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Scribbly Gum Counselling, 170 Osborne Road, Mitchelton (2025)

28/10/2025

Burnout isn’t a flaw. It’s a symptom of a flawed system.
And it’s showing up earlier than ever.

Many young people feel exhausted, anxious, and disconnected, not because they’ve stopped caring, but because they’re growing up in systems that take more than they give.

Burnout can look like withdrawal, irritability, emotional flatness, or “not caring anymore.” Some kids struggle to start tasks, lose interest in things they love, or seem constantly tired and on edge.

At its core, burnout is a sign that a young person’s emotional resources are depleted. They’re running on empty while trying to meet expectations that feel endless. It’s often a natural response to constant pressure, limited autonomy, and environments that prioritise performance over wellbeing.

This isn’t about blame. Teachers and parents are often doing their best within the same system. Burnout isn’t failure; it’s feedback. A message that something needs to change.

If you’re noticing signs of burnout in your child or teen, reach out to Deb at Scribbly Gum Counselling. Together, we can help them restore balance, build resilience, and reconnect with what matters.

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

12/10/2025

It’s not about avoiding pain. It’s about learning to grow through it.

As parents, it’s hard watching our teens pull away from anything that feels too hard, upsetting, or uncomfortable. But pain and discomfort are part of being human. These are the moments that shape us, build resilience, and help us grow.

At Scribbly Gum Counselling, I work with teens to help them understand their patterns, make sense of their reactions, and find ways to keep growing — even when it hurts.

Call – Deb 0415 180 921
Email – deb@scribblygumhouse.com
Website - https://scribblygumhouse.com/
Location - 170 Osborne Road, Mitchelton
NDIS Provider

29/09/2025

Feelings are called feelings for a reason — they show up in our bodies. Sometimes it’s a tightness in the chest, a knot in the stomach, or a heaviness in the shoulders. The first step is simply paying attention: Where is this feeling living in me right now?

When we tune in to our bodies, we often notice that emotions come in waves. The intensity rises, peaks, and eventually falls. No feeling lasts forever. Even the strongest emotions move through us if we give them space.

You might like to place your hand gently on the part of your body where you notice the feeling. Breathe into it. Make space for it to be there. Allowing an emotion doesn’t mean acting on it — it just means giving it room to exist without pushing it away.

The practice is simple but powerful: notice, feel, allow, and trust that your emotions are temporary. Like waves, they rise and fall — and so will you.

Do you have a teenager at home who is finding it hard to manage big feelings or getting caught in unhelpful thought cycles? Get in touch with Deb at Scribbly Gum Counselling and help them move through challenges with a plan.

Call – Deb @ 0415 180 921
Email – deb@scribblygumhouse.com
Website - https://scribblygumhouse.com/
170 Osborne Road, Mitchelton
NDIS Provider

15/09/2025

Finding What Works For You

Sometimes the way we deal with a problem feels helpful in the moment… but makes things harder long-term.

⚡ Trying to control everything might feel like a clever way of tipping the odds in your favour, but always needing to be in charge is stressful and exhausting.

⚡ Acting out on impulse can bring powerful relief in the moment, but it often damages relationships and leaves behind regret.

⚡ Distracting yourself works well for a short while, but the problem still lurks in the background — along with that sense of dread.

⚡ Avoiding the hard stuff altogether might keep you safe, but it’s hard to feel satisfied with a life that becomes so small and risk-free.

We all do this stuff. It’s natural to control, act out, distract ourselves and avoid things. We do it because it WORKS! But usually only temporarily. And then the problem is back again…sometimes even bigger than before.

Figuring out what works for you is about finding ways of responding to problems that don’t just help in the moment but also in the long-term. If what you’re doing works, you should feel that your problem is more manageable over time.

Every problem we face is also an opportunity — a chance to learn new skills, practice coping strategies, and find healthier ways to respond.

Some of the tools I support teenagers to learn include:

* Acceptance and Mindfulness Skills
• Cognitive Defusion – unhooking from sticky thoughts
• Distress Tolerance Skills
• Perspective-Taking Skills
• Emotional Literacy
• Communication Skills: assertiveness, active listening, validation, conflict resolution

Get in touch with Deb from Scribbly Gum Counselling and help your teen learn new ways of responding to problems

https://scribblygumhouse.com/
170 Osborne Road, Mitchelton
Call - 0415 180 921
Email - deb@scribblygumhouse.com

NDIS Provider

08/09/2025

Not all brains are wired the same. Some teens feel more deeply, react more intensely, and experience emotions at a higher volume.

This emotional sensitivity can be a strength, helping them connect, empathise, and notice things others might miss. It can also feel overwhelming, both for them and for the people around them.

Neurodivergent teens, in particular, are often more emotionally reactive. And sometimes, even the most well-meaning of us can unintentionally make things harder. Phrases like “you’re overreacting,” “it’s not a big deal,” or expecting them to have the same self-control as everyone else can feel invalidating. Minimising their feelings or treating sensitivity as a flaw can make emotional reactions even stronger over time.

So what helps? VALIDATION. Let them know:

• “What you’re feeling makes sense.”
• “I’m here — take your time to process these feelings”
• “You are safe to express your feelings with me ”
• “It’s OK to be angry. You can be angry AND keep yourself and others safe”

We can validate the feelings without approving behaviour that’s unsafe or inappropriate. Over time, learning to manage emotional reactivity helps teens express themselves more effectively, feel understood, and navigate social situations with greater confidence.

Being emotionally sensitive isn’t a weakness. It can be a gift, especially when teens have the tools to manage it.

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

01/09/2025

You can’t change something that you don’t accept.

Acceptance isn’t the same as agreeing with the situation, thinking it’s a good thing or giving up on it. It’s about seeing reality for what it is, even when it’s uncomfortable.

For some teenagers this might mean…

Accepting that friendships can hurt and that feeling left out stings

Accepting that life isn’t always fair and things won’t always go the way you hope or expect them to

Accepting that life is often hard and that intense emotions are part of the journey

Acceptance doesn’t close the door on change, it opens it.

Acceptance means facing what’s real and then choosing how to respond. It goes hand in hand with hope and the belief that things can always get better. Acceptance creates opportunities to learn and practice new skills to cope with whatever life throws at you.

Deb from Scribbly Gum Counselling works with teenagers and their families to build acceptance and understanding with a plan for moving forward.

https://scribblygumhouse.com/
Deb - 0415 180 921
170 Osborne Road, Mitchelton

21/07/2025

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 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

14/07/2025

We all do it. We make up rules about how our life should work:

I have to sit on my spot on the couch
I’m not a morning person
I don’t like eating meat
Squad swimming is only for the Summer months

These self-made rules often help us feel safe and in control. They bring structure to a chaotic world, save brainpower, and make life more predictable.

But over time, helpful routines and rules can become rigid traps.
They can stop us from trying new things or doing something we might actually enjoy.

If you (or a young person in your life) feel stuck by these inner rules, try gently asking:
✨ When did this rule first show up?
✨ How might it be protecting me?
✨ Is this rule helping me — or holding me back?
✨ What might I be missing out on by following it?
✨ What’s one small thing I could try differently?

Getting unstuck doesn’t mean breaking all the rules at once.
It means getting curious.
It means experimenting.
It means finding flexibility in small, safe steps.

Because life isn’t always black and white and learning to live in the grey can open up so much more.

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

12/07/2025

Being fully present—right here, right now—is one of the most powerful psychological skills we can learn.

It’s called mindfulness, and it helps with self-regulation—that ability to notice what we’re feeling, pause, and choose how to respond rather than just react.

But for many young people, sitting still and focusing on the breath can feel impossible. That doesn’t mean mindfulness is out of reach, it just means we need to find the right doorways in.

Some brains thrive on movement, rhythm, and sensory input—and mindfulness can live there too.
Here are some movement-based ways to practise being present:

🎵 Drumming or tapping to a beat
🚶 Throwing and catching a ball
🧘 Swaying side to side or rocking gently
🥁 Using a metronome or rhythm app to sync breath and body
🎨 Drawing repetitive patterns
🫧 Blowing bubbles and watching them float and pop

Mindfulness doesn’t have to be still or quiet. It just has to help you anchor in the now.

Deb from Scribbly Gum Counselling helps young people find mindful moments their way—through movement, creativity, and connection.

Get in touch today!
Scribbly Gum Counselling is located at 170 Osborne Road, Mitchelton

Website - https://scribblygumhouse.com/
Email – deb@scribblygumhouse.com
Phone – 0415 180 921
Proud to be an NDIS provider

30/06/2025

Watching your child or teen struggle can be one of the hardest parts of parenting.

When challenges go unresolved, they can create stress and conflict for the whole family. But with the right support at the right time, things can shift.

Growing up is full of messy middles with times of uncertainty, big emotions, and tricky transitions. Sometimes, young people need extra guidance to build new skills, break unhelpful patterns, and move forward with confidence.

If you’re looking for support tailored to your child or teen, get in touch with Deb at Scribbly Gum Counselling.

Together, we can create a plan that makes a real difference.

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

16/06/2025

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. At Scribbly Gum, we take a neuro-affirming approach, where difference is not something to fix — it’s something to embrace, support, and honour.

At Scribbly Gum Counselling, there's no one-size-fits-all. Just real conversations, compassionate support, and a space to figure things out — one step at a time.

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

24/04/2025

Your emotions aren’t random—they’re messengers.

Just like hunger tells us we need food or a yawn tells us we need rest, emotions are signals pointing to something deeper.

Sadness might be asking for comfort. Anger might be setting off a boundary alarm. Anxiety could be highlighting something that feels uncertain or unsafe.

Instead of pushing emotions away or judging ourselves for having them, what if we got curious instead?
“What is this feeling trying to tell me?”
“What do I need right now?”

When we start listening to our emotions with kindness instead of fear, we begin to understand ourselves on a deeper level.

It’s not about being ruled by our feelings—it’s about using them as a guide, like a compass, pointing us toward what matters.

If you think your young person could benefit from this kind of support, reach out. I’d love to hear from you. I’m Deb from Scribbly Gum Counselling.

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

Scribbly Gum Counselling

28/10/2025

12/10/2025

29/09/2025

15/09/2025

08/09/2025

01/09/2025

21/07/2025

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12/07/2025

30/06/2025

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24/04/2025

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