Renate's Social Work Counselling & Consultancy

30/11/2025

Kidshelpline has a social media platform that they are billing as being good for kids' mental health.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1HJcSHF4eL/

Did you know Kids Helpline has a social media platform that isn't included in the under-16s social media ban? Check it out: https://kidshelpline.info/4pqPtND

21/11/2025

This creative visualisation is a calming relaxation, taking you away from the busy-ness and chaos of modern life, to a pristine beach. Suits ages 5-15.

21/11/2025

Important information from Executive Functioning Toolbox in assisting guiding our emotional and social growth.

"Social emotional learning" is defined as a process for helping children gain critical skills for life effectiveness, such as developing positive relationships, behaving ethically, and handling challenging situations effectively.

The specific skills that allow kids to function and complete daily occupations (such as play, learning, participating in social situations, rest, dressing, writing, riding a bike, interacting with others...) are those social emotional skills that help children to recognize and manage emotions, interact with others, think about their feelings and how they should act, and regulate behavior based on thoughtful decision making.

One piece of addressing underlying needs in kids is the fact that the "behaviors" that we see have an underlying cause that can be found as a result of regulation of emotions, making decisions, and acting on impulses. Social emotional skills are not always a cut and dry aspect of development.

When we equip our students with tools to identify their emotions and self-regulate, we are giving them tools for life and promoting a positive environment for learning.

One way is to connect emotions to behavior- Children may not have the language knowledge or understand how to explain what they are feeling.
-They may need concrete examples or scenarios to help them understand how their emotions are tied to their behavior.
-Does a storm make them feel nervous or scared?
-How do they react when they feel anxious about a test or quiz?
-When they argue with a sibling, how do they react?

How to help? https://www.theottoolbox.com/zones-of-regulation-activities-2/

21/11/2025

The premise of this book is that calling ourselves and others "lazy" is often a misapplied, moral labelling of our capabilities, they way our brains and what we have on our personal plates. This book and the book review by Creative Well-being Melbourne allows to mellow to a kinder stance.

I thought this book was going to be more focused on neuronormative standards but was surprised to learn about the broader impacts of the laziness lie. The book shows how the belief that our value comes from constant productivity runs deep in our culture and how it harms people across many different contexts. What often gets called laziness is more accurately the result of exhaustion, unmet needs, or barriers outside of our control, and this argument is made with clarity and care.

Research and lived experience are woven together to show how the laziness narrative takes hold and how difficult it can be to challenge it. The book explores the realities of burnout, illness, disability, trauma, and structural inequality, helping the reader to see that there is always more behind the surface than a lack of willpower. It was refreshing to see how the lens widens from individual responsibility to the collective and systemic pressures that shape our lives.

One of the strongest invitations in the book is to treat rest, boundaries, and limits as essential rather than shameful. The message is to listen to our bodies and minds, to respect our own capacity, and to notice the ways we have internalised pressure to always be achieving. This felt validating on a personal level and also in thinking about how to support others who struggle under the same weight of expectation.

This is a book I would recommend widely because it has something to offer for anyone who has ever felt guilty for not doing enough or wondered why they cannot keep up with constant demands. It provides insight into how these pressures are shaped by history and society while also offering compassion and validation. The overall effect is both comforting and challenging, leaving the reader with a sense that choosing rest is not only permissible but deeply necessary.

Found here: https://amzn.to/47V21XU

21/11/2025

On this lovely Saturday morning, learning more about self and looking after ourselves is on the cards. Thank-you to the Gottman Institute for providing this Recipe for Self-soothing.

Ever wondered about the science behind self-soothing? It’s your body’s natural recipe for calm.

When emotions run high, techniques like deep breathing and visualization help lower your heart rate and clear your mind.

It’s how you move from emotional flooding to grounded connection. The more you practice this skill, the easier it becomes to handle stress, together.

Want the full blog post? Click here: https://bit.ly/48XYTuU

21/11/2025

Wisdom from Karen Young - Hey Sigmund regarding the state of mind and being of "difficult" young people.

What if schools could see every ‘difficult’ child as a child who feels unsafe? Everything would change. Everything.♥️

09/11/2025

This is hard-won wisdom.

I used to believe closure was something someone else had to give me. An apology, an explanation, a final conversation. I would wait and wait, (and waaaaaait). But sometimes, the most powerful form of closure comes from knowing you're not going to get it and you DON'T have to wait to move forward.

09/11/2025

Yesterday, I was considering and talking with others about the seeds that had shaped me personally and professionally. Today this quote from Executive Functioning Toolbox puts into words valuable connection and effort put in with our teens.

09/11/2025

07/09/2025

Negotiating feelings can feel such a lonelyplace to be. RAIN is a good call to action to manage well on our own better.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1BS4eUry4f/

06/09/2025

19 years ago - I didn't really know who Steve Irwin was, but my 4 year old son and his peers did. Steve and his legacy became such an important part of our lives from that point on.

19 years the world lost an iconic legend 🐊💔

Steve Irwin wasn’t just a wildlife warrior — he was the ultimate Aussie spirit. Big heart, bigger energy, and a passion that made the whole world fall in love with our animals and embodied what it meant to be Australian.

Forever an Aussie legend. Crikey, we miss ya Steve 🇦🇺❤️

06/09/2025

Thanks Rae Sabine of Creative Wellbeing Melbourne for pointing this out so succinctly.

DISTRESS TOLERANCE

FOCUS
Focus on something with fine detail, like wood grain, a textured artwork, or leaf veins. Slowly zoom your attention in and notice the smallest details you can see. Drawing what you observe can help you stay present and notice more.

ENERGY RELEASE
Let your energy move through you by scribbling hard with crayons or pastels, tearing up old drawings, stomping to music, slapping paint on cardboard, twisting pipe cleaners into knots, or dancing until something shifts.

SEEK COMFORT
Find comfort by drawing or collaging a safe place you imagine. Write a few lines or a poem about what you find comforting. Share your feelings with someone who understands. Cuddle a plush toy while listening to music that matches your mood.

ORGANISE
Organise and sort objects. You might arrange buttons, beads or collage pieces into patterns, tidy up your art supplies, or clear out materials you no longer use.
Consider donating or repurposing what you don’t need.

DISTRACT
Give your brain something to sink into. Make detailed art, try a tricky puzzle, or get absorbed in a fast-paced game. You could also map out your week, brainstorm creative projects, or come up with fun things to look forward to.

FIND HUMOUR
Lighten the mood by looking for moments of humour. Make up absurd replies to everyday questions, doodle a silly scene, or imagine a goofy twist to something serious. Notice the awkward, loveable parts of being human.

OBSERVE
Shift your focus away from yourself by observing the world around you.
Notice Who looks excited or bored, and what interesting things are happening nearby. Imagine you’re an alien researcher seeing everything for the first time.

DISTANCE
Create some distance by stepping away from your current space. Take a long walk or explore quiet corners nearby. If you can’t leave physically, imagine a comforting, familiar place or wander through a calming world in your mind.

Distress Tolerance Menu from Rae Sabine

Email: creatingwellbeingmelbourne@gmail.com