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Scribbly Gum Counselling, 170 Osborne Road, Mitchelton (2026)

09/03/2026

Big emotions rarely explode out of nowhere. Most of the time, they build quietly in the background.

When someone is starting to feel overwhelmed, stressed, or flooded with emotion, it’s actually really hard to find the words to explain what’s going on.

One simple strategy I’ve used with lots of families (including my own) is creating a short-hand for feelings, using a feelings scale.

Some scales look a bit like this:

1 = Calm and okay
2 = A little bothered
3 = Stressed or frustrated
4 = Really overwhelmed
5 = About to lose it

Everyone’s scale will look a little different because we all experience feelings in our own way. What helps is learning to notice when those stressful feelings are starting to build and get stronger.

Sometimes all a teen has to say is:
“I’m at a 4 out of 5 right now.”

That one sentence can change everything.

When families have already talked about what each number means, everyone knows: what helps and what makes things worse.

It gives young people a quick way to communicate before things boil over, and that’s where regulation begins. It’s simple and it’s powerful.

Follow along for more practical ideas and tips for raising resilient and self- aware young people.

Deb from Scribbly Gum Counselling
https://scribblygumhouse.com/
Call/Message 0415 180 921
Email deb@scribblygumhouse.com

170 Osborne Road, Mitchelton
NDIS Provider

05/03/2026

Have you ever tried pairing something mildly annoying with something mildly awesome?

An unexpected homework hack in our place was Hubba Bubba homework time. The only time gum was allowed, was while homework was happening.

It sounds small, but it worked.

Some brains, especially neurodivergent brains, don’t get a big enough dopamine boost from doing everyday tasks like homework, showering or tidying up. Those tasks feel draining and hard to start.

Dopamine isn’t just about pleasure. It’s about motivation, initiation, and follow-through.

When a task is low-interest, the brain struggles to switch on. Pairing it with something stimulating, like chewing gum, a favourite playlist or a comfort show in the background, can gently lift dopamine enough to get the engine running.

This is called dopamine pairing, when you attach a ‘have to’ with a ‘get to.’

For many neurodivergent teens, that’s why:
• Background music helps them focus
• A familiar TV show reduces resistance
• Fidgeting improves concentration
• A special snack makes starting easier

It’s not laziness. It’s nervous system support.

Sometimes we don’t need more discipline. We need a little side of something energising to help us move through the everyday things we don’t feel like doing.

If homework is a nightly battle in your house, try asking:
- What could we pair this with?
- What makes this 10% more tolerable?

Small shifts can change the whole tone of the task.
And yes, sometimes that shift tastes like strawberry bubble gum.

Deb from Scribbly Gum Counselling
https://scribblygumhouse.com/
Email - deb@scribblygumhouse.com
Call/Text - 0415 180 921

After school appointments available
170 Osborne Road, Mitchelton

NDIS Provider

02/03/2026

A positive review means a lot because it tells me a young person felt safe enough to show up and talk about what really matters to them.

When teens feel understood, they engage. And this is when we can start working together for real change.

I make sure every session gives them something practical to walk away with. Whether it’s a strategy to try that week, a sentence they can use in a tricky moment, or a tool to manage big feelings at school or home.

Therapy isn’t just talking about problems. It’s practising skills they can use straight away.

Deb from Scribbly Gum Counselling
https://scribblygumhouse.com/
Call/Text 0415 180 921
Email deb@scribblygumhouse.com

170 Osborne Road, Mitchelton
NDIS Provider

23/02/2026

Emotional mind or Rational mind Which one is driving?

We all have an emotional mind and a rational mind.

When we’re in our emotional mind, our thinking is driven by feelings. This part of us helps us know what matters, connect deeply with others, and stand up for what feels fair or important.

When we get stuck in emotional mind and ignore reason, reactions can become intense, impulsive or overwhelming. Small problems can feel huge. Words can come out fast. Decisions can be made in the heat of the moment and regretted later.

When we’re in our rational mind, our thinking is logical and practical. This part helps with problem-solving, planning ahead and thinking about consequences.

When we get stuck in rational mind and ignore emotions, we can seem cold, dismissive or disconnected. Feelings get pushed aside. We might tell ourselves to “just get over it” even when something inside still needs care and understanding.

Our emotional mind and our rational mind are both valuable. What’s even more powerful is learning how to use both.

When teens can access both their head and their heart, they’re more able to pause before reacting, regulate big feelings, and make choices they can feel good about later.

That’s where real wisdom and emotional growth begins.

Deb from Scribbly Gum Counselling
https://scribblygumhouse.com/
170 Osborne Road, Mitchelton
Call/Text 0415 180 921
Email deb@scribblygumhouse.com

12/02/2026

At Scribbly Gum Counselling, I ensure every young person receives thoughtful, personalised care.

With over 20 years in education and postgraduate qualifications in counselling and psychology, I bring a unique blend of insight, strategy and heart to my work.

I’m passionate about creating inclusive, neuro-affirming spaces where children and teens feel genuinely understood and where sessions are paced just right, balancing depth with lightness.

My focus is always on meaningful progress, supporting young people to create real change and truly thrive.

Deb from Scribbly Gum Counselling

170 Osborne Road, Mitchelton

Call/Text: 0415 180 921

Email: deb@scribblygumhouse.com

Website: https://scribblygumhouse.com/

NDIS Provider

09/02/2026

What If It’s Not Attitude? What You Might Be Missing.

That eye roll, shutdown, snap back, or I don’t care tone?
It often gets labelled as attitude, but that label can miss the mark.

When we frame it as behaviour, we often get pulled into arguments about respect, effort, and trying harder. Power struggles grow. Connection shrinks. And nothing really changes.

For many teenagers, especially neurodivergent teens, what looks like defiance or rudeness can sometimes be anxiety, sensory overload, emotional overwhelm, or exhaustion.

When we get more curious instead of corrective, we start to notice what’s underneath.

And underneath there’s usually:

• a need that isn’t being met, or
• a skill that hasn’t developed yet, or
• a teen who doesn’t yet have the words for what’s going on inside.

Shifting from “How do I stop this behaviour?” to
“What might my teen be trying to tell me?”
opens the door to understanding, learning new skills, and strengthening the relationship, not just compliance.

Behaviour is the tip of the iceberg.
Support starts underneath.

If your teen could benefit from exploring what’s underneath their moods, get in touch with Deb

Scribbly Gum Counselling
170 Osborne Road, Mitchelton

Call/Text - 0415 180 921

Email – deb@scribblygumhouse.com

Website – www.scribblygumhouse.com

02/02/2026

Humans are wired to belong, and for teenagers that need is especially strong.

When a young person feels left out or is working hard just to be included, their brain can experience this as a real threat. The body may respond in the same way it does to danger, through fight, flight, or shutdown.

This is why friendship difficulties can feel overwhelming and deeply painful, even when they might seem “small” from the outside.

Friendships can hurt because they matter so much. It is through friendships, both the good and the hard, that teens learn vital relationship skills: how to communicate, set boundaries, repair after conflict, and feel safe being their authentic selves.

At Scribbly Gum Counselling, I work with teens who are finding friendships hard to navigate or who feel disconnected from their peers.

At the heart of it, we all want to feel understood, accepted, and genuinely seen by the people around us.

Scribbly Gum Counselling
170 Osborne Road, Mitchelton
www.scribblygumhouse.com
Email: deb@scribblygumhouse.com
Call/Text: 0415 180 921

24/01/2026

Teen Anger Isn’t Bad. It’s Trying to Say Something

Teen anger often gets labelled as “attitude,” “defiance,” or “bad behaviour.”

But anger is usually doing a job.

It’s a signal that something feels unfair, overwhelming, or unsafe.
A signal that there’s a feeling underneath that may not yet have words.

For neurodivergent teens especially, anger often shows up when words are hard to find or when there’s sensory overload, unmet needs, sudden demands, or too much being held inside.

We don’t need to get rid of anger to move forward.
We need to listen to it.

When teens feel heard, anger doesn’t have to shout.

When we respond with curiosity instead of control, anger has less reason to explode.

Deb from Scribbly Gum Counselling
Website - https://scribblygumhouse.com/
Email - deb@scribblygumhouse.com
Call – 0415 180 921
170 Osborne Road, Mitchelton

15/01/2026

Both things can be true.

Our emotions aren’t one-dimensional. We can all hold opposing feelings at the same time and one doesn’t have to cancel the other out.

For some young people, school can feel unbearable at times — heavy, overwhelming, or frightening — and it can also be good enough in moments. There might be laughter at lunch, a subject they don’t mind, a teacher who feels safe, or a sense of connection with friends.

It’s when we only make space for one side, things often get harder.
If a young person says, “I hate school,” our instinct can be to prove otherwise:

• “But you like your friends.”
• “You enjoy sport / art / that one subject.”
• “You were laughing yesterday.”

Even when these things are true, trying to convince them can push them to defend just how unbearable it feels.

A different approach is to validate how they feel, it might sound like:

“I hear you. School feels unbearable sometimes.’
‘Which parts are the most unbearable for you?’

You can then gently ask them about the parts of school that are OK or good enough:

‘I wonder which parts of the day feel passable for you?’
‘Who are the people at school that aren’t too bad?’

When both truths are allowed to exist, young people often feel more understood, less defensive, and more able to cope.
Feelings don’t need to be argued away, they need to be acknowledged.

Deb from Scribbly Gum Counselling
170 Osborne Road, Mitchelton
Website: https://scribblygumhouse.com/
Call/Text: 0415 180 921
Email: deb@scribblygumhouse.com
NDIS provider

05/12/2025

Some days everything feels manageable, and other days even the smallest tasks can feel exhausting. That’s totally normal — our energy and capacity naturally shift depending on what’s going on in our lives.

Spoon Theory is a simple way to think about this. Imagine that every task you do takes a bit of energy, which we can represent as a limited number of “spoons.” Christine Miserandino came up with the idea to explain how exhausting daily life can be while living with a chronic illness.

I think Spoon Theory can be helpful for all of us because it gives us a shared language to talk about how we use our energy.

• How many spoons do you have today?
• What task drains the most spoons?
• How do you refill them?

Some people’s spoons disappear faster than others. Sensory triggers, unexpected changes, long periods of focus, or trying to meet everyone else’s demands can really drain them. And it’s not just kids — adults can run low too, juggling work, life admin, and caring for others.

The important thing to remember: Spoon Theory is about energy, not laziness. Running out of spoons doesn’t mean someone isn’t trying. Everyone’s number of spoons can change day to day, and thinking about spoons can help us understand our limits, make choices, and communicate when we need support.

If you, or someone you care for, could use a hand noticing and managing energy, I’m here to help.

Contact Deb @ Scribbly Gum Counselling
170 Osborne Road Mitchelton 4055
Visit https://scribblygumhouse.com/
Call or Message 0415 180 921
Email - deb@scribblygumhouse.com
NDIS Provider

02/12/2025

Scribbly Gum Counselling is my passion. As a small practice located at 170 Osborne Road, Mitchelton, every client receives deep, personalised care.

My journey began more than 20 years ago as a primary school teacher, where I became passionate about supporting students impacted by disability and challenge to reach their full potential. I’m still fiercely committed to making education more inclusive and welcoming for neurodivergent young people.

Driven by the desire to provide more specialised and effective support, I pursued a Masters in Education along with further studies in Psychology and Counselling.

What this means for you and your child is a unique blend of experience in education, psychology, and counselling, all brought into every session. I understand the importance of pacing a session just right, balancing moments of silliness with seriousness.

As an educator and counsellor, I focus on what my clients take away. Every session is meaningful and tailored to improve their lives in ways that truly make sense for them.
Because for me, it’s always about supporting young people to find purpose and joy in their journey.

Website - https://scribblygumhouse.com/
Email – deb@scribblygumhouse.com
Call – 0415 180 921
NDIS Provider

20/11/2025

The one goal I have for every young person I see is simple — to help make their life better.

That doesn’t look the same for everyone. Each teen I work with brings their own hopes, challenges, and story.

For some, it’s about reducing conflict at home — wanting to feel heard and understood, and to rebuild trust with their parents (and themselves).

For others, it’s about letting go of perfectionism — learning that “good enough” is actually more than enough when it means reclaiming time and energy for the creative and fun parts of life.

Some teens are learning to ride the emotional waves of intense sadness or anger — not to shut those feelings down, but to understand the message behind them. We uncover both the light and the dark of emotions, and practice using that information to make choices that are helpful and aligned with who they want to be.

Other young people I see are navigating the tricky space of friendship transitions — maybe they’ve had a friendship end, or they’re in that lonely “in-between” space. Together, we explore how to grieve, adapt, and stay open to new connections.

And for some young people, it’s about understanding and celebrating their neurodivergence — exploring what makes their brain unique, discovering their strengths, and learning to advocate for themselves in a world that doesn’t always recognise or accommodate different ways of thinking.

Get in touch with Deb @ Scribbly Gum Counselling for real support for what really matters.

https://scribblygumhouse.com/
170 Osborne Road, Mitchelton
0415 180 921 or deb@scribblygumhouse.com
NDIS Provider

Scribbly Gum Counselling

09/03/2026

05/03/2026

02/03/2026

23/02/2026

12/02/2026

09/02/2026

02/02/2026

24/01/2026

15/01/2026

05/12/2025

02/12/2025

20/11/2025

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