Kanda Psychology

13/09/2025

With the recent event in the US dominating news, social media, and the web, heavy and often traumatic content is everywhere. Children and young people can stumble across confronting images or footage without warning—and without the emotional or cognitive skills to process what they’ve seen. Adults too, can feel deeply unsettled!

Check out these simple, practical ideas to support both little (and big) people who may have been affected.

12/09/2025

Taking action to prevent child abuse and neglect is everybody’s business – we all have a role to play. Whether you are a parent, a teacher, a neighbour, a coach – whatever roles we play in our communities – there are many things we can all do to make a difference to the lives of children and young people! Head over to NAPCAN to find out how to shift conversation into action: https://www.napcan.org.au/ncpw/

11/09/2025

How do you talk to your child about autism? Grab your place in this FREE and online webinar to learn practical ways to approach conversations in respectful, empowering, and neuro-affirming ways.

📚Free Autism Webinar: How We Talk About It

Ever feel unsure about the 'right' way to talk about autism?

Join Belongside Families for this free webinar with me. We’ll unpack how language shapes our understanding of autism and why the words we choose matter.

In this 45-minute session, we’ll explore::

🔸 The shift from person-first to identity-first language
🔸What ‘neuro-affirming’ actually means
🔸Why functioning labels don’t tell the whole story
🔸Reframing traditional advice with a fresh, neuro-affirming view

It's a little bit of education, a little bit of community, and a fresh perspective that will help guide parents and caregivers in understanding current Autism narratives with a neuroaffirming lens. It's ideal for those people who are newer to the paradigm and would like to be engaged in these conversations.

Join me!

🗓 Thu, 11 Sep, 8:00pm AEST
📍 Online via Zoom (and yes, recordings will be sent out!)
🔗 Register now via https://events.humanitix.com/auwebinar1109

10/09/2025

Today. And every day.

10/09/2025

*Content Warning*. This post discusses Su***de.

In Australia, su***de remains the leading cause of death among people aged 15–44. Every year, more than 3,000 Australians die by su***de, and over 55,000 make an attempt. These are not just numbers. They are family members, friends, teammates, neighbours, and colleagues.

So on World Su***de Prevention Day, and everyday, let's move away from silence and stigma to openness, understanding, and action.

Statistics: Su***de Prevention Australia

09/09/2025

We understand that coming to an assessment appointment for the first time can feel a little overwhelming - for both parents and kids! Check your booking email for our tip sheet and if you have questions or particular needs please don't hesitate to give us a call.

08/09/2025

At least 739 million youth and adults worldwide still lacked basic literacy skills in 2024. At the same time, 4 in 10 children were not reaching minimum proficiency in reading, and 272 million children and adolescents were out of school in 2023.

Literacy is a fundamental human right for all. It opens the door to the enjoyment of other human rights, greater freedoms, and global citizenship.

Head over to UNESCO for more: https://www.unesco.org/en/days/literacy

06/09/2025

Being a father means holding little hearts in your hands.

It means being the footsteps that small feet follow.

It means being the direction eyes turn when they are searching.

It means being the voice that comforts, and the ears that listen when something isn’t okay.

Today, we celebrate all of the fathers, grandfathers, and father figures who are fortunate enough to be called Dad, and humble enough to cherish the privileged and sacred role it is.

While the role itself is, of course, the greatest gift of all, the Kanda team wishes all dads a beautiful Father’s Day.

06/09/2025

Children and teens (and yes, adults too!) can seem like completely different people when emotions run high. One moment they’re capable of making thoughtful choices and communicating clearly, and the next they’re overwhelmed, irrational, and unable to use any of those skills.

Here’s why: when stress, change, or something unexpected happens, the amygdala (the brain’s alarm system) takes over. This response pulls the prefrontal cortex—the part of the brain responsible for problem-solving, reasoning, and impulse control—offline. And remember, in children and teens the prefrontal cortex is still developing well into adulthood, which makes self-regulation even harder.

Think about a time when your calm, rational adult self completely lost it, only to later think, “What on earth was I doing?” That’s the very same process!

The takeaway... Correction and teaching don’t work in the middle of the storm. No one can see clearly there. Instead, wait until calm has returned—then communication, reflection, and problem-solving can happen in ways that truly support growth and learning.

05/09/2025

It's the weekend!

04/09/2025

They don't always say it back. In fact, more often they won't...

But they still need to hear it...

A note in their lunch box.
“Thank you”.
Spending time.
An SMS.
A hug.
A smile.
A chocolate bar on their pillow.
A post-it note on the mirror.
A tussle of the hair on your way past.
A surprise gift.
"I'm sorry".
Looking up from your phone when they speak.
"I love you".

So many different ways to say it. The most important thing, just say it - often!

04/09/2025

The 2025 theme for Body Image and Eating Disorder Awareness Week (BIEDAW), this 1-7 September is 'Unpacking the Why: What causes eating disorders?'

Did you know that 1 in 10 people in Australia will experience an eating disorder in their lifetime? There is no single cause, and each journey is as unique as the person walking it.

This year’s theme invites us all to understand the true breadth of challenges that can cause an eating disorder: from body dissatisfaction, to trauma, anxiety, unmet sensory needs, co-occurring health conditions, and more.

Unpacking the Why builds empathy for the many people whose experiences of an eating disorder may lead them to feel ‘invisible’ behind common stereotypes.

When we show the full picture, we send a clear message: I see you. You are safe to talk about what’s really going on. I will meet you where you’re at and walk alongside you.

You can recognise BIEDAW by learning about the various causes of eating disorders, raising awareness, having a caring conversation with someone about body image or eating disorders, attending a BIEDAW event, or donating to an eating disorder organisation. Get involved!