The Family Room: Counselling & Therapy

21/06/2025

20/06/2025

So many professionals are wondering why this is happening - and to what end? They read and write sooner - then what? Unfortunately it doesn’t make them smarter or more creative problem solvers. It doesn’t enhance social skills when we are pushing them to achieve curriculum standards before their neurological wiring is ready. It’s not teachers or schools making these changes and trying to push down formal education. It’s coming from the top - from people who are well meaning but don’t really understand how learning works. It needs to be fun. It needs to be engaging. It needs to be play based. Because we learn when we are having fun; feel safe and when we can try all sorts of ways of doing things without worrying we are going to get things wrong and be marked on it. Let’s follow Finland! They know what they’re doing. No wonder our kids are more stressed than ever and school “can’t” is on the rise. God bless our teachers and schools that have the enormous task of needing to do what they are mandated to do whilst keeping our children’s mental health in tact.

As one of Australia’s leading parenting educators I regularly travel the length and breadth of this country including cities, remote communities, rural communities and of course the digital world. Everywhere ...

04/03/2025

How to help our children with disabilities feel as secure as possible during Cyclone Alfred. Stay safe everyone. You've got this. We are thinking of you all. ###

Natural disaster preparation is important for kids and teens with disability or other additional needs. Start by organising information and an emergency bag.

04/03/2025

A child friendly resource to help our children understand the impending weather event.

https://www.childrens.health.qld.gov.au/our-work/birdies-tree-natural-disaster-recovery/birdies-tree-storybooks/birdie-and-the-cyclone?fbclid=IwY2xjawI0TP9leHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHbR3D94gbO9hc6Tbwt4ajeD0kolJJqlQIWdLBg31pbTBG01b6WPmyaPesA_aem_Tab14TqnYRU5-89n4po-kg

Storybooks, videos and resources to help young children and their families cope with cyclones.

07/12/2024

I'm excited to share that Emma Bray (Speech Pathologist) and I (Psychologist and Teacher) are teaming together in March next year to provide a workshop for educators about supporting children's transition to prep. "From Little School to Big School" will be a day of practical strategies, resource sharing and theory to help us better understand this beautiful age and how to scaffold and respond accordingly. We will unpack language and early literacy development; attachment and separation anxiety; brain education; making friends and socialisation; helping our children with their big feelings; building resilience and independence and understanding the role of allied health professionals. We are aiming to keep it practical so that you walk away with a tool kit of strategies with the underpinning theory as to why they work. Look forward to seeing you there! Please feel free to share.

10/09/2024

Congratulations on our Provisional Psycholgist Jackie for passing the huge National Psychology Exam! We are so proud of you!!!

03/03/2024

We’re on Booktopia!