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Positive Behaviour Change

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United Kingdom
Carrickfergus
Positive Behaviour Change

Trauma-informed, evidence-based therapy. Specialising in disordered eating, ASD, anxiety & interpersonal relationship difficulties. Adult & child services.

What is Positive Behaviour Change? Using evidence-based therapy programmes to help clients change their lives for the better

Adult Therapy Services
If you could change anything would you change anything? Strange question... but this is what led me to begin my work with adults 5 years ago. My passion for living a happy, healthy and balanced life made me want to help others to do the same. Therapy

programmes are individualised, goal-orientated and (if applicable) focus on one or more of the following: Anxiety reduction, self-esteem/confidence building, overcoming food-related issues, weight management, emotional regulation and positive mindset. Adolescent Therapy Services
A lot of my work with the younger generation centres on anxiety reduction, self-esteem building, social skill development and tackling self-image issues. Parent/Child Therapy Services (diagnosis not necessary)
I have 13 years clinical experience working with children/adolescents with a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorders and/or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (with or without accompanying learning difficulties/challenging behaviour). I devise, implement and oversee individualised therapy programmes which address both educational and behavioural needs. Programmes are conducted in the child’s natural environment (home, school etc) and aim to increase learning/skill development, while reducing any challenging behaviour by replacing it with functional communication skills. I observe and/or work directly with the child in as many settings as possible and also conduct parent training so they can continue the work in my absence. I liaise with extended family members and, when possible, all other professionals involved - school staff, doctors, NHS services etc. Example targets: Attending skills, communication skills, motor skills, toilet training, academics, selective eating, sleep problems and/or behavioural intervention. Experience/Qualifications
I have been studying Psychology for 21 years and working in the therapeutic field for 14. I am a Board Certified Behaviour Analyst, hold a BSc (hons) in Psychology, an MSc (distinction) in Applied Behaviour Analysis, a diploma (distinction) in Autism and have completed additional training in the following: Level 5 Advanced Nutrition Certification; Cognitive Behaviour Therapy; Child Protection; Managing Challenging/Aggressive Behaviour; Addressing Challenging Behaviour and Sensory Issues; Picture Exchange Communication Systems (PECS); Helping School-Aged Pupils with Autism Succeed in Mainstream; Using Technology and Alternative Communication (ACC) to Help Individuals with ASD Communicate More Effectively; Verbal Behaviour; Discrete Trial Teaching; and Promoting Social Communication.

09/05/2025

⁣✨For many trauma survivors, boredom doesn’t feel neutral or relaxing, it feels unsafe, agitating, or even threatening. This ties directly into the trauma-adrenaline response and how the nervous system adapts after trauma ✨⠀
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🫨 Hyperarousal: Your body gets used to constant alertness and calm feels like letting your guard down.⠀
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😳Perceived threat: Stillness can feel vulnerable or even dangerous.⠀
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🫩Dopamine crash: You may crave intensity because low stimulation doesn’t feel rewarding.⠀
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🥺Emotional flooding: Quiet moments can bring up memories or feelings you’ve been avoiding.⠀
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As a result, it’s not uncommon to use substances, drama, fitness or work as a means of escaping/avoiding these extremely uncomfortable sensations. ⠀
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If this sounds familiar then please know this… you’re not broken, what you’re experiencing is completely normal. Your nervous system adapted to survive and healing is about teaching it that peace is safe now ❤‍🩹🫶

10/04/2025

⁣Adolescents and Social Media - Tips for Parents.⠀
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Recognise that there is a generation gap between you and your teen, social media may not have been our whole world, but it is THEIR whole world. ⠀
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💬 Connection - Most teens nowadays use Snapchat to communicate with friends. While it may seem harmless, Snapchat’s features - like disappearing messages, snap streaks, emoji indicators of friendship status, and the ease of blocking or unfriending someone - leave teens especially vulnerable to subtle forms of bullying. Conflicts or exclusion can happen quietly, leaving little evidence behind - making it difficult for parents to notice when something is wrong. Understanding how this platform works is key to helping your teen navigate their social world safely.⠀
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❤ Validation in the form of likes/reactions/comments (TikTok/Instagram/FB) - Who does your teen want them from? Peers, strangers or a combination of both? What does a lack of ‘likes’ mean for them? How does it make them feel? Try to get to the bottom of why the number matters. ⠀⠀
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💫 Key points to cover 💫 ⠀
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- Someone can appear confident online yet be struggling in private 🥺⠀
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- All we see is a highlight reel 🤩: A selection of highly filtered/edited images that are often trying to sell something - either a product or a status... do what I do/buy what I have and you can be like me... it’s an advertisement and isn’t real ⠀
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- Likes have no monetary value 💰: I know people with 1000s of likes on their posts & no income and I know people with high incomes that have no time to post to social media ⠀
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- True happiness comes from loving yourself and your life offline. Self-worth isn’t measured by likes or streaks, but by the moments, relationships, and peace you build when no one else is watching 🫶⠀
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✨Taking an interest in your teen’s social media behaviour may give you some insight into how they are feeling - particularly in regards to their self-image and fitting in ✨

03/04/2025

⁣For Autism Awareness Day, I thought i’d do a wee post to highlight just some of the ways that our understanding of autism has evolved over the years: ⠀
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🔺 Then: Autism was often seen as a childhood disorder.⠀
✨ Now: We understand that autism is lifelong, but many people (especially women and minorities) go undiagnosed until adulthood.⠀
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🔺 Then: It was believed that autism primarily affected boys.⠀
✨ Now: Research shows that autism is often underdiagnosed in girls, women, and people of other marginalized genders because it can present differently than in boys.⠀
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🔺 Then: Autism was defined by “severe” or “mild” categories.⠀
✨ Now: We recognize it as a spectrum, with support needs varying across different life areas. Someone might have no issue with academics but struggle significantly with daily life skills, or vice versa.⠀
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🔺 Then: Social difficulties were assumed to mean a lack of interest in people.⠀
✨ Now: Many autistic individuals deeply desire connection but may communicate or express emotions differently.⠀
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🔺 Then: Therapy was often aimed at making autistic people appear “normal.”⠀
✨ Now: The focus is shifting toward acceptance, accommodations, and supporting autistic individuals in ways that honor their natural ways of thinking and interacting.⠀
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💙💫The more we listen to autistic voices and follow the research, the closer we get to true understanding and inclusion 💫💙⠀
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30/03/2025

⁣⁣Ever find yourself picking apart your body, wishing it looked different? There may be more to it than just your appearance…⠀
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🌀 Stress & Lack of Control ⠀
When life feels chaotic, our body can become the easiest thing to focus on and changing it can feel like a way to regain control - even when the real issue is something else.⠀⠀
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💔 Rejection or Heartbreak⠀
Breaking up or not being in a certain friend group can make us feel like we aren’t “enough”. ⠀
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😔 Low Self-Worth ⠀
If we already struggle with confidence, our body becomes the scapegoat. We think, “If I just looked better, I’d be happier”.⠀
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📱 Comparison & Social Media⠀
Seeing curated, edited versions of others’ lives can make us feel like we don’t measure up - even though we’re only getting half the story. ⠀
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👂 Past Criticism or Trauma ⠀
Hurtful comments from childhood, toxic relationships, or societal pressures can plant seeds of self-doubt that grow over time.⠀⠀
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✨ Body image and self-worth are deeply personal and complex topics, and everyone’s experience is different. I know this post only scratches the surface but I hope it helps you feel seen and reminds you that you’re not alone ✨⠀
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Below are just some suggestions that may help get you started:⠀
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- Spend less time looking in the mirror🪞⠀⠀
If we stare at anything often enough or for long enough we will find flaws and imperfections - our reflection is no different.⠀⠀
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- Take a break from the scales ⚖️⠀⠀
Sleep, fluids, type/volume of food eaten, stress, temperature, and digestion are just some of the variables that impact scale weight hence why it fluctuates so often. ⠀⠀
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- Get curious about emotions 🔍⠀⠀
Body shaming increases when we feel angry, sad, frustrated - try expanding your focus to the bigger context… what else is going on when you feel that way? ⠀⠀
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- Find and embrace your style 💁‍♀️💁‍♂️⠀⠀
Trying to follow trends can result in clothing/hair and/or make-up looks that simply don’t feel right. Wear what makes YOU feel comfortable and do your hair/make-up in whatever way makes YOU feel good - forget what everyone else is doing.

25/03/2025

⁣✨When working on your confidence, resilience or self-esteem… honestly, the best advice I can give you is to take all that energy that you’ve been spending focussing on other people and direct it towards yourself ✨⠀
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Get to know yourself (and I mean really get to know yourself). Who are you? Or, if you don’t know yet, then who do you want to be? What qualities are important to you? How can you reflect these qualities in your daily life? What goals do you have? Have you a plan on how you will achieve them? 🔍🤔⠀
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If you’re really stuck then think about the people you admire - why? What is it about them that you look up to? 💫⠀
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Once YOU’RE HAPPY with who YOU ARE, you’l find that it really doesn’t matter what others think - and that ability to stay true to who you are, without the validation of others, that’s confidence 🫶💕💙

29/07/2024

Boundaries are a way of letting others know “this is what I need from you” ❤️ and “this is what my limit is” ✋

I completely understand how stressful boundary setting can be 🥺 especially if you haven’t done it before. Some adults may fight you on them and children just love to test them 🫣

However, whether it be with your partner, your child, your family, your boss or your friends - the best relationships are those built on a foundation of trust, mutual respect and with both parties having their needs met 🫶

✨ Identify your boundaries by paying attention to how certain people/behaviours and/or situations make you feel. I have put a few examples below to look out for: ✨

- Feeling used and/or taken advantage of.
- Feeling upset and/or resentful.
- Feeling undervalued or under-appreciated.
- Feeling overwhelmed and/or stressed.
- Only agreeing to something to avoid the perceived/potential negative consequences of saying no.
- Mismatches in effort.
- Not feeling listened to.
- Not feeling respected.

💬 When setting and communicating your boundaries be reasonable, fair, and expect some negotiation - open and honest communication is key.

💕 Remember boundaries are a healthy way of keeping people in your life, not pushing them away 💕🤗

04/05/2024

When discussing trauma, we often refer to “triggers” 👀 i.e., sights, sounds, smells, textures, places - anything that prompts the body into action.⁣
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The reaction that follows is our body’s way of saying “this situation is way too similar to something terrible we experienced before and we are NOT ok with it” ❤️‍🩹⁣
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Below are the most common responses to trauma 👇⁣
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👊 Fight i.e., move toward - irritability, anger, aggression⁣
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🏃Flight i.e., move away - anxiety, fear, panic, worry⁣
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😳 Freeze i.e., inability to move - immobilisation, dissociation, depression, shame ⁣
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🥺 Fawn i.e., submit/appease - avoid conflict, people-please, prioritise others, difficulties saying no, lack of identity, self-critical⁣
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😰 Flop - to become unresponsive or faint ⁣
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🧠 Emotional responses can include: fear, anxiety, panic, shock, sadness, disbelief, confusion, feeling agitated, withdrawn and/or numb. ⁣
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🫀 Physiological responses can include: muscle tension/clenched jaw, fast and shallow breaths, increased heart rate, cold sweat, clammy hands and/or passing out. ⁣
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✨ Tips for supporting someone who is triggered ✨⁣
- Be compassionate ⁣
- Ask them what they need in that moment (as this may be different to what you would want/expect) ⁣
- Remember that they are not over-reacting - the fear is real, even if the danger isn’t.⁣
- Trauma is a reaction: so even when they don’t know “why” this is happening, their nervous system does 😔💕

23/02/2024

⁣Trauma, grief, pain, anxiety, sadness, control… it’s not always about food.⠀
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Those who suffer from disordered eating did not just wake up one morning and decide to stop eating… so sadly no, they can’t “just eat”.⠀
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This is not a fad or lifestyle choice. It is a serious, and often extremely complex, condition. With potentially devastating consequences for mental health, physical health, productivity and relationships. ⠀
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Please know that eating disorders come in all shapes and sizes… i.e., you cannot tell whether someone is struggling just by looking at them.⠀
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❤ If you, or someone you know, is suffering then please seek help. This doesn’t need to be a life sentence ❤

13/01/2024

⁣💔 “Just because it hurts, doesn’t mean it’s easy to let go of…” 💔⠀
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I’m sure we’ve all read this quote in reference to a “toxic” relationship… but that’s not what I’m going to talk about here… I’m going to talk about food 🍽️⠀
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What happens when that relationship breaks down? 😕⠀
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Rigidly adhering to meal times, low calorie diets, cutting out food groups, exercising excessively etc - all extremely difficult (and restrictive) things to do… so why not just stop? 🤷‍♀️⠀
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❤‍🩹 Because even though it hurts… it is also familiar, predictable, and most importantly, under our control ❤‍🩹⠀
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Sometimes behaviour patterns, even the harmful ones, become so engrained in us that they almost feel like part of our identity. ⠀
Questions like - what would my life even look like? What would I do instead? Who would I be? - even thinking about it can be terrifying 😳⠀
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✨ If any of this sounds familiar, please know that there is nothing wrong with feeling this way, and you certainly are not alone 💕 and while the pain of whatever you are going through may be comforting, you won’t need to sacrifice who you are in the process of letting go of it ✨⠀
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Note: Although I have focussed on food, the same is true for anxiety, trauma and many other physical and mental health difficulties.⠀
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30/12/2023

⁣Language is such a powerful thing. ⠀
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Things, people, places, feelings, sensations etc only have labels because we have created them. Even without direct experience, simply relating one thing to another has the power to elicit certain thoughts and feelings… even influence behaviour. ⠀
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Imagine I created the word “mek”. I didn’t tell you what a mek was, you have had no direct experience with a mek but I tell you a mek is more painful than an electric shock. Then I ask you if you want one? I’d say the vast majority of you would say no - simply because, through language, I have associated mek with something aversive. ⠀
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What if I didn’t stop there, what if I gave a mek a location, a person, a time of the day… ⠀
you may notice your thoughts/feelings and behaviour towards these additional stimuli begin to change as well. ⠀
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Now I tell you that a mek only lasts for 1 second and gets you 1 million pounds. Did your thoughts, feelings and behaviour change? 🤔⠀
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✨ When you say “I can’t do it” - what is the “it” you are referring to? Have you tried “it”? If not, what stopped you? What associations have you built that resulted in “it” being too hard, or too scary, or too painful? Because all of that is just language... and just as associations can be created, associations can also be altered. ✨⠀
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Have a think about it…⠀
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In the meantime, change that “I can’t do it” to “I haven’t done it yet…” 💕

09/11/2023

⁣We’ve all done it… 🫣⠀
Posted a cute selfie in the hopes that a particular guy (or girl) will see it, touched up or filtered a pic before putting it on “the grid”, checked the likes on a particular post… ⠀
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We’re only human, and let’s face it, we liked to be liked…⠀
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But whose opinion are you giving the most weight to? Who is holding your self-esteem in their hands? ⠀
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What about, instead of the above, you took all that energy and poured it into building a strong sense of self? ❤ If you know who you are, then who cares what the rest of the world thinks? 🤷‍♀️⠀
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Remember there is always going to be someone who can’t see your worth… just don’t let it be you 💕

02/06/2023

⁣Do you ever feel like you’re trying to tick boxes, or simply drifting from one stage of life to the next? ⠀
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Until I was about 30 I had this set mindset of - get an education, get a career, get a husband, get a house, have kids… AND THEN be I’ll be happy, then I’ll start “living my life”. It was only after I ticked the first 2 boxes that I actually took a moment to think… do I actually want those things or is that just what “everybody does”? What do I WANT my life to look like (irrespective of everyone else’s)?⠀
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Disclaimer (lol): There is absolutely nothing wrong with making those choices - I’m just using myself as an example. ⠀
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My point is… if you feel stuck in any sort of “box ticking” mindset then stop for a moment, think about what YOU want YOUR life to look like, and then start going after it 😃⠀
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Life isn’t something to “complete”….it’s something to experience ❤

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What is “Positive Behaviour Change”?

Positive Behaviour Change: Using evidence-based therapy programmes to help clients change their lives for the better.

Adult Therapy Services

If you could change anything would you change anything? Strange question... but this is what led me to begin my work with adults 5 years ago. My passion for living a happy, healthy and balanced life made me want to help others to do the same. Therapy programmes are individualised, goal-orientated and (if applicable) focus on one or more of the following: Anxiety reduction, self-esteem/confidence building, overcoming food-related issues, weight management, emotional regulation and positive mindset.

Adolescent Therapy Services

A lot of my work with the younger generation centres on anxiety reduction, self-esteem building, social skill development and tackling self-image issues.

Parent/Child Therapy Services (diagnosis not necessary)

I have 13 years clinical experience working with children/adolescents with a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorders and/or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (with or without accompanying learning difficulties/challenging behaviour).

I devise, implement and oversee individualised therapy programmes which address both educational and behavioural needs. Programmes are conducted in the child’s natural environment (home, school etc) and aim to increase learning/skill development, while reducing any challenging behaviour by replacing it with functional communication skills. I observe and/or work directly with the child in as many settings as possible and also conduct parent training so they can continue the work in my absence. I liaise with extended family members and, when possible, all other professionals involved - school staff, doctors, NHS services etc.

Example targets: Attending skills, communication skills, motor skills, toilet training, academics, selective eating, sleep problems and/or behavioural intervention.

Experience/Qualifications: I have been studying Psychology for 20 years and working in the therapeutic field for 13. I hold BSc (hons) in Psychology, an MSc (distinction) in Applied Behaviour Analysis, a diploma (distinction) in Autism and have completed additional training in the following: Level 5 Advanced Nutrition Certification; Cognitive Behaviour Therapy; Child Protection; Managing Challenging/Aggressive Behaviour; Addressing Challenging Behaviour and Sensory Issues; Picture Exchange Communication Systems (PECS); Helping School-Aged Pupils with Autism Succeed in Mainstream; Using Technology and Alternative Communication (ACC) to Help Individuals with ASD Communicate More Effectively; Verbal Behaviour; Discrete Trial Teaching; and Promoting Social Communication. Ongoing Education: I am currently training in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) whilst studying to become a Board Certified Behaviour Analyst.