Creative Heart Counselling

25/08/2025

The new therapy assistant is proving to be very popular. His favourite place is on someone’s lap atm. Does he think he’s a woolly little human baby?

20/08/2025

A 16 yr old male’s spontaneous sand play drawing recently.

For those who have teens you can challenge them by asking if they know what this term means 😂.

19/08/2025

In the afterschool program we do just this. Sometimes it has hailed, thundered and other times it’s been boiling hot. But we adjust and keep playing/interacting in nature. Last week we even had a little woolly visitor to cuddle. The week before we had fluffy friends to hold.

https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1169153931923441&id=100064865345158&mibextid=cr9u03

It may seem radical to send children outdoors year-round in rain, frost or sunshine, but an increasing number of parents are doing just that.

In a time of digital distraction and rising anxiety levels, outdoor schooling offers something many people want for their kids – slow, grounded learning rooted in the rhythms of nature.

“If we only teach children to go outside on sunny days, then we teach them to only look forward to those days. That’s not very good for anyone’s mental health," says Louise Nelson, principal of the Outdoor Primary School.

Nelson will open the school's doors for the first time this September in Greystones, Co Wicklow.

Students will learn the skills of the Irish national curriculum but with a key difference – they’ll be learning outdoors. It’s the first school of its kind in the State.

“Any lesson that can be taught indoors, you can do outside as well,” says Nelson. “You can do maths outside with pine cones for example. And the weather is just another teachable resource.

"While working in conventional primary schools in the past, I’ve had sixth class kids come to school in February wearing thin hoodies and ankle socks and then wonder why they’re freezing at break time on the yard, turning blue.

“And by contrast, at an outdoor creche I worked in, I’ve also seen kids react to rain by just getting their coats and going back out to play, without being told to do so. They’ve learned that’s what you do. It’s not an issue.”

09/08/2025

Resourcing from nature and animals in our afterschool program. Such important connections that give kids essential qualities they can use to support healthy self esteem and resilience as they grow.

02/08/2025

Concerning evidence that ADHD medications are causing serious side effects in patients, shared by ABC news yesterday.

“Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) ADHD spokesperson Tim Jones said the issues went beyond one medication, and adverse event reports aligned with the "pretty astronomical" increase in prescriptions of ADHD stimulants.

He said his colleagues in public psychiatry were reporting more mental health admissions related to prescribed stimulants, often triggered by episodes of psychosis, anxiety, and insomnia.

"It's something that's certainly entering into serious territory for side effects," Dr Jones said.

He said adverse events appear more prevalent among people with complex mental health issues who might have also had an ADHD diagnosis and been started on stimulants.

"I think it's a wakeup call to the general safety of stimulants," Dr Jones said.”

Holistic counselling enables the person to access resources within, instead of relying on external sources with unknown side effects.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-07-25/adhd-drug-investigation-tga-adverse-events/105528286

31/07/2025

Wow this masterpiece was whipped up in one hour by a young lady who is only 7 years old.

She was able to transcribe detail, colour and gesture, perfectly stored in her little mind and expressed in oil pastels. This poster was then put on display for the whole school to see at the open night earlier this week.

When a young person feels safe to freely express and is supported, magic happens.

31/07/2025

When I was young I desperately wanted a horse. We lived on a farm so the environment was perfect. However mum and dad were not in alignment on the issue. So it didn’t eventuate.

These days we have much more awareness of the huge benefits to animal therapies. Children intuitively know what resources they need. Our job as parents is to guide and support them in accessing these.

Here is a beautiful and heart melting video on the benefits of equine therapy.

https://fb.watch/BaoOC8mQIt/?startTimeMs=123000&mibextid=v7YzmG

abcperth ABC South West oneherdequinefacilitation Creative Heart Counselling

27/07/2025

A painting below from my teen client who is over flowing with creativity as she starts to tap into her inner strength and self belief.

It can be very hard for many adults, let alone teens, to be brave, take a risk and show their talents. Often they are torn down by others and isolated, so fear of being abandoned comes in to play.

This teen however has what it takes and I’m so excited to see where this journey takes her.

22/07/2025

Emotional Literacy afterschool program term 3 now open for bookings. Places are limited.

Successful popular program which has been running locally for over 4 years. Nature based outdoor setting with access to gardens, chickens and play equipment.

Suits ages ~6-11 and runs on a Thursday starting week 2 of term.

Contact Jane for enquiries on 0401 655 344 or email creativeheartc@gmail.com

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10/07/2025

The fairy garden at work seemed to be missing a few items recently. On investigation we found the culprit!

Zada the 10 month old Cane Corso Italian Mastiff apparently quite likes fairy ornaments and decided to help herself to most of the garden pieces, running around with them and playing to her hearts delight.

How can we scold such an adorable puppy! Off to the shop for some more fairy toys and happy to share with you Zada!