Safe Spaces with Sam

07/09/2025

🦋🌞Well done to all my superstars this week 🌞🦋

I've absolutely loved hearing all about your first days back at school this week. Despite the inevitable and understandable wobbles, you've all tried your best and stepped outside your comfort zones and I'm super proud of you all.

This superstar even achieved a certificate!

Whatever your week looked like be proud of doing it when it felt uncomfortable and know that going forward you CAN do hard things and achieve what you didn't think was possible.

For more information about 1:1 coaching drop me a message to sam.safespaces@gmail.com or visit http://safe-spaces.square.site

06/09/2025

🦋🌞 Fidget recommendations🌞🦋

I recently got asked to give some recommendations for fidgets to use in a classroom, with a need to be quiet and discreet.

Fidgets are a great Regulation strategy for the classroom, home or when out and about. I always have a box in my classroom, pencil case full in my mum bag and lots to give my superstars in sessions!

As a current teacher of 25 years and from working with children in my mental health role, these are the ones I came up with.

For more information about 1:1 coaching for you or your child drop me a message to sam.safespaces@gmail.com or visit http://safe-spaces.square.site

05/09/2025

🦋🌞 Lovely rock from a superstar 🌞🦋

Crafting is such a great regulator and often an activity I use in sessions to aid no pressure discussion and help reinforce positive messages.

This superstar wasted no time in creating this beautiful rock for my collection at Safe Spaces HQ and came up with the quote all by themselves, which I love:

"Bravery is not not being scared, it's being scared and doing it anyway"

For more information about 1:1 coaching for you or your child drop me a message to sam.safespaces@gmail.com or visit http://safe-spaces.square.site

04/09/2025

🦋🌞 Sessions are live and bookable 🌞🦋

Up until now my evening sessions have been booked for you by me, as I've had to be a little more dynamic with my husband often working away, so needing to be flexible to juggle childcare.

The great news is though that now sessions are at Safe Spaces HQ it doesn't matter any longer, so I can put all my sessions on my booking system. Including 2 additional evening slots to accommodate more demand. This is great for me too as it saves me time doing the bookings for you.

If you would like to book in and are an existing client, follow the link you were sent at the bottom of your intake questionnaire to see my availability. If you are a new client, drop me a message to sam.safespaces@gmail.com and we will begin the process to get you booked in.

03/09/2025

🦋🌞Blown away by this explanation of meltdowns and autism 🌞🦋

One of my superstars who has been diagnosed with autism absolutely blew me away recently with how they described what happens to them when they experience a meltdown and I just had to share it.

For those that don't already know, a meltdown is when a child is no longer in control of their thoughts, emotions or actions, conversely a tantrum they are in control, but they can look fairly similar to begin with.

This superstar gets overwhelmed sometimes, enters that fight or flight mode, is very dysregulated and has a meltdown. The way they described what's going on was as follows:

"My autism in my brain takes over when I have my big emotions. Like in the film inside out, but the emotions get locked up in a cage inside my head, so I can't get to them and feel them. Autism over powers them and takes over and makes me have a meltdown. I can't control the big emotions because autism has locked them up. Eventually they get out and I can take control again by using my regulation strategies"

This superstar is only 8, so for them to have such an amazing understanding of themselves and be able to express it so brilliantly absolutely blew me away and I made sure they knew how amazing they are too.

Perhaps this has helped you to understand a little more too?

For more information about 1:1 coaching for you or your child drop me a message to sam.safespaces@gmail.com or visit http://safe-spaces.square.site

02/09/2025

🦋🌞 Regulation strategies tab booklet🌞🦋

A huge part of coaching is educating my superstars and their parents about regulation and enabling the brain and body to return and remain in rest and digest. This is done through regulation.

There are lots of strategies that can be used to achieve this and we work together to find out which work best for that individual.

Once these have been established, it's really important to revisit them and keep them alive by reminding my superstars what they are. Often this is through creative activities such as this tab booklet. It has a mixture of tried and tested methods and space to get creative with their own ideas.

This superstar wasted no time drawing in their own ways to regulate in each section and is very good at recognising what they need.

For more information about 1:1 coaching for you or your child drop me a message to sam.safespaces@gmail.com or visit http://safe-spaces.square.site

01/09/2025

🦋🌞All my resources are in one handy place🌞🦋

If you enjoy reading my articles and would like to see what else I have on offer, including some paid for guided visualisations, take a look at my new digital shop, there are lots of free downloads to be had!

https://beacons.ai/safespaceswithsam

For more information about 1:1 coaching for you or your child drop me an email to sam.safespaces@gmail.com or visit http://safe-spaces.square.site

| Check out my links to (safe-spaces.square.site, Instagram, Make your own Beacons page). Subscribe to my email list.Shop my products (The magic heart metaphorical story, Feelings fan, Make your own Zine).

01/09/2025

🦋🌞A little message for my superstars 🌞🦋

01/09/2025

🦋🌞Good luck postcards 🌞🦋

A record number of good luck postcards are now winging their way to my superstars this week, ready for those first days back at school.

I am so proud of each and every one of them and for some have continued to work with them throughout the summer holidays too. I know they will all be amazing, will remember their strategies, be kind to themselves and do their best, whatever that looks like for them.

For those I am continuing to see, I can't wait to hear how you did, for those I'm not, I know you'll smash it and you're always welcome back to Safe Spaces HQ, should you need me in the future.

For more information about 1:1 coaching for you or your child drop me a message to sam.safespaces@gmail.com or visit http://safe-spaces.square.site

31/08/2025

🦋🌞A big focus for sessions this Summer🌞🦋

It will come as no surprise that a big focus over the summer holidays has been preparing for new classes and schools. Ensuring my superstars get all their worries out, think about the positives and prepare themselves for what lies ahead.

I have worked with them to complete a transition booklet which they will take into school with them and feel empowered and confident on their first day.

A huge well done to all my superstars this summer for all your hard work. You've all made me very proud.

You can download your very own copy of my transition booklet to complete with your child from my products page

https://shop.beacons.ai/safespaceswithsam/eb801774-264b-4b9d-b0de-13f6a0fea725

For more information about 1:1 coaching for you or your child drop me a message to sam.safespaces@gmail.com or visit http://safe-spaces.square.site

30/08/2025

🦋🌞But what actually is coaching?🌞🦋

I've been referred to as a counsellor, a therapist and a life coach by my superstars and their parents and I know for most a 'mental health coach' is a new concept which doesn't fit neatly into a traditional box.

So I thought I'd share this very helpful graphic created by my trainer and supervisor to give you a clearer picture.

As it happens I also hold a counselling qualification and my level 5 qualification does cover some therapeutic techniques, but hopefully this clears up any confusion. All three disciplines have their place and are right for different people for different reasons.

For more information about 1:1 coaching drop me an email to sam.safespaces@gmail.com or visit http://safe-spaces.square.site

29/08/2025

🦋🌞New freebie for back to school anxiety 🌞🦋

With school not long away now, I've written and recorded a metaphorical story to go alongside the technique of drawing a heart on yours and your child's wrist for the first day of school, or any occasion that they could use a little extra confidence and reminder of your love and support.

I have lots of other products on my page too if you find this one effective!

https://shop.beacons.ai/safespaceswithsam/cc1ce74f-7b79-4718-97bb-bd3a5e11703b