Counselling with Jane

Home
Australia
Maitland, NSW
Counselling with Jane

Counselling for parents and children using a playful approach with creative and expressive therapies

Send a message if you would like to know more or set up an appointment.

27/02/2026

Returning to school is harder for some kids than for others. Few things are more difficult than watching your child struggle. If you’ve noticed ongoing distress in your child—such as changes in mood, sleep, or appetite; increasing anxiety; school refusal; or big emotional outbursts on most school days—it may be a sign they need extra support.

Seeking extra support is not overthinking, it is providing you and your child with the chance to build a stronger relationship.

06/02/2026

I am a counsellor who works with children, teens and parents using a creative but playful approach. I am available Fridays and Saturdays in Maitland. No referrals are needed and at the moment no waitlist! Please get in touch if you would like more information.

23/05/2025

Every child deserves to feel safe, supported, and understood. If your child is struggling with anxiety, you don’t have to navigate it alone. Therapy provides a space where they can build resilience, express their emotions, and develop tools to manage their worries. Seeking help is not a sign of weakness—it’s an act of love and empowerment.

12/05/2025

Taken from Ten things I wish you knew about your child's mental health by Dr Billy Garvey. This book is such an easy read and yet contains many important gems of knowledge. Run and pick up a copy today!!

03/05/2025

Feeling anxious is something we all experience from time to time. Anxiety in childhood is an opportunity to share tips with your child to build their ability to cope.

Firstly, normalise anxiety as something that everyone feels from time to time. It is when anxiety starts to interfere with their daily life it becomes a concern. Look out for common signs which might be:
Physical: tummy aches, headaches, restlessness, difficulty sleeping
Emotional: Angry, frequent crying, excessive sensitivity, worries
Behaviour: Avoidance, meltdowns, nightmares, social withdrawal

Some ideas you can try
Deep breathing - there are a variety of techniques around, this is something best practiced often. I teach children a variety of techniques so they can find the one that most suits them.

Visualisations - help children to imagine or see in their mind a place they were happy

Conversation - talk openly about feelings, create a connection with your child, discuss what your child thinks might be most helpful.

Remember feeling anxious is a normal emotion. if it significantly impacts your child's functioning, I can help you and your child through this tough time

19/02/2025

Our children, like ourselves go through all seasons of emotions often in a morning! It is important to be calm in these moments. I know it sure is hard to watch your child struggle. Then, help build your child's emotional vocabulary by naming the emotion, I am certain if you guess wrong, they will correct you quickly.

There are bucket loads of research that backs naming the emotion will help your child to tame the emotion. The next step is to use coping tools together to bring the body back to a less heightened place. Coping tools are practices like deep breathing, cookie breathing, getting in the pool, blowing bubbles, walking on the grass bare foot to name a few.

If you are looking for help for yourself or your child in managing big emotions, I am keen to help.

20/01/2025

We have much to learn from our children........

15/01/2025

Parenting is a journey filled with love, joy, challenges, and responsibilities. In the midst of taking care of children, it's easy for parents to neglect their own needs. However, self-care is essential for maintaining physical, emotional, and mental well-being.

One of the biggest challenges we face is the lack of time. With the demands of children, work, and household chores, self-care often takes a back seat. It's crucial to recognize that taking time for oneself is not selfish but necessary. Even small pockets of time, such as a few minutes of deep breathing or a short walk, can make a significant difference.

Laughter, in particular, has numerous health benefits, including reducing stress and boosting the immune system. Spending time with friends and family provides emotional support and strengthens bonds.

Self-care is not a luxury but a necessity for us all and it is so hard to find those moments sometimes. Embracing small joys and focusing on one task at a time can further enhance the quality of your family life.

22/11/2024

So excited to become a supervisor, please be in touch if you have any questions or would like supervision. 🙃

16/08/2024

When bullying happens to you child, there are things your child can do and say in the moment to take back their power in the situation:
1. Make eye contact with the bully, say nothing and walk away.
2. Act as if they don't care and reply with "Yeah good one but not original."
3. Call it out by saying "Wow that was really mean."

Changes in your child's behaviours can indicate they are being bullied. Talking about emotions and your concerns to your child or teenager is a great first step.

08/01/2024

Are you looking for support for your child or yourself? Appointments are available most Saturdays but they do fill quickly. If you would like to schedule an appointment, please use the booking link: jane-hodgson.square.site to find a time that works for you and your family.

19/01/2023

I help children and their parents/carers to manage BIG feelings through play mostly but doing things that don't involve just talking - that's too hard for kids. The talking stuff is best for adults. Lots of the common reasons parents look for support is around school refusal, separation anxiety, divorce and separation, grief and loss but there are lots more reasons.
I have a few vacancies coming up and here's the link if you would like to use it:
https://jane-hodgson.square.site

Address

38 Ken Tubman Drive
Maitland, NSW
2320

Opening Hours

8:30am - 4pm

Website

https://janehodgson.com.au/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Counselling with Jane posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Want your practice to be the top-listed Clinic in Maitland?