ZB Therapy

14/01/2026

This afternoon I'm making up some self regulation kits for the final session of a children's wellbeing group.

Over the last few weeks we've been looking at ways of managing stress and finding mindful activities that help the children to pause, distract themselves from worry and feel more grounded.

In the kits I have included playdo which is both sensory and grounding and a squishy ball. A poppet rainbow which can be used as a distraction and a fidget but also to remind the children of a rainbow breathing activity we've done together to help when they are feeling anxious. A threading kit which is a mindful and creative activity and some fun stickers which they can decorate their bags with 😊.

In previous weeks the children have also been given mindful colouring books and felt tips and have enjoyed lots of creative activities and conversations in our sessions about looking after their emotional, mental and physical wellbeing.

13/01/2026

Water beads ASMR 😂

Think these will be a hit, until they end up all over the floor 🙈 slimy yet satisfying..

Perfect for some sensory play 👌

12/01/2026

Upcoming trainings with Neurodiverse Training

This Week's Webinars!

Join us this week for Autism & Mental Health in Young People on Monday at noon, Understanding ARFID on Wednesday evening and Autism: Reasonable Adjustments in the Workplace on Thursday evening.

All sessions this week have a 2 hours run time and feature a short break half-way through.

Follow the link below to our Eventbrite to 'reserve your spot' and join us on Zoom on the day!

https://neurodiverse-training.odoo.com/r/1Fi

12/01/2026

At school, some children look just like a swan.

Calm. Composed. Following the rules. Doing everything expected of them.

They fit in.
They don’t cause concern.
They appear regulated.

But beneath the surface, they are paddling fast.

Working hard to copy others.
Holding in anxiety.
Managing sensory overload.
Suppressing emotions.
Using every ounce of energy just to get through the day.

This is masking.

And it often comes at a cost — exhaustion, meltdowns at home, rising anxiety, school avoidance, and after-school restraint collapse.

When we only respond to what we can see, we miss what the child is actually coping with underneath.

If you support a child who seems 'fine' at school but falls apart afterwards, this may be why.

Masking Toolkit helps parents and educators understand what masking really is, how it shows up, and how to reduce the hidden load children are carrying. Link in comments below ⬇️ or via Linktree Shop in Bio.

09/01/2026

When a child is anxious, their behaviour is communication — not defiance.
So often, the things we’re told to do actually make anxiety louder, not quieter.

This visual shares 10 common don’ts when supporting an anxious child — not to shame or blame, but to gently reframe. Anxiety isn’t something children can logic their way out of. It’s something they need help feeling safe through.

If you’re supporting a child who worries, shuts down, melts down, or needs constant reassurance, you’re not doing anything wrong. You’re responding to a nervous system that’s working overtime — and with the right tools, that system can learn to settle.

If anxiety is taking over daily life, the When Worries Take Over Toolkit gives you practical, brain-based tools to help children understand their worries, calm their bodies, and build real coping skills — without pressure or punishment.
Link in comments below ⬇️ or via Linktree Shop in Bio.

08/01/2026

So important we help boys talk about their feelings.

I'm seeing increasing numbers of boys being referred for support from a range of ages which is really positive.

Boys grow into young men, partners and maybe parents one day and it's important we let them know that being emotionally vulnerable is ok and important in healthy relationships, they don't have to be strong all the time and it's not a sign of weakness to ask for help or talk about feelings.

Boys don’t close off emotionally on their own — society teaches them to.

In the early years, boys talk openly about feelings. They name emotions, seek comfort, and express vulnerability just like girls do.
Then something shifts.

Research shows that between around ages 5–7, many boys begin to reduce emotional language. Not because they feel less — but because they start to learn which emotions feel safe to show, and which don’t.

By middle childhood, emotional restraint is often mistaken for resilience. In reality, it’s adaptation. A response to subtle messages about toughness, independence, and emotional control.

This matters. Because unspoken feelings don’t disappear. They show up in behaviour, stress, shutdown, or big emotional outbursts instead.

The good news?
This isn’t biological. It’s social. And that means it’s changeable.

When boys are supported with emotional language, safe adults, and permission to feel widely — they don’t “lose” emotional openness at all.

This post looks at when the shift tends to happen.
The next one focuses on how we can help boys keep talking.

If you’re supporting a child with big feelings, overwhelm, or emotional shutdown, my Managing Big Feelings Toolkit is designed to help adults build emotional safety and regulation skills step by step.
Link in comments below ⬇️ or via Linktree Shop in Bio.

07/01/2026

07/01/2026

Uno is one of the most used resources in my therapy toolkit recently.

It's not just a game, it's also:

Problem solving, trust building, strategic thinking, turn taking, communication, fun, connection, grounding, regulation, conflict resolution (+4 IYKYK 🙈 😂)

Playing games has so many benefits and not just in therapy.

07/01/2026

A page I follow and would recommend if you're looking for practical tools, strategies and resources for anxiety 👌

05/01/2026

A sprinkling of the white stuff always feels so peaceful. Not quite enough for a snowman though and just typical that it arrives when school goes back! ❄️⛄

This morning wasn't as tough as I expected. The 2 big ones went off to school on time and and the youngest gets to enjoy an extra day at home (teacher training day) so it's been a fairly gentle ease back in.

Week 1 of 52.. Saying it like that the year doesn't sound long at all, once we get through January, the endless month!

We can do it, one day at a time 💪

03/01/2026

We are our children's first teacher.

The way we speak to them, how we respond to stressful or triggering situations and how they see us managing our own emotions and stress.

As a child, I never remember adults apologising, and when we were told off that was often the end of it. Rarely any apology or explanation from the adults.

Some might say that children of my era had more respect for their elders. Perhaps so, but there was often a fear element too, and when fear and control are involved it can negatively affect the parent/child relationship, and how a child learns to respond during their own times of stress.

If we want respect from our children we first have to teach it, model it, apologise when we're in the wrong and own our behaviours and actions.

01/01/2026

First beautiful sunset of 2026.

Started the new year well with a late afternoon walk and a visit to the park.

Going to try to incorporate more time outside this year with walking and connection time with the kids. Small goals to help our wellbeing🚶