Growing Gently Psychology

03/02/2026

Somehow I can always justify buying more therapy resources 🙊

What would you use first?

Comment below 👇

30/01/2026

This looks like a great group for Blue Mountains families experiencing “school can’t”. I am glad more neuroaffirming services like this are being offered in the Blue Mountains 💚

Starting on Thursday 12 Feb, our carer support group in collaboration with Carer Gateway and the wonderful peer support worker Inez !!!

Contact Inez directly to register on 0481 454 650

This group is specifically for carers of Neurodivergent children. If your child needs to attend with you supervision is provided.

Feel free to share this information far and wide !

27/01/2026

Do you know a child that starts the school year running out the gate at drop off? Or maybe you know a child that remains silent the entire school day? Or one that has a massive emotional release once they arrive home?

It isn’t resistance or regression. It’s the cumulative impact of dozens of small, unspoken changes neurodivergent students are expected to manage from day one.

The big changes all children experience at the start of the new school year are often overlooked or minimised. Other changes that perhaps only neurodivergent children may notice, remain even more invisible. Together, they explain why back to school is so demanding for some students and why support needs to come early, not after burnout.

When supporting a neurodivergent student’s transition back to school, there are few important questions parents, teachers and therapists should ask:

💚 What changes can be avoided? What things can remain the same and consistent?

💚 What changes can be delayed? Can we space out the changes?

💚 How can this child be supported through inevitable changes?

💚 How does this individual child experience each change? How can we consider the individual impact of these changes rather than the assumed impact?

💚 What are the early signs this child is not coping?

💚 What demands can we drop so this child has more capacity to cope with these changes?

💚 When and how can this child rest and recharge to avoid burnout?

💚 How is the child welcomed, encouraged and supported to voice their experiences of these changes and identify potential supports?

23/01/2026

One of my core intentions in this work is to move away from static or ‘swapped’ stereotypes…. because neurodivergence is diverse.

My work draws on many voices, not to replace one stereotype with another, but to demonstrate the nuance and complexity involved in properly supporting neurodivergent individuals.

Further, instead of prescribing fixed ways to support neurodivergent individuals, I encourage professionals to approach each person with avid curiosity for understanding of each individual’s lived experience.

22/01/2026

Today I had the privilege to facilitate a workshop with preschool educational leaders focused on supporting neurodivergent educators.

We covered A LOT!!!
💚 Neuroaffirming language.
💚 Neurodivergent Communication styles.
💚 The Double Empathy Problem.
💚 Balancing your own needs with the needs of your team.
💚 Juggling competing demands.
💚 And the often unseen experiences, challenges and strengths of neurodivergent educators.
Plus more!!

I’m really grateful for how open and engaged the leaders were, especially while sitting with new ideas and a fairly big information load.

These conversations aren’t about quick fixes or getting it “right” straight away. They’re about slowing down, listening, and being willing to reflect on how our leadership practices impact the people we work alongside.

Thank you to everyone who leaned in with vulnerability, curiosity and care.

22/01/2026

Without knowing too much about the service provider or whether all ideas and supports presented in the Envisage Program are neuroaffirming, it looks very promising and is fully funded so parents can access it for free. Families also do not need to have a formal diagnosis to participate.

Clever Bees Paediatric Occupational Therapy is excited to offer the fully funded ENVISAGE Families program - our next group is starting on Thursday 5th February at 7.30pm!

This program is tailored for parents and caregivers of children aged 0-8 with developmental concerns, a disability or who are neurodiverse.

Across 5 x sessions of up to 90 minutes each, we will cover:

What is health and well-being in early child and family development?

Child and family development

Parenting is a dance led by the children

Looking after myself

Communication, Collaborating and Connection

You don’t need a diagnosis or NDIS plan to join. It is fully funded therefore no cost you.

To register, head to:

https://tinyurl.com/CleverBees26

or contact the ENVISAGE team who can walk you through. (07) 3861 6079

envisage@acu.edu.au

29/12/2025

Do you have an autistic girls aged 6-9 years?

Join us some plush pet craft and creativity this upcoming January holidays 🤗🐶🐱🐰

Girls that attend the event can:

💚 Pick a plush pet to rescue.
💚 Give it a makeover: Perhaps make it a cute name collar, make it a necklace, add some sequins, or change the colour of its fur!
💚 Decorate a cosy home for their new fur baby!
💚 Take home their new pet with a personalised adoption certificate!
💚 Meet some other autistic girls who share the same interest in craft, animals, and plushies!

Two times available. 3 spots left!

Book via our website!

27/12/2025

Although I have no availability for individual therapy, I still have spots available in the following group services:

💚🐰🐶 Adopt-a-Pet Supported Social Event for autistic girls aged 6-9 years @ Valley Heights 2777

💚🌈Neuroaffirming Families Professional Development Series for professionals who support neurodivergent families - Online

💚 🧠 Psych Parents Group Supervision for health professionals in the early years of parenthood - Online

💚 PDA & Picasso Parent Learning Event @ Valley Heights 2777 - Expressions of Interest Only

25/12/2025

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24/12/2025

I’ve released a second session of my Adopt-a-Pet Supported Social Event for autistic girls aged 6-9 years. There’s three spots left!

Book online: https://www.growinggentlypsychology.com.au/events-1

20/12/2025

Just a reminder. It can be tough for many people this time of year due to the nature and significance of the end of year and Christmas celebrations, as well as many services closing over the Christmas/New Year period. Here are some support options that you can access via phone and/or online chat.

20/12/2025

FYI 💚