Shine Brightly

14/04/2026

Spot on, but easier said than done. Creating brave, resilient kids starts with us creating opportunities for them to be brave and letting go of the reins a bit at a time

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1FJhD5cbPF/

13/04/2026

Does your child struggle with emotional regulation and/or control? Do they get easily anxious, frustrated, or upset? Do you as parent/caregiver need some help in supporting your child?

If so, find out how Child-centered Play Therapy can help your child overcome barriers to their well-being, happiness and success.

Parenting Consultations and support are also provided. Now at a NEW Clinic in Silverdale! (Some school/Holiday sessions also available.)

Please contact Hendrina on MB: 0211 553 541 or email her at hendrinahancock@gmail.com to find out more and/or to book a session.

No referral necessary. Ages 4 to 13 years of age, including neurodiverse children.

Therapist with over 25 years of professional experience and qualifications in Child & Developmental Psychology , Special Needs education, Sensory and Integrated Movement Therapies, Family Systems Therapy, Neurodiverse Inclusivity and more. https://shinebrightlytherapy.com/

Some recent feedback:

'We have seen a dramatic improvement in our child's anxiety since seeing Hendrina. The other day a dog came up to our child at the beach, which has been a major issue historically, however our son was perfectly fine and afterwards said he wasn't even worried about the dog. There are some other anecdotes that indicate he is a lot more comfortable in himself now.' Parent

'Thank you for everything you've done for our child. Building up her toolkit and enabling her to understand the world around her (and her responses to it). Parents

Expert therapy and support for children and families.

08/04/2026

April is Autism Awareness month so I thought it timely to share some thoughts and insights about it with the hope to create not only more awareness, but deeper love, care, understanding and support for those on this journey 🙏 💕

Autistic people are people, first and foremost, with hearts, souls and minds, just like everyone else, and they want to be loved, cared for, included, accepted, and valued and integrated members of society🙏

If you've met one person who's autistic, you've met ONE person with autism. That does not make you an expert on all things autism.

One person with autism can present completely different to another person on the spectrum, and often they have completely different interests, strengths, talents, gifts and/or challenges.

Quite often a lot of the challenges faced by autistic people are caused by society, misinformation, being excluded, judged, isolated, made fun of, bullied, vilified, and treated as less than others.

I've experienced and seen first-hand the damage caused to people, including children and teens, who have been treated unkindly and unfairly by others. It's absolutely heartbreaking to see and hear stories of neurodiverse children and teens being excluded, ridiculed and treated unkindly by others. Sadly, I've experienced this firsthand as a parent with a child and teen going through this and it's heartbreaking.

No wonder so many of them mask their symptoms and behaviours and end up with crippling and debilitating anxieties, fears and/or other mental health challenges.

Often what these teens and children want and need above all things is just to be accepted for who they are. To be loved, included, valued and encouraged to rise to their full potential. To follow their dreams and ambitions. To find a job, get married, have strong and healthy relationships, make friends, travel, see the world, take risks and be bold, just like everyone else 🙏🙏🙏

But the truth is, for many neurodiverse families and their children, the road is tough, it's full of 'potholes' and challenges, tears, pain and suffering. Moments of doing it alone, of genuine burn out, isolation and heartache.

Walking this road is not easy, but I've learnt that a true anchor and beacon of love, unconditional love and devotion, prayers, joy, laughter, forgiveness and strength, and above all, a faith in humanity, and in people being able to care for others, for those who are suffering or in need, to change how we do things, to question the status quo, to ask questions, to follow your gut instinct and your heart, to look out for those who are suffering, misjudged or excluded ... those are the things that bind us, that makes a society and community stronger, healthier and better 🙏🙏💞

It should not be them versus us, they versus me, it should be about a collective agreement and strength to face things together, to lift people up, to lend a helping hand and open our hearts and minds to those in need, those who are alone, misunderstood, misjudged or ill treated.

This April month of awareness for me is more about the collective strength and unity we need as a society, as people, as individuals, to do better, to care more, to value and include, not to judge and above all, to love one another 🙏💕💖

24/12/2025

Have a wonderful Christmas and New Year with your loved ones everyone 🎄❤️🎊

01/12/2025

It’s the simple things that are everything. We know play, conversation, micro-connections, predictability, and having a responsive reliable relationship with at least one loving adult, can make the most profound difference in buffering and absorbing the sharp edges of the world. Not all children will get this at home. Many are receiving it from childcare or school. It all matters - so much.

But simple isn’t always easy.

Even for children from safe, loving, homes with engaged, loving parent/s there is so much now that can swallow our kids whole if we let it - the unsafe corners of the internet; screen time that intrudes on play, connection, stillness, sleep, and joy; social media that force feeds unsafe ideas of ‘normal’, and algorithms that hijack the way they see the world.

They don’t need us to be perfect. They just need us to be enough. Enough to balance what they’re getting fed when they aren’t with us. Enough talking to them, playing with them, laughing with them, noticing them, enjoying them, loving and leading them. Not all the time. Just enough of the time.

But first, we might have to actively protect the time when screens, social media, and the internet are out of their reach. Sometimes we’ll need to do this even when they fight hard against it.

We don’t need them to agree with us. We just need to hear their anger or upset when we change what they’ve become used to. ‘I know you don’t want this and I know you’re angry at me for reducing your screen time. And it’s happening. You can be annoyed, and we’re still [putting phones and iPads in the basket from 5pm] (or whatever your new rules are).’♥️

01/12/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/17mSvWs69M/

The decades-old misconception that autism is a "male or boy thing" has left a lot of women in the lurch, an academic says.

22/11/2025

A great day at the Raising Healthy Families Expo representing Shine Brightly Therapy alongside BodyLink Michelle Grigg and meeting and learning from some amazing speakers and practitioners with a focus and passion for holistic health and well-being. I highly recommend this expo to families and any professional working with children and their families as there's so much to learn and such a great way to connect with other like-minded individuals and services. 🙏💖🥰

28/10/2025

Some recent feedback from parents on how Child-Centered Play Therapy sessions have benefitted their children:

'We have seen a dramatic improvement in our child's anxiety since seeing Hendrina. The other day a dog came up to our child at the beach, which has been a major issue historically, however our son was perfectly fine and afterwards said he wasn't even worried about the dog. There are some other anecdotes that indicate he is a lot more comfortable in himself now.' Parent

And another recent one:

'Thank you for everything you've done for our child. Building up her toolkit and enabling her to understand the world around her (and her responses to it). Parents

27/10/2025

Taking new enrollments for 2026 Now!

Does your child struggle with emotional regulation and control, low frustration levels, anxiety, transitions or change, low mood or self-esteem, sensory sensitivities and/or overload, executive functioning skills (impacting their learning), or other childhood challenges? Do you as parent/caregiver(s) need some support and guidance in helping your child overcome barriers to their well-being, happiness and growth? If so, find out how Child-Centered Play Therapy and Family Therapy can support you and your child and help them shine.

Therapist with over 25 years' professional expertise and training in Child Psychology and Special Education, Gifted and Talented education, Sensory Integration and Movement therapies, Neurodiverse support and inclusion, strength and evidence-based Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Family Systems Therapy support and more.

NEW Clinic in Silverdale.

Please get in touch to find out more and to book a session. No referral necessary and neurodiverse inclusive practice. Call / email Hendrina Hancock on 021 155 3541 or e: hendrinahancock@gmail.com Website: shinebrightlytherapy.com

14/10/2025

Research has shown us, without a doubt, that a sense of belonging is one of the most important contributors to wellbeing and success at school.

Yet for too many children, that sense of belonging is dependent on success and wellbeing. The belonging has to come first, then the rest will follow.

Rather than, ‘What’s wrong with them?’, how might things be different for so many kids if we shift to, ‘What needs to happen to let them know we want them here?’❤️

23/09/2025

A shout out to everyone who looks beyond the behaviour, you make a difference.😀Image + quote from Dance with me in the Heart

Image description - a painting of a young child with the words "When we only look at behaviour, we stop seeing the child and only look with an intent to judge whether we need to reward or punish. When we look behind the behaviour, we see that little struggling human, our little human who needs our help with something." Words by Rebecca Eanes, Artist Celeste Keller