Gentle Sensory

01/02/2026

In light of the news coming out of Perth, we would like to reach out to our community as well as express our deepest emotions.

Being a parent or caregiver to individuals who are struggling in this world can be immensely draining and isolating. We fight daily, constantly advocating for our children and young people to be accepted, supported and seen.

Even when supports are found, parents and caregivers can feel as though they are drowning, never having the time or support to look after themselves. Leading to compassion fatigue, exhaustion and burnout.

We hear you. We see you. We understand you.

Despite this, we must bring light to the two young people who lost their lives. Leon, 16, and Otis, 14. Two beautiful young people whose lives were ended way to soon.

For those struggling and needing immediate mental health support, please reach out to:

Lifeline
13 11 14

For those needing additional support and financial access to services, contact:

Carers Gateway
1800 422 737

Alternatively, our offices are always open to talk ins and a chat over a cup of coffee/tea.

28/01/2026

Last call for our term 1 social groups ✨

🌈 TERM 1 SOCIAL GROUPS🌈

We are so excited to open registrations for our Term 1 social groups! 🚀

This term we will be offering:

🎮 TUESDAYS: Peer-Led Games & Activities
Ages: 6–8 years
Time: 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM
A fun, low-pressure space to play and connect.

🌱 THURSDAYS: Social & Wellbeing Group
Ages: 14–16 years
Time: 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM
Focusing on identity, connection, and mental wellness.

🤝 FRIDAYS: Social & Wellbeing Group
Ages: 12–14 years
Time: 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM
Building community and confidence in a safe setting.

⏳ Duration: Weekly throughout the duration of Term 1.

Ready to join us? Spaces are kept small to ensure everyone feels comfortable and supported.

🔗 Click here to register/enquire: https://forms.gle/8Ak5HnDqNPdtqPQr5
💬 Send us a DM for more info!

27/01/2026

Struggling with daily transitions or executive functioning challenges at home?✨

Visual schedules are more than just a list of tasks; they are a powerful, evidence-based tool to help reduce anxiety and build independence for neurodivergent individuals. But did you know that how you design them can make a huge difference?

In this insightful article by Gentle Sensory, you’ll learn:
🔹 Vertical vs. Horizontal: Why vertical layouts often reduce cognitive load and act as a "gravity-fed" system for the brain.
🔹 The Power of Contrast: How the right colours act as "visual anchors" while avoiding eye-straining "visual noise."
🔹 Less is More: Tips on creating a "visual island" to avoid clutter and meltdowns.
🔹 Age-Appropriate Steps: A guide on how many tasks to include based on your child's developmental stage.
🔹 Placement is Key: Why schedules need to be in high-traffic areas to combat "out of sight, out of mind" challenges.

Ready to transform your daily routine into a calmer, more predictable experience?

📖 Read the full guide here: https://www.gentlesensory.com/articles/the-power-of-a-visual-schedule

16/01/2026

📝 Dear The Neurodivergent Caregiver in Survival Mode 📝

To the caregiver who is currently staring at a mountain of laundry, a sink of dishes, and a calendar full of appointments while feeling like you’re walking through waist-deep mud: this is your permission to go "Low Demand" on yourself.

We talk a lot about "Low Demand Parenting" or lifestyles to support our neurodivergent kids and partners. We lower the pressure to help their nervous systems feel safe. But what about your nervous system?

Caregiver burnout in the neurodivergent world isn't just "being tired." It is a profound neurological depletion. It’s what happens when you spend 24/7 playing "detective," "translator," "advocate," and "sensory regulator" without a break.

When your cup is empty, you can’t just "self-care" your way out of it with a bubble bath. You need to stop the leaks.

Going "Low Demand" on yourself looks like:
✨ Lowering the Bar: Cereal for dinner is a win. Using paper plates to avoid dishes is a win.
✨Saying "No" Season: Saying no to social events, extra school commitments, or even "optional" chores that don't affect safety.
✨ Radical Sensory Care: Wearing your noise-cancelling headphones while you vacuum. Dimming the lights. Choosing the softest clothes.
✨ Dropping the Mask: Giving yourself permission to not "have it all together" or smile through the exhaustion.

Your worth is not measured by your productivity. Your family doesn't need a "perfect" caregiver; they need a regulated one. And you cannot regulate others when you are in a state of chronic internal alarm.

If you are in survival mode today, that is okay. Drop the demands. Breathe. Your only job right now is to exist and let your nervous system find its way back to baseline.

You have permission to rest. You have permission to let things slide. You have permission to take care of YOU. 🤟✨

13/01/2026

It’s not "just play", it's hard work! ✨

Ever wonder why your child’s therapy session looks like a game of LEGOs or dress-up? It’s because play is a child’s natural language. While adults use words to process their feelings, children use toys.

By prioritising play and connection, we are:
✅Building Safety: A child won’t open up if they don’t feel connected. Play is the bridge to that trust.
✅Processing Emotions: It’s easier to talk about a "scared dinosaur" than it is to talk about being scared at school.
✅Developing Skills: Play helps with problem-solving, emotional regulation, and social cues in real-time.

In this space, toys are the words and play is the conversation. ❤️

12/01/2026

What is Neuro-Affirming Support? 🧠✨

If you’ve been hearing the term "neuro-affirming" lately and wondering what it actually looks like in practice, you’re not alone.

Neuro-affirming means recognising that there is no "right" or "wrong" way for a brain to work. Instead of seeing Autism, ADHD, or Dyslexia as "broken" parts that need to be fixed or cured, a neuro-affirming approach sees them as natural variations of the human experience. It’s about accepting someone’s identity and adapting the world to fit them rather than forcing them to change to fit the world.

3 Signs of True Neuro-Affirming Support 📖
If you are looking for a therapist, school, or support program, here are the hallmarks of a neuro-affirming approach:

1. It prioritises Autonomy over Compliance ✋ In many traditional settings, "success" meant doing what you were told. In neuro-affirming support, the focus is on self-advocacy. It respects your "no" and asks, "What do you need to feel safe and comfortable?" rather than "How do I make you behave?"

2. It modifies the Environment, not the Person 🛠️ Instead of asking a child to "try harder" to ignore painful lights or loud noises, a neuro-affirming approach changes the setting. We look at sensory profiles, processing speeds, and anxiety triggers to create a space where the individual can actually thrive.

3. It values Connection 🤝 Communication is a two-way street! We embrace the Double Empathy Problem, which teaches that neurotypical and neurodivergent people simply have different "languages." We don't drill eye contact or suppress "stims"; we facilitate genuine connection through shared interests like LEGO, gaming, or art.

Why this shift matters ❤️
Historically, many therapies focused on "masking", teaching neurodivergent people to hide their true selves to blend in. We now know this leads to burnout and anxiety.

By choosing neuro-affirming support, we choose well-being, identity, and authentic joy. We aren't just providing "services", we are building a world that finally makes sense for every brain. 🌍🌈

08/01/2026

✨ Connection Over Compliance ✨

At Gentle Sensory, we aren't interested in "quiet hands" or forced eye contact. Why? Because those are markers of compliance, not of wellbeing. 🌿

When we prioritise compliance, we teach children that their value lies in how well they can hide their true selves to make others comfortable.

When we prioritise connection, we build a foundation of safety. From that safety, true growth, self-advocacy, and confidence grow. We meet the child where they are, not where a textbook says they "should" be.

A gentle reminder: One size doesn't fit all. Every child’s path to connection is unique, and our techniques are always modified to meet the diverse sensory and emotional needs of the individual.

07/01/2026

🌈 TERM 1 SOCIAL GROUPS🌈

We are so excited to open registrations for our Term 1 social groups! 🚀

This term we will be offering:

🎮 TUESDAYS: Peer-Led Games & Activities
Ages: 6–8 years
Time: 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM
A fun, low-pressure space to play and connect.

🌱 THURSDAYS: Social & Wellbeing Group
Ages: 14–16 years
Time: 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM
Focusing on identity, connection, and mental wellness.

🤝 FRIDAYS: Social & Wellbeing Group
Ages: 12–14 years
Time: 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM
Building community and confidence in a safe setting.

⏳ Duration: Weekly throughout the duration of Term 1.

Ready to join us? Spaces are kept small to ensure everyone feels comfortable and supported.

🔗 Click here to register/enquire: https://forms.gle/8Ak5HnDqNPdtqPQr5
💬 Send us a DM for more info!

06/01/2026

Holiday Burnout is Real... 🫠

Did the festive season leave you or your little ones feeling more "frazzled" than "festive"? You aren’t alone. Between the change in routine, the sensory input of crowds, and the social expectations, holiday burnout is a very real experience for neurodivergent families.

As we ease into 2026, here are 3 gentle ways to manage that burnout and find your baseline again:
1️⃣ Schedule quiet time with minimal sensory input: this helps your body lower it's cortisol and return to baseline
2️⃣ Slow walks in Nature: Supports your body to dump cortisol and reground.
3️⃣ Reduce unnecessary demand: Mundane tasks can wait until we are back in our baseline.

✨ Important Reminder ✨
One size doesn't fit all. A technique may need to be modified to meet everyone's diverse needs. You (and your child) are the experts on what your body needs to feel safe.

How strategies do you use to recharging? Let’s share some ideas in the comments. 👇

05/01/2026

Happy New Year to our beautiful Gentle Sensory community! 🎉

While the world is busy talking about "New Year, New Me" and big resolutions, we know that for many neurodivergent families, January isn't about "starting over"; it’s about transitioning.🧐

The shift from the unstructured holiday break back into a routine can feel like a whirlwind. If your house is currently feeling a bit like a "holiday hangover," or if the thought of the upcoming school term feels overwhelming, we want you to know: You aren't alone, and we’re here to help you navigate it.

✨ We are officially back in the office! ✨

Our team is refreshed and ready to support you with:
Individual Counselling (for children, teens, and parents)
Early Childhood Intervention & Support
Social Groups (Term 1 intakes are opening soon!)
Parent Support & Professional Development

Whether you need a safe space to decompress or strategies to make the "Back to School" transition a little gentler, our doors are open.

📩 Ready to connect?
We are currently working through our messages and emails. If you’d like to inquire about a new intake or check our availability for Term 1, please visit our website or send us a DM.

🔗 www.gentlesensory.com

Here’s to a year of regulation, authentic connection, and being exactly who you are. ✨

02/01/2026

Focus on Strengths, Not Just Skills 🧱

While traditional approaches often try to redirect these passions, evidence shows that interest-based support is the key to genuine growth, confidence, and connection for autistic individuals. When we lean into what a young person loves, we aren't just "playing"—we are building a bridge to their world.

Why it Works:
✨ Intrinsic Motivation: Research shows that incorporating a child’s passion (like dinosaurs, coding, or art) into therapy increases engagement and reduces the "work" fatigue of learning new skills.
✨ Reduced Anxiety: A child’s interest acts as a "safe harbor," providing a sense of predictability and emotional regulation in a world that can often feel overwhelming.
✨ Authentic Friendships: Interest-based social groups allow children to connect over shared joy. This reduces the pressure to "mask" and fosters a true sense of belonging with peers who "get" them.

By moving away from "fixing" behaviours and toward celebrating strengths, we help our young people thrive exactly as they are. 🌈

Ready to see the difference a strength-based approach can make?

Find out how Gentle Sensory can support your young person at:
👉 www.gentlesensory.com