Clinical psychology

25/12/2025

After working with many children and families, one thing I’ve seen over and over again is this:

Behaviors like constant movement, climbing, banging, spinning, scratching, or fixating often get labeled as “problem behaviors” when in reality, they’re usually a child’s way of trying to cope and regulate their body.

I’ve seen so many moments where parents genuinely want to help, but without understanding why a behavior is happening, the response often becomes stopping or correcting it, which can unintentionally lead to more frustration, more dysregulation, and bigger meltdowns.

What changes everything is learning to look at behavior as communication.

When parents understand what the body and nervous system are asking for, they can respond in ways that help their child feel safer, calmer, and more regulated, before things escalate.

23/12/2025

23/12/2025

Students often struggle with social situations not because they are unwilling, but because social problem-solving requires flexible thinking, emotional regulation, and perspective-taking. For many neurodivergent learners, these skills need to be explicitly taught and safely practiced, not corrected through discipline.

19/12/2025

Behaviours and their Sensory Needs:

Sometimes behaviours seem to come out of nowhere, your child is playing happily and suddenly throws a toy, bites, or crashes into something without anything happening beforehand.

This is often a sign of sensory seeking.
Sensory seeking isn't bad, but it can become unsafe.
That's why offering safe alternatives is so important.
Instead of trying to stop the behaviour, redirect your child to something that gives them the input they're looking for.

If you need extra support, an Occupational Therapist can help you understand your child's sensory needs and build a plan that works. 🤍✨

18/12/2025

Avoidance Can Be Sensory Related

Sometimes your child not wanting to go potty, refusing bath time, melting down during haircuts, or avoiding malls and loud public places isn't about being "difficult."

It could be sensory avoidance.
For kids with sensory sensitivities, everyday experiences can feel overwhelming . The sound of a toilet flushing, the brightness of store lights, the buzz of clippers, or the feeling of water on skin. These things that seem small to us can actually feel intense, scary, or even painful to them.

The good news: with the right strategies, we can make these daily routines calmer and more supportive for both you and your child. It's not about "fixing" them, it's about giving their sensory system what it needs.

For more sensory regulation tools catered to your child’s needs, I strongly recommend seeking occupational therapy ❤️