where we can listen, learn, and respond thoughtfully) and into a reaction state.

Like the Emotion Sensation Wheel, the Fight, Flight, & Freeze Embodied Wheel is a tool to prompt conversations and build awareness by showing how each of these responses *tends* to show up through physical sensations.

It's not prescriptive- it's a conversation starter. It's meant to teach, to stir, and to prompt conversations that build awareness, connection, and experience through awareness.

Download a digital copy of this art via Lindsay Brahman's website

18/10/2025

Instead of using emotions to convey how we are feeling; using this energy wheel can also help us identify what is happening with our nervous system.

Neurodivergent people have to manage their energy carefully - we need to aim for parasympathetic nervous system activation to get us into a nice calm safe Ventral Vagal state.

Using Polyvagal Theory; the top left tangent “mixed nervous system state” often occurs when we are Fawning: fight or flight (sympathetic nervous system) and pretending to be ventral vagal (everything’s ok!)

It’s a great take by Steph at The Attachment Academy

03/10/2025

A BIT ABOUT ME

I thought it was about time for me to introduce myself to those who have recently come across Castieau Consultancy on their feed.

I’m Beth Castieau, and I run a private practice based in Bunbury in the southwest of Western Australia. I’ve been going since 2013, and these days I am surrounded by the most amazing associates who share the same values and passion for how we approach treating mental health issues.

I currently offer individual counselling and work with people of all ages and stages in life. As an Accredited Practitioner with the EMDR Association of Australia (EMDRAA), I am passionate about using this treatment approach with my clients.

EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing, but that really doesn’t help you understand what it is!

EMDR is an incredibly effective treatment for all mental health conditions and recognised by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as the gold standard treatment for PTSD.

I am currently working towards becoming an EMDR Consultant so that I can train and assess other clinicians to reach Accredited Practitioner status and grow their skills and abilities to treat their clients.

I am, like many others, late-diagnosed neurodivergent. I’m AuDHD and am so grateful to finally understand myself so much more. Being both ADHD and autistic isn’t easy; but it’s so rewarding being able to share this journey with others who are also learning of their own neurodivergence.

I specialise in treating complex trauma (CPTSD) and am passionate about helping parents experiencing perinatal depression and anxiety (PND).

I don’t have any airs, I wear jeans to work most days, and you’ll get used to seeing me in my cowboy boots. I am authentic, a straight talker, and you will know straight away whether or not we are the right fit.

If you’d like to enquire about getting some therapy for yourself or a family member, email me at:
hello@castieauconsultancy.com

16/09/2025

Struggling with anxiety and overwhelming thoughts? Is that leading to low mood?

I can support and teach you the skills to be in control of unhelpful thoughts rather than unhelpful thoughts controlling you.

🌿 Emma Fenton – Accredited Mental Health Social Worker & Therapist
Now offering Telehealth-only sessions | Mondays & Wednesdays
15-minute introductory chats available to see if we’re the right fit. Available to see children and adults from aged ten and up.
✨
Emma is an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker with over 15 years of experience supporting individuals and families across the lifespan. She brings a calm, grounded presence and is committed to walking alongside clients as they navigate challenges and move toward meaningful change.

Emma has a strong background in working with neurodivergent individuals and is passionate about creating inclusive, affirming spaces where clients feel seen, heard, and empowered.

💬 Areas of support include:
-Anxiety & depression
-OCD
-Emotional dysregulation
-Grief & loss
-GLBTIQA+ support
-Career & life transitions-Male mental health-Navigating trauma
-Executive functioning coaching-ADHD & autism navigation-Stress & adjustment issues-Clinical supervision for health professionals

🧠 Therapeutic approaches:
-Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT)
-Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)-Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)-Eye Movement Desensitisation & Reprocessing (EMDR)-Solution-Focused Therapy-Narrative Therapy-Executive Function Coaching-Interweaving somatic body work

💻 Telehealth sessions available
Convenient and flexible support from the comfort of your own space. Appointments available Mondays & Wednesdays.

💡 Fees & rebates
Standard rate $205 for 55 minutes
Medicare rebates (up to $87.25 with a Mental Health Treatment Plan from your GP)
Concession rates for single parents & low-income earners $170 please enquire
Limited NDIS work available

📞 Bookings & enquiries
📧 hello@castieauconsultancy.com

28/08/2025

I’m back from holiday - sorry it’s been a bit quiet here

I thought I’d share some pics of what I did when I went away - had an incredible time at Litchfield National Park in the Northern Territory.

It was heaps of fun and so very beautiful

- Beth

16/08/2025

🟡 Some important reminders from selfloverainbow Self-Love Rainbow for you this weekend

14/08/2025

https://posts.gle/3MGXnemfiRkcer8Q8?g_st=ic

Emma Fenton is an experienced mental health social worker who brings a calm, grounded presence to her work. She is deeply committed to walking alongside her clients as they navigate life’s challenges and move toward meaningful change. 💬 Emma can support clients experiencing: * Anxiety and depre...

10/08/2025

Some helpful reminders from thelatestkate

06/08/2025

Time optimism vs Time blindness with ADHD

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DM-au1MqIj2/?igsh=M3NmbWFvZHd4aHR4

03/08/2025

The fear of not being enough and the the fear of being “too much” are exactly the same fear.
The fear of being you.
- Nayyirah Waheed

02/08/2025

You are allowed to feel your feelings

28/07/2025

Rejective Sensitivity Dysphoria

“It’s more than just disliking criticism

Everyone feels hurt when they’re criticised or left out. But rejection sensitivity dysphoria isn’t just about “not liking” feedback. The word dysphoria refers to intense emotional distress.

People with rejection sensitivity dysphoria describe overwhelming reactions to perceived rejection, even if no one actually said or did anything cruel.

A passing comment such as “I thought you were going to do it this way” can trigger feelings of shame, embarrassment or self-doubt.

The emotional pain often feels immediate and consuming, leading some people to withdraw, over-apologise or lash out to protect themselves.

The ADHD brain and emotional hypersensitivity

ADHD is often associated with attention or impulsivity, but one major (and often overlooked) component is emotional dysregulation: difficulty managing and recovering from strong emotional responses.

This isn’t a character flaw; it’s a neurological difference. Brain imaging studies show people with ADHD tend to have differences in how their amygdala (the brain’s emotional alarm system) and prefrontal cortex (which regulates impulses and emotions) work together.”

“Rejection sensitivity dysphoria isn’t about being fragile or “weak”. It’s about how the ADHD brain processes emotional and social cues. With insight, tools and support, these experiences can become manageable.”

https://theconversation.com/what-is-rejection-sensitive-dysphoria-in-adhd-and-how-can-you-manage-it-259995?utm_term=Autofeed&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook&fbclid=IwQ0xDSwL0SFZleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHgk31hE57PNdcP7_lkdNiINh2PR5sRihiUwQbcQ-xN3inpBt6kUNnjgpMkef_aem_6-cpDZUk5eGRJqlMU2avGA =1753695177

Rejection sensitivity in ADHD can make everyday feedback feel overwhelming. Here’s why it happens and how to manage it with care.