https://www.facebook.com/317594611433002/

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

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

12/04/2025

Buckle up—adolescence is a much longer ride than most of us realise!

The teen years often begin earlier than expected, with signs of adolescence showing up in some kids as young as 8 or 9... and continuing well into the twenties.

In today’s fast-paced world, with early exposure to stress, social media, and adult content—plus changes in nutrition and environment—young people are entering adolescence sooner. At the same time, delayed financial independence and longer education mean they're reaching full adulthood later.

This extended journey to adulthood isn’t a bad thing—but it does mean young people often need extra support to find their way.

Adolescence is a time of big emotional shifts, identity exploration, and growing independence. As a counsellor who works exclusively with teens, I support young people through these key developmental milestones.

Together, we work on building a strong sense of self, managing emotions, forming meaningful relationships, and finding purpose.

💛 I’m an NDIS provider and welcome all young people. I specialize in working with teens who are neurodivergent.

If there’s a young person in your life who could use a little support on this journey, I’d love to hear from you.

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

31/03/2025

Emotional regulation is a lifelong skill—but it’s hard work, and some days, no amount of deep breathing will fix an overstimulating, overwhelming environment.

For those who are neurodivergent, emotional dysregulation is already a challenge, and environmental triggers can hijack your mood all day long. If you’re constantly battling noise, bright lights, social demands, or sensory overload, no wonder it’s hard to stay regulated!

Instead of relying only on emotional regulation, set yourself up for success by adjusting your environment:
✨ Reduce sensory triggers (noise-cancelling headphones, dim lighting)
✨ Build in transition time between activities
✨ Create predictable routines
✨ Have a quiet retreat space

When the unexpected happens—because it always will—you’ll have a better shot at managing your response. Change what you can, so you have the energy to handle what you can’t.

Love from Deb https://scribblygumhouse.com/
Counselling for Kids and Teens
170 Osborne Road, Mitchelton - 0415 180 921
After school appointments now available

24/03/2025

Like the rest of us – a lot of the teens I work with, get tangled up in avoiding the stuff that feels too hard or too awkward.

Choosing to opt out works so well because it offers immediate relief. But the cost of avoiding the messy, hard and important stuff in life, builds up over time and hurts like nothing else.

Avoiding discomfort doesn’t make it go away – it just trades one kind of pain for another. The pain of speaking up, setting boundaries or chasing what you truly care about is clean pain – the kind of pain that helps you grow.

The pain of staying silent, playing small, or avoiding hard choices? That’s dirty pain—the kind that keeps you stuck.

A lot of the work I do with teens is around accepting that life is gonna hurt sometimes and choosing pain with a purpose always beats suffering with no gain.

So choose to be awkward. Choose to have the hard conversation. Choose to do the hard work.

Love from Deb @ https://scribblygumhouse.com/
170 Osborne Road, Mitchelton - 0415 180 921
After school appointments now available

16/03/2025

Hey, it’s Deb here from Scribbly Gum Counselling

I absolutely love working with teens - helping them find their way from who they are now to who they want to be, with plenty of support along the way.

My goal is to make sure every young person I work with feels truly understood and valued.

I use a mix of therapeutic skills to help teens unhook from sticky thoughts and patterns and to take real steps towards the life and the relationships they want.

If you’re a teen (or a parent of one) looking for support – I’d love for you to get in touch. I have availability for after school appointments and can support with a range of issues:
• Anxiety and Stress
• Family conflict
• Friendships
• Self-Regulation
• Self awareness and Confidence
• Executive Functioning Skills
• Impacts and Opportunities of ASD and ADHD

I am an NDIS provider and welcome clients who are self-managed or plan-managed.

https://scribblygumhouse.com/
0415 180 921 Let’s Talk 

03/02/2025

Would your teen like a safe space to talk about what matters most to them? Get in touch and help your teen to learn how to manage their difficult thoughts and feelings and take meaningful steps towards the life they want.

21/01/2025

Blunders, fumbles, slip-ups and fails. Whatever you call it, we’re all making them.

Sure we can always blame others but there is definitely something freeing about owning it.

This week I’ve had the gift of someone sharing a few of their mistakes with me and I gotta say it was such a comfort.

I’ve been working on another course in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT for short) with Russ Harris – author of The Happiness Trap.

What has been a delight for me is how generous Russ Harris is to share his oversights and missteps. He intentionally points out his mistakes as a reminder that we are all imperfect. How inspiring is that!

There is such freedom in living our lives with the acceptance that we are flawed. We can give up the hope of perfection and just give it our best on the day and see what happens.

Something I love about working with teens is helping to normalise the stuff that we all experience like making mistakes. The struggle is real and we’re all in this together!

Scribbly Gum Counselling

21/07/2025

14/07/2025

12/07/2025

30/06/2025

16/06/2025

24/04/2025

12/04/2025

31/03/2025

24/03/2025

16/03/2025

03/02/2025

21/01/2025

Address

Telephone

Website

Alerts

Contact The Practice

Shortcuts

Share

Category